Chapter 12 #2
While I’m still mad about the situation, I didn’t expect this reaction from Nate, given he’s detached from it all. “Get away with what? It’s done.”
Nate shakes his head. “It’s not. If they did it to you, who says they won’t do it to someone else? That they haven’t already?”
Maybe they had. It’s a man’s world at BrandMe despite 35% of the company identifying as female. That 35% never stood a chance at promotion beyond whatever the Carls of the world would let them have. Who was I to think I could change that?
“I’m no lawyer, but I spent a lot of time shadowing one for my second novel,” Nate says, watching my face for a reaction as he continues. “You probably have a case here.”
“A case? What is this, an episode of Law and Order?”
His jaw tenses. “This is your life and career we’re talking about here.”
“No one gets that more than I do. It doesn’t seem right, though.”
“Because it’s not! What they did to you?—”
“I mean, it doesn’t seem right to take advantage or whatever. Countless women go through this at work. Who am I to step up and say I deserve some sort of acknowledgement or reimbursement when there are others who’ve suffered worse? Who still suffer?”
“It’s not a competition of who has suffered the most or is most deserving. It’s about standing up for what’s right and making your voice heard. Letting people know they can’t get away with this. Doesn’t your friend still work there?”
Her face pops into my head automatically. “Corina.”
“Yes, Corina. What you’d be doing wouldn’t just be for you. It’d be for her and all the other women in that office. Heck, it’s for every person who walks in there. What’s the harm in reaching out to a lawyer to have a conversation?”
“The cost, for starters. You may have forgotten, but Brody is my only client.”
Nate winces but recovers quickly. “I’m not usually one to call in favors, but I think the lawyer friend I shadowed for my book would help if I asked.
She isn’t in employment law, but she could give you an idea of the process and perhaps get you in touch with the best lawyer for your situation.
Worth a conversation at least, right? What do you have to lose? ”
Not much. The only thing I have is Brody, and a thrill-seeker doesn’t make the best safety net.
“Okay, ask her,” I say, “but don’t be shocked when this ends up being an all-too-true scenario for working women everywhere and there’s not much people can or want to do about it—lawyer or not.”
“It’s a step in the right direction, at least.” There’s a long pause as we continue walking, crossing onto the pier. “Speaking of steps in the right direction…you know that question you asked me yesterday? About why I didn’t want to meet you?”
My brows furrow. For someone who was just talking about trackable logic, wherever he’s headed next isn’t trackable. I nod, though I’m no longer sure I’m ready for the truth.
“It’s not that I didn’t want to meet you.”
I can’t contain my laughter. “You bailed on plans four or five separate times after finding out I’d be there. You were avoiding me.”
“Not true.”
“It is! We invited you to dinner at least three times. You never made it, even when you initially confirmed, and never rescheduled no matter how far in advance. Don’t forget that time we saw you at the bar.
Brody went over to get you, and you left without finishing your drink.
Not to mention the time Brody invited you to join us at the Bellagio to celebrate securing a big sponsor.
What sort of brother doesn’t join in any of Brody’s celebrations? ”
“The kind who knows better than to compete with Brody in a casino or anywhere else.” Nate clears his throat, and the spark returns to his gray eyes. “Since we’re clearing the air, I meant your statement wasn’t true because it was more like seven times. Maybe eight or nine.”
“What is wrong with you? No wait. What’s so wrong with me that you couldn’t meet me once before your brother ended up in the hospital?”
“Nothing!” Nate’s response comes out in a flurry. “Well, there might be something wrong with me, but there’s nothing wrong with you.”
I feel a blush creep into my cheeks either at Nate’s comment or because of the budding morning heat as we walk. I wait a beat to collect myself, then ask, “Then why were you so opposed to meeting me?”
Nate exhales and reaches up as if to run a hand through his hair, only to remember he has it pulled back in Brody’s signature bun. “If we’re being real, I just didn’t want to waste my time.”
“Gee, don’t soften the blow on my account.”
“You’re…not what I was expecting.”
“What were you expecting?” I hold my breath, waiting for a response.
“I don’t know.” With a sigh, he reluctantly continues. “I thought you’d be more of a…I don’t know the best way to phrase this. Floozy, perhaps. I’m sorry, that sounds completely terrible!”
“Could have been worse.” I consider Nate’s words, finding they don’t bother me as much as I would have thought. He didn’t know me then. He still doesn’t, on many accounts. “You could have actually called me a floozy.”
A smile cracks the corner of Nate’s mouth. “True. But for the record, you’re not. I’m just used to Brody dating a certain type of woman.”
“Floozies?”
Nate winces. “Let’s say what they lack in knowledge, they make up for with looks. Plus, Brody kind of dates a lot, or used to.”
Brody used to entertain a new woman every few weeks, but I don’t know every person who comprises that history.
It doesn’t matter—or didn’t until I met Jamie, but that’s a question mark.
It doesn’t change the fact that I mean something more to Brody.
Otherwise, would we still be together after five months?
“I tried keeping up with it all at first,” Nate continues. “But Brody was bringing a new woman around like every time we met up, even on double dates with me and Nina.”
Brody mentioned Nina before, but I’d never heard Nate mention her beyond confirming their breakup at the hospital and switching topics as if they hadn’t been together for years.
Six, if Brody’s count is accurate. Hearing Nate mention her now is all the stranger.
It’s another piece of him that doesn’t fit with what I know.
“It was rather exhausting,” Nate admits, “and borderline impossible. At one point, I had a notebook to keep track of names and any identifying characteristics.”
Laughter roars out of me. “You did not keep a notebook!”
“It’s the unfortunate truth.”
“Did it help?”
Nate’s face scrunches in consideration. “Not really. There were only about two women I met more than once. It helped with some character creation in my last novel, though.”
“Wait, am I in this notebook?” I don’t know why I ask, but it feels vital that I learn the answer.
Nate shakes his head. “I had given up hope by that point. Seems I did so too soon.”
“Since I’ve lasted longer than his other relationships, or because you’ve now interacted with one of Brody’s girlfriends for multiple days in a row?”
“If I had added you, at least I would have been able to fill more than a page with information.”
“Picked up lots of interesting tidbits about me then?”
Nate’s body tenses almost imperceptibly before relaxing again. “It was a pocket-sized notebook.”
There’s a sinking in my stomach I can’t explain.
Then he adds, “Though I’ll admit it’s been a surprising turn of events.”
As we reach the bungalow, grab our bags, and head to the lobby to meet the crew, I realize I’ve misjudged Nate as well. He isn’t the selfish, annoying, uncaring, and aloof Bannam twin I’d assumed he’d be.
He’s a lot different, and that is a surprising turn of events.