Chapter Five
On Monday evening, Joey was already seated at their neighborhood trattoria when Mei arrived. She kissed him warmly, then slid into the chair across from him.
“Have you ordered?”
“Yup. I got our usuals: spaghetti bolognese for me, rigatoni with eggplant and fresh mozzarella for you.”
“I love how well you know me.”
“It’s because I love everything about you.”
Mei nudged his foot affectionately and bit into a piece of focaccia. “So,” she said as the waiter arrived with their dishes, “how was your test?”
Joey grimaced. “Not good. I failed.”
“I’m sorry.” Mei reached for his hand. She couldn’t remember the last time he looked so defeated.
“Yeah. It sucks.”
“Did you need more time to study?”
Joey nodded, his eyes regretful.
Mei speared a rigatoni, trying to suppress the little voice that threatened to blurt out, Maybe you should’ve started earlier! “So what happens now?”
“I can retake it.”
“Oh good! When?”
“I have to see.” Joey twirled spaghetti around his fork. “Honestly, I don’t even want to think about it for a while.”
They ate in silence. Mei peeked at her fiancé. How was he not jumping at the opportunity?
Joey finally looked up, his lopsided smile rueful. “I’m sorry, my baby. I know you’re disappointed in me.”
Mei squeezed his hand. “I’m not disappointed in you.
I just don’t get why you’re not going for this.
Do you know how lucky you are to have a manager who cares about you and is trying to get you promoted?
” Until Mei reported to Diana, her current manager, none of her bosses had looked out for her career.
“I know. But I like my job how it is. I make a good living. I have time for you and my files. If I get promoted, I’ll have to manage people.
I don’t know if I’m up for that.” He rubbed his thumb against the back of Mei’s hand.
“I’m not like you. I don’t need to go full throttle at work.
I’m already doing more than anyone ever thought I would. ”
Mei studied his face. Behind his glasses, Joey’s eyes looked tired.
Defeated. And a little scared. Understanding dawned on Mei.
She leaned forward in her seat. “Joey, I think you’re suffering from imposter syndrome.
Just because you didn’t go to a four-year college doesn’t mean you can’t be an IT leader. You’re so good at what you do.”
She had never met anyone who loved IT as much as Joey.
He was thrilled to figure out the best Wi-Fi setup for their apartment.
He often got sucked into watching hours of DIY IT videos on YouTube.
Even his music file hobby, which sometimes drove Mei crazy, was a form of IT geekery.
“You deserve more responsibility. You’d be a great manager, too. ”
“You think so?”
“Yes.” Mei eyed his “Romaine Calm” T-shirt with a cartoon head of lettuce. Maybe we can update his wardrobe before he starts leading a team.
“I don’t know.”
“I do. This will be good for you. And us.”
“Okay.” Joey nodded slowly, then with more resolve. “Think you can help me study? Encourage me when I need it?”
“Of course.” That familiar fiery rush flowed through her veins.
“Thanks, my baby. I don’t have your big brains. Or your confidence.” The candlelight threw shadows on Joey’s scruffy face, making him even more ruggedly handsome. His lopsided smile made Mei’s heart flutter.
She tugged him toward her. “Well, I believe in you. And that’s all that matters.”
· · ·
The next afternoon, Mei hurried to the London conference room. The working red phone booth and photo wallpaper of the Thames always made her smile. She composed herself, then slid into the seat across from her manager.
“Is everything okay?” Mei asked. Diana had scheduled this one-on-one just an hour ago.
“Yes, but I have some news. I’m leaving. Next Friday is my last day.”
“Wow.” Mei’s eyes widened. “Where are you going?”
“Revolution. I’m going to be their CMO.”
“Congratulations!” The chief marketing officer position was the pinnacle of any marketer’s career, and Revolution was the hottest streaming platform and film studio. “Revolution is lucky to have you.”
“And Livin is lucky to have you.” Diana raised her eyebrows emphatically. “You’re the reason Livin is a global brand. I’ve made the leadership team aware of your talent. The call is theirs, but I’ve strongly recommended you to fill my role.”
“Thank you!” Mei struggled to speak. She might be Livin’s new VP of brand marketing! She’d never dreamed of reaching that level so soon. It was just an abstract idea in her mind when she mentioned it to Joey last week. “What are the next steps? I’m happy to take on anything.”
“I’ll create my transition plan, but I won’t give you too much. You’re already overloaded. Oh, and after I leave, you’ll report to James.”
Mei frowned. James Smith was Livin’s new CMO. Julian had scooped him up from a telecommunications company as part of a new slate of executives he was hiring as Livin prepared to go public.
Livin’s marketing team wasn’t thrilled. The dude is as bland as his name, Tamiko had griped after googling James. He has no creative credits or leadership awards, Ayanna agreed. He never speaks at conferences or gets profiled in the trades.
Mei was trying to keep an open mind, but so far, she wasn’t impressed.
In the marketing all-hands where he introduced himself, James was a confident speaker, but his cool demeanor and soft voice were like a humid fog.
When he’d signed off on her three-year vision, he’d only written “Approved” in his email.
“Huh, James. I haven’t met him one-on-one yet. What’s he like?”
Diana’s mouth twisted. “He’s an old-school corporate marketer who cares more about managing up than driving innovation. But if anyone can win him over, it’s you. You’re creative, data-driven, and personable.”
Mei sat up straighter. She and Diana talked through more logistics, then wrapped up.
“You’re the best manager,” Mei said. “I’m going to miss working together. You didn’t want to wait until after we went public?”
Diana gave her a meaningful look. “We’re still deep in the red and years from turning a profit. Who knows when the IPO will happen? It came down to this: I could keep chasing the dream. Or I could work at a company where I can live it.”
· · ·
Two weekends later, in the passenger seat of Joey’s car, Mei stifled a yawn.
“How you doing, babe?” Joey reached for her hand.
“Tired.” She fumbled for her iced coffee and took a long sip. “But good, now that we’re on vacation.” A tree-lined stretch of the Garden State Parkway whizzed by.
“Were you working all night?”
“I got a few hours of sleep.” Before leaving, Diana had transferred several responsibilities to Mei, including managing the agency of record and sending the leadership team a weekly performance update.
Mei had been working past midnight, then waking up at five every morning to pick up where she’d left off.
“I’m in good shape now. I should be able to unplug this week. ”
They approached the causeway leading to Long Beach Island. A warm sea breeze blew through the open windows. Mei closed her eyes and inhaled the salty air.
Long Beach Island was two hours outside the city, and the one place where Mei had vacationed as a kid. For her and Ali, LBI was paradise. They’d spend hours jumping in the waves, building sand castles, and eating creamy clam chowder for lunch.
Those vacations had stopped when Mei was ten and their parents separated.
The trip was no longer possible on a single parent’s income.
Still, Mei had only good memories of LBI.
It was a place where she was a kid with childlike concerns, like whether to get chocolate or rainbow sprinkles on her soft serve, not whether or not her mom could afford to pay rent.
As she and Joey drove down the main drag, Mei exclaimed over the familiar sights. There was the surf shop where she and Ali had pooled their allowance to buy an inflatable whale float. And that was the old-fashioned fudge place where they always got slabs of vanilla chip.
Joey turned onto a side street abutting the beach. Ali and Luc’s black SUV was in the driveway next to the two-story rental. Alexandre’s compact SUV was parked on the street, leaving her and Joey the other driveway spot.
Mei threw the front door open, then let out a contented sigh. The living room had a nautical vibe with crisp whites and navy accents. Framed photos of waves hung on the walls. Sliding glass doors opened onto a wide porch facing the beach.
“You’re here!” Ali and Kaia descended the staircase, both in pink sundresses with bathing suit straps peeking out. Luc and Alexandre followed.
Mei greeted each of them with a hug. She caught a whiff of pine and sunscreen when she leaned into Alexandre. “So good to see you.” He looked relaxed and tan in a soft green T-shirt and gray swim trunks.
“You too,” Alexandre said, his eyes warm. He held out his hand to Joey. “Thanks again for inviting me.”
“Anytime, bro.” Joey gave Alexandre a back-slapping handshake. “Glad you could join.”
They changed into their swimsuits, and everyone headed to the beach. As they emerged from the grassy dunes onto the sand, Mei’s heart swelled with joy. Wispy white clouds drifted across the blue sky. The ocean sparkled in the late morning sun.
They claimed a spot on the edge of the tide. Ali and Luc waded into the surf. Mei watched Alexandre point out different types of seabirds to Kaia.
“Want to go for a walk?” Joey asked, suddenly at her shoulder.
Hand in hand, they strolled by the water. With the ocean lapping over her feet, the stress Mei hadn’t realized she was carrying began to melt away. Diana’s departure, her ballooning workload—everything seemed to roll out with the waves.
Mei kissed Joey’s hand. “This week will be good for me.”