Page 5 of Open for Negotiation
“Going on with what?” I close the office door behind me.
“You’re not really going to play dumb right now, are you? You act like I can’t read your face like a fucking book. I thought there’s no way someone like her would even look at someone like you,” he teases, “but I could feel it in the air. There’s something happening there and I want to know what it is.”
“I really don’t know what you mean.” I keep my eyes on my computer screen, pretending to read over an email when I speak because he’s right, he’s always been able to tell when I’m lying. It made growing up with him annoying as fuck.
“So I just imagined you two eye-fucking one another from across the room? Just made it up in my head? Look, man, I’ve done and seen a lot of eye fucking in my time, especially when a girl that looks like her is involved.”
I shoot my gaze to his and point my finger. “Watch what you say next, Jackson.”
“Ah ha! I knew it!”
“Shhh, Christ. Keep your damn voice down.”
He rocks himself even farther back in the chair. “You hittin’ that?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but... Scarlett and I have spent some time together, but that’s it. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
“Shit, I don’t need the sordid details. I’m just glad you’re past the pouty phase with Miranda. Speaking of, how is the Wicked Witch of the South?”
Thirty minutes later, I’ve filled him in on every detail of the past few weeks with Miranda, my bitch of a psycho ex-wife. The rock she threw through my window, the NHL deal she destroyed, everything, however, I’ve managed to get him off the topic of Scarlett because that’s something I just want to keep to myself for now.
“You don’t look surprised.”
“Should I be surprised the bitch turned out to be the worst? Because I’m not, not even a little bit. What I don’t understand is how you, Maxwell Stick Up His Ass About Everything Regarding Business Duke was able to let her slip under the radar and nail you down without a prenup.”
“Coming from the man that let’s pussy overtake his life time and time again?” I lean over and use my pen to push his feet off and back to the floor. “I was blinded by whatever it was I was so captivated by and she took advantage. I’m paying the price in spades now. I don’t need you constantly reminding me of it.”
“We all tried to tell you from the beginning that she was bad news, I just hate to say I told you so. Don’t want to kick you while you're down, but... I told you so.”
He’s not wrong. He and I had a knockdown, drag out Battle Royale over Miranda and I getting married that I never thought he and I would come back from. He was telling me the truth and I just didn’t want to hear it. I even went as far as to accuse him of wanting her.
That’s how far gone I was. That’s how deep I was. I was drowning myself and I didn’t even realize it until it was too late.
“I didn’t expect to have this entire meeting be about her. I’d prefer we leave that on the back burner where it belongs and move on to something more... worthwhile.”
“Like Scarlett?” He chews the gum in his mouth with a smirk.
“No, not like Scarlett, I was thinking we could discuss, I don’t know, work? The reason you’re here.” I press a couple buttons on my keyboard, causing the television on the far wall to come to life.
“That’s fancy as shit,” Jackson says, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
“It’s essential for how many slide shows, virtual layouts, and video calls I have to take in a day.” I fire up a presentation showing a few of the projects we have lined up for the rest of the year and into the future. “These are the plans for some of the builds we are contracted for over the next twelve to sixteen months. Obviously, I cannot make promises on all of them, but the plan is, if you’re still willing, to offer each of them your services at a slightly discounted rate to keep the work in-house under Fortress.”
Jackson stands silently and walks over to the screen to get a better look. He slides his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he ponders, saying absolutely nothing for so long that I nearly worry he will reject the offer.
“Who designed these?” he finally asks.
“Some of them were designed by me, some were a team effort. Scarlett put the three-dimensional renderings together.”
“Beautiful and talented. If you aren’t interested, I may have to ask her out.”
“Like hell you will…” I throw my pen at him when the loud, distinct ding of a new email rings through my speakers.
I glance down at my screen and see that it’s from Scarlett, and the little red flag is illuminated, indicating it’s been marked as urgent.
Mr. Duke,
This email is my notice of resignation that will be effective immediately. I’m sorry I am unable to work a two-week notice with Fortress but given the circumstances of my personal life, and the effect it is having on my work, I need to make this decision now. I will be forgoing the exit interview, as I don’t feel that would be something helpful for either of us today. Thank you for the experiences I’ve had within this company and for the trust you put in me for certain projects. The skills I’ve learned will be invaluable and there are memories I will keep with me forever.
