Chapter 29
29
“How did you blackmail him into doing this?” I hiss out of the corner of my mouth.
Peter never takes his gaze off Chet’s form at the center of the conference room in our Paramus office, where’s he’s announcing me as the new co-director of Chester Biotech R&D. “I can’t take the full credit. It was a team effort.”
The applause from said team is half-hearted at best as Chet finishes his speech. A few subtle eyerolls don’t go unnoticed by me, but I don’t think Carly is actually trying to be subtle. She rises from her seat to exit the room like it’s on fire.
Chet takes his time to shake several hands as he meanders through the aisles once the proclamation is concluded. It’s been a month of upheaval, so he’s clearly trying to soothe all the ruffled feathers.
He stuffs his hands in his pockets in an uncharacteristic display of submission when he stands in front of me with his shoulders not quite as wide as usual. “Dr. Fowler. Dr. Carrington. I hope we can put this whole messy affair behind us and move forward to a bigger and brighter future for Chester Biotech. ”
I smile my best socially appropriate smile at him. “That entirely depends on you, Mr. Goulding.”
I use the mister purposefully. Socially, it’s a lesser title than doctor .
He smiles a similarly fake smile at me. “Completely forgotten, Dr. Fowler.”
Good. Now, we understand the pecking order here.
“Walk with me.” His demand is obviously directed at me.
Peter lowers his chin as he raises his eyebrows.
Chet backpedals quickly. “Both of you. Please .”
After we’ve exited the crowded conference room, Chet drops his contrite bravado. He hisses to Peter at his left, “Will I ever be permitted to discuss business affairs with Dr. Fowler without your presence?”
Peter inhales deeply. “That entirely depends on you. Will you ever learn to treat her with the respect that she deserves?”
Chet rounds on us so quickly that I nearly trip in my stilettos. He invades Peter’s personal space. “If you’re gunning for a pissing match, you’re going to lose, Carrington.”
“Aww.” Shockingly, Peter slaps Chet’s cheek. Really just a love tap—but still. Unequivocally a physical proof of the hierarchy of power. “If you had the opportunity to work with your wife every day, you’d take it. Jealousy does not become us, Mr. Goulding.”
I choke on nothing at his inaccurate comparison. I’m not Peter’s wife. I feel like I’m watching one of his favored nature documentaries. Instead of viewing giant squid behavior, I’m a bystander of human alpha males.
It’s scintillating. Only curiosity about where the proverbial chips will fall keeps me mute. If I make my presence known, it will spook the targets of study.
Logically, this is a waste of their respective energy. Everyone already knows how their stories end. Society would claim that both of these virile males have been essentially neutered by their chosen females. They will do anything—even challenge other equally strong males—to retain their preferred status quo.
Chet’s status quo is keeping Lauren locked away in his lair to bear more of his offspring. She’s free to manage her event planning business, but she’s not permitted to fraternize sexually with any other males, no matter how deep of a friendship she might form with someone other than her husband.
Don’t ask me how I know this information. I will deny reading internet gossip magazines until my dying day.
Peter, on the other hand, receives no sexual satisfaction nor furtherance of his DNA from his preferred mating. He sleeps on the couch while I sleep in his bed. We spend most of our waking hours making Chet’s company look good.
Chester Biotech is looking very good, thanks to our latest designs of artificial hearts with patent-pending bio-friendly components that are less likely to be rejected by the human body. We could use a little more internet coverage of the sort that Lauren Goulding gets for her swanky corporate parties, but we’re also lacking in the marketing department currently.
It still baffles me that Chet unwittingly hired the best friend of one of his pawns as the director of his R&D marketing department. Then again, he hired me to investigate the love of my life.
As I’ve always suspected, the diagnosis of genius has its limitations.
“Gentlemen.” I step forward when it becomes obvious that the alpha males may come to physical blows in the hallway of an institution of science. “Let’s behave as rational adults, shall we? Chet will learn how to treat all people with respect, and Peter will learn to trust me with the business side of our department. Does that sound fair to everyone? ”
“Actually, no.” The three of us turn as a unified front when Carly magically reappears. She offers me a conciliatory frown before saying, “Sorry, sweetie. I adore you, but you’re an engineer, not a businesswoman. Mr. Goulding, if you’re not trying to sabotage this R&D division before it even really gets started, then we need a competent marketing director. Someone who can take us to the next level in the public eye since you so brilliantly put Chester on the stock market. We cannot wait years while you vet any potential candidates to your satisfaction.”
If it wouldn’t be too obvious, I would hold out my fist for a bump of solidarity. Carly has shown herself to be a respectable head of HR throughout this disaster, and she holds her chin high as is her right.
Shockingly, Chet demurs to her judgment. “Yes. Of course. I believe that the Paramus branch should hire its own marketing director.” He swivels his calculating gaze toward me. “You know this branch and these people far better than I ever will.”
It’s not an obvious apology, but it’s the best I’ll ever get from a man like Chet.
I nod to portray my confidence in this matter. “We’ll hire the person who best fits with our team and the culture we want to foster at Chester Paramus for years to come.”
My promise is reduced to a joke as Joel strolls by, muttering, “That’s what she said.”
Peter shakes his head as he watches the rest of the team file into the breakroom where I’ve purchased brunch for everyone to thank them for their help. “With certain abilities to make a frat house look good, of course.”
Chet smirks. “Of course.”
Carly holds out an open palm toward Chet. “Then, we agree. Chester Paramus is here to stay.”
Ever the determined yet woefully inadequate chess player, Chet squeezes her hand more than is socially polite. “You’re here until I say you’re not.”
It’s three to one. As we exchange determined glances, Peter, Carly, and I silently convey that this is a battle we will win.
Together.