“Oh, this old thing?” Naomi laughs, but I can tell she’s thrilled to get the compliment. “Girl, it’s the Spanx Perfect Sheath Dress. It holds me in all the right places!”
“Sara Blakely continues to do the Lord’s work. That’s for sure.”
We laugh and make small talk while we glance at the menus and pretend we might order something other than the salad, but we both opt for the winter grains salad with salmon.
“So, spill. Who’s the guy? And what’s the latest with Sophia?”
“Contract is with Sophia. It’s almost done. And the guy…well, it’s her brother. Wyatt. The attorney helping with the merger.”
“I thought you were just friends?” She teases. “Start from the beginning.”
I tell her the movie version of our story, how we had a brief fling in high school, lost touch when we left for college, and reconnected when I went to meet Sophia for the first time.
“So, did you know Sophia was his sister?”
“Not at first. Once I started due diligence on her, I realized Sophia Ford is actually Sophia Bradford. But I’m not sure I would’ve even connected the dots then. She was in junior high when we were seniors, and I didn’t really know her, much less that she was an aspiring actress.”
“I love this story! So, is it serious?”
“It’s new. That’s all I can say with confidence at this point.”
“Fair enough, but I want updates. Don’t leave me hanging on this.”
“I promise. What about you? I haven’t seen you around lately.”
We both stop talking when our food arrives. It’s a small town, and ears are everywhere. Once our server leaves, Naomi drops the bomb.
“I’m thinking about leaving TWA.”
“What? Why?” I ask.
“Eh, I’m sleeping with Lance. Well, I was. As of about an hour ago, I’m not anymore.”
I’m not sure anything could have shocked me more. Not only is it an unlikely match-up, but I thought Lance was married.
She must see the look of shock on my face because she says, “He’s not married anymore, but I’d be lying if I said this didn’t start before his divorce was final.”
“So, is the affair over because you are leaving? Or are you leaving because the affair is over?”
“The affair is over because he started sleeping with my assistant. I’m leaving because I need a change of scenery. Itwould be weird to stay, I’m sure, but I’m just not challenged anymore.”
“I can relate to that,” I tell her as my mind drifts to the last few times Lance shut down my ideas.
“If I’m lucky, they’ll add my name to the list of layoffs and just package me out. That would be the ideal scenario. Then I’ll be paid to go on vacation and take a breather while I figure out my next move.”
“What layoff list?” I ask.
“For the merger. They have to look cash-flow positive before everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. Word around the office is Lance just wants to cut headcount to make the budget work. I thought you, of all people, would know this.”
“Why would I know?”
“Aren’t you in all of those meetings? And Wyatt, too?”
“I’m not anymore,” I tell her. “Lance said I was no longer needed. I’m guessing that’s why.”
I get an uneasy feeling. Jess mentioned layoffs, too, but it’s been quiet around the office, and Wyatt hasn’t said a thing about it, either. Not that he would.
“Promise me you’ll let me know if you hear anything,” Naomi says.
