The CEO Read online

  “Job?” He tilts his head to the right and seems amused by this question. “I guess you could say that I am a Renaissance man.” He turns and smiles broadly at her, flashing a set of perfect white teeth probably straightened by braces in puberty and recently whitened at the dentist’s office.

  Then he says a series of technical jargon to a man’s disembodied voice in the headphones that responds with equally mystifying language. After about a minute of that back and forth, the CEO says to her:

  “We’re taking off!”

  Slowly the chopper rises up off the gray tarmac. The smooth rise calms Nora’s nerves. She grips the upper harnesses. Looking out of the windows, she sees the green and gray and brown patches of land that comprise metro Atlanta turn into a miniature model of the big city. There are red rooftops and beige houses and blue skyscrapers.

  “Wow!” She feels like a child again.

  Nora feels the wonder of flying again for the first time in years.

  “So, this is your first helicopter ride.” His cheerful voice dances in her ears.

  “Yes.”

  “Enjoy! We’re about forty-five minutes from Savannah, depending on whether winds blow in our favor.”

  Nora giggles.

  She cannot remember the last time such a light-hearted and girlish sound escaped her lips. She likes this version of herself. She likes gleeful Nora. She wants care-free Nora to stay.

  Looking down from up high in the clear blue sky, she feels like she’s floating over the city just like she does whenever she stands on glass-bottomed observatory landings in landmark skyscrapers like the Shanghai World Financial Center or the Chicago Skydeck at the Willis Tower.

  Three years of working all day and all night at Magwitch & Jaggers LLP melt away. Three years of a clenched jaw from holding her tongue and of grinding her teeth from not speaking up when passed for promotion and of knotted muscles from listening to the partners tell her, “maybe next time,” dissolve inside this flying glass globe.

  Nora stretches her arms up. The inside is roomier than she thought. Her hands don’t reach the roof as she extends her fingertips. She feels like she’s floating on a cloud—a very loud cloud—in the blue sky.

  “We’re a few minutes away,” the CEO’s warm voice murmurs.

  Flying over vast brown fields not yet lush with green grass and the blue Savannah River, they pass long gray highways that wind like veins along Mother Earth.

  Nora feels six years younger by the time they reach Savannah and are hovering over a helipad. All of the stress that law school and the law firm crushed into to her feels temporarily alleviated. She wants this feeling to last.

  While the CEO talks to air traffic control, Nora listens to the voices in her headphones. She tunes out the flight jargon.

  Her thoughts race to the interview. She’ll need to clean herself up in a restroom somewhere. She’s sure she soaked her panties—panty liner. She’s so happy that she had the foresight to wear one. Her period starts in a few days and sometimes it comes early.

  Thinking about the interview and how badly she wants to be senior associate in-house counsel knots up her stomach. She wants to make a good impression. She wants to know that the management is fair. She wants to know that Sebastian Price won’t pass her up for promotions because she’s a woman.

  There, she said it. Thought it. She’s been afraid to admit it to herself. The reason why Magwitch & Jaggers haven’t promoted her is because of her gender. Because she can make babies. Because she can take maternity leave. She can possibly leave for many months at a time and never come back.

  Nora has been afraid to admit this to herself. She hasn’t even told her best friends. She presents the image that she’s on track to become partner. She never complains. She doesn’t give them details about how the presence of her ovaries is a problem in the office.

  Of course, the partners would never say this.

  No one ever says that she’s passed up for promotion because of her gender. They say things like, so-and-so has more experience in xyz, or so-and-so brought in slightly more revenue than you this year. She argues her track record is impeccable. She has glowing reviews from clients. She brought millions of dollars into the firm. But still, in the end, they always resort to, “next year.” “We’ll revisit this next year.”

  The more Nora thinks about the unfairness of being passed up for promotion, but being asked to train new associates, the angrier she becomes, the more determined she becomes.

  She will get this job.

  She must get this job.

  She needs this job.

  She feels the light bump as the pilot lands the helicopter. Relief floods her body. She relaxes into the seat. She didn’t realize how tense she had gotten thinking about Magwitch & Jaggers.

  Inhaling and exhaling, Nora clears her mind.

  “Welcome to Savannah.” Sebastian flashes her a smile and happiness hugs her.

  Who is this guy, really?

  “What’s next, Sebastian?” Saying his names sends chills down her spine. She cannot believe that after three years, today is the day that her libido decides it’s going to wake up. She doesn’t want to mess up this opportunity for career advancement because of a crush.

  He turns off the ignition. The blades quiet. The roaring ceases. He undoes his seatbelt. Then he reaches over and undoes hers. The instant relief of pressure shocks her body. She inhales sharply.

  “Was it too tight?”

  She thinks his blue eyes are twinkling with mischievousness.

  “No.” She sticks to her rule: never complain.

  She actually liked the pressure of the seatbelt against her body. She wants him to harness her again. Except she wants him to harness her to a bed next time. She shakes the wayward thoughts from her mind.

  She repeats a new mantra: no sex with the CEO.

  “Ready?”

  *****

  Inside of the cool, white-marbled conference room enclosed by windows overlooking the open-floor office plan with steel and glass desks and a view of Savannah, Nora thinks about all of the things she didn’t know before her job interview at Magwitch & Jaggers.

  Fresh out of law school, she didn’t know what law firms did to associates. She didn’t know how quickly it would suck the youth and life and lightness out of her. She didn’t know how she would miss birthdays and weddings and baby showers. She didn’t know that she would sleep in her office, shower in her office, and eat all three meals in her office. She didn’t know how much she didn’t know.

  Now that Nora has three years of experience in corporate and tax law, she knows how valuable her experience is; she knows how valuable her expertise is; she knows how much she is worth.

  So, when Sebastian Price saunters into the office dressed in a black button-down collared shirt—untucked—black fitted jeans, and pristine black sneakers, Nora does her best to ignore how hot he is. She ignores his athletic physique filling his shirt and sleeves and jeans perfectly. She ignores his beautiful body that moments ago she was contemplating pressed against hers in a four-post bed where her arms are bound, and he has his way with her.

  Nora ignores all this.

  For the next hour, Sebastian introduces Nora to his management and staff. She meets his Vice President, Svetlana Smith, who Nora is happy and distressed to learn is a woman. Happy, because it means that Sebastian promotes women. Distressed, because Svetlana is a toned blond who doesn’t smile and nearly crushes Nora’s hands when they shake. She meets Sebastian’s executive assistant, Stefan Kyriakos, who is impeccably dressed in a tailored white and blue seersucker suit with a white-collared shirt, yellow tie, and white and brown wing-tipped shoes to match his white and brown leather belt. Nora also meets the company’s interns: a group of women of various shades of skin color. Supriya Kapur, an intern from India, wears a Sari, and works in Research and Development. Clara Chang, an intern from South Korea, wears a large square black dress with platform black shoes and works in information and technology.
Marietta Gentles, an intern from downtown Savannah, wears dark blue jeans, a v-neck white t-shirt, and black sneakers, and works in finance.

  Nora notes the diversity, the relaxed office culture, and the positive work environment. It seems like an ideal workplace. She wonders why the former head counsel left. When the interns and staff leave the all-windowed office similar to the fishbowl of a conference room at Magwitch & Jaggers, Nora decides to ask Sebastian and Svetlana a few questions.

  “Your company is very impressive.” She has learned to lead with a positive statement in meetings. “What is the reason why the former head legal counsel left?”

  Svetlana and Sebastian exchange looks. The VP looks down at her notes and then up again at Nora. Sebastian clears his throat. The air conditioner blows the scent of fabric softener into the room. Nora feels a chill and is thankful for her blazer.

  “I need loyalty.” Sebastian’s blue eyes regard Nora shrewdly. “I expect loyalty.” Gone is the easygoing Sebastian. Here is a new Sebastian. Someone cold. Someone calculating.

  “I hear that you need loyalty.” Nora considers her words carefully, “But what if your legal counsel advises you against certain actions that may be considered...gray areas of the law?”

  “I would hear my counsel out and act accordingly.” His expression is impassive.

  “What if your legal counsel opposed a course of action you were set on taking because it could jeopardize the shareholders’ interests? What would you do?”

  Svetlana takes a sip of water.

  “Funny you should ask that question.” Sebastian stands. “I had that exact scenario arise with my former head legal counsel.” He walks to the window overlooking Savannah, crosses his arms, and leans against it. “He felt that my current project would cut into the company’s bottom line. I felt that my project would increase profits tenfold.” He walks around the glass table to stand by the windows looking out onto the office floor where employees are typing, talking on phones, and reading reports. “So, he’s no longer here. And you’re here instead.” He turns to look Nora in the eye. “I need someone who will get behind my decisions.”

  “As long as they are legally sound and don’t contradict the shareholders’ interests.” Nora swivels her chair on the pristine marble floor reflecting the office lights. She leans in towards Sebastian.

  The two regard each other. Sebastian wonders if Nora will get behind his decisions. Nora wonders if Sebastian is prone to rash decisions. He wonders if he can expect her loyalty and commitment. She wonders if she can expect him to listen to her legal advice...or is he just looking for a yes-woman.

  “Of course.”

  Nora spies an inkling of the smile that flashed so freely across Sebastian’s face earlier.

  “We have a proposal for you.” Sebastian returns to his black leather seat. “We want you to join Price Holdings for a thirty-day trial period, at-will employment, health insurance after thirty days.”

  “Ninety-day trial period. With a contract. Health insurance after thirty days,” Nora counters.

  “A negotiation?” Sebastian exchanges a glance with his VP who suppresses a smile.

  “We would expect nothing less from a lawyer.” Svetlana smiles and her icy demeanor breaks way to a warm and proud sister.

  “Sixty-day trial period with a contract.” Sebastian leans forward.

  Nora stares into his cool blue eyes, and she loses herself in his ridiculously attractive face. She thinks about what it would be like to come home Sebastian Price. The conversations they could have about the world and current events and companies. The meals they could cook together: Spanish rice in stuffed bell peppers, grilled salmon with mango salsa, pan seared steak with balsamic, basil, and cherry tomatoes. Her stomach grumbles at the thought of food.

  “Eighty-days.” Nora leans forward and holds Sebastian’s gaze despite the coolness of it, which still makes her heart flutter.

  “Seventy-days.”

  “Deal.” Nora stands, leans across the conference table, and extends her right hand for Sebastian to shake.

  “Deal.” His blinding smile returns.

  Nora’s heart skips at the warmth he basks on her. She reminds herself not to seek his approval like she did of her now-former bosses, Magwitch and Jaggers. She doesn’t want to hold her tongue, hoping not to offend him if or when the time comes to disagree with him. Who is she kidding? The time will come. The time always comes.

  When Sebastian’s palm touches hers, and his long fingers wrap around her hand, the air gets sucked out of the room. She feels like she’s been transported to a vast, hot desert with him. They stare into each other’s eyes daring the other to blink first. Sebastian’s flip from friendly to cool happens so quickly that Nora is speechless, once again. Her temperature rises, and she wills her body not to sweat. She’s acutely aware of the scent of his skin—notes of wood and soap and musk.

  She clenches her pelvic floor and she hopes that she hides it. She swallows. Suddenly, her lips feel dry. She licks her lips. Sebastian’s eyes widen, then contract. He squeezes her hand firmly and releases. She treasures the firm pressure of his hand over hers. She wants him to hold her like that on her hips and her thighs and her ass. Nora shakes her head to scatter the lustful thoughts.

  How is she going to be able to concentrate around Sebastian if every time he touches her, she fantasizes about him touching her...everywhere?

  *****

  A few hours later, Nora has signed all of the legal documents for her seventy-day trial period with Price Holdings, Inc. She drafts a resignation letter to Magwitch & Jaggers on her personal laptop:

  Dear Cain Magwitch,

  Please accept this letter of resignation as formal notification that I am leaving my position as third-year associate with Magwitch & Jaggers LLP. My last day will be effective immediately upon receipt of this letter.

  I want to thank you for the opportunity to work for Magwitch & Jaggers LLP as a junior associate for the past three years.

  I’ve enjoyed the responsibilities I’ve had here. I also appreciate having been able to learn about international corporate and tax law and to train many new associates. I will arrange for my personal things to be picked up.

  Her hands start to shake.

  She inhales and exhales.

  She is in awe of her corner office overlooking Savannah. The scent of the yellow roses on her glass desk with steel legs calms her. She opens the photo file on her laptop and takes in the many pictures: her parents sailing on their yacht at the annual Yachts Miami Beach showcase; her best friends smiling at fashion week in London; her best friends on a yacht watching the Triple Crown of Motorsport at the Monaco Grand Prix; herself and a gay friend from college who she led her former colleagues to believe was her boyfriend are arm-in-arm smiling at the Dubai World Cup; and herself with her faux boyfriend smiling in the crowd at the last World Cup soccer game.

  Nora’s heart swells at all of the friends in her life who love her.

  With shaky hands and pounding heart, she finishes typing her resignation letter:

  Sincerely,

  Nora Thomas

  Of Counsel

  She leaves off the name of her current place of employment. She doesn’t want Magwitch or Jaggers calling up Sebastian and telling them all of the things they viewed as her weaknesses: she is reflective and takes her time when making decisions by weighing all the pros and cons before talking about her decisions; she is self-reliant and researches alternative options before going public with her ideas; she is focused and avoids large crowds, preferring to work alone rather than in groups.

  Thinking about that list of weaknesses as the firm like to call it, Nora’s blood boils. She resents the partners for trying to change her. She resents them for trying to make her more social, make her more group-oriented, make her a team player. Those are words that she would like to delete from the dictionary and human history.

  She gets so worked up that she dashes off a message to her group chat with her
besties: Arabella, Audrey, and Sasha.

  Nora: Ladies! Guess what?

  Arabella: What?

  Nora: I got a new job!

  Arabella: You did it!

  Sasha: Congrats!!

  Audrey: Congratulations!

  Sasha: Where?

  Nora: At Price Holdings, Inc.

  Audrey: In-house counsel?

  Nora: Yes! Senior Associate!

  Arabella: We have to celebrate

  Sasha: Atlanta??

  Nora: No. Savannah.

  Audrey: How romantic

  Nora: Romantic?

  Audrey: Evergreen Southern oak trees draped in moss...

  Sasha: Tree-lined squares with red-bricked fountains...

  Audrey: Maybe you’ll meet someone...

  Nora: I sort of already have…

  Arabella: Who?

  Nora: I can’t say.

  Audrey: Why not?

  Nora: It’s still early.

  Sasha: Can you give us a hint?

  Nora: Promise not to tell anyone?

  Arabella: Promise

  Audrey: Promise

  Sasha: Promise!

  Nora: The CEO

  Audrey: No!

  Arabella: Is he single?

  Nora: I don’t know.

  Arabella: I read rumors that he’s into latex.

  Nora: No!

  Arabella: All rumors and speculation. Nobody knows for sure.

  Nora: Maybe he makes his romantic partners sign an NDA.

  Arabella: Customary practice for most billionaires.

  Audrey: When are you seeing him again?

  Nora: Tonight.

  Sasha: You have a date?

  Nora: No. His company is having a masquerade ball.

  Audrey: Romantic!

  Arabella: Wear the four-inch heels

  Nora: I will! Love y’all!

  Nora clicks out of the group chat before the other girls say goodbye. Ever since her brother called her that one Saturday night to talk and talk and then said goodbye—forever—Nora never says goodbye anymore. She hopes it’ll keep the ones she loves from disappearing from her life.