“Wait, we haven’t finished the agenda,” Felicity protests from next to me on my right-hand side.
“The rest can be an email,” I say. I almost laugh. I like in-person meetings better than emails and everyone in here knows that. At least when I’m leading the meeting. I actually hate sitting through meetings when other people are in charge. I have never uttered the words that I just did before in my life.
Everyone around the table takes note of that. But no one else is smiling. They’re looking at me as if concerned for my mental health.
“I have a lunch date,” I tell them. “I don’t want to keep my girlfriend and daughter waiting.”
I see Felicity hesitate in gathering her papers.
I’m not stupid. I am very aware of the fact that Felicity would like something romantic to happen between the two of us.
I am also aware of the fact that, on paper, Felicity probably seems like a great match for me.
However, not only do I never date or fuck employees—and I do not want to lose her as an employee—I am not attracted to Felicity.
She is objectively an attractive woman, but she doesn’t do it for me.
I haven’t thought about it in any more depth than that. And now that I’ve met Caroline, I simply know that Felicity isn’t Caroline. There was no instant chemistry, connection, or desire to know her better.
I don’t need to understand it any further than that.
I stand and start for the door.
“Can I walk with you to your office?” Felicity asks. “I have a couple of questions about the project in Nashville.”
“Of course.”
Felicity is very good at her job. I will always be available to my vice presidents when they need to discuss business matters with me.
I open the conference room door and stand to the side, waiting for her to step out into the hallway in front of me.
She passes very close to me, the sleeve of her white silk button-down blouse brushing against my stomach.
I fall into step next to her.
“The office has been very different without you here,” Felicity says. “We’ve missed you.”
“That’s nice to hear. I’d like to think that I add something when I’m here. But everything has been running very well without me physically in the office. That pleases me.”
It’s true. It’s nice to be back. This is my comfort zone and I’ve fallen back into my habits here easily. But…
I’m not sure it’s completely my comfort zone anymore.
I’m noticing stupid things like my dress shoes pinch a little and the air feels a little stale inside the building and I’m missing the smell of baby shampoo.
“Nashville has run into a couple of snags. They’re a little behind on their timeline. I think you and I should go for a site visit. I think it would help them if you were in the office. Show them that you’re invested in what they’re doing.”
“Isn’t my name on the company and CEO as my title a pretty good indication that I’minvestedin this project?” I ask dryly.
She smiles. “I meanemotionallyinvested. That you’re involved in the details. That it’s not just a line item for you. It will motivate them.”
I wouldn’t say it’s just a line item, but I also wouldn’t say I’memotionallyinvested. The Nashville project is business. It’s how I make money. It’s part of my company. It’s not my life. “And what would you be there for, then?” I ask.
This whole being a cheerleader and motivating people is literally Felicity’s job.
I know exactly what she’s thinking she’d be there for—to warm the other side of my hotel bed.
That’s not going to happen.
