by Dhtreichler
MC frowns and then shrugs, “That might have been what he said. Don’t really remember.”
“Why didn’t you tell us all this last time we got together?” Delilah demands to know.
“Well, it was such a difficult meeting with so much attention to Windy and her relationship with him and then when it came out you’d slept with him too. Well, it just didn’t seem like a good time to introduce the subject.”
“But you told Delilah afterwards,” I let her know Delilah told me.
MC glances at me guiltily, “I didn’t want her sleeping with him again without knowing he’s already moved on.”
“Why didn’t you want to tell me?” I push.
“He’s your boss. I just felt conflicted. Didn’t want to be talking about his business to one of his employees.”
“It was pretty obvious I knew about his business since we’d talked about what he was doing with both Windy and Delilah.” I continue to pursue the question. “What do you think he’s trying to do with you?”
MC smiles, “Oh he’s putting the moves on to get into my pants. He’s not the first guy. But so far all he’s gotten is a recipe for ratatouille.”
“When do you see him next?” Windy is more than curious at this point.
“He wanted me to come over and help him prepare the meal for his guests tonight. Offered to let me stay for dinner. Said I’d find the company fascinating.”
“But he never told you who was coming?” Reese seems to be getting the picture.
MC shakes her head. “Just that it was going to be a small intimate gathering.”
“How did you interpret that?” I ask.
“There was no doubt there were no other guests and I was going to be dessert, at least in his mind.”
“How could you say no?” Delilah seems to be remembering something similar that must have been her visit to his apartment, since she’d never told me how she ended up in his bed.
“Actually, I told him I teach a class. So, he would have to find another prep chef to help him with his dinner party.”
“Good for you.” Reese apparently was hoping one of us had said no to A’zam, although I’ve not told any of them about my three-day marathon.
“Did you think I’d be upset with you for sleeping with A’zam?” I finally come right out and ask MC.
“I just assumed you wouldn’t be happy about it.”
“I don’t own the guy, I just work for him. And I don’t particularly even like some of what I know about him.”
“What’s the dirt?” Reese wants to know, her eyes wider in anticipation of more revelations.
“No dirt,” I begin. “In fact, other than him sleeping with two of you I don’t really know anything about his love life. Was never interested nor did I want to know.”
“He’s attractive,” Windy is defending her romp with him.
“I can see how some would see him that way. I look more at his actions at work. And outside work? Well, I just never really paid much attention.”
“There must have been rumors. Gossip about him.” Delilah frowns at me.
I nod to her, “I’m sure there were, but since I never asked questions or evidenced any interest in knowing, those who were spreading the rumors never bothered to stop at my office to chat.”
“Jack certainly has been a dull boy.” MC notes about me. But then she knew that.
“So, you apparently think you won’t hear from him again?” I ask MC.
“For now. We don’t have a link. His dinner party is over tonight. Then he really has no excuse for calling me.”
“Two predictions, if I may,” I respond. “First, you’ll get a message later. Maybe ten asking if you’d like to come over for coffee. If you say no, then he’ll invite you out for dinner. Even though he won’t eat, he’ll propose an expensive restaurant that he will somehow have found out you’ve wanted to go to. Probably from your social media searches.”
“How does he have access to my searches?” MC looks alarmed.
“Think about it.” I point out. “We build the devices you use to search websites. He knows all the CEOs of all the social media companies. Getting access is easy since as a company we have access to the entire web to make sure our devices integrate properly, and display searches as requested.”
“Holy shit,” Reese declares.
“What?” I ask since she clearly isn’t happy about something.
“Go on. We’ll come back to it,” Reese responds but still thinks about something.
“You don’t think he’s about to go on to Reese?” MC asks tentatively.
I shake my head. “No chance.”
Windy realizes something, “What do you know that we don’t?” she asks me.
“I don’t know anything more about what he’s doing with each of you than you do. It could be that circumstances has brought each of you into contact with him. It’s even possible that those contacts would all happen so close together even though I’ve worked for him for a decade and not one of you had met him, seen him or had an opportunity to be in the same building before now.”
“You’re saying he’s seeking us out for some reason and it has something to do with you?” Windy doesn’t like the implication.
“I’m not saying anything because I don’t know anything. I’m just making an observation that quite frankly I’m surprised none of you have made. You’re the ones who are always focused on relationships and I’m not. When Delilah turned up having slept with the same guy Windy had not more than a week before I expected at least one of you would have freaked. But none of you did. Why is that?”
“I don’t see what you’re saying.” Windy, is anxious as the one most wanting a relationship with A’zam even though I gave her all the information I had that would indicate that wasn’t likely.
“Why am I always the last to know who he’s sleeping with next? Or who he’s making a move on next? Have you all decided I’m going to be upset if I find out what A’zam is doing with each of you?”
MC decides she needs to be the spokesperson, “We all have healthy sex lives. You only describe the fiascos you have with Raoul, how he uses you. How you’re never going to let him back into your bed. And then the next thing we know, Raoul’s been in town for a meeting or something. You’ve gotten together, even though it wasn’t good for you. So we don’t want you to feel badly when someone you work with wants to go out with one of us and not you. Does that make sense?”
“I get it. I just wish I could believe that really is what’s going on here. Has A’zam either said something about he’s going to get rid of me at some point or that he’s come to his senses and he really is looking for a wife? I hope you realize now that he’s going to live forever taking a wife is no big deal. He’ll outlive you by thousands if not millions of years. He won’t be faithful for even a day. No reason to be. He won’t give you a divorce, but he’ll only sleep with you when he can’t find someone else who gives him a bigger thrill. I don’t know how he’s convinced you to push me away, but whatever it is, he’s succeeded. Now does one of you want to tell me or do I have to go to the horse’s mouth?”
All four of them look at each other, unsure what they should do.
“Okay. You don’t have to tell me now. Get together and figure it out.” I have to decide how much to tell them because most likely whatever I do say will get back to A’zam. So, I let them continue the conversation.
“We’re sorry Sage.” Reese tries to paper things over.” We know this has been a tough year for you. We just don’t want to make things more difficult than they already are.”
“What were you going to say a minute ago when we were talking about A’zam having access to your social media accounts?” I remember and wonder.
“I just never thought anyone could just look you up if you didn’t friend them.”
“What’s the problem with that? People do it all the time. Companies get access to email accounts you never gave them.” MC notes.
“Noth
ing. Just explains some email I’ve been getting recently.”
“From?” I ask already knowing the answer.
She looks around at us with a guilty expression. “From A’zam.”
“What’s his ploy?” I ask, not sure how he’s trying to approach her.
“Software,” she confirms. “The request is for me to bid on some software projects for AppleCore even though they never outsource, and they’ve never used me in the past.”
“Email come to your business or to you directly?” I surmise the answer.
“Came to me and that was what was so strange. I figured it was spam, so I’ve not responded, but I got an inquiry through another firm asking if I’d subcontract some work from them. That came to my work email. The strange thing was the specification was the same as I got from A’zam.”
KLONDIKE SLED DOG
Jermaine and Oriana are on their way up to my office to discuss the progress on the orgasm software update when Mindi pokes her head in. “Good morning.”
As I look up, she comes the rest of the way in and sits down. This is going to be more than just a point of information I need for the day. Something is on her mind and I expect it’s something Landon Bannerjee has done now that is just driving her crazy. “Hopefully,” I respond to her good morning.
“Oh, it will be a glorious morning,” Mindi is truly happy. I’ve already decided it must either be her parents finally did the numbers ceremony and Landon passed or she and Landon finally did it.
I wait rather than asking the wrong question as I’m sure Mindi will fill in the blanks for me.
“I am ovulating today.”
“So, you’re not pregnant,” I confirm.
“No. Landon has not made me that happy, but I believe this will be my last period for a while.”
“Because??”
“My parents are coming for a visit.”
“And??”
“They will finally meet Landon Bannerjee. They will know he is absolutely the right person to be the father of my children. A man who can make me happy and provide for our family in an appropriate way. That is all they want for me.”
“Does this mean your family will see the right numbers whether they come up or not?” I can’t help but ask. Her happiness seems to go beyond the events she has described.
Mindi considers my question before responding, although I see Jermaine and Oriana come into her office.
“I truly believe my parents want me to be happy. The number ceremony is an age-old tradition. I have never participated in the ceremony, so I don’t know how they interpret the numbers. It is possible they could influence the outcome if they wish, since I don’t think they ever tell me the results. But when they meet Landon, then I believe all will be right.”
“Good luck then,” is all I can think of to say as I signal Jermaine and Oriana to come in.
“There is one more thing…” Mindi causes me to wave Jermaine and Oriana off. “I have been getting a steady stream of requests for interviews from various media representatives. Our standard policy is to refer them all to our communications group. They have sent a note back that if the request is in relation to your work for AppleCore they must make the arrangements for any interviews and not only prepare you for them, but participate in the interview itself to ensure the corporate position is adequately communicated. However, if the interview is of a personal nature and nothing to do with the company, then of course they simply want you to file the usual disclosures both prior to and after the interview. They also ask you to provide a transcript of your private interview in case any company related issues are discussed even tangentially.”
“How many requests have you had?” I’m totally unaware of any requests. I thought the media had gone on to some other twitter feed.
“It is over two hundred now.”
“What?” How could there be so many?
“Yes, from all over the world. You are very much in demand. News organizations want to know more about you.”
I don’t have time to deal with this now with Jermaine and Oriana waiting and A’zam waiting for them to finish his new capability. “Just refer them all to communications. Let them decide who I should chat with.”
Mindi nods as if she knew what my response would be. She glances over her shoulder apparently hearing Jermaine talking to Oriana in her office and excuses herself before sending Jermaine and Oriana in.
“Busy day?” Oriana inquires as they come sit at my table. I come over and scoot Jermaine to the next chair and out of mine.
“Tell me where you think you are,” I ask as I come to rest in my seat.
“Which project?” Jermaine asks.
“Start with the next gen and then we can talk orgasms,” I decide.
Oriana starts out, “Next Gen is ready for release. Jermaine and the team have been just amazing. They came together quickly on a new architecture and defined a solution that sets a new bar in terms of performance and migration capability. We should be able to enhance this platform for a long time.”
“Tell me how Zara and Moshe contributed.”
“You know Zara.” Jermaine begins. “Put a challenge in front of her and she can’t let someone else define the solution. She was probably the main reason we made the leap.”
I’m hearing Dr. Woodall reference the AppleCore leap that enabled my upgrade, only to learn it came from Symbol Ventures and not AppleCore.
“I actually think the work is what will keep Zara from transitioning back,” Jermaine continues. “She won’t want to be on the sidelines.”
“What about Moshe?” the fact Jermaine started with the good news makes me believe the rest of the news isn’t so encouraging.
“Moshe’s like a balloon. You do something to him in one place and it pops out somewhere else.”
“Meaning?”
“You took away his verbal communications and he’s taken to electronic,” Jermain summarizes for me. “I keep finding his digital trail no matter where I look.”
I remember Petra citing his email to her. I didn’t know they knew each other. And maybe they don’t. Maybe Moshe’s been communicating with everyone in the senior leadership. I’ll need to confirm that. “But what about his contribution to the product? Did he contribute?”
Oriana decides to answer my question, “Moshe did what he was told, but did not offer anything beyond that.”
I decide to measure relative performance, “So if I have $100 to give to the team to recognize their contributions where would Zara and Moshe fall in terms of how you would give it out?”
Jermaine is the team leader, so this is his question. “Zara, no question I’d give her $23.”
“So nearly a quarter of the total.” I note. “You better figure out how you’re going to meet my expectations when she gets her own team.” I caution Jermaine. “And Moshe?”
“Two dollars.”
“So, well less than the ten percent of the team he represents.”
“He probably deserves five.” Oriana weighs in now that Jermaine has given out his distribution.
“Why?” I ask instantly.
“He did everything he was told to do,” Oriana begins. “If you’d deleted my voice files I’d probably be less contributing than usual.”
“Do you think he can recover?” I detect in my own voice that I’m not sure. “Get back to lead a team?”
“He demonstrated he has the ability to do so, and it’s now enhanced,” Oriana reasons.
“But he’s a head case.” Jermaine disagrees. “I wouldn’t want to be on his team. It’s all about him, not the work, not the team. It’s all about how can the team make him look good. I don’t know what he contributed to the project you gave him other than the ability to give a good report when the project was done.”
“You don’t believe in giving him another chance.” I summarize.
“He just eats up my time with bullshit.” Jermaine reflects.
“What do you say, Oriana? Right now, he’s Jerma
ine’s problem, but it’s possible you’ll be the one who has to deal with him if I give him a team.”
Jermaine looks skeptical because he’s thinking Oriana won’t transition and then Moshe will be Jermaine’s problem because she won’t do anything about him.
“I say give him something that’s just his,” Oriana finally decides. “No team he has to motivate or hide behind. Just him. At the end of the project it’s clear what he contributed and how he contributed. If he passes this test we give him another where he has a team to deliver similar results. If he passes both tests we install his voice software, give him a permanent team and a set of deliverables.”
“And if he doesn’t pass either one?” Jermaine pushes Oriana, clearly not agreeing with this approach. “You know you’re just delaying the inevitable.”
Oriana shakes her head, “I’m not. Moshe has it within him. He’s just got to find it.”
I have to decide and move on. “Your call Oriana. I want you to explain to Moshe what we’re doing and what the stakes are for him. I’m not happy how he’s handled himself thus far. I’m actually in Jermaine’s camp. I’m ready to ship his ass back and kick him out of the club. But he’s your employee so it’s your decision since you’re currently the software SVP.” I have to make her understand that if she doesn’t transition Jermaine will get her job and ship Moshe. “Find a difficult task for him. I want you to stretch him, where he has to really work to deliver something. If this is easy or routine, we aren’t going to get anywhere. And make sure he knows if he fails at either assignment he’s on the next plane back to Dallas.”
Oriana sends a note to Moshe on her cell. Neither Jermaine nor I have to do that anymore. We just think about the email we want to send, and it goes out. Strange how I’ve come to assume that ability and how I react to Oriana who doesn’t have it. Another reminder that I have to be careful not to be impatient or condescending to mortals. Oriana rejoins us. “Okay, it’s in work. Are you satisfied with the report on the Next Gen?”
“Let’s get it out the door. Talk to Landon Bannerjee about cranking up the marketing ASAP. Now tell me about A’zam’s orgasm.” I put it bluntly because that’s really how I’ve come to think about this particular project.