I handed her back the envelope. “Worthless.”
Sarah lost it. She had sacrificed so much, risking her family’s love, devoting her heart to this project. Everything Sarah had done for herself, everything she thought she was doing for her family over the past months was unceremoniously labeled as trash.
She screamed, she cried, she cursed me. When Caroline responded to some of the vitriol directed at me, Sarah cursed her too. Kevin came downstairs, phone in hand. When Sarah paused for breath, Kevin pressed a button, playing the Chinese recording that he had used on the “robocalls.”
Sarah fainted, landing half on a couch, half on the floor.
“Kevin, that was cruel. I’m disappointed in you. Go get your mother a glass of water.”
“She deserved–”
“I don’t want to hear it now. Go!”
He came back in a couple of minutes. I directed him to Sarah. She opened her eyes as he raised her head and put the glass to her lips. Most of the water spilled onto her dress, but enough got into her mouth to get her coughing. She waved her son off, looked around at the family, and went downstairs.
Closing Time part 3
I cried myself to sleep, then I cried myself awake. Everything was turning to shit. Why couldn’t they understand I was doing it all for my family? Sure, there was the satisfaction of helping a young man with a personality disorder have a normal relationship with a woman…
Normal relationship? I was basically a whore, paid for with stock options. Albert needed a woman his age, one he could woo and win himself. I didn’t buy the thing about him having a personality disorder. With his father hovering over every aspect of his life, it was no surprise that he was extremely shy.
“Worthless?” I couldn’t buy that either. I had worked long and hard on the IPO. The Firstens had top-notch experts and advisors, led by Candy. Those options and my investment in First Pharmaceuticals would bring us a new, much better standard of living.
I didn’t come upstairs at all on Sunday. My family all took turns checking that I was okay. Each time they found me sitting at my laptop, earbuds disconnecting me from the sounds of our home. I tried to do First Pharmaceuticals’ work, but as I logged into their IPO files I realized how little of it I understood. My contribution was essentially sex with Albert, and the meager funds I invested.
I understand cooking videos. I looked for new recipes that my family would enjoy, which would bring me closer to them. I came across a dolled-up tuna casserole, and as I read the list of ingredients realized that I was not going to win back their love in the kitchen. It had to be through the wealth and success the IPO would bring me.
I left early for work on Monday and accomplished nothing there. Albert picked up on my sour mood, sat beside me in my office, and silently held my hand. When Thomas came in full of bluster, Albert told him quietly to leave. I was surprised to see him acquiesce.
I wanted to break the ice Monday afternoon, so on the way home I stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken and bought a large bucket. I announced the treat as I came in the door. Kevin glanced up at me and said “Caroline made tuna casserole.” I looked at the kitchen table and saw it was set for three. There were no dishes at my seat.
My heart broke, rather than the ice. I left the bucket on the table and fled downstairs.
I had stopped sobbing when Arnold brought me a tray with tuna casserole, a piece of chicken, and a diet ginger ale. He put it on the table, then sat on the edge of the bed I was lying on, face down. He silently rubbed my back for maybe ten minutes before going back upstairs.
“How are you feeling,” Albert asked when I got to my office on Tuesday.
I shook my head and sighed. “I’m tired, I’m nauseous, I’m really scared.”
“I’m here for you,”
That was the most comforting thing he could have said. I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
His father barged in and looked at us. “We can fool around later if you’re horny. We’ve got too much material to review now. We’re launching next week. Remember?”
“Get out,” Albert hissed.
“Don’t talk to me like that, boy. Both of you be in my office in fifteen minutes.” He left before Albert could answer back.
“He means well,” I said.
Albert gave me a look and shook his head. He clearly didn’t agree. “Did Thomas tell you anything about my mother?”
“No.”
“Ask me after the meeting.”
The meeting was the usual, reviewing reams and reams of documents that I didn’t understand. Candy talked up a storm, her self-assurance satisfying Thomas and the other experts at the table with us. I was reminded of the story of the professor who had written a social science paper that contained nothing logical, nothing that made any sense but used a lot of jargon. He submitted the hoax article to a number of peer-reviewed social science journals, and it was accepted by almost all of them. I didn’t think Candy was pulling a hoax on us but realized that I had no way of knowing either way. What scared me was the realization that Thomas Firsten probably also couldn’t tell.
Our receptionist knocked on the conference room door. “There’s a gentleman here for Sarah Sanborn. He says he needs five minutes of your time.”
“Thanks, Penny.”
Thomas scowled and nodded. I got up, feeling a little shaky. Albert quickly jumped up and took me by the arm. He ignored his father’s demand that he stay, and walked with me to the reception area.
“Are you Sarah Sanborn?”
I nodded.
He handed me a large envelope and took a picture of it in my hands. “You’ve been served.”
I collapsed onto the reception area couch, my heart racing. Albert sat with me, looking worried. “Bring water,” he told Penny. He took the envelope from my hand, pulled out the document for a moment, and closed it again. “I’m sorry.” He held my hand, giving me the water to sip.
Penny came back over. “Can I do anything to help?”
Gasping, I shook my head.
Thomas came storming over to the reception area. “Why aren’t you back inside? We have important work to do. We’re paying top dollar for the expertise gathered in that room.”
“Father, Mrs. Sanborn’s husband is suing for divorce.”
Thomas’ face lit up. “That’s fantastic! That means we can have her all the time.”
Albert jumped to his feet. I could see the heat emanating from his eyes. “Are you out–”
“Albert, shh. It’s okay.” I caressed his hand. I didn’t want him to lose it. We had too much important work for our plans to be derailed by a father-son war. “Go ahead, I’ll come in a few minutes. I just want my heart to calm down.”
He glared at his father. “We’ll be in shortly.”
Thomas put his hands on his hips, ready to respond angrily.
“I said we’ll be there in a few minutes. Go spend that time with your experts.”
For a shy, socially inept person, Albert was quite effective. I had to smile at him as soon as his father’s back was turned. “Thanks, Albert. You’re really terrific.”
“Let’s go to your office, rather than sit here in the open.” He helped me up. Once my door was closed I glued my body to Albert’s, and kissed him fiercely.
“I love you, Sarah.”