15. Pumpkin
Pumpkin
“I f we want to remain competitive, we can’t just think about our bottom line.
We can’t dwell on what’s worked in the past. Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t build on the pillars of our successes, but we need to be a step ahead.
” Ryder flipped to his next slide under the same vacant stares that weren’t listening now any more than they had over the past decade.
When he’d first been volunteered to trailblaze the company’s future directions to the big bosses—who only cared about the bottom line in the here and now, to guarantee fat retirements as soon as possible—Ryder had been the new guy.
Eager. The go-getter. The energy this company needed.
Now that he was “one of them,” it should be easier to convince his peers.
Should be.
Data points. Dollar signs. Three-dimensional charts showing how they could level up. Ryder brought all his ammunition.
At the head of the table, expression focused in tight as if he was actually listening, Gene tapped his fingers together.
“As always, Ryder, I love your enthusiasm. But, we’ve all but cornered the market on indulgences.
That’s our bread and butter. Potato chips, beer, gourmet chocolate.
Even diamonds and high heels, thanks to you. ”
Here they go again. Ryder popped on the lights and hoped at least one or two of them woke up for his closing arguments.
About the time his brother had stolen Ryder’s girlfriend, Grady had also turned his back on his law career and followed his passion.
Ryder hadn’t realized what a good salesman his brother would have been, but he knew it would have crushed his soul.
The guy who landed Ryder’s dream job—and the corner office with all delegating and vacation on his schedule—flicked a catchy beat on the table with his fingertips, and pinged the cymbals with his lips to claim control of the conversation.
As soon as everyone was listening, he shrugged and scoffed.
“No one gets excited about dumbbells and organic salads. Stability, yes, but we’ve got more than enough maintenance contracts. We need more of the big jobs.”
Another pointed at Ryder with his thumb. “Didn’t we promote him to bring in more of the flashy jobs that will draw in even bigger contracts?”
Patience. Let it simmer. Ryder nodded and sported his winningest smile.
“Damn right you did, because this is what I do best. The deal with Bellamy was a homerun, and we need more like it, focusing on healthy indulgences. Let’s list a fresh position to lead a team, probably an external hire with the right experience, because we want the right consultants for this one.
” As this company was notorious for hiring good-old-boys…
Ryder focused his attention on Gene, daring him to question the numbers.
Gene sighed with paternal disappointment, shaking his head. “The chopping block is more where our hiring is going lately. Fitness programs. Healthy living. Body positivity. These are the latest fads. Let’s see if they stick around before we invest too deeply into it.”
Speak the language, appeal to the crowd.
“Longevity. It’s about enjoying retirement to the fullest. People are spending their money on living longer and living well.
I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of living la dolce vita until I’m a hundred and ten.
” Ryder fisted the back of his chair, too frustrated to risk sitting down and wriggling in his chair like an ignored toddler.
On top of his laptop, his phone brightened and buzzed.
Longevity had them thinking. While the others bickered over whether Ryder was stupid or a genius for suggesting such a change in direction, he unlocked the screen to peek at the message.
Screw you baby apps saying it never happens like the movies. I’m soaking wet with amniotic fluid. I think I spelled that right. Evan’s driving me to the hospital. Get your ass home!
Renewed energy flooded Ryder’s veins, but his legs threatened to give out.
Breathless in a heartbeat, grinning like a complete fool, Ryder plucked up his phone.
As he reached for the laptop, to call Zoe on the way out the door, he gave a quick wave and took the first step toward the door.
“Baby’s coming. I’ll see you guys in three months. ”
“Wait, wait,” Gene said, both hands calming Ryder and slowing him down. “First babies can take days. Stay a few more minutes and we should have this topic wrapped up.”
“Her water broke.” Ryder’s words drew out, his patience thinning fast. He quickly texted back, Holy shit she’s four days early! And you were afraid of going late like Haley. Cross your legs if you have to ;). I will be there.
Another older dad nodded knowingly. He beckoned for an assistant to listen up. “Nessa? Will you book Ryder a flight? I know he’s not going to relax until he’s got a plan.”
Relax?
The assistant began quickly tapping away at her keys.
Ryder didn’t sit, and kept his phone out and ready. “You all have my notes on this. Take it or leave it. We need to level up, and this is the way.” He sucked in a breath through his nose and held.
Delayed at least long enough to have a flight booked for him, Ryder quickly cast the presentation back to the screen and flipped to the dollar signs. A few glanced up, a few played on their phones. Fucking hell these guys were stubborn.
He flipped a few slides ahead to the clickbait style photos of attractive people getting fit like it was better than a Saturday night out clubbing.
“Review the data I sent. Do your own research if it would make you feel better. You want high end contracts with big dollar signs, this is it. Celebrities are picking their favorite fitness programs, skincare, fresh organic foods.”
Gene pursed his lips as he flipped through the copy on his own tablet on the table. “I see impressive increases for about the last two years, but before that, meh.”
The assistant lifted her hand for Ryder to come check her progress, while Gene did one of his prolonged ponders.
Ryder rounded the table so they wouldn’t interrupt Gene’s rhythm. “Any luck?”
One side of her mouth tweaked with sympathy. “Bad weather in Seattle, so not a lot to work with. I got you a flight out at six this evening.”
He flicked up his wrist to check the time. Not even ten in the morning. “Fuck. Keep searching?”
She nodded unconfidently. “Sure.”
“Nessa?” Ryder asked, dreading the answer already. “Did you happen to see what kind of storm? Is it near Foothills?”
Her expression dropped even further. “Freezing fog over the entire lowlands that might turn to snow by the evening. Some of the passes…”
“Fuck,” he growled, and stopped fast. “Thank you. Keep searching and book whatever you can get me? I’m heading to the airport to see if I can grab a last-minute seat.”
She nodded vigorously.
Ryder rounded back around the table, ten sets of eyes watching every step.
“Hang on,” Gene said vacantly as he glared at his tablet with deep thought.
He packed up his laptop, not waiting for Gene to finish. “I really need to go.”
“Of course,” Gene said without looking up, and waved as if to dismiss him.
“Take the week off. Bring me something concrete on the long-term outlook. Better yet, nail another celebrity brand ambassador, and at next Friday’s all staff meeting, I suspect we’ll see it your way. Then we’ll think about a new hire.”
Ryder halted and gritted his teeth, quickly feigning patience. “I’m taking three months off. That’s why I flew down for this meeting, to present to you all today. Steve is set to take over for me.”
“Do you really want to leave this to your apprentice?”
“Yes,” Ryder growled, and slipped his laptop under his hand, and made it two more steps.
“You know I insist on full bodies present, but if you bring the baby on camera, I suppose you can attend via video call just this once,” Gene said, glowing with his own generosity.
Ryder’s phone buzzed in his pocket again. He quickly checked. Zoe texted, I’m wimpier than I thought. These buggers hurt!
He quickly texted back, Breathe. You got this. Remember your motto and say it as many times in your head as you need to.
I got this , she texted, then another quickly after. Be quick, fresh snow starting to fall.
“I’m not calling in. Pretend Steve is me; he knows everything I do. I’ll see you in April.” Ryder made it to the door, moved his phone back to his pocket, and began to push.
“That’s not what your contract says. Who approved three months of leave?”
Patience down to a thread of shredded dental floss, he growled, “I have more than enough time off banked. HR approved it, where fortunately, we hire decent human beings.” He pushed the door open, fresh air from the open rush of the building warming the freezing meeting room.
“Ryder—” Gene said.
Ryder stopped and glanced back, shaking his head and letting a rare rage boil to the surface. “Ten fucking years of this shit,” he growled under his breath, and fired a piercing glare at Gene and the vacant puppets looking to the big boss for guidance. “I’m done. I quit.”
“Ryder, wait. You can’t quit. Your contract—”
“I can quit. And I did. Just now.”
“If you quit now, you won’t get your quarterly profit-share—”
“Goodbye,” Ryder said with a sneer lifting both sides of his lips, turned, and stalked out of the room before Gene could come up with a fresh rant, before the jaws from the spoiled followers around the table could un-drop.
Heads peeked out of every cubicle like prairie dogs.
Ryder took a breath and kept up the quick pace.
Murmurs and whispers flooded the room, rising to shocked cacophony.
As he neared the elevators, he heard a whistle.
Then a shout, “Fuck yeah, man.”
“You go Ryder.”
“We miss you already.”
“Send baby pics.”
He turned as the elevator doors opened and waved at his favorite faces, then ducked out.
Slowest damn elevator in the history of elevators. Cheeks puffed out, pulse firing at dangerously high levels, he checked for another text.
In the chaos, Zoe had texted again and he hadn’t felt it. Let me know when you’re on the plane. Miss you.
He palmed the phone and closed his eyes for the rest of the ride down. The elevator dinged, the doors opened, and he took off.