Disclosure_ A Novel - Michael Crichton [103]
“She didn’t approach me, Bob. She jumped me.”
Garvin showed a flash of irritation. “You’re no kid either, you know.”
“That’s right, I’m not,” Sanders said. “But I am her employee.”
“And I know she holds you in the highest regard,” Garvin said, settling back in his chair. “As does everybody in the company, Tom. You’re vital to our future. You know it, I know it. I want to keep our team together. And I keep coming back to the idea that we have to make allowances for women. We have to cut them a little slack.”
“But we’re not talking about women,” Sanders said. “We’re talking about one particular woman.”
“Tom—”
“And if a man had done what she did, you wouldn’t be talking about cutting him slack. You’d fire him, and throw him out on his ass.”
“Possibly so.”
“Well, that’s the problem,” Sanders said.
Garvin said, “I’m not sure I follow you there, Tom.” His tone carried a warning: Garvin didn’t like being disagreed with. Over the years, as his company grew in wealth and success, Garvin had grown accustomed to deference. Now, approaching retirement, he expected obedience and agreement. “We have an obligation to attain equality,” Garvin said.
“Fine. But equality means no special breaks,” Sanders said. “Equality means treating people the same. You’re asking for inequality toward Meredith, because you won’t do what you would do to a man—fire him.”
Garvin sighed. “If it was a clear case, Tom, I would. But I understand this particular situation isn’t so clear.”
Sanders considered telling him about the tape. Something made him hold back. He said, “I think it is.”
“But there are always differences of opinion on these matters,” Garvin said, leaning across the bar. “That’s a fact, isn’t it? Always a difference of opinion. Tom. Look: what did she do that was so bad? I mean, really. She made a pass? Fine. You could have decided it was flattering. She’s a beautiful woman, after all. There are worse things that could happen. A beautiful woman puts her hand on your knee. Or you could have just said, no thank you. You could have handled it any number of ways. You’re a grown-up. But this . . . vindictiveness. Tom. I have to tell you. I’m surprised at you.”
Sanders said, “Bob, she broke the law.”
“That really remains to be seen, doesn’t it?” Garvin said. “You can throw open your personal life for a jury to inspect, if that’s what you want to do. I wouldn’t want to do it, myself. And I don’t see that it helps anybody to take this into court. It’s a no-win situation, all around.”
“What’re you saying?”
“You don’t want to go to court, Tom.” Garvin’s eyes were narrow, dangerous.
“Why not?”
“You just don’t.” Garvin took a deep breath. “Look. Let’s stay on track here. I’ve talked to Meredith. She feels as I do, that this thing has gotten out of hand.”
“Uh-huh . . .”
“And I’m talking to you now, too. Because my hope, Tom, is that we can put this to rest, and go back to the way things were—now hear me out, please—go back to the way things were, before this unfortunate misunderstanding happened. You stay at your job, Meredith stays at hers. You two continue to work together like civilized adults. You move forward and build the company, take it public, and everybody makes a pile of money a year down the line. What’s wrong with that?”
Sanders felt something like relief, and a sense of normalcy returning. He longed to escape from the lawyers and from the tension of the last three days. To sink back into the way things were seemed as appealing as a warm bath.
“I mean, look at it this way, Tom. Right after this thing happened on Monday night, nobody blew the whistle. You didn’t call anybody. Meredith didn’t call anybody. I think you both wanted this thing to go away. Then there was an unfortunate mix-up the next day, and an argument that needn’t have happened. If you’d been on time for the meeting, if you and Meredith