For Nyla
Always and forever
One
When my phone flashes a notification, I’m primed to be irritated before I even see what it is. It’s been a busy morning, and my eyes are so dry my eyelids stick together when I drag my gaze away from the monitor.
Phoebe b-day, the message reads.
I automatically clear the screen and do some rapid blinking to rehydrate my eyeballs. My older sister has done a fine job of aging without a congratulatory note from me for the past few years, and there’s no reason to break the tradition.
I’m not even sure what I’d write.Wishing you a joyful day free of annoying reminders you have a sisterdoesn’t have much of a Hallmark ring to it.Happy birthday! Hope you have a great time not telling me anything about your life as usualmight work.
I debate removing the event from my calendar altogether, but another notification pops up to tell me there’s a new email from Dad.Focus on your goals for successdeclares the subject line, as if this is groundbreaking information. In the text, before the URL, he’s written his usual inspirational message:Saw this and thought of you. Now is the time to work on making partner. Don’t let life distract you.
I don’t bother clicking the link because it’s from theHarvard Business Reviewand I’m out of free articles for the month. Also, I’veread enough of these to know it’s probably some banal, common-sense dictum about prioritizing tasks or matching goals to outcomes written in thatI’m too busy to read full sentenceslist format that businesspeople eat up.
In my case, success has only one metric—how fast I can make partner at Yesterly and Havings, the law firm where I’m currently an associate. That’s not to say I’m not ambitious. The only person who wants me to make partner more than my dad is me.
I can’t remember when he last emailed to see how I was doing apart from work. I suppose it doesn’t matter. We don’t have that kind of relationship anyway.
I put my phone back in my purse and am deep into the memo I’m writing for Meredith, the partner I’ve been trying to get as my mentor, when a knock comes at my door. Richard Havings, one of the managing partners and the great-grandson of the original Havings of Yesterly and Havings, ushers in a tall woman. “Ariadne, this is Brittany Cabot, who’s joining us today.”
Although a little resentful at being disturbed, I stand and put out my hand, wilting only slightly under the blazing onslaught of Brittany’s smile. “Good to meet you,” I say.
“Ariadne, I’d like you to show Brittany the ropes. I trust you to get her up and running.” Richard bestows a warm glance on Brittany, who beams back at him. “We were lucky to steal her from her old firm.”
“Of course.” Showing Brittany around is worth the extra hour or so I’ll have to put in tonight. Richard is very big on culture fit, so I do my best to be positive and courteous no matter what the ask.
Richard nods once he sees we’re playing nice and leaves me alone with Brittany. She wears a camel sheath dress with a matching blazer, and I can’t tell how much of her face is contour or her real features. “Happy to be here,” she says. “Ni hao!”
No way this is happening. I struggle to keep up the smile. “I don’t speak Chinese.”
“Sorry. I mean konnichiwa!”
This conversation is not getting off to the best start. “I’mCanadian.”
Her brow furrows, but it’s not out of shame. I’ve known her for thirty seconds, and I can tell Brittany doesn’t experience shame because the world’s never found it necessary to make her feel bad about anything at any time. “But your name is on the door, and it saysHooey.”
“It’s Hui,” I correct. “Rhymes withsway.”
“Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure.” I resist adding a passive-aggressive mispronunciation ofBrittany. I also decide to mentally spell it asBryttaniefrom that point on for my own personal satisfaction.
“Huh.” She glances out the window over my shoulder. “Can you show me where to get a few things? I know where my office is.”
Normally, one of the assistants would do this, but Richard has charged me with this task, so I lock my computer and lead her on the tour. We haven’t made it two meters down the hall before Meredith comes around the corner. Her sandy-blond hair has been freshly blown out, and her makeup is perfectly applied. The nude pumps and navy skirt suit screamGet out of my way or I’ll cut youin corporate. I’ve never seen her smile in a meeting.
I want to be like that. Invulnerable. Unchallengeable.
“Brittany, hello. Such a pleasure to have you with us. Let me show you around, and we’ll go for coffee to talk about the client I mentioned.”
Every invitation I’ve sent Meredith for coffee has been rejected or moved at the last minute.
Her eyes flick over to me. “Ariadne, I need that memo.”
“Bye.” Brittany/Bryttanie gives me a little finger wave. Dismissed, I watch them head down the hall laughing easily with each other.