Up & Out - Ariella Papa [114]
22
Snakes/Mna na hEireann
Hackett is already at the bar when I get there. He gives me a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. I am not sure how I want to be with him, but I let him get me a drink.
“I put our name down for a table.”
“Oh, was this a dinner date?”
“Yes, I have a proposition for you.”
“Really,” I say. It’s been a long time since I have been wined and dined by an expense account, but I must be strong. “Actually, I made other plans for dinner. I thought we were just having a drink.”
I haven’t prepared anything, but there is a low-fat burrito and day-old fish in the freezer and it’s worth the missed gourmet meal for the look on his face.
“Okay. I hope you are open to what I have to say.”
“Of course I am, shoot.” I sip my drink through the straw. I used lipliner and I don’t want to ruin it. I accept that I’m trying to make an impression although I’m not exactly sure why.
“You heard what happened to Delores.” I nod. “I have to say people feel very loyal to you still.”
“I wonder if it’s me or just that they hate her.”
“Regardless, we have a vacancy.” He sips his drink and looks at me. “C’mon, Rebecca, you know what I’m suggesting.”
“No, I really don’t.” He cocks his chin. “I cannot believe you are saying you want me to take her job. Remember, I got terminated for performance problems. According to my documents, I couldn’t handle my job. Do you realize how shitty that is?”
“Look, Rebecca, we knew there was a problem and we tried to deal with it. It didn’t help that you antagonized Jack Jones.”
“I didn’t antagonize anyone. I said what I thought. We were supposed to be a kids’ channel, not a bunch of anorexic white supremacists.”
Hackett laughs and shakes his head. “You’re incredible.”
“Thanks, I guess. What, is she fired now?”
“No.”
“Because it wouldn’t be cool to terminate someone in a body cast?”
“She’s not in a body cast, but she is unable to work. Eventually she will be—” he hesitates “—repurposed.”
“Oh, the new buzzword. Isn’t everyone? Doesn’t it ever get tiring to just keep replacing people with whoever puts a bug in your ear?”
“Rebecca, this is the industry.”
“Well…” I don’t know what to say. He is making me feel so naive. “It sucks.”
“You would be doubling your salary. The assignment would be three months. If I’m not mistaken your severance ended last week. Also, when the three months are finished, I am more than sure we will have a place for you.”
“What? Working side by side with the troll?”
“We all have to do things we don’t want to do.”
“You’re right, we do. It’s not that I don’t want to pay off my credit card bills or get my own apartment, but under those circumstances I’d prefer being unemployed.”
“You know the expression cutting off your nose to spite your face? I’m not the enemy.” I shake my head, and he orders another round. “Oh, I guess it doesn’t matter. You’re young.”
“I don’t feel young anymore.”
“I’m sure you don’t, but you are, and that’s why you can be like this. God, I wish I could bottle that. Are you sure you want me to take the offer off the table?” For a minute, he has dropped the businessman and become the sort of paternal character he was when I first started working for him. It’s seductive. I could so easily say yes and get my old office back. I could have a door and a place to go again. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I manage a smile. “I don’t need to be tempted anymore.”
“Okay, then can I be frank with you?”
“Does that mean you are going to insult me?”
“No, I’m going to give you a piece of advice and an observation.”
“Okay, shoot.” He takes another rather large sip of his drink.
“You are a likable person, Rebecca, but just remember that can piss some people off.”
“So are you suggesting I be less likable?”
“No, I’m suggesting you don’t take things personally and that you remember that sooner or later it all comes around. You will have to deal with some of the same