is calmer now. Now that the bombshell has been dropped. “But if you do decide to leave, you’ll be unemployed for under five minutes with probably more chance for growth than you’ll ever get in this organization.”
“What are you talking about?” He’s already got me out the door.
“SpaceCloud. It’s no secret that Hale’s board and investors have been pressuring him to bring in women at the senior management level since he’s got such a gender inequity on his staff. He’s ready for you the minute you tell me to take a hike.”
“What do you mean he’s ready for me?”
“He’s prepared to offer you a job,” Kemp clarifies.
“Hale Lundström knows I didn’t get the promotion?” All the air has been knocked out of me. Sucker punched.
Kemp is silent and I want to make sure I’m reading this one hundred percent correctly and not misinterpreting anything so that I don’t go accusing someone of something that is not true.
“Kemp, Hale knew?”
“Yes. And I thought it was good that he had an option waiting for you,” he defends.
“Oh you did, huh?” This is way too much for me to process. Hale fucking knew. He never said a word to me. He honored Kemp’s confidentiality at my expense, while he was fucking me. Bros before Hos. Isn’t that the saying?
“You didn’t think it was inappropriate that a client knew I wasn’t being promoted before the employee herself knew it?”
“Sierra, it just came up organically in a conversation about how competent you are in all facets of the business and Hale’s need for someone like you to round out his organization.”
That’s all I ever was? Someone to round-out his organization? The employee who said, “No” to the almighty tech god, Hale Lundström, making him even more determined to bed me.
“How long ago did this conversation take place?”
“Several weeks ago,” he admits.
“So, both you and Hale have known for several weeks that Susan was going to be offered your position and that Robyn would be my counterpart?”
“Yes, that’s what I said.” I can hear the annoyance in his voice. He’s annoyed with me? He’s testy because he has to have this conversation with me? Seriously?
And that’s it. That is the end of my rope.
“Okay, great. Well you won’t need to say it again. I’m done, Kemp. I’ve worked my ass off and done everything the right way, with integrity. I didn’t stab people in the back or use their shoulders as rungs on my personal ascension ladder, I didn’t blow anyone or spread my legs to secure my next role. I did everything honorably. But clearly this is not an organization that respects dignity. After nearly losing my life last week, for my job, I remind you, I am done giving. I am resigning, effective immediately. I’ll ship my laptop, printer and files to you within the next forty-eight hours.”
“Sierra, no one wants you to leave. I don’t want you to leave.”
“Yeah, Kemp, but you didn’t want me to stay.”
And with that, a very long chapter in my life is closed and a short segue grinds to an unforeseen halt.
She walks into my office wearing my shirt, a tank top and her shorts, purple hospital socks on her feet. In her right hand is a Whole Foods reusable bag, filled with things.
Looking up, “Why didn’t you text me?” I go to rise from my chair and she motions with her hand for me to stop. “Sierra, what’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter is that you’ve been using me. Your board wants you to have a woman exec and I was, what? Auditioning?”
“Baby, that’s not…”
“Don’t you baby me, Hale.” The look on her face is terrifying.
“Sierra, calm down,” the minute it is out of my mouth I know that was a supreme mistake.
Pointing a finger at me, “Say that again and those will be the last two words you ever speak to me.”
And I know she’s not bluffing.
“I have not been using you.” I wonder what Kemp has said to her. They’ve obviously had a conversation.
“Bros before hos? Is that it? Keeping Kemp’s secret was more important than being honest with me?”
“It was not my place to tell you.”
“Wrong answer. You keep telling me that I need to trust you. You really think siding with him is going to build my trust?”
“I didn’t side with him, Sierra.”
“You kept it from me, Hale. Why, you didn’t want me to lose focus and bail before TFV1? You needed me to complete my task so why tell me the truth?”
“I’m sorry