The Creepshow: A Novel

by Adria J. Cimino

  “Wanda? This is Kate Mancini.”

  Kate! From Whilt. The Kate who was suing Whilt, who hadn’t responded to her messages. Wanda’s heart raced, and she reached for water to wash down the bit of pretzel sticking in her throat.

  “Yes, hi, I’m glad you called.”

  “You probably thought I never would. Things have been difficult. Anyway, can we meet? The baby is due in two months, and I’m on bed rest. Maybe you can stop by my place?”

  That was it. A brief phone call, no explanation, no small talk. Wanda agreed to visit Kate that afternoon.

  ~~~~

  Wanda had been to Kate’s palatial apartment once before. A Christmas party. She still remembered the massive tree in the living room, its bulbs twinkling against the backdrop of city lights and the elegant chandeliers dipping low over coffee tables. Kate lived on the Boulevard Saint-Germain, a long avenue known for its cafés and artistic atmosphere. Kate’s husband was a writer, but their wealth didn’t come from his works of literary fiction. It came from Kate’s trust fund. Her father had been an oil magnate in Texas. Kate could have basked in this life of luxury without lifting a finger, but she didn’t. She chose to work hard at Whilt, bending to the company’s demands and trying to climb the corporate ladder.

  Kate had always been quiet about her family fortune, but secrets were not easily kept at Whilt. She’d been there only a few months when word began to leak out. Kate’s maiden name was Holden, like John Edward Holden III of the oil fortune. From that moment forward, she had been the subject of gossip, with the others asking why on earth she was wasting her time at Whilt when she could be on a beach somewhere basking in the sun. Wanda had never had that attitude regarding Kate. She respected the fact that Kate wanted to build her own career and enjoyed her work.

  The doors of the roomy glass elevator opened, and Wanda was grateful; she wouldn’t have to maneuver Nelly and the stroller up any stairs, like she often had to in other Parisian buildings. Nelly had dozed off on the brisk walk from the subway station to the apartment, and Wanda didn’t want to disturb her.

  Kate greeted them, looking her elegant self in spite of obvious fatigue. Her long blond hair draped over one shoulder of an airy peach-colored dress that swept the glossy hardwood floor. She kissed Wanda on both cheeks, oohed and ahhed over Nelly, and led them into the living room that Wanda remembered from the party. Works of Chagall and Picasso were new additions to the walls. Perhaps inherited when Kate’s father passed away a year earlier.

  “Please have a seat.” She held her back with one hand and gestured toward an ivory love seat with another. She lay on a matching sofa. “You’ll have to excuse me.”

  “Of course, I understand.”

  “The doctor says I should be horizontal as much as possible. Otherwise, life is about the same as usual.” A smile lit up her face.

  They chatted for a few minutes about pregnancy, babies and the like. Kate said her two older children were in the nursery down the hall with the nanny, and if Nelly awoke, she could join them. A housekeeper hurried in with a silver tray of coffee and tea, and upon Kate’s request, poured them cups of tea.

  “Hope that’s all right?” she said suddenly. “I remember seeing you sip tea a lot at the office.”

  “You’re observant,” Wanda said, accepting the cup. “Thank you, that’s perfect.”

  “When you called and left a message, there was a reason I didn’t reply right away,” Kate began. “As you know, I filed a lawsuit against Whilt. But I wasn’t sure where I was going with everything. My pregnancy has been tough… so I wondered if I even had the energy to go through with a case against the company. I was close to turning around and forgetting about it. My attorney urged me on though. You see, Whilt has set a precedent of buying out desperate ex-employees left and right, for sums smaller than they would get if they took things through the proper legal channels.”

  She paused and took a sip of tea.

  “Most of these former Whilt employees take the cash because they can’t afford to wait months and even years for a court decision. I’m different. I can afford to wait. I don’t need Whilt’s money. I’m not doing any of this for money. I’m doing this for justice.”

  She smiled again, more brilliantly than before, as Wanda stared, wide-eyed, and sipped her Earl Grey. Kate was exactly the kind of employee Whilt despised: one who couldn’t be bought.

  “So you will go through with the lawsuit?” Wanda asked.

  “Yes. It’s my duty to go through with it. For those who’ve suffered the same sort of treatment but couldn’t stand up and fight.” Kate’s voice was firm. “And that is why I contacted you. Now that I’m sure about continuing my case, I’d like to put our attorneys in touch. I think we could help each other.”

  Now Wanda was the one smiling. Kate had thrown her a lifeline, and she would accept it.

  ~~~~

  Kate said her troubles with Whilt began after she had her second child and aimed for a promotion to senior fund manager.

  “When I didn’t have kids, I spent most of my time in the office—beyond required hours—and didn’t cost the company much. The economy was going strong, and I’d had a couple of good raises that were fine at first. But I’m sure Whilt regretted them later.”

  “Yeah, when the company started hiring younger, cheaper labor, and the economy took a nosedive,” Wanda snapped.

  “Exactly. That all happened around the time my second baby was born. I got back from maternity leave, looking forward to applying again for a senior fund manager position. Louis refused, saying I had been gone for ‘so long’ that it wasn’t possible to evaluate whether or not I would do well in the job. Bullshit, of course. The only thing that had changed was I’d had a baby. I hadn’t delivered my brain along with the baby. Then came the mediocre performance evaluation, built on nothing—comparisons with others managing different sorts of funds in other regions.”

  Goose bumps rose along Wanda’s arms as Kate spoke. This was her story. With a few new details for variety. But the pattern remained the same. How many other women had experienced it too? At Whilt and elsewhere?

  “Things reached an all-time low a few months ago, when Louis suggested I have an abortion.”

  “They suggested that to me too.” Wanda’s breath caught in her throat for a moment. “They gave me an address.”

  Kate squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.

  “Over and over,” she said. “How many women take them up on this? How many, desperate for their jobs, give in to the pressure? A company—a job—has no place dictating whether a woman should or shouldn’t carry a baby to term.”

  They were both silent for a few minutes, and then Kate sighed and continued her story. Her eyes wandered out the window, to the trees sporting their new green coats and the balconies lining ornate, historic buildings across the avenue.

  “Then the sexual harassment began. I say it ‘began,’ but Louis had made inappropriate comments before. At this point, let’s say he became bolder.”

  She told Wanda of his remarks about her “ass” or clothing, of his attempts to lure her to a bar, of his threats concerning her job.

  “And the grand finale?” Kate said, sarcasm in her voice. “Whilt fired me for insubordination. They fired me for fighting back. Now tell me your story.”

  Wanda took a deep breath and studied Kate’s sharp determined eyes. This was a woman she could trust.

  “It’s the mirror image of yours.”

  Chapter 40

  The sun had set by the time Wanda left Kate’s apartment. She ambled down the street, her silhouette casting night shadows along the sidewalk. Kate’s story, and the idea of collaboration, filled her with a fresh sense of purpose and renewed her energy. This wasn’t one small case, all about Wanda Julienne. It was much larger than that. It was a real issue, affecting women not only at Whilt, but at other companies. She wasn’t counting on her case, or even a handful of cases, eliminating the problem from the face of the earth. But ma
ybe if she fought to the best of her ability, if Kate did the same, and if they were victorious, their victory could inspire other women to fight back too. And this could only happen now that her name and lawsuit were on the tongues of everyone in the industry.

  Then she stopped in her tracks, her shadow already halfway across the street. Everyone knew she had been fired. Everyone knew she was suing Whilt. We’re not hiring that troublemaker. The words echoed in her ears. That was why she hadn’t been called in for interviews. A feeling of nausea rose up within, so strong she almost turned around, stroller and all, and dove into the bushes. No. She took a few deep breaths, exhaled, drew in a few more breaths, and then crossed the street to the safety of the other side.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her career in finance was over. Her career working for any company was probably over. She wasn’t being alarmist. She understood the mindset of the industry. Sure, there might be a few companies with progressive attitudes and understanding managers, but from Wanda’s experience, they were not in the majority. What was left for her to do?

  Wanda wanted to turn back the clock and return to a normal life. She wanted to forget about teaming up with Kate, even though the idea had made her happy just minutes ago. She wanted to get her name out of those newspapers to save her career. But none of these wishes would come true.

  Wanda blew her nose noisily, causing a sleeping Nelly to grimace, and wiped her eyes.

  No, she told herself. Stop. It was time to grow up. She needed to forget about the damage done, the uncertain future. All of that was beyond her control. The only thing she could control was her case. She told herself to be grateful for the meeting with Kate, for the possibilities that lay ahead legally speaking. She shook her head as if to eliminate the fears and lugged the stroller down the steps into the subway.

  Chapter 41

  The latest report in one of the online tabloids suggested that Wanda Julienne and Kate Mancini, both involved in lawsuits against Whilt, were spotted entering the law firm of Lambert, Klauss, Gervais and Dupuis. Sources say Julienne and Mancini are collaborating on their cases, the report said. Wanda scanned the text as her heart raced. Reporters were following them? Who cares about us and our cases? she thought.

  “More people than you think,” Kate answered an hour later on the phone. “Everyone knows how Whilt treats female employees, but the company has yet to really pay for it. Secretly, everyone wants to see companies like this get caught.”

  The two women had spent the previous morning meeting with their attorneys. Kate had been authorized to take a taxi to the office as long as she could recline during the meeting. They had indeed decided to collaborate, with the two attorneys discussing technicalities, and Wanda and Kate answering questions. It was the first time Wanda had felt involved in the case since her initial meeting with Lambert.

  Wanda hung up the phone and sank onto the couch, rubbing her eyes. But her phone didn’t remain quiet.

  A small, uncertain voice on the other end of the line introduced herself as Rachel Swift, an analyst in Whilt’s London office. Wanda recognized the name and before the woman continued, she knew what was coming. Now that the case was attracting more attention, women who had similar experiences at Whilt had begun to reach out.

  Rachel described her situation. She was pregnant with her first child, and Whilt had just taken two of her industries away.

  “Pretty soon I’ll be left with nothing to analyze, nothing to do!” she said.

  “Why did you decide to call me?” Wanda asked.

  “For advice… after I read those reports about your case and Kate’s. I’m seven months along, and now I have to manage the fatigue of pregnancy with not knowing what’s going to happen with my job.” Wanda could hear the tears in her voice.

  “You have time on your side,” Wanda said, grasping for straws. She wasn’t like Galina, who always came up with smart advice in a split second. “You have to focus on your pregnancy and delivery right now, Rachel.”

  “But I can’t wait like a sitting duck,” she mumbled.

  Yes, exactly. She couldn’t recommend that this woman wait, as she did, expecting the company to miraculously realize she was a star employee. That wouldn’t happen.

  “In the meantime, meet with an attorney, discuss the situation. Be one step ahead.”

  And Wanda gave the same advice to another woman who called her a day later.

  The idea that several women faced the same situation at Whilt—at present or in the past—troubled Wanda. She felt helpless. But maybe by setting an example and answering a few questions she wasn’t so helpless after all? Maybe she was encouraging these women to stand up for their rights too. Maybe that wasn’t so scary. Maybe it was a bit rewarding. And it was thanks to Galina, who realized that Wanda didn’t have the right to make this an individual problem, a closely kept secret of her own.

  Chapter 42

  Apologies weren’t easy for Wanda. Not because she had a gigantic ego, but because she didn’t consider herself very eloquent. Wanda was all about numbers and analysis. She was emotional, certainly, but had trouble transforming those emotions into words. That was probably why she had procrastinated for days—no, weeks. Even as she had walked out on Galina, she understood her friend’s point. But she couldn’t bring herself to turn back and explain. It was easier transferring her anger about her impossible situation to her best friend.

  By the time she stood in front of that familiar door, hand poised to knock, it was a warm Friday afternoon in early June. How many calls from Galina had she ignored? Dozens. Galina could have shown up on her doorstep, but she wouldn’t. Not due to indifference. Galina had the incredible power of timing. She knew Wanda wasn’t ready, so she would wait. Even her phone messages weren’t insistent. She would say “Hope you’re doing OK” or “I called to see how you’ve been” or “Give me a call or stop by whenever you’d like.”

  And the moment had arrived.

  Galina kissed her on both cheeks and squeezed her hands.

  “I’ve missed you and Nelly,” she said.

  “I’ve missed you too.” Tears welled up in Wanda’s eyes, and she suddenly felt like a child who had been pouting for too long in her bedroom.

  “It’s OK.” Galina put an arm around her and led her inside.

  “But I haven’t apologized yet.”

  “You don’t have to,” Galina said with a half-smile.

  Then she unfastened the stroller straps and cradled Nelly in her arms. “How you’ve grown!”

  Wanda wanted to throw her arms around her friend. Galina didn’t need to hear a soliloquy or a formal apology. She just knew. Wanda hated herself for putting this distance between herself and the person who knew her so well and who cared about her so much.

  “Don’t,” Galina said, as if reading her mind. “Everything’s all right.”

  They settled onto the couch, and Galina prepared the usual—tea, accompanied by a box of butter cookies. Anya skipped into the room and threw herself at Wanda, who inhaled the sweet apricot scent of her soft, curly hair.

  “Auntie Wanda, come play with me and Natasha in the nursery,” she begged, pulling Wanda by the hand. Wanda happily let herself be guided until Galina intervened.

  “Anya, how about this? Nelly will come and play with you and the nanny. Wanda and I have to catch up.”

  Her voice was kind but firm, and her solution readily accepted. Even with children, Galina had amazing bargaining powers.

  After they handed Nelly over to Natasha and as the sound of Anya’s laughter rippled through the hallway, they returned to the couch facing the Eiffel Tower. Wanda turned away. It was still difficult to look back in that direction, across the tower to her former life.

  Instead, she kicked off her sandals, curled up in the corner of the couch and held her cup to her nose. She’d always found the scent of Earl Grey soothing.

  “You have a nanny now?” she asked.

  “In part for Anya’s Russian. Natasha’s worked wonder
s in a matter of a month. My Russian is shamefully rusty. I figured a nanny was the best solution.”

  Wanda nodded and took a sip of tea. The flowery taste was just as soothing to the palate as the odor was to the nose. It was a reminder of the afternoons she and Galina had spent this way, lounging on the couch and chatting about any subject under the sun. On some occasions, they spoke of nothing important; on other occasions, the conversations could be life-changing. This would be one of the life-changing days.

  Wanda took a deep breath. She wouldn’t take the easy way out, even though Galina had given it to her.

  “I’m sorry for walking out on you,” she said. “I’m sorry for not realizing you were doing the best thing for me, and when it comes to legal issues, I should trust you rather than wonder why you didn’t ask for my uneducated opinion.” Wanda rolled her eyes at her own behavior.

  Galina smiled and shook her head.

  “No, you were right about something—something important.”

  “What’s that?” Wanda’s voice was guarded. She didn’t want her friend to humor her as if she was a child who couldn’t accept her own bad behavior. She would handle the situation as an adult.

  “I always seem to know better when it comes to you, yet I never allow you the same latitude when you observe my behavior.” Her dark eyes weren’t wistful. Instead, as was typical with Galina, her expression was decisive and firm. She had noticed something amiss, and she would rectify it. Wanda remained frozen, all except for her heart, which raced a mile a minute. An important declaration would follow. She could feel it.

  “You were right,” Galina continued. “These past months—these past few years, really—I’ve been living vicariously through Charles, through his cases or the cases of other friends still at the firm. I never let go. I told myself that part of my reason for taking a sabbatical was noble: I was doing the best thing for Anya. But I wasn’t. I can only do the best for my daughter if I’m at my best. And I’m not at my best if I avoid a difficult situation instead of facing it. I was a coward.”