Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-eight
It felt like the Mondayiest Monday Iris had had in a long time, although all things considered, she should be grateful she still had a job somewhere.
She slumped in her chair at Candela and sucked down her iced coffee, willing it to change her life—or at least give her such a violent brain freeze that she could forget what had happened over the last forty-eight hours.
Gabe, Jonathan, Roman. How had she screwed up with so many men in so little time?
Gabe hadn’t texted her since giving a tepid thumbs-up to her text saying she was home on Sunday night.
The memory of her embarrassment with Jonathan was as painful and vivid as a skinned knee.
She thought of Roman and his enormous request and winced at how she had handled it.
Although Iris still believed the perfume was the cause of his baby fever, she couldn’t account for why she had been so cruel about his relationship.
Something about how Roman had discussed the topic had set her off, and it was only when her anger had cooled that she could parse its cause.
Roman was the one man she’d trusted to always see her as a person and never reduce her to an object.
Fertility treatment was depersonalizing enough; during most appointments, she felt like a faulty car.
She couldn’t bear feeling like her friend, too, wanted to use her for parts.
Iris heard Nate’s voice from across the office floor, and she slumped a little lower so he wouldn’t come over. Nate—Roman had to remind her of that.
Not so long ago, Nate and Iris had been work–husband and wife, besties within the bubble of Candela’s office, gossiping about the others, sharing increasingly intimate details about their lives.
He had been her refuge when the office felt like Animal House, because he wasn’t like the other guys.
Nate was slightly older, married, his background in design made him more artistic, which resonated with her.
He treated Iris with respect—or used to.
And yes, at some point in their friendship, Iris had developed feelings for him.
Or she became emotionally dependent on his attention, she honestly wasn’t sure which.
She didn’t act on her crush, but she didn’t fight it either.
And she knew it was mutual. Their will-they-or-won’t-they tension reached its breaking point when one evening, after a boozy Candela karaoke night, Nate confessed his romantic feelings for Iris but lamented he couldn’t step out on his wife with a baby on the way.
Iris gaslit him, said she’d never thought of him as more than a friend, that she was in a happy relationship. Nate left confused and embarrassed.
It had ruined their friendship. Iris reacted to shame the way she always did, by shutting down. She pulled up the drawbridge, redrew her boundaries with cold, remote appropriateness.
Nate reacted to humiliation like many men—with anger.
Enough time had passed that the pain and awkwardness between them had dissipated. But still they teased each other like bitter exes.
Like he was now.
“So?” Nate popped over the top of her cubicle and bit into a red apple. Through a frothy chew, he asked, “How was the weekend getaway with Wolff?”
“The working weekend was a success. We secured two new investors for Oasys.”
“Hope you didn’t have to do anything untoward.”
Not going there, Iris thought, but she knew how else to make Nate jealous. “Wolff’s house is incredible. He owns a perfectly intact Norman Jaffe on the water.”
“Of course he does. Meanwhile, my splurge is four days at Disney for Maddie’s third birthday.”
“Maddie is turning three ? Oh my gosh, I remember when she was just born.”
“I do too.” Nate’s green eyes fixed on her with intent, but only for a moment. “My brother says it’s not worth the money, Maddie’s too young to remember it, but it’s looking like next year won’t feel so strapped.”
Iris was distracted by a new email that came in on her phone, but not on her work email. “Is Annie going back to work once Maddie starts preschool?”
“No, Annie’s pregnant again, actually.”
“Wow! Congrats!”
“Thank you, we’re very excited. But I just had a very heartening conversation with Frank.” He stuffed the apple in his mouth like a roasting pig.
Iris watched Nate walk away with her blood pressure rising. That better not mean what I think it means.
She returned her attention to the message on her personal email account. It was from Marilyn—Iris didn’t even know they had this address—and she gasped when she read it:
As per your discussion with Jonathan over the weekend, your offer for a full-time position and equity stake are attached.
Jonathan appreciates you have a long history at Candela, so take your time to think it over.
But I think you will find the terms generous and the opportunity unmatched. We hope you’ll join the Wolff Pack!
Iris couldn’t believe it. Was this a mistake? Had Marilyn failed to speak with Jonathan first? That didn’t sound like Marilyn. Iris opened the Docusign attachment and skimmed the contract—she could’ve punched the air. Relief flooded her veins. So she hadn’t kissed her career away.
But now she had a decision to make.
—
Iris waited until Nate had left for lunch to knock on Frank’s door.
“C’mon in, kiddo!”
She found Frank strapping in to his Peloton shoes.
“I’m hearing good things from the Wolff team, they’re very happy—”
Iris wasted no time. “So, I was talking to Nate…”
“Ah, all right. I anticipated this. You two have always been close, I knew you’d talk.”
“But it’s not a done deal yet, right? You’re still considering your options.” She managed a smile.
“I haven’t made a formal offer, but…” Frank trailed off. “I have to do what’s best for the company.”
Her stomach had dropped to her feet, and she sank into the chair that faced his desk. “No, Frank, why? We discussed this, the years I’ve invested here—”
“Well, Nate has as much if not more design experience—”
“I did everything you asked. You said you wanted to see initiative from me, and I landed us Wolff, the most high-profile residential building Candela has ever worked on. We beat out all the big firms with my pitch.”
“But you boxed him out. I know it wasn’t your intention, Wolff handpicked you. But the fact remains, Nate was in at the start, and he got benched right before the big game.”
“That’s not true. It was always my idea.”
Frank put up his hands as if she had a gun. “I don’t want to get into the he-said, she-said of it all. You know I don’t do drama .”
Iris looked out the window behind him, fighting the tears of frustration that she knew would only undermine her further. “It’s not drama, it’s my career and it’s the truth.”
“Look, I hate to see you upset. Don’t take this so hard. You and Nate are both highly valued players on this team. But Nate was unhappy with how Wolff went. I had to do something to keep him. He’s got a growing family, without seeing movement, he was gonna walk.”
“Why don’t you think I’ll walk?”
Frank raised his eyebrows, rippling the skin all the way to his hairline.
“Kiddo, c’mon. We go back. You’ve been more than an employee, Iris, you’re my mentee.
I’ve invested in you because I see your potential.
And I think I’ve earned your trust by now that I know what’s best. I would never hold you back.
But I can’t play favorites, and I won’t give you more than you can handle just to flatter you. ”
“You have no idea what I can handle.”
He scoffed. “I think we need a time-out. Go to lunch, lower the temperature, and let’s talk when you’re calmer, okay?”
Iris nodded, her mind made up. “I was offered a full-time position at Wolff. And I’m going to take it.”
“Stop that now. I don’t like threats.”
“It’s not a threat. It’s my decision and I’m letting you know.”
“Jonathan’s poaching you?”
“No, Frank. I’m leaving.”