Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins Page 0,101
trust her, with that Arwen haircut and the way Kathy brayed laughter from Arwen’s office at least twice a day. Kathy was here to gather intel, that’s what she was doing. To plant seeds and make trouble.
It worked.
A few hours later, so it wouldn’t be so obvious, she went down the hall to Dave’s office with the excuse of showing him the plans on a house for a former senator. She liked doing residences once in a while—she’d done her own house, obviously, and occasionally offered to do one at work, though it was small potatoes for her. She’d volunteered to do this one because it was fun and had a limitless budget, which was always pleasant.
“Is he available?” she asked the side-eying Laurie (who may have been casting a spell on her).
Laurie shrugged and jerked her chin, indicating that it was okay for Juliet to go in. Her boss had his feet up on the desk and was gazing out the window. Hard to believe he’d been a force in architecture once, since he mostly napped and went out for lunch these days.
“Hey, Dave, I’ve got the elevations on that house in Maryland. Want to have a look?”
“Sure.” She sat down and watched as he gave them a glance. “Nice job, Juliet.”
“Thanks. It’s a beautiful site.”
“That it is.”
“So, Dave . . . I heard a rumor. You made Arwen the PM on a school for Beyoncé’s foundation?”
He avoided looking at her, studying the house plans as if he’d just realized they’d come down from Mount Sinai in the hands of Moses. “Mm,” he offered.
Be careful, a voice in her head warned her. But screw that. She’d earned her place here. “Since when does such a green architect get that kind of high-profile job? I thought the firm had a system. A ladder.” One that she’d climbed, step-by-step, never skipping a single rung.
Dave sighed. Still didn’t look up. “Arwen is very talented.”
“I’m aware of that, Dave. But she’s only thirty-one. She still needs supervision.”
“Or does she? She’s quite ambitious. People respond to her.”
“There are a lot of ambitious people here who outrank her. Matt. Elena. Brett.” She paused. “Me. I’m a little shocked that I wasn’t informed we were pitching this job, frankly. I’m the senior project manager at this firm.”
“Look, Juliet,” he said, finally looking at her. Her chin, to be exact. “You’ve done some remarkable work for us.”
“I am doing remarkable work for you, Dave.” Her voice was firm but she made sure not to be too angry, because God forbid her boss had to deal with an angry female. “I realize Arwen is the shiny new thing, but my record speaks for itself, doesn’t it?”
“I’m a fan of yours, Juliet. Don’t get hostile.”
Oh, the fuckery. “I’m not being hostile. I’m pointing out facts.”
“Maybe if you smiled more, people would—”
“Dave. Do not finish that sentence.”
“I’m just saying, Arwen is a really positive person. She smiles all the time.”
“Are you giving her a promotion because she smiles?” she asked.
“There’s that hostility.” He smiled ruefully.
“It’s disbelief, not hostility.”
“Juliet, you’re very serious.”
“About my work, absolutely. You could say that’s a positive attribute in an architect.”
He put his hands behind his head. “Listen. You’re right. Arwen is new and exciting, and the world seems to love her.”
Time to be dead honest. “But her work isn’t particularly special, and you must know that.”
“Be careful, Juliet. You’re sounding very jealous and competitive.”
Hostile, serious, jealous and competitive. All code for bitch, or worse. If she were a man, it would be fiery, dedicated, strategic and ambitious.
But here she was, in a male-owned, male-run firm. So she lowered her voice to a tone Dave could tolerate. “I’ve always put the firm’s best interests first and foremost, Dave. I’m your senior architect. I’ve never let you down, have I?”
He tilted his head. “Nothing is coming to mind, no.”
“Because it’s never happened.”
“What’s your point, Juliet?” He glanced at his phone.
You could lose me. I might quit. I could sue you for ageism and discrimination.
Except Kathy was older and wasn’t saying boo. And it would be hard to prove discrimination on the basis of gender, given that Arwen was a woman, too. A gay woman, for that matter, something Juliet had only found out a few weeks ago when she and Saanvi had had drinks at the same bar where Arwen had been with a woman, and they’d kissed once or twice. Arwen hadn’t seen Juliet, and Juliet hadn’t gone over, not wanting to intrude.