Page 54 of Playing the Game
“Why do you say that?”
“The board thinks I’m in a relationship with Hunter and Jami. That’s two strikes against my contract.”
“You’re allowed to date a contractor, so how that’s a strike against you?”
“It just looks bad. Instead of behaving like a professional, it looks like I’ve been fucking two different guys involved with the company. I’m a stain, tarnishing the brand.”
Mel stares off into space for a moment, then laughs. “Can you imagine what they would think of me if I were on the executive level? I’d be a lot worse than some stain.”
I consider it for a second and burst out laughing. “We make quite a pair, don’t we?”
“We do, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Me either. I wouldn’t want to do life without you as my best friend.” I sink into that thought.
How am I going to get by without her?
As much trouble as I cause her, I’m sure she’s ready to get far away from me.
She slaps my leg. “Dori, I have a great idea.”
“Oh no. I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”
“Hear me out. I think you might get on board.”
I turn her way, resting sideways on the couch. “Let me have it.”
“You’re not working at Efron Worldwide anymore, so what’s stopping you from moving? You can go anywhere, and Jami isn’t staying here, so...”
My mouth gapes open. “You can’t seriously be suggesting I move to Miami.”
“Why not? There’s nothing here for you. It’s a clean break from Hunter, and Jami would support it. I think you should consider it.”
I look around her apartment, trying to come up with a reason why it would never work, but nothing comes to mind.
The only thing preventing me from making a change is my deep-seated attachment to this place and the idea of spending my entire career with this one company, which I’ve always envisioned as my permanent workplace. Now that dream is over, I can do anything I want.
She lifts her shoulder to her ear. “Well?”
“It’s not a bad idea,” I admit.
“See! I knew it would be something to consider. Just think. We wouldn’t have to be away from each other after all.”
I give her a wary look. “Are you sure you would want that? I have caused you a lot of grief over the years.”
“No, you haven’t. The last year, yes. But before that, the worst thing you ever did was lecture me on my dating escapades.”
“Wow, how the tables turned on that one.”
“Yeah, but we’re young, and this is when we’re supposed to mess up.”
I grab our wine and hand her drink to her. “Well, here’s to being young and dumb.”
She takes her glass and taps mine. “To being young. We’re not dumb.”
“I’ll give you that, but sometimes I wonder about me.”
“Ditto for me, but let’s not be self-deprecating. It isn’t sexy.”
