Page 13 of As a Last Resort
I looked up.Robby’s eyes were dissecting my face.I shook the memories and tried to change the subject.
“So, why Goodrich?”
He lowered his voice.“Happens to me too, in case you’re wondering.It’s hard to shake some of the stuff you see.”
“Yeah.”
He took a second, nodded, and moved on.“Had a small finance position with a housebuilder for a few years, which was great, but once I met Glenn and saw the scale of projects he was working on, I knew this was what I wanted to be doing.What about you?”
I told him about the neighborhood revitalization project I was working on when Glenn found me.Aimed at increasing community engagement for youth, our team threw a city block party to unveil a new skate park.It was the last piece in the overhaul of the area and it got a lot of attention.Glenn approached me after the event and offered me a job.
“And your goal is to sit in a corner office with your last name on the banner as a director?”he asked.
“Absolutely.”The look on his face told me he didn’t see the same future version of myself I saw at the firm.“What?You know I’mgood at my job.And I’m good at finding and negotiating deals too.Glenn just hasn’t seen that part of me yet.”
Even though I wasn’t part of Glenn’s good ol’ boys club, I knew I was the better choice for that job.Unfortunately, Robby was also nominated, and he was president of the Glenn Goodrich Fan Club.
“Well, when I get the promotion, I’ll be happy to bring you in on finding the spots.Would be nice to have an attractive travel partner in tow searching undiscovered parcels of land in the boonies together.”
“That sounds completelynotaboveboard.”
“Hey, I’d be a great boss.I know my employees’ strengths.”
“More like you use them to your advantage.”
“I take credit forsteeringmy team’s work.There’s a difference.”
“That’s completely untrue,” I argued.“I’ve done the majority of the work on the Rock Island contract and you know it.”
“Are your undies in a wrinkle about not being the teacher’s pet?”He barely tilted his head, and I swear his eyes twinkled.
“First of all, myundiesare none of your concern,” I shot back.“Nor will they ever be.”
“Debatable.”
“Second,” I continued, “a great boss doesn’t try and pass their employee’s work off as their own.That’s where you and I differ.I actually give my team credit for what they accomplish.”
He rolled his eyes.“It’s semantics.You say tomato…” He downed the rest of his drink.“Why don’t you let me buy you a real drink?”
“I happen to like myblushconcoction,” I replied.
He leaned across the table.“I love it when you say the wordconcoction.”
I pitched forward and lowered my voice.“You know, I was justwondering where the real Robby was hiding.You almost had me fooled that you were of the human species.”
Ivy came back just in time with a drink in each hand and landed them in front of us.
“Where’s yours?”I asked.
“I’ve got family flying into town tomorrow.Stay late, have fun.Make questionable choices in my name.”She kissed both my cheeks, winked, and flew toward the exit.Why did it seem like everyone else in the world could wink so easily?
“So, are all the rumors about Florida true?”he asked.
“Depends on which rumors.”I gauged how many gulps it would take to down my newly poured drink and make for the exit.
“Google says oral sex is illegal in Florida.”
“And on that note,” I threw back the contents of the entire cotton candy martini in one sip and stood as it burned a trail down my throat, “have a safe flight, Robby.”
