I nodded.
“So what’s the problem?”
“What’s the problem?” I held up my fingers. “I’m not qualified to be a CFO. I didn’t apply for the position. And—”
“Your boyfriend works there,” Teresa supplied.
“Not my boyfriend.”
“Han.” She gave me a look. “The man makes you coffee every morning and makes you come every night. What else do you need?”
“Relationship semantics aside,” Uncle Mike cut in, joining us at the bar. “What’s the actual problem?”
“What if Connor made a call?” The words tumbled out. “What if they’re only interviewing me because I’m his…”
“Wannabe girlfriend?” Teresa offered, unhelpfully.
“Sure. That.” I set my phone down. “It feels like nepotism.”
That’s what I’d seen at Callihan & Murphy—me working my ass off for every promotion while Sebastian glided up because his dad was a partner.
“Nepotism’s worked out pretty well for you so far,” Mike said, shrugging. “I only hired you because you’re my niece.”
“Yeah, but I work my ass off here.”
“Exactly.” He flicked tinsel off his sweater. “You got the interview because I knew you. You keep the job because you’re the best bartender I’ve got.”
“But I didn’t apply—”
“Eddie’s cousin got me my interview at the spa,” Teresa broke in. “And you know what? I’m fucking great at my job. The dooropened because of who I knew, but I walked through it and proved I belonged there.”
“Networking’s how the world works, kiddo.” Mike’s voice went gentler. “Connor opened a door, but what you do when you walk through it? That’s all you.”
I leaned against the back bar, my legs suddenly unsteady. Through the front windows, parents were starting to arrive early, kids pressing their faces against the glass. “What if I’m not qualified? Fifteen to twenty years of experience, and I have twelve. And the CEO—”
Reports directly to the CEO.
I swallowed hard. “The CEO is Victoria Blackstone. The last time I saw her, I was so hungover I could barely function.”
And wearing nothing but Connor’s 49ers t-shirt. How could I possibly interview with her?Reportto her?
“So?” Teresa said. “She’s human. She’s been hungover before.”
“And your best case scenario?” Mike added. “You get the job you’ve been working toward your whole career.”
But I was remembering the bathroom at Alex and Grace’s wedding. Victoria, exhausted and frustrated, venting about the CFO search.My father wants someone who’ll maintain the status quo. The board wants someone experienced.
And I’d told her:If you’re looking for someone who will push back when it matters, the filters are designed to screen those people out.
Maybe she was looking for something different than the posted job description. Maybe this was my chance.
“If you don’t reply that you’re interested,” Teresa said, already reaching for my phone, “I will.”
“Don’t you dare—” I snatched it back, my heart hammering.
They both stared at me, waiting.
I looked down at the email, my thumbs hovered over the screen. Then I started typing.
