DINNER AND BOUNDARIES
755 Words
7 12 PM Downtown Restaurant
The place was quiet for a Monday Small tables low lights the kind of spot where people talked without shouting
Nathan held the door open for Elma
You come here often she asked
Once in a while Nathan said It’s away from the building
Elma nodded She liked that
They sat by the window The city lights reflected in the glass
For a while they just ate No talk about Hayes Corp No talk about Catherine or Joseph Just normal conversation
How’s your mom Nathan asked
Better Elma said The new meds are working She smiled for the first time today
Good Nathan said That’s good
Elma looked at him You could have asked me this at work
I could Nathan said But this isn’t work
Elma set her fork down Okay Then what is it
Nathan leaned back I like working with you Elma That’s not complicated
Elma studied him And
And I don’t want to mess that up by saying the wrong thing now Nathan said So I’ll say it plain I like you More than as a coworker
Elma didn’t answer right away She thought about floor 12 About the nights she’d gone home alone About the way Nathan had stood by her door without asking for anything
I like you too she said Finally But I’m not doing office drama
Nathan smiled Fair
No secrets no favors because of this Elma said If we try this and it doesn’t work we still work together
Deal Nathan said He raised his glass Water works for me
They clinked glasses and laughed
---
9 30 PM Outside Elma’s Apartment
Nathan walked Elma to her door He didn’t try to come in
You got home safe he said
I did Elma said
Nathan hesitated Then said Goodnight Elma
Goodnight Nathan Elma said
She closed the door and leaned against it
For the first time in months she wasn’t thinking about the next fight
She was thinking about breakfast
---
Tuesday 8 00 AM Floor 50
Nothing had changed on the surface People said good morning The same way they always did
But Elma noticed the way Nathan looked at her when she walked in Not different Just intentional
Richard noticed too
You’re on time he said
Always Elma said
Richard raised an eyebrow Personal matters don’t interfere with work here
They won’t Elma said
Good Richard said Because today you have a harder test
He slid a folder across the desk
Board member complaints Elma said
Worse Richard said Vendor Z is threatening legal action over the contract you revised yesterday They claim breach
Elma opened the folder and started reading
Nathan walked past and gave her a small nod
Work first Elma thought
She got to work
---
12 00 PM Conference Room C
Elma sat across from Vendor Z’s legal team Two lawyers one very angry account manager
You changed the terms without notice the lead lawyer said
We corrected an error Elma said Calm steady The original contract had a clause for price adjustment if services weren’t rendered Section 4 2 You overbilled by 22000 dollars We removed it
The lawyer slid a paper across the table Breach of contract
Elma didn’t flinch I have the signed amendment from your manager on file She pushed it forward Dated yesterday
The room went quiet
The account manager looked at the paper then at Elma
We didn’t know it was signed he said
Now you do Elma said So we can either renegotiate in good faith or you can explain to a judge why you ignored your own signature
The lead lawyer closed his folder We’ll be in touch
They left
Elma sat there for a moment then exhaled
Nathan was waiting outside the room
Told you were good at fighting he said
Elma smiled It’s not fighting It’s facts
Same thing Nathan said
---
5 00 PM Floor 50
Elma sent the final report to Richard and shut her laptop
Richard called her in
You handled that well he said
Thank you Elma said
Richard leaned forward One more thing
Elma waited
The board meeting is Thursday Richard said I want you in the room
Elma blinked Me
You’re the one who fixed it Richard said You present it
Elma nodded Understood
As she left Richard added And Elma
Yes
Keep your personal life out of this room Richard said
Elma smiled I plan to
She closed the door behind her
Thursday was going to be interesting
- Writer
