Page 90 of Forty, Flirty & Fired

Emma:Keith now has the accounting department doing jazz hands while singing about trust issues.

"Shit," I rub my eyes. "How many departments has he recruited?"

“From what Emma insinuated when I asked, HR stopped counting after Legal joined for the chorus." Connor passes me a scotch that probably costs more than my first car. "But that's not why we're here."

"No?"

"Nope." Grayson turns his laptop around. "We're here because you should see what your corporate culture consultant was writing three years ago. Right after Roberto."

The name hits harder than it should. "Her ex?"

"The one currently engaged to his twenty-eight-year-old former 'mentee'?" Connor's voice could freeze vodka. "That Roberto."

Something cold settles in my chest. "What?"

"Katie Acosta.” Grayson scrolls through data. "Daughter of venture capitalist James Acosta. Started as Roberto's protégé while he was still married to Mac. Real piece of work, this guy."

"His company bio's better." Connor taps his screen. "Claims he 'mentored several successful women in tech, including prominent corporate culture critic Mackenzie Gallo.' Guy's got bigger balls than brains."

The scotch burns going down. "He's taking credit for her success?"

"While his own company tanks." Grayson's typing gets more aggressive. "Can't adapt to modern corporate culture. You know, the same culture his ex-wife is famous for revolutionizing?"

"But that's not the best part." Connor pulls up an article. "Check out when Mac's blog posts about toxic leadership started. Same week she caught them in his office."

The glass creaks in my hand. "She what?"

"Christ, you really didn't read her early posts." Connor turns his tablet. "Here - three years ago, day after she found them:"

@MizzByteMyAlgos: "When male leaders say they 'support strong women,' what they mean is 'as long as you stay conveniently beneath me.' Both professionally and literally. #CorporateLies #TrustNo1"

"Jesus." The scotch isn't nearly strong enough. "Why didn't she say anything?"

"To who?" Grayson's voice cuts sharp. "The last successful man she trusted was screwing his intern and stealing her ideas. Real confidence builder."

"That's different?—"

"Yeah, it is." Connor drains his glass. "You just accused her of betrayal while she was actively making your company better. Much more efficient."

"Screw you, Con. Now’s not the time.”

"Numbers don't lie," Grayson shoves a spreadsheet at me. "Twenty-three percent market increase since she started. Meanwhile, Roberto's department's bleeding talent faster than Keith can write protest songs."

My phone buzzes again -

Emma:Revolutionary choir has added interpretive dance to their performance. HR concerned but impressed by coordination.

"Look at this." Connor scrolls to another post from three years ago. "The day Roberto moved out:"

@MizzByteMyAlgos: "Corporate leaders preach trustwhile building walls. Demand loyalty while betraying it. Choose power over connection because vulnerability means risk. And risk means weakness. #WallsUp #TrustNoOne"

"Sound familiar?" Grayson's watching me too closely. "Building walls instead of bridges? Choosing control over connection?"

"I get it."

"Do you?” Connor leans forward. “I hate to be the biggest prick in the room...”

Gray scoffs. “No, you don’t.”

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