“The Tokyo office doesn’t take breaks, Heather. I’ve got to keep an eye on things over there. Go on, I am listening, I promise. What was that thing about Scotland?”
“Will you answer me first. Why did you recommend Alan for the promotion? You knew I was going for it.”
“His margins are better than yours.”
“No, they’re not. I outperformed him every quarter since he started here.”
David was looking back down at the screen. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Heather. I just thought he’d make a better fit.”
“Oh, I get it. You want to work for him but you couldn’t work for me. What’s wrong? Can’t let the little lady get above her station?”
He sighed, glancing up at her, his lips thinning. “You want the truth? I don’t think you should be here at all. You want a relationship with me. Fine. But what happens if you get that promotion and then we get married? You can’t look after kids and be an executive here sixty hours a week. They’d get neglected.”
“Wow.”
“What? Am I wrong?”
“You seriously just said all that? What do you think this is, 1952?”
“Look, I’m just as much a feminist as you but you’ve got to admit you can’t bring up children and work a job like this.”
“So you sabotaged my chance at promotion?”
He leaned a hand across the table. “I did it for you. You’ll thank me when you think about it.”
She leaned her hand across, squeezing his. “Thank you.”
“I knew you’d see it my way.”
She scraped back her chair, standing up and folding her arms across her chest. “Thank you for showing me the kind of man you really are. We’re done here.”
“What?”
“This relationship is over.”
“But-“
She walked away, pulling out her cellphone. She sent Donna a message. “Drink. Tonight?”
“Of course,” the reply came back at once. “As long as I can bring the invitations for you to look at.”
“As long as I can tell you about how I didn’t get the promotion and I’ve just dumped David.”
“OMG. Tell me more.”
“Six-thirty, Hamish’s.”
Hamish’s Tavern was Scottish themed. The tartans of various clans lined the walls. The Frazer tartan was the only one missing. Behind the bar a huge Claymore sword took pride of place above the bottles of whisky.
Donna already had a bottle of Merlot and two glasses ready when Heather walked in. “Tell me everything,” she said, pouring the wine.
Heather told her about her day, finishing by saying, “So now I’m single and Scotland bound.”
“I say huzzah to that. How do you feel?”
Heather shrugged. “I don’t feel much of anything. No doubt it’ll hit me at some point.”
“Numb it with wine and looking at these. What do you think?” She slid a red folder across the table.
