Page 12 of Beauty and the Grease (Midlife Meet Cute #4)

Chase

I don’t see Jenny all morning. Hopefully, she uses the spa credits I left for her. I didn’t get her room number, but I gave her name at the front desk and asked that they contact her. It’s the least I can do after walking out on her last night. After all she’s done for me.

Still, she had no right to ask me those questions. She has no right to my life.

Is what I told myself last night. This morning is another story.

Focusing on the retreat is brutal. My mind continually goes back to what Jenny said. Why are you here? Your kids need you. Are you happy? I can’t shake the feeling deeper answers exist than I’m willing to dig for.

Meanwhile, we’ve gone through a morning session on strategic planning, followed by a break in a room full of portable massage chairs.

Only Cliff corners me and drills me on an experience with a former client.

When I give him the details, he doesn’t say thank you.

Just walks away, right in time for a session on sales tactics by an outside speaker on Zoom. No massage chair for me.

The Zoom speaker mentions mindset and changing our framing. Sometimes it’s how we look at the world that causes the biggest change.

Which brings me back to Jenny’s questions. Why am I here? For my family…well, for my kids. Lisa has entirely moved on. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s engaged by the end of the year. Maybe by the end of this weekend.

Lisa and I work better apart, co-parenting. We probably never should have tied the knot, but at least we got Emma and Owen.

Holding Jenny last night felt good. I could be lying to myself, but I swear she felt a spark too.

Focus. Why am I here? This is a solid company. A good reputation. My parents recommended it—

My parents. They’re how I ended up here. They knew a now-retired executive who took a chance on me. Parent-approved job, parent-approved wife. It was supposed to equate to a parent-approved life, but things aren’t going so well.

But I’ve succeeded despite setbacks. And just because my marriage didn’t work out with Lisa doesn’t mean my folks steered me wrong. They wanted what’s best for me, and this job provides for my family. It’s miserable at times, but it provides.

I’ve socked away money in investment accounts for the kids. I drive an older car and rent a fairly average apartment so my money goes where it matters. I work all these hours to give them what they need.

Yeah, I miss most of my kids’ games. And I could never make those school programs in the middle of the work day. Lisa attended them, mostly, but she isn’t interested in their sports and doesn’t seem to care missing their games.

But I care.

Still, I’m at this retreat for my kids. I’m good at my job and I want what’s best for my family.

Thinking through my why is a good idea. If I can center my bottom line, I can put up with Cliff and not freak out when my personal plans get canceled for work. It’s part of the job.

“Chase? Anything to add?” Cliff stares me down from the front of the room. The speaker on Zoom is now a static screen with the company logo.

“All good over here,” I answer.

It’s the wrong answer. Cliff drills holes through my skull with his beady eyes. I try not to flinch. Fail. I flinch some more.

“Let’s talk at the break.”

Not good. Not good.

“Kevin says you were yakking about your daughter’s softball games yesterday,” Cliff grounds out while the rest of the team files out to lunch. “Says you told him it’s tough to get to school activities. Do you want this job or not?”

Kevin sold me out? What a dirt bag. “Of course.”

Cliff crosses his arms. “Prove it.”

Like what, a dare? “I’ve been dedicated to this company for over ten years. I’ve brought in top clients—”

“Not the past. Now. Prove it now.”

Think fast. Why are you here? “My kids. My kids are everything to me. I’m here to provide for them.”

“Family? You let your wife walk off with all that money. Practically engaged to another man while you’re puttering around.”

Puttering around making money for the company.

Two coworkers walk right by us. They had to have heard Cliff. It’s embarrassing. “My personal life is none of your business.”

I can’t believe I said it. I never talk back to Cliff. But I’m so mad, I don’t even think about apologizing.

Cliff flinches. His eyes dart to the door where the last of the group trickles out. “This isn’t a company who hires anyone off the street. We excel through our reputation. I can ruin yours.”

I see red. My fists ball on their own, but I can’t show weakness.

“You have one last shot.” I can tell Cliff loves holding this over me. “Tell me, how will you prove you deserve this job?”

I came here to save my job, and I’m failing. A thought springs to mind. “I’ll bring in all of VanHousen this year. The whole account, not just the region.”

He snickers. “You don’t have the skills. Or the connections.”

Except I do. I am well past green and inexperienced. “I brought in the VanHousen account when everyone said it couldn’t be done. I turned one region in my first two years here. I maintain relationships with five of our top ten clients. I am an asset to this company.”

Cliff doesn’t exactly back off, but I’ve cracked him. “You have six months to do it or you’re out.”

Six months to bring in the full array of our toughest client? Maybe I’m off my rocker. Maybe I’m destined to fail. But what I know for now is, I just saved my job.

Lunch passes in a blur. I saved my job. I did it.

I want to tell Jenny.

I don’t have her number to text her. I check the yoga studio, but it’s empty.

Ben is my only safe outlet to share the news while we’re stuck in another team building activity.

At least we’re outdoors on the retreat grounds, rotating between archery, horseshoes, a small putting green (very popular), and a station for bushcraft skills.

Emma and Owen might like this. Knot tying maybe.

Carving designs into leather. Definitely how to start a fire with flint.

It’s like the reality show we watch together where contestants are dropped off in extreme wilderness and film themselves surviving.

We like to pick which people will give up first because they’re sad they miss their kids.

Aw, dang. I miss my kids. I grab the booklet about knot tying with sample pieces of string, then move on to the fire-starting station.

“Wish we were over there.” Ben nods beyond us.

A group crosses the grounds carrying rolled-up yoga mats. My chest thumps at the sight of her. Jenny.

“How long have you two been dating? You never mentioned her.”

I guess I’m that obvious. “We aren’t. I mean, we did, a long time ago. It didn’t work out.”

“Second chances, man. You’ve still got your job and now a shot at a firecracker who can change a tire.”

“Shut up.”

“Can you change your own tire?”

I hold up lit tinder between my fingers. “I can make fire.” A wisp of wind extinguishes the tiny flame into smoke.

Ben laughs. “She coming to the company dinner?”

We didn’t part on the best terms last night. “I don’t know.”

“Well, if you don’t know, ask. What have you got to lose?”