Chapter 6 - The Coffee
Saturday morning, Claire met Richard at the Panera Bread on Providence Road. I didn't go. I stayed home with the kids, built a Lego castle with Jake, and helped Lily practice her spelling words. I checked my phone every three minutes.
She came back at eleven-thirty. Her face was set.
"Well?" I said.
"He offered me a job," she said. "At a firm he's joining. He wouldn't tell me which one. He said it's 'a top-tier firm' and he's going to be SVP. He wants me as his VP of Marketing. Twenty percent raise. Title bump. The works."
"Did he say which firm?"
"No. He kept saying 'you'll see soon enough.' Dan — he's so sure of himself. He kept saying 'once they see what I can do, they'll regret letting me go.' He doesn't sound like a man who's worried."
"Because he doesn't know," I said. "Claire, on Monday, he's coming to Cole & Associates for a second interview. He thinks it's with the CEO. He's going to walk into my office. And I'm going to tell him who I am."
She put her hand on my arm. "Dan — be careful. He's fragile. When people like Richard feel cornered, they lash out. He could sue. He could bad-mouth you. He could —"
"I know. But Claire — he took credit for your work. For years. I saw it in the deal files. Every signature project of his — you were the marketing lead. You designed the campaigns. You built the pitch books. And he sat in the room and took the bow. If I hire him, I want him to know that I know. And I want you to have the option to work somewhere that credits you."
She was quiet for a long time. Then she said, "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet," I said. "But I know I'm not going to hide anymore."
Monday morning came. I wore a suit — the first time in three years I'd worn one to the office. I dropped the kids at school, kissed Claire goodbye, and drove to South End. I took the elevator to the fifth floor. I walked past the reception desk — the new receptionist didn't recognize me — and into my corner office.
At nine-fifty, Sarah from HR knocked. "Mr. — uh, Dan? Richard Voss is here. Should I send him in?"
"Send him in, Sarah. And Sarah — call me Mr. Cole. From now on."
She looked at me, suddenly understanding. "Yes, Mr. Cole."
At ten o'clock exactly, Richard Voss walked into my office. He was wearing the same navy suit. He had his resume folder under his arm. He looked around — corner office, skyline view, the COLE & ASSOCIATES logo on the wall — and his smile faltered, just a little.
"You must be the CEO," he said, extending his hand. "Richard Voss. I've heard a lot about —"
He stopped. Because I'd stood up, and he was looking at my face, and the pieces were falling into place. The burger guy. The consultant in the corner. The CEO.
"You," he said.
May you like
"Sit down, Richard," I said. "We need to talk."
