by Glazer, J B
—Jake
I’m not sure how to respond. I’m sure he sensed I was upset with him this afternoon. I decide to be brief.
From: [email protected]
Sent: June 9, 2014; 9:42 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apologies
Jake,
You don’t have to apologize. Kelly probably did me a favor because I had to be up early the next morning. It was fun hanging out with you too. Thanks for the VIP treatment.
See you tomorrow,
Lexi
p.s. How did you get this e-mail address?
I think I know the answer, but I want to see what he says. Almost immediately I get a reply back.
From: [email protected]
Sent: June 9, 2014; 9:45 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apologies
It was on your résumé.
From: [email protected]
Sent: June 9, 2014; 9:47 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apologies
I didn’t realize you kept them on file.
From: [email protected]
Sent: June 9, 2014; 9:49 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apologies
Company policy. Although I keep personal copies of all candidates I’m interested in.
I try not to read into his response.
From: [email protected]
Sent: June 9, 2014; 9:51 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apologies
Well, then I consider myself lucky that I was up to your standards. I’m really happy at the agency and think the change was just what I needed. And now I should get some much-needed sleep. Good night.
From: [email protected]
Sent: June 9, 2014; 9:54 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Apologies
Sweet dreams.
I smile and log off. I’m wired and not ready to go to sleep, so I call Liv. I give her a rundown of what happened and ask for her advice.
“Lexi, I don’t want to see you get hurt again. It sounds like Jake is into you, but he can’t make up his mind. I don’t want you sitting around waiting for him. I think he’s comfortable flirting with you, but it seems that anytime there’s an opportunity to take the relationship further, he hesitates. It makes me wonder what his intentions are.”
“I know, and I’m being careful. I just want to see where things go.”
“OK, you know what’s best for you. Just know that if he hurts you, he’ll have me to answer to.”
We say good night, and I toss and turn, thinking of Jake before I fall into a dreamless sleep.
The following afternoon I attend the first-round creative review for the fragrance pitch. Each team shares a different campaign idea. I can tell Jake isn’t pleased, and I don’t blame him. It’s not that the work is bad; it’s just very expected. He and Simon go back and forth, and the meeting gets very heated. Jake tries to appease Simon and tells him the work is very strong creatively, but he’s looking for a winning idea, which he hasn’t seen yet. Then he pulls up a bunch of ads from the competition along with Michelle’s analysis. He shows him how our work is playing in much the same territory and says we need to get to a differentiated idea. Simon finally agrees but puts the burden back on account management and planning to find something that’ll provide them with new inspiration. It’s an intense meeting.
“Can I make a suggestion?” I ask. All eyes turn to me. “We need to take a step back and start with our consumer. We need to reevaluate why she wears perfume in the first place.”
“To get the guy,” says Ari, one of the art directors.
“That may be the end goal, but I don’t think it’s why she wears it. I like to think of perfume as an accessory, just like clothes or makeup. Perfume is the last thing she puts on to boost her confidence. She wears it for herself more so than for others. It makes her feel in control, sexy, and empowered, and that’s what guys find attractive. It’s her secret weapon.”
“I love it!” says Simon. “It conjures up images of Angelina Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. We could take that idea in a lot of different directions.”
Nigel nods. “We should take the discussion to a focus group to confirm the insight, but I think Lexi’s on to something here.”
The rest of the meeting turns into a brainstorming session around my “secret weapon” idea. When we leave, everyone is jazzed.
Jake looks at me and says, “You were amazing in there. I was ready to pull my hair out, but you gave the team the inspiration they needed. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It probably didn’t hurt that I was the only woman in the room.”
“True.” Jake laughs. “I didn’t think about that.”
“You may want to get a female art director on it,” I tell him. “It would help to have a woman’s touch. This weapon idea needs to be spot on, or it could end up a disaster.”
Jake agrees and says he’ll talk to Simon.
When I come home that night, Liv says she wants to set me up on a date with her cousin’s friend, Jason.
“Really, his name is Jason?”
“I know. It must be meant to be. If he’s anything like mine, you’re in luck.” She goes on to say he recently moved to town and is looking to meet new people. I start to tell her I’m not ready, but she cuts me off. “Lexi, if Jake asked you on a date, would you go out with him?”
“Yes,” I tell her without hesitation.
“I know,” she says quietly, “but he hasn’t asked, and he’s had plenty of opportunities. I hate to see you waiting for him when it doesn’t seem like he’s going to come around. I don’t want you missing out on meeting someone else. Whatever rule he’s made for himself about dating girls at work, he seems to be sticking to it. And while he seemed into you Saturday night, when push came to shove, he didn’t pull the trigger.”
I know she’s right. “OK.” I sigh. “I’ll do it.”
I tell Liv to let Jason know to keep things low-key. After we hang up, I think about Jake and wonder if our relationship is simply a game. He’s been a safe bet to lust after, which makes me question whether my feelings for him are real or whether he’s more of a distraction from Ben. As I reflect on our encounters, I realize my feelings for him are genuine. And while he seems into me, perhaps I’m an easy target for him as well. He’s a sharp guy, so he must know I’m interested. When he basically groped me at Blu, I told him I didn’t mind. I just wish I knew what game he was playing and what the rules are. One thing I’m certain of: Jake definitely isn’t playing fair.
Jason calls the following Monday, and we make plans for dinner and a movie that Thursday. I figure a weeknight won’t be as much pressure as a Saturday-night date. He offers to pick me up in a cab, but I tell him I’ll meet him because I live in the opposite direction. I appreciate the offer, considering neither of us has a car, but I feel more comfortable this way.
The week passes quickly, and soon reality hits that I’m going on my first date since my breakup with Ben. I can’t believe I agreed to this. I haven’t dated in years, and I have no clue what the rules are these days. Plus it’s an acknowledgment that I’m moving on. As much as I need to, taking the step is like admitting that things with Ben are completely over. And that’s something I haven’t wanted to face. I rifle through my closet and fret about what to wear. I call Liv for moral support, and with her help, I decide on a sheer, three-quarter-sleeve printed blouse with a camisole underneath; skinny jeans; and nude platform heels. I straighten my hair and do a deep side part with side-swept bangs, which are now more like long layers. Liv stops by to wish me good luck.
“Lexi, you look great! He won’t know what hit him.”
“Thanks,” I tell her. “And thanks for pushing me to do this. I know it’s the right thing, I just wish I weren’t so nervous.”
&n
bsp; “You’ll be fine,” she reassures me. Then she gives me a hug along with instructions to text her with updates.
“I’m sure he’ll love that—me texting at the table.”
I go downstairs, and Roland turns on the cab light for me.
“Big night out?” he asks.
“I have a date.”
He whistles. “Good luck.”
I’ll definitely need it. A cab pulls up, and I’m on my way. Jason and I made plans to meet at an Italian restaurant across from the movie theater. He said he’d meet me out front. I time it so I’m about five minutes late; I don’t want to be the one waiting. Sure enough, the cab pulls up, and I see him standing in front of the restaurant. He’s just as Liv described: tall, dark, and handsome. I figured she was just saying that to get me to go, but I’m pleasantly surprised. I get out of the cab and approach him.
“Jason?” I ask.
“That’s me. You must be Lexi.”
“Yes. Hi.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you. I put our name in but wasn’t sure if you wanted to sit inside or out.”
“Definitely out. It’s a beautiful night.”
After a few minutes, we follow the hostess to the patio. Our waiter comes right away with the specials and asks for our drink order.
“Do you want to share a bottle of wine?” Jason asks.
“I’d love to, but then I’d fall asleep during the movie. I’ll just have a glass.”
I order a sauvignon blanc, and he gets a merlot.
“I hear you’ve been living back here for a few months now,” Jason says. “How’s it going so far?”
“It’s good. To be honest, it feels like I never left. It’s nice to be close to my old friends and family, of course, but sometimes I miss the energy of New York. Don’t get me wrong—Chicago has a great restaurant scene and night life, but there’s no place like New York.”
“I totally agree,” he says. “I debated moving here, but there was an opportunity with my company I couldn’t pass up.”
He tells me he works for a market research firm, and Chicago is a key market. I discover my agency uses some of their services. The waiter returns with our wine, and we place our order. Jason opts for the salmon special, and I order rigatoni with vodka sauce, one of my favorites. I take a sip of wine and feel more relaxed. Jason is nice and very attractive, with warm brown eyes and a mop of wavy hair, which he totally pulls off. He seems sincere, but I kind of get a player vibe from him. He has a confidence that borders on cocky. He definitely would have been my type in the old days but not so much now. Still it’s just one date, and I figure it’s good practice. We talk easily over dinner, and I give him the lowdown on where to go and what to avoid in the city. We bond over our favorite places in New York and debate which is better: New York or Chicago-style pizza. Of course he thinks New York is better, and I prefer Chicago.
“You haven’t tried Lou Malnati’s then,” I say.
“Nope. We’ll have to go for pizza on our next date.”
“OK, you’re on.” I guess I just agreed to a second date. I excuse myself to use the washroom so I can text Liv.
Going well so far. Already made plans for a second date. Cute and nice, but not sure he’s boyfriend material.
She texts back immediately.
What do you mean he’s not BF material?
He just seems like a player. Gotta go. I’ll call you when I get home. xo
When I come back, Jason says, “We probably should get going soon.” He pays the bill, and I offer him money, which he refuses. He instructs me that he’s going to buy the movie tickets also and not to protest. We’re seeing some new action-adventure film, and there’s a long line. I’m waiting inside for him when Jake walks in with a tall blonde. I can’t pretend not to notice them because he’s already spotted me.
“Lexi, hi,” he says. “This is Ashley. Ashley, this is Lexi.”
She offers me a tight smile. “I’ll be right back,” she tells Jake.
“So I finally get to meet the infamous Ashley,” I say. I’d rather I didn’t. She looks like a Barbie doll.
Jake shrugs. “We’re just hanging out. She’s fun but not my type.”
“What’s not to like? She’s tall, blond, and gorgeous.” And she has a killer body, but I decide not to mention that.
“I prefer brunettes,” he says, looking at me.
Oh.
Just then Jason, with our tickets in hand, finds me. I introduce him to Jake and feel very awkward. Fortunately we aren’t seeing the same movie. Barbie comes back, and we say good-bye. I spend the whole movie thinking about Jake and Ashley. Damn him, my first date in ages, and somehow he’s right there with us.
After the movie, Jason offers to share a cab with me back to my place. I decline because I’m not certain whether he has ulterior motives. After giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek, I thank him for a nice night, and he says he’ll call me. Then I go straight to Liv’s apartment.
“How was it?” she asks.
“Good, not as bad as I thought it would be.” I recount the evening’s events and tell her about my run-in with Jake.
“It’s weird that he made that brunette comment to you.”
“I know, right? I can’t decide if he’s playing mind games. It’s like he senses I’m trying to move on, so he has to say something to reel me back in.”
“Lexi, I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think you need to put yourself out there. It’s obvious you can’t move on until you know where things stand with him. Let him know you’re interested and see what happens. At least then you’ll know, and either you can be together or you can move on.”
“I’ll try. But subtle is more my style.”
“Make sure you’re not too subtle. Guys are idiots.”
The relief I felt at having made it through my first date is replaced with apprehension about confronting Jake. But I know I need to do it. It’s time.
On Monday morning I have a mandatory sexual-harassment training seminar. It’s a requirement for new hires, and all other employees must attend a yearly refresher. I have a feeling it was part of the settlement with Jake’s lawsuit. I head to the conference room a few minutes before the meeting starts. The company has hired an outside consultant to lead the session. When he begins to speak, I’m struck by the monotone sound of his voice. It brings back images of Ben Stein from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. How did this guy land this job? I do my best to pay attention and try to stifle a laugh when he says, “I want everyone to bring their A game today. This is an important topic, and we all must drink the Kool-Aid.” Fortunately a number of videos break up the morning. I can’t believe I have to sit here for three hours. The scenarios they’re laying out are so obviously in poor taste that I can’t imagine anyone actually doing such things. I probably shouldn’t make light of the situation. The reality is that these things happen, which is why we’re here in the first place. I make it through the morning and head back to my desk. Nicole catches me as I’m walking past.
“Lexi, I wasn’t sure you were in today.”
“I’m here. I was just in that sexual harassment training.”
She rolls her eyes. “Did you have Weber as your instructor?”
“Yes, he’s been here before? I can’t believe they invited him back.”
“Tell me about it. All I could think about when he was talking was ‘Bueller? Bueller?’”
I stifle a giggle. “I was thinking the exact same thing! And can you believe all his trite business phrases?”
“Did he say he wanted everyone to drink the Kool-Aid?”
“Yes, and what about the ‘elephant in the room’?”
“Nope, he used ‘moose on the table with us.’”
We laugh hysterically. Jake pokes his head in my office and asks us if we are OK. “Yes. Let’s take this discussion offline,” says Nicole, and we laugh even harder.
Bewildered, Jake says, “I just wanted to ask Lexi her thoughts on something for the pitch
.”
“Go for the low-hanging fruit,” Nicole says, and we convulse into giggles.
“I’ll stop by later,” Jake says.
I wipe my eyes. “Now is fine. I’ll take one for the team.”
Nicole snickers. “Remember Lexi, there is no ‘I’ in team.”
Jake comes into my office and closes the door. Usually I’m the one coming to see him.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“Simon previewed the print with me.”
“How does it look?”
“I want to get your opinion. I asked him to leave a copy with me. He reluctantly agreed as long as I promised not to pass it around. So you never saw this.”
“OK,” I say as he flips over the board. I study it for a minute and say, “It’s a bit literal.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I wanted to see if you were on the same page before I give him my feedback. I try not to laugh at his use of “on the same page.” “What?” he asks.
“Nothing. It’s just that my morning has been ripe with clichés. Anyway, I think it’s a good start. I’d just urge him to push the thinking further. This is what I’d expect to see based on the insight. Maybe we can offer a range—start with ideas that are close in then some that take more liberties in their interpretation of the insight.”
“I like that approach. I’ll circle back with him,” he says to me with a smile.
“Run it up the flagpole,” I reply.
He’s about to leave but then asks, “How was your date?”
“It was good,” I tell him. “How about you? How’s Barbie?”
He laughs. “I told you, it’s nothing serious. What about you? Will you go out with Justin again?”
“It’s Jason.” Now’s my chance. “That depends,” I say.
“On what?”
“On whether or not I get any better offers,” I respond, looking pointedly at him.
He regards me for a moment but doesn’t say anything. I feel the atmosphere in the room change and watch as his playful smile is replaced with a look of discomfort. He takes a deep breath and says warily, “Lexi, I think—” But my phone cuts him off.