Page 13 of Not Safe For Work

“That’s inappropriate. He shouldn’t be texting you after hours like this. You should tell him to stop.”

She looks up at me and starts to chuckle. At first I smile back but then her laugh turns maniacal and I realize I’ve chosen my words poorly. “Oh, I should? Does he text you after hours?”

“Well, yeah, but?—”

“But you’re a guy?”

“I mean…I didn’t mean it like…” Shit. I have no idea what to say.

“Scottie, it’s okay. I know you mean well. But if I tell Mitch it’s inappropriate, I’ll be drawing a line in the sand. I’m already on the outside of your little club. I don’t get invited to golf on the weekends, or the strip club team lunches. Or thehappy hours.” She gives me a pointed look at this, and I feel like such a piece of shit. “So yeah, I put up with a few inappropriate texts and let him bitch to me about how it wasn’thisfault he cheated. If it helps me finally get the promotion, then it’s worth it.”

“I’m sorry. I never really thought about all that.” And this time I reallyamsorry, because I never thought about any of it. She’s right. Mitch takes our team golfing all the time. I guessit never occurred to me whether she was even invited or didn’t want to come. Does she play?

And I’ve unknowingly contributed to this too. Does she think I don’t invite her because she’s a woman? I want, no Ineed,to explain myself. I just don’t know how to without giving myself away.

“Ugh.” My thoughts are interrupted as she grunts at another incoming text.

“Can I see?” I ask. She hands me the phone and I’m more than disgusted by what’s on the screen.

Mitch:

Did you respond to Tristan yet?

I need to know the plan Livy

If you really want to be in sales you’re gonna have to learn to use the assets you’ve got. Let’s stop pretending the hair and the heels wasn’t part of your strategy today

Don’t be such a tease

When I look up at Liv, tears swell in her eyes and her fists are wrapped around her long red hair, tucking it into a bun. She’s muttering to herself, but I can’t make out the words.

“What’d you say?” I ask.

She scoffs. “Just that Ian was right.” Jesus. I don’t even want to know.

“Is there anything in the middle?” she asks suddenly. I’m not sure what she’s referring to, so I give her a questioning look. “Like, is there anything in between a slut and a tease? Because I’d really like to know. It seems like no matter what I do, I’m one of the two, so I’m just asking, is there another option?”

My lips part to respond, but nothing comes out. I have no idea what to say to her. She shouldn’t have to deal with this shit, especially not from her manager.

With all of my frustration directed at Mitch, I don’t think for a second before tapping on his name and hitting the call button. Liv is staring at me horrified when he answers the phone.

“Hey Livy.”

“It’s Gavin, actually.”

“Oh, umm, hey? This is Olivia’s phone, right?” I love how flustered he sounds. I want him to be nervous about this call. Even if I have no idea what I’m going to say.

“Yeah, she’s at my place.” Liv is watching me with wide eyes and an open mouth. She looks terrified and I hate that I’m contributing to that. But I also can’t get the image of her out of my head, the one from two hours ago when she was on the floor struggling to breathe. “Stop asking her to date a prospect. You’re not her fucking pimp. She isn’t okay with it, and she shouldn’t have to tell you twice.”

“Christ, Scottie, can you just let us handle this? You’re really making a big deal out of nothing.”

“Are you not telling her to date this guy to close a deal?”

“What I’m doing is none of your damn business. Put Olivia on the phone.”

I’m fuming. The texts he sent her, the way he’s dismissing her feelings now; she had apanic attackworrying about her job over this and he doesn’t seem to give a shit.

It’s like Davide all over again. I shouldn’t even be talking to Mitch. The CEO is my closest friend. And I’m sure Daanesh would want Mitch gone if he knew this was happening. But can we really afford to lose our VP of sales with this acquisition on the line? Would the board even allow it, or just blame Liv like they did with Megan in recruiting? Mitch isn’t the kind of guy that would go quietly.

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