True Beginnings (6 page)

Chapter 6 HER

“I can’t believe you were robbed!” Kevin puts his arm around me and gives me one of his bear hugs, pulling me off one foot. “But,
damn
, your boyfriend is my knight in shining!” He has a cheesy grin now.

“Hey…stop imagining Max as
your
boyfriend, perv!” But I’m laughing. I’m still shocked about what happened, but it feels better to laugh about it in the light of day at least.

Laura squeezes my arm more gently, “Do you think the guy would’ve shot you guys?”

The three of us are in line for coffee. I’d already told them every detail. “I don’t really know. It all happened too fast. Max reacted so quickly and I just froze.”

Laura hugs me with one arm too, but gently, “I’m just glad you’re ok!”

“Yeah…but you lost that great watch!” Kevin is shaking his head. “There’s a special place in hell for thieves, ya know!”

“I am sad about losing the watch Max gave me, but I can’t feel too bad about it. Max could’ve been hurt. We both could’ve,” I just shrug. My old watch looks shabby to me in comparison to the Cartier one, but it’s still ticking at least.

My phone rings on the way up the elevator. I answer, even though reception is sketchy in the elevator banks. Max has been non-stop calling and texting me so far this morning. I’ve been able to balance everything, but it’s not just the second Grande of the day making me jittery. I know he’s testing our conversation last night. My acknowledgement that things are different.

“Hi, Lucy. It’s Julia. Jake’s girlfriend.” I freeze. I forgot that I gave her my number the other night. I feel strange talking to her.

“Oh...yeah. Hi, Julia. How are you?”

“Great, thanks! I have an interview scheduled tomorrow about my promotion! Short notice, right? I’m so excited!”

The phone broke up through that, but I understood what she said. Her excitement was obvious. “Congratulations!” I know what’s coming next and feel strange again. The elevator doors open and I wave absently to Laura as Kevin and I get off on our floor.

“So…are you still up for getting together to give me some interviewing tips?”

I say yes. I know that I’ll have to clear this with Max, but I can always cancel if he says no. I’ve done this already with a few happy hours with Tracy and Laura.

“I can’t make lunch, unfortunately. But how bout after work, on me? I can meet around your building today if that works for you?” My stomach is in a knot. I say yes again and we pick a place around the corner to meet at 6:00.

“Thanks, again, for doing this, Lucy! Jake really spoke highly about you and I think this is just the edge I’ll need to nail the promotion!” She hangs up quickly. The knot has taken over my whole body.

I have one more interview to get through before lunch. I made plans with Laura and Tracy to try a new taco place. Thinking about this, I run to the bathroom and almost throw up my coffee. I’m going to have to call Max soon to talk to him. I decide to wait till after lunch…I need more food less coffee on my stomach before that call.

.....

“Max. It’s me. Can you please call me back ASAP? I have something to ask you.” I was hoping to get him on the phone. I don’t think I should text him. This is something he’d want me to talk to him about.

All through lunch, Laura shared the details of the robbery with Tracy. I only added little. Tracy was just as shocked, but she was angrier in her reaction. “You didn’t call the police?! Why the fuck not?!”

“Max said it wouldn’t matter, we’d spend all this time giving a report and nothing would show up anyway.”

“Yeah…but then they’d be on the lookout for a guy in the park with a gun, Luce!” 

“Jeff is a retired cop…he agreed with Max…” I don’t want to argue with her.

“So what…just because Max says no…you
can
think for yourself, ya know!” Tracy has been pushing her dislike of Max more ever since her movie night. She’s still with Josh and I think she needs to justify to herself that Max was the problem that night. Besides, I blew off our Wednesday dinner to go to the event with him last night.

“Max protected me. You weren’t there…you don’t have the right to criticize him or me in this, Tracy.” She’s not used to me standing up to her. Laura’s eyes are saucers.

I left the deli early, taking my order to go. I couldn’t deal with arguing with her, fearing asking Max, and dealing with this weird feeling about meeting Julia.

On the walk back, I stopped at a bench. The warm sunshine felt good. People watching distracted me. Several men in suits smiled at me, but I ignored them. Since I’ve been dressing more like Max likes, I have noticed that the type of guy who notices me is different. Slightly older. More conservative. And more polite.

I used to get whistles, stares, and even comments sometimes. I never dressed slutty. But since I’ve followed the rule of dressing more conservative, more feminine, I’ve been treated with more respect too. Just one of the ways that Max has changed me…for the better.

My phone vibrates, only a text. “In meeting. What’s up, baby?”

I hesitate asking in a text. I know that time is running out…if I wait too long, he’ll definitely be mad. But I can’t help feeling strange about the whole thing. It must be from the talk I had with Jake. I wonder how much Julia knows…

I decide to just ask in text. If Max says no, I may even be relieved. “I have to ask you about plans tonight.”

“Go on.”

“Can I meet Julia after work to help her with her interview?”

I wait a long time without a response. I don’t take my eyes off of my phone. I have to return to the office, though, so I get up and start back.

He calls just as I’ve reached my building. As I answer, I walk around to the shady side, away from people. He doesn’t say hello. “Have you already said yes to meeting Julia?”

I can feel my heart pounding. I want to lie to him, but I know that he’ll know if I do. “…Yes. But I was going to cancel if you said…”

He interrupts me, sounding angry and sad at the same time, “What is the rule, Lucy?”

I feel as naked and exposed as I do when he says this in the bedroom. Tears are in my eyes, “I’m not to make any plans without talking to you.”

“Wrong.” He says this quietly, slowly, but it screams in my head.

I panic. “I…I’m…” I can’t breathe.

“You are
not
to make plans without getting my permission
first
.”

“I’m sorry…Max…I’m sorry.” I can feel the tears down my cheeks. I’m huddled against the building like it’s February.

“You may meet Julia. You will not drink anything except water. You will not eat anything. You will be at my place before 7:30.” He says this quickly, monotone angry.

“Oh...Ok…Thank you…” I feel like the air just warmed around me. My face is hot. My silk dress feels heavier. “Sir.”

“And Lucy…when you get home, you will go straight to the closet and bring me the belt.”

“Yes, Sir.” It’s a tiny breath. I feel too faint to waste more than that. I hold myself up against the wall.

“Text me the address. Jeff will be waiting for you.” He hangs up.

I get my breathing under control, taking big gulps of air. I wipe my tears away quickly too, jabbing at my cheeks with my palms. I can’t believe I’ve messed up like this! I’ve been playing with this fire all along…hoping that he wouldn’t catch on that I make plans first and ask him second. I knew the rule…I just hoped that he’d be tolerant in its interpretation. 

I have to steady myself a little longer before trying to walk. He’s not going to be tolerant. I shake all over, but stop myself from crying again.

I numbly walk back inside. In the elevator, I realize that I didn’t text him. I send him the address quickly. Don’t want to add to his anger!

.....

Waiting for Julia, I look at my phone again. Max didn’t text or call all afternoon. I don’t know which is worse…anticipating my punishment later or missing his presence in my day. I’ve been quiet and sick all afternoon.

Tracy stopped by around 3:00 and apologized. Said she was wrong to make it sound like I did something wrong; I was the victim of a crime and she didn’t want to make it worse on me. I almost cried again. She just thought I was emotional because it was the first time we’d fought about anything. I didn’t correct her. But I did tell her my plans later, so I couldn’t go to happy hour with her and Laura.

I look at my watch. It’s 6:10. Where is this girl?! I have to leave by 7:10 in order to make sure I’m not late for Max.

I realize in my anxiety of waiting for Julia, that this is a funny twist of irony. I’m usually the one who is late. This was one of the first rules Max introduced me to. I’ve been able to be on time for him. I’m still late in other things…but for Max, I’m always right on time or early. I know this makes him proud.

And I can really see how annoying it is to be late, to make someone wait for you! I also know why this meeting feels strange. She probably doesn't know about Jake coming to Max's apartment...I feel like there's a secret between Jake and me and Max. Max said on the phone that Jake wasn't honest with Julia...about their past, how they grew up...I certainly don't want her asking me any questions...it' s not my place to answer them!

She finally comes in the door, “Hey! Sorry I’m a little late…work work work!” She sits down at the corner booth I picked for us. A waiter comes over and asks for our orders.

“I’m sticking with water, thank you.” I answer quickly, taking a sip of the glass in front of me.

“You sure…it’s on me?” Julia is smiling, leaning into the table.

“I’m fine. Not been feeling too great since lunch.” Boy is that an understatement!

“Oh…I’m sorry…we can do this another time…?”

“No!” I imagine Max would never agree again. “I’m just not going to eat or drink anything.” I look at the waiter as I say this. Julia orders a beer.

“So, thank you again for doing this! It means so much to me!” Julia is taking out a small notepad and pen.

“No problem. I hope I can be of some help...”

She tells me about the job. It’s a regional marketing manager position. “So if I get it, stay a few years, I might be able to get to a national level, then who knows…the youngest VP?!” She takes a big drink. “Most likely, I’ll have to jump ship to make a move that big, but one step at a time, right?”

“So let’s start with the basics. Why do you want the job? Wait…before you answer that...in general; think of your answers from the company’s perspective…what they’re looking for in a regional manager. Always bring it back to how you fit not only the written down job description, but the underlying corporate culture. It’s your ace. You already know what they want, better than any outside candidate. Ok…go…”

She smiles. “You are good…Ok…” She shakes her head a little, getting into candidate character. She tells me about her current successes and wanting to expand her understanding up the food chain, to really see hands-on all the regional offices in action. She tells me as a side bar that the company rarely hires married women as regional anything. An old school throwback about too much travel for a family-woman.  She’s going to use her single status and love of local travel to hit home that this is not a problem for her.

“So…you’ll have to travel more with this job?”

“A lot more. The first eight weeks will be on the road.”

“And Jake’s ok with that?!” I blurt this out.

She looks surprised. “Well…he doesn’t have much choice…I want to move up and this is my ticket. He understands that. It’s why we haven’t gotten married. Well, it’s one of the reasons anyway…” She takes another drink. I sip my water, watching her.

I can see what Jake likes about her. She’s very pretty, a big personality, funny, smart, nice. But I wonder at her ambition. Max clearly doesn’t believe women should be this ambitious in business. Could Jake really be that different, coming from the same family?!

“So what’s next?” She’s finished writing my last tip down.

I continue giving her tips until my phone buzzes. I gave myself an alarm, so I wouldn’t have to keep looking at my watch or phone to know when I need to leave.

Standing outside, I see Jeff waiting with the door open for me. Julia hugs me and thanks me again. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!”

“Thanks! I should know by the end of the day tomorrow if I’m moving forward to the next interview. It’s a panel of the VP of Regional Sales and others. So I may need to pick your brain for that one too!”

“You’ll do great!” We hug again and I hurry to the car.

I’m actually leaving a little early and feel happy for a second, until I remember what’s waiting for me. Jeff keeps looking in the rearview mirror. I’m sure my beat red face has him worried. “You ok, Lucy? Need some water…I got some up here.”

“No…thanks, Jeff. Just don’t want to be late tonight…Max is expecting me before 7:30…” I look at my phone again. Plenty of time, but it would probably be better if Jeff could get me there even earlier. Although I’d like to delay my arrival as long as I can…

Jeff smiles at me. It’s a strange smile though. Takes me out of my own head for a moment. “Max is a good guy.” He continues since I only give him a questioning look back. “After I was forced to retire…even after I was healthy again…I was one pissed off asshole for a while…”