Chapter 26 Roommates
Eva
“Eva, can I bother you?”
I looked up as Claire entered. “Sure. Of course.”
I stood, hoping my computer hid the fact that my work pants were nothing more than a pair of flared yoga pants.
I’d been at Davey’s for three days. Ellie brought me a restock of “forgiving” clothes, but even with a hair tie, none of my dress slacks convincingly fit me.
The babies officially took over my body.
“So, my daughter is having surgery next week,” Claire said.
“It’s very pressing. She fractured her elbow so badly that they need to put pins in.
Damn monkey bars! I’d decided to go in Daphne’s place to London, but I don’t think I can swing it.
And we need someone who both understands our need to get them on our devices and network and can read legalese.
That leaves you. I didn’t know how you felt about going with David? ”
“Uh… I…”
“I didn’t even know if you were allowed to travel.”
“I am,” I said. “I can, for all I know. But I don’t know how David feels about it.”
“I wanted to ask you before I asked him. Have you seen him this morning?”
“Not particularly,” I lied. “Just in passing.”
Of course I had. He’d woken me up and insisted on eating me out. We still hadn’t resolved what we were, but we fucked like rabbits. Getting off was the best coping mechanism I had. Thankfully, he was good for that and a back rub afterwards.
“He’s in a good mood,” Claire said. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the deal is. It’s awkward and Daphne being gone… I’m making it weird.”
“The whole us getting together before I started here—by accident—bit is what makes it weird,” I said. “Sorry. And the babies are fine. It’s not like there’s anything wrong there. But it’s still awkward.”
“I am glad all is well there. If you two aren’t on good terms—”
“We’re fine,” I said. “Do you think trying not to make it weird is… in-fact… making it weird?”
“A little. I think we’re all just holding our breath until we can tell everyone or… not.”
“That has to come from David.”
“I think he’s afraid to say anything without your go-ahead.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course he is.”
“Maybe talk to him while you’re in London? Not to… tell you what to say, but it might be helpful if we could at least tell direct reports.”
“What, you don’t think they can tell I’m pregnant, right?” I joked. “None of my slacks fit. I’m barely still making it into my tops. It’s a hot mess.”
“Get the stretchy pants. They are ugly, but you’ll thank yourself.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Do you want me to talk to David?”
“If you don’t mind. My morning is—”
“Got it,” I said. “I hope the surgery goes well and she’s back to monkeying around soon.”
“Me, too. Thanks.”
Claire dipped. I pulled up my yoga pants and decided to see what Davey’s schedule looked like. His assistant glared. She had it in for me since discovering we were scheduling time off together. I knew she thought we were having an affair. The truth, however, was worse.
I peered into the room through the windows, watching David talk on the phone.
“I just need to get a spot on his schedule about the London trip,” I said.
“He’s very busy, Miss Pavlak.”
“I am aware, but this is coming from Claire,” I said, annoyed.
“He’s very busy.”
“I know that. Can you get me fifteen minutes or not?” I asked.
“He’s not some friend you just call up and he jumps to help you, right?”
“No, Meg,” I said. “It’s far too complicated for that. But this is coming from us in InfoSec. I need to speak with him.”
“Maybe Ms. Nguyen should come on her own accord?”
I set my jaw. “I asked a yes or no question, Meg.”
“I don’t like your tone, Miss Pavlak—”
“Excuse me,” Davey poked his head out. “Is there an issue?”
I glared at Meg.
Flatly, she answered, “Miss Pavlak is demanding an audience. I’ve explained you’re very busy. She has become aggressive.”
“I doubt she’s aggressive, Meg,” Davey said. “I can speak to her now.”
He held the door as I stepped in.
“Is this good or bad?” Davey asked.
“It’s bad to the point I want to strangle an old woman,” I said.
“Oh, Meg? She’s old-fashioned. She was my dad’s assistant for at least twenty years, Eva.”
“She thinks I’m some silly child who is monopolizing your time. It needs to stop.”
Davey sat on his desk and rubbed his temples. “I will speak with her, okay?”
“If it’s going to be like this when we have a legitimate incident—”
“I know, if something happens with the twins—”
“I meant a cyber incident. A major incident,” I said.
“Oh, shit. Yes. Work.”
His mind was anywhere but work.
“Look, as much as I do not want to go to London right now, Claire’s kid is injured. She wants to be in Chicago for the surgery. She asked if I could go. The D/CISOs are covering for her as per usual. At least here. They need me on the road covering for Daphne unless you have a better idea.”
Davey smiled. “Wait, you don’t want to go to London? C’mon, it would be fun, right?”
I winced, “Fun?”
“Sure. We get to take the big plane and stay at Daphne’s place. It’s beautiful.”
“Davey, I left London in a panic. I’m returning there two minor people bigger. I don’t really think I’m the one you should take. Is it appropriate? What if someone says something? It could kill the deal.”
“I am bringing my very capable BISO with me—Daphne’s protege—on the road to buy a company.
If anyone says anything about us all it will be is an assumption that I decided to stick my hand in the cookie jar and hook up with one of my sister’s very hot direct reports.
And oops! No one will judge me for that. It’s a tale as old as time.”
“But me Davey?” I asked, annoyed.
“Eva, your qualifications speak for themselves. We decided to do this. If you didn’t want to be associated with me—and all that goes with me, my love—then you’re SOL.”
He was right. I hated the gossip.
“Then, go out there and announce it,” I said.
“What?”
“If you’re not afraid of everyone knowing what we did and what is going on, you need to tell everyone that you’re the father of these babies.”
“Eva, how would I do that? Send an all-employees email?”
“You’re the CEO. Figure it out. We’re roommates now, right? We show up at work together. It’s on you to do something else and fix it.”
“I would like to think we are more than roommates, Eva,” Davey said.
“Well, prove it,” I stormed out.
The ball was in his court. I couldn’t do his job. And even if I could, I refused.
Davey
“Prove it.”
Eva rushed out. Due to my plate glass windows and open door, everyone milling on the c-suite floor heard our argument.
Meg entered as if trying to protect me or stop the fallout.
Yes, if Eva were any other employee, I would have gone to her direct supervisor and told them to handle it. Instead, I couldn’t exactly do that.
“Sir, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Would you like me to call Ms. Ngyuen?”
“No.” I shook my head and massaged my temples.
Prove it. This wasn’t about disguising things or trying to divert attention. Eva only grew more pregnant by the day. Meg knew what was happening—I suspected many people thought they did, too—but it was time to be abundantly clear.
“Meg, can you close the door and take a seat?” I asked.
Though concerned, she followed orders.
I cleared my throat, preparing for this uncomfortable conversation.
“The situation with Miss Pavlak may be confusing sometimes. For that, I apologize, but… she is a valued employee here. As she and Claire fill in on the operations side for Daphne, I would ask you treat her as you would my sister. I don’t know why you argued with her earlier, but that cannot happen. ”
Meg shook her head. “I worry for you. Mixing home and work like this… while she galivants around… it’s not good.”
“Galivants?” I snickered. “Eva is least likely to galivant. She’s quite calm and laid-back in real life. She doesn’t put on airs.”
“She is demanding. She speaks out of turn and defies authority.”
“Only with me. And she has every right to question me right now,” I said. “On the personal side, Eva and the twins take priority and always will.”
“I don’t like how she mixes the two and expects you to drop everything. It’s not proper behavior.”
“For whom?” I chuckled. “Mum would have marched in here and demanded Dad immediately pack up if she needed him to attend a band concert for Derrick or a play for Lanie. I don’t think I’ve met a more demanding woman than my mother.”
“Your parents were married. I do not understand this at all. This is… it’s highway robbery!”
I should have called her out, but I decided the best approach was to let Meg vent and redirect.
“You are correct that we are not married, but that makes no difference. Eva will forever be in my life. No one is robbing anyone. We agreed to have children together. That is all. It is also beside the point.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Meg, you prevented Eva from doing her job. She asked me about official business. Claire is sending her to London in her place. She needed to confirm that with me. And now, I need you to confirm that you can get her on the passenger manifest for the jet. Do not do that again. I know your first impulse is to protect me—and the company—but Eva shares in that motivation. We are a team. I need InfoSec to have access to me while Daphne is out. Claire and Eva get priority in the case of an incident. You need to treat them both with respect. Do you understand?”
She nodded. “I don’t mean to be rude.”
“I know,” I said. “Uh, besides adding Miss Pavlak to the manifest, can you organize a meeting with all my VPs and directors for this afternoon? Clear schedules if you must. Exclude Eva and Claire. Neither of them needs to be there. Claire is swamped and Eva won’t want to attend.”
“Should I include an agenda, sir?”
“Call it contingency planning and leave it broad.”
The afternoon rolled around. I found myself in a conference room with everyone with a rank of director or higher—minus Eva and Claire.
Their faces signaled concerns about mass layoffs rather than my poorly-put-together pregnancy announcement.
I flew by the seat of my pants as much as ever, trying to channel the What Would Dad Do of it all.
I reflected on the number of times people criticized Mum for being “too involved”, but also how her vision made the company a retail powerhouse.
In our case, Eva needed levity not only for family sake, but because she was key to modernizing our tech strategy.
“Thank you all for being here,” I said. “I know it is very busy, so I will not keep you long. Look, this isn’t a layoff or anything.
We’re thriving and about to close the London deal.
There is no reason to worry. However, I called you here to discuss some upcoming changes and planning for the future. ”
People relaxed when they realized this wasn’t a layoff.
“So, does anyone want to know what my father said made this company exceptional?”
No one responded.
“Okay… well, maybe you think it’s rhetorical, but…
it’s a family-run company. For awhile, I wanted so badly to IPO, but no.
I am reminded that our strength has always been in our ability to rally together as a family and a team.
Recently, we’ve forgotten this—despite the big flashing signs otherwise. ”
I paced. “Daphne being on leave is complicated, yes. I’ve heard some rumblings and complaints.
The truth is, we should be happy for Daphne.
She’s transformed our retail sector and saved hundreds of jobs in her past year here.
It thrills me to see another generation here filling these halls as all of us kids did and as Dad and his siblings did before us. ”
Some heads nodded.
“Now, there is an elephant in the room I want to clear up—a lot of talk about whether there has been some sort of foul play or affair involving myself and Ms. Pavlak. Some in this room have felt it acceptable to poke fun at her or act insubordinate or rude. I’d like to remind you that this is unacceptable and will be seen as harassment. ”
The most reliable of the rumor mill looked down.
“Yes, Ms. Pavlak and I began seeing one another before Daphne hired her. Yes, we are expecting twins in the new year. Yes, we remain professional.”
Audible gasps filled the room, but I continued.
“No policy has been violated. In the spirit of our past, I will take leave, just as Daphne has. She is aware she will be in charge. You might not like that, those are your opinions. However, my father took time off for the birth of every one of his six children at a time that was uncommon. I won’t hear criticism of either people giving birth or supporting people through bonding time with their children. ”
The room fell silent.
“After you leave this meeting, please remind your employees that our family leave policies exist to ensure a balance in their work lives with the thing that matters most—their family. Happy, fulfilled people are the backbone of our company. Let’s not lose sight of that.
Furthermore, if I hear any of you being unkind to any person at the company about to give birth or support a partner through that process, I will take action with HR.
Such behavior is discriminatory. Thank you. That is all.”
The room remained quiet as people filed out. I realized Eva had watched the whole thing from the coffee machine, curious. I met her gaze before filing out.
“I just handled it,” I said. “Can we go to London and put this all behind us?”
She shrugged. “We can try, but shit is still complicated.”
“It always will be,” I agreed. “That’s life.”