17. Sutton
SUTTON
Gently, I knock on Elodie’s open office door where she is reading a paper and chewing on a pen, and the sound causes her to look up with an immediate smile forming.
“Hey, what brings you to these parts? Wait…” She palms her forehead for theatrics. “You’re not here for me, you have a fiancé down the hall.” She grins.
Slowly, I walk in and hold up my hand to display my ring finger proudly. “Husband,” I clarify.
Instantly, she turns giddy, jumping and flapping her hands like a damn penguin.
I let her have her moment while I sit down on the chair opposite her desk.
“So it happened.” She quickly goes to her office door and shuts it, then joins me by occupying the empty chair next to me.
It’s not too surprising after we warned our friends of our plan.
They’ve been waiting for our cue to do it.
“A few days ago, actually. I wanted to tell you in person.”
She calms and sinks back into the chair with a wry smile. “Ah, that’s where Foster disappeared to. I saw him briefly when I came in the other morning, then poof.” She clicks her fingers. “Gone and never returned.”
“Yeah, and we also had an ultrasound.”
“And?” Elodie is over-the-moon happy for me right now; it’s apparent.
I can’t shed my smile even if I tried. “A boy.”
Elodie is about to combust in her seat. “A boy! I had a feeling he would be.”
I snicker. “You and Foster both, I seemed to miss that instinct.”
She touches my knee in comfort before releasing her touch. “Ninety-nine percent of pregnant women don’t have that instinct, you’re fine. Now, tell me more. Where did you get married?”
“His place, well, our place now. Only the judge and us.” It was perfect. No big fuss. Most people may think we were too casual, but I felt comfortable in my skin with every word I said.
“Hmm, and you won’t let us throw you both some sort of congratulations dinner or something?”
Shaking my head, I’m completely comfortable with my policy of no attention needed. “We’re good,” I simply reply.
Elodie rolls her eyes, knowing me too well.
Dropping my gaze, I notice that today’s blouse covers enough, but with one change of position, not even baggy clothes are going to hide the pregnancy anymore. Sighing, I dread today all of a sudden.
“I’m telling Celeste today.”
Elodie cringes. “Eek.” My eyes grow worried.
If that is her response, what the hell am I walking into?
She sees my panic. “She’s smart and knows policy.
She probably even likes babies. It’s just not her nature to show it.
Plus, I’m sure she’ll be more upset that you married Foster. She totally has a thing for him.”
“What?” It’s news to me.
She chuckles. “Relax, I’ve only noticed her fix her hair a time or two before entering his office.”
Suddenly, and it’s petty, but I feel like I have a win against her. Foster is mine. All mine.
“You already know Olivia, so she’s as easy as a peach. Easy to work with to set up all of that parental leave, company daycare, insurance, and all that jazz.”
“I figured. Plus, as much as I hate to say it, because I wish it were all my own stature, but nobody wants to piss Foster off. If you piss the CFO off, then have fun at the next budget meeting, ya know?”
“Oh, totally,” she says in agreement. “Your husband has power,” she teases me.
I rest my elbow on the edge of her desk, letting my propped hand cradle the side of my head as I puff a breath. “I’m not an idiot. The rumors are going to fly that I’m sleeping my way to the top.”
“I’m sure you like it on top,” she quips with innuendo.
It does make me laugh. She’s normally not the crude one in our friend group. “Har-har.”
She raises her hand. “I’m the one who has a daughter that our COO only recently found out about. That was a fun day when people heard the news. But also, easier than I thought. Compared to other places, the company culture here isn’t so gossipy.”
That does calm some of my worries for the day.
A restful silence floats between Elodie and me, as if she were studying me, but her mouth still holds a faint smile.
“You’re really happy with him, aren’t you?”
“I am, I really am. Everything is falling into place, Elodie. It’s exhilarating, scary, and the most grounded I’ve felt in a while. And it hasn’t happened alone. Foster is…”
The strongest feeling I’ve ever had for someone. I don’t want to call it a romantic connection or even attraction. Yes, it’s both of those things, but it’s more. It’s two people who have a deep bond.
"He’s special." It feels like a cop-out answer, but how do you put into words falling for your husband on a deep level? It should be obvious to others—we’re married, after all.
“You light up when you talk about him. I’ve never seen you this way. You always strive for perfection in your work, but you are allowed to have perfection in your personal life too.”
“Balance, right?” I rebuke. She nods. “Speaking of perfection in work, I can’t put it off. Celeste will be a joy today,” I say sarcastically.
Standing, I’m ready to get this over with.
“You’ll be fine,” she assures me.
I know she’s right.
When I open her door, I remember something else. “Do you think you could send me a list of all the baby stuff you got when you were pregnant with Lola? I’m totally lost.”
“Absolutely. I would say I still have some things you can have, but I overdid it with the pink.”
Laughing, I’m going to point out the obvious. “I think you will be giving Lola a brother or sister soon if Hayes has a say.”
She lifts a shoulder. “Meh, probably.” She brushes it off because she is totally on board with that plan.
Smiling, I pause before saying, "I'm happy we've both found some stability in our lives."
Celeste thrums her perfectly manicured nails on the conference table. She sang my praises, then pivoted quickly to the nitty-gritty of new contracts she thinks only I can handle. I stopped her and shared the news. Instantly, her mood dropped.
Now the air is stiff. I've hit a switch in her. The woman I thought I had a good rapport with vanishes.
“Pregnant.” She swallows. She’s unreadable, but I’m certain she isn’t going to be saying congratulations at any point in this conversation.
To be honest, if I were in her shoes, I might be having a little breakdown. The department already has one lawyer down for the count, and in a few months, I’ll be added to the list.
“I didn’t realize you were in a relationship.”
My brows rise from her bold question. “I didn’t realize management training missed the advice that it isn’t appropriate for a head of department to ask,” I rebut with sass.
It’s never bothered me, but it is no secret in the office that Celeste can be a little uptight.
Her hands plant on the table as if she is bracing herself, and her nostrils flare as she inhales a breath. “Forgive me.” That was a struggle for her. “I’m just…”
“Thrilled?” I deadpan.
Her smile is strained. “Sure.”
And here comes the grand finale. “For full disclosure due to conflict of interest, especially as I’m handling contracts, I need to say that I’m married now, too.”
She looks like a deer in headlights. I’m throwing a lot of news her way.
“To Foster,” I add.
Her neck elongates. “Oh.” She drags her nails along her throat, clearly agitated. “I didn’t realize you two were in a relationship.”
Maybe Elodie was right. When Celeste heard the news, her face fell, and she definitely didn’t appear thrilled, maybe with a small twinge of jealousy. From my experience, it’s normally the prickly ones with strong sexual appetites, and I ruined any chance of her desired meal.
“I assure you that it didn’t play a factor in contracts, and I haven’t had to work with him on any for a long while. But I’m determined to work with strong morals. Haven Crossroads doesn’t have a no-fraternization policy—”
She stops me with her palm in the air and instantly hardens, and her face turns cold. “Sutton, we have to think beyond that. For our department, it’s more complex. I don’t think I need to point out that someone could complain to the state bar for these circumstances.”
I feel like I’m being scolded, and my skin runs hot with embarrassment. Tension prickles along my arms as I brace for more criticism.
A wave of panic pings me. “Yes, but—”
Celeste shakes her head. “It’s taken me three years to build this department to be sharp, high-quality, and ensure we are on top of our game.
But this situation puts us all in a tight spot.
Compliance won’t be pleased, especially when audited.
I’m going to have to go to HR. Ethically, I’m conflicted. ”
“I’m well aware, and we’ll speak with HR.”
“I’m sure she’ll be more than willing to accommodate the company’s CFO,” Celeste says with cynicism and gives me a pointed look. “I’m not swayed by preferential treatment, my ethics are too high of a standard.”
Admittedly, I roll my eyes at her jab. “I’m not going to give a day-by-day timeline. But Haven Crossroads brought me on with a proven track record way before I met Foster.”
“It doesn’t change the fact that he works in finance and you in legal. This is a major misstep on the conflict-of-interest scale.”
I’m boiling inside. Perhaps even angry with myself. I can’t argue because all her points are valid. I can only defend myself, but I want this conversation to end.
“I think it’s a good idea we take some time to think this through”
“Well…” Her face sours. “Uh… congratulations. It’s… convenient with work and all. Interesting optics and timelines for the office.” She presses her lips together.
I’m not going to sit here, half swirling in the chair, and attempt to be patient. “Well, what can I say? Foster and I will both use our employee benefits with the company daycare,” I highlight, trying my best to lighten the mood.
“I guess so… and you won’t be able to work on any projects with him alone, either,” she comments emotionlessly and slides her gaze to the side.
Professional. That’s who I am. Be the higher standard, I remind myself.