“Believe me, I’ve already tried,” Michael mutters.
“And she can hold her own,” Andrew says. “Marwan likely knows more about economics than the rest of us combined.”
“Are you an economist?” Tang asks, impressed.
She shakes her head. “Not quite, I’m doing a graduate degree.”
“We never did get a straight answer at Greene’s party,” Andrew observes. “Are you interested in finance as a career, after graduation?”
“No, not really,” she says, determined to be reasonable this time.
Andrew grins. “You don’t need to be polite around us. We can take it.”
“I mean, Tang probably can’t take it, he has the disposition of a rosebud,” Kara comments.
“I just think there are some structural contradictions within capitalism,” Lili says, choosing her words carefully. She does like Andrew—likes Kara, too. “That’s all. I’m not entirely comfortable with the way the financial industry benefits from those.”
“Certainly.” Andrew nods. Lili is taken aback. “But there’s value in utilizing the strength of the system to fix the system itself. Better to make change from within, wouldn’t you say?”
“Doesn’t that strike you as a little—dangerous?” she asks. “That balance of benefiting from present state, advocating for a transition to a future state?”
“In what sense?”
“Well, there’s a hypocrisy—sorry, I mean, tension,” Lili backtracks. She sees Kara stifle a smile. “A tension between it all. Like, can you really purport to care about ESG when you have such a significant stake in Exxon? They alone account for nearly two percent of global emissions.”
“If we keep people like you around to keep us honest, yes,” Andrew says.
“I like her,” Kara proclaims.
Michael scowls. “Don’t.”
“No, I think I’m keeping her.”
He sighs. “Kara, please. I’m tired.”
“Let’s fire Tang and bring Marwan on board.”
“If I leave, I’m dragging you out with me,” Tang cautions Kara.
“Nice try, our stock would collapse if I left—”
“Go mingle,” Michael instructs. “Shake some hands, make the most of your award, and give me some peace—”
“There you are.” A hand on her shoulder—then, as Lili realizes it’s Aleksandr, settling on her lower back, bare skin. She leans into the warmth of his touch.
“Everything alright?” she asks, looking up at him.
“Just some unexpected details about an acquisition in Europe,” Aleksandr says. “We have a trip to London in a few days, we’ll sort it out then.”
“Anothertrip to London?” Kara groans. “I’m petitioning for citizenship this time.”
“You should start petitioning to keep your job,” Aleksandr warns. “This deal is becoming a headache, Taylor. I’m not enjoying myself. A takeover, really?”
“Petrov, I can lean in,” Tang volunteers, serious and eager.
Kara snorts. “Alright, Sheryl Sandberg.”
“We’re managing fine, Tang. Thank you.”
