Page 7 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

Emma had left hours ago, but I still lay staring at my bedroom ceiling. Sleeping was something I excelled at. By the time I ended my day, I fell into bed exhausted and fell into a deep sleep. Twelve- to fourteen-hour workdays could do that to a person.

Tonight was different. I’d been lying here for at least two hours. It was the damned conversation with Emma.

How had I become someone my sister and brother-in-law pitied—worried about? For fuck’s sake, I had achievements as long as my arm. Achievements most people would kill for.

Emma’s fascination with ancient philosophers and New Age prattle made her loopy, seeing problems where none existed.

The past year hadn’t been my best, but everyone went through rough cycles.

It didn’t mean my life required a complete overhaul.

I just needed to refocus my energies. Besides, it was all Marta’s fault.

If she hadn’t distracted me, I would have realized Terrence was plotting behind my back.

Another reason I should cross that item from my list. I didn’t need to find the love of my life.

I bit my lip. No. I didn’t have to cross it out.

If Marta had been the love of my life, she wouldn’t have walked out on me.

At least that was how I described it. Marta claimed we had other options.

For me, the only choice was for Marta to turn down her job offer since it meant a move to San Francisco.

After tearful pleading, on Marta’s part, I refused to entertain any compromise.

Everyone knew that long-distance relationships never worked.

Through her tears, Marta insisted QuantumWave Solutions was her dream job. Right. Marta had always been a drama queen. QuantumWave would crash and burn within a year. Another failed AI company swallowed up by a bigger entity, leaving Marta without a job or girlfriend.

I may have been sympathetic to her had she not had the gall to suggest I resign from Fortitude and find a private equity firm on the West Coast. That put a nail in the coffin of our nearly dead relationship and told me Marta didn’t know me at all and obviously didn’t respect me.

Now here I was without Fortitude and Marta.

No, she’d betrayed me just like Terrence had. I couldn’t let either of them derail me. I’d written down my dreams when I was younger, and I’d accomplished most. This was just a minor setback.

Satisfied that I could keep my list intact, my focus returned to my conversation with Emma. Why would I want some frivolous vacation? I’d not taken one in years, unless I counted my business trips. I always flew in a day early.

I spent the entire time in my hotel room, so I could get a strategic advantage. By meeting time, from memory, I spouted information from the spreadsheets. It was a great party trick, and it impressed more than one client. So, which was better—seeing the Louvre or impressing potential clients?

Perhaps a little break wouldn’t hurt. I could persuade Emma to shorten it to a week or two. Make my suitors hungry and ready to do business.

I rolled onto my side and punched the pillow into shape. Something told me that Emma wouldn’t agree to my terms. She’d been uncharacteristically bossy—ballsy, even. A thought flitted through my mind. I could agree to four weeks but later claim an emergency arose, and I had to leave.

Fuck. I hit my pillow harder. Emma was one of the few people left in my corner. I had friends, but I couldn’t recall the last time I’d seen them or even talked to them, for that matter. Too busy. It wouldn’t be prudent to risk alienating Emma with a dick move like that.

That settled it. Let Emma go to Europe with her family. I was fine here. Better than fine. Soon I’d embark on a new venture, proving Terrence’s mistake. He should have turned the company over to me instead of selling it.

Peace washed over me. Emma had caught me at a weak moment of sleep deprivation.

Then she’d plied me with a home-cooked meal.

Her manipulation had almost worked, but I was thinking clearly now.

Tomorrow I’d contact Nancy and hire her back, so she could go with me to my next job.

She could tackle the mundane research that had trapped me at my computer the last two days.

It would give me time to do a deeper dive into the top contenders.

With my insides settled, my eyelids fluttered. Better. I’d almost let Emma prey on my weak moment. I hated weaknesses, especially in myself. Good thing I got it under control before it devoured me.

Control. Emma said I was an out-of-control control freak or something along those lines. Ha. Just because she was in love with simplicity and her New Age lifestyle didn’t mean I had to go along with her whims or her serendipity. What a stupid concept.

“I’ll make my own damned serendipity,” I muttered before sleep overtook me.

The next morning, I rolled out of bed refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

On a whim, I’d even run down to a local coffee shop and ordered the biggest drink on the menu.

And Emma didn’t think I could be spontaneous.

Ha. When I recognized my rebellion, I’d added a blueberry muffin to my order.

I’d planned on eating it all until I’d glanced up at the calorie count on the board.

Six hundred fricking calories. Add that to the five hundred eighty-calorie frozen coffee, and it was over half my calories for the day.

I’d planned on cutting it in half when I got home. Instead, I’d handed it off to a homeless man standing outside the coffee shop. He could use the calories more than me. At least I could enjoy the entire drink without guilt.

I set the drink on my desk and powered up my computer.

So what if I didn’t want to waste my calories on a muffin?

It made me prudent, not a control freak.

My buoyant mood had taken a hit, but I wouldn’t let the muffin incident derail me.

Today, I planned to narrow my targets to the top five, so I could do a deeper dive into the companies.

But first, I should contact Nancy before someone snatched her up. I clicked on my email and smiled.

“Take that, Emma,” I said aloud when I saw the email from Nancy. Was it serendipity or kismet? Whichever. Yet another sign from the universe I shouldn’t tromp off on some frivolous vacation.

The subject line was: Checking in.

Typical Nancy, wanting to make certain I was okay. One more reason I wanted to take her wherever I landed.

I opened the email.

Dear Blake,

I cannot thank you enough for all that you’ve done for me. Mr. McClinton told me you insisted on my generous severance package. WOW! I was speechless and still am.

I wanted to call you, but, well, I didn’t want to bother you. But I couldn’t leave without saying something.

What did she mean—leave? I laughed at my reaction. Maybe Emma was right. I was wound a bit tight after everything that happened. I could take a three-day weekend. Go to Provincetown or Biltmore. That should appease Emma.

I turned my focus back to Nancy’s email.

You’ve been an amazing boss over the years, and now you’ve allowed me to follow my heart. I don’t know if you remember how devastated I was when Misty moved to Chicago last year.

How could I forget? Poor Nancy was heartbroken when her daughter moved away.

For two weeks after Misty left, Nancy sat at her desk and cried.

I tried my best to offer her reassurance, but it wasn’t my strong suit, so I’d told her Fortitude had a new airfare perk.

She never discovered there was no such thing, but she’d flown to visit her daughter three times on me.

Well, she’s having a baby. I’m gonna be a grandma!

YAY!!! It’s like someone was smiling on me.

Uh, sorry, that came out wrong. Of course, you being let go wasn’t a blessing or anything.

But now I can move to Chicago to be with my family.

I’ve missed her terribly, and I want to see my grandbaby grow up.

With the money I got from Fortitude, I can.

And it’s all because of you. Thank you! Thank you!

! Thank you!!! I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.

Things are moving fast. I’m leaving next weekend, but I thought maybe…if you have time...we could get together for lunch or something—before I go.

Please let me know. I’ll work around your schedule. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. I’d just love to thank you properly and say goodbye.

All the best,

Nancy

I leaned back against my chair and closed my eyes. Fuck. Just like that, she was deserting me, too. Figures. Nobody was loyal anymore. I knew I wasn’t being fair, but her departure stung. I’d had everything figured out last night, but my plans included Nancy.

Now what?

For fuck’s sake, she was a personal assistant, not my wife.

I didn’t need her to be successful. I could hire anyone.

Someone with more computer skills. She’d always been lacking in that department.

She could find her way around a spreadsheet, but so could a high school kid. It wasn’t rocket science.

My earlier thought of kismet flitted across my mind, but I pushed it aside. Emma’s woo-woo shit was playing with my head. Nancy leaving wasn’t an omen. It just was what it was.

I clicked on the reply icon and wrote:

Nancy,

I am so happy for you and happy that Terrence did the right thing. I and Fortitude valued you. You earned every penny.

Congratulations to you and Misty. I know she’ll be happy to have you near her.

Unfortunately, I am booked solid this week, so I cannot meet with you. But I send my highest regards. Should you need anything, references, or whatever else, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please take care,

Blake

I hit send before I could think more about it. I’d covered all the high points, hadn’t I? Happy for her. Praising her service. Wishing her the best. Nothing more needed to be said.

So I lied about being busy. I couldn’t stand to see concern and pity in her eyes. I’d seen enough from Emma. Besides, I wanted her to remember me as a success, not a failure. No, I’d wait and reach out to her once I secured another job. When she could be proud of me again.

Not meeting up with her was for the best. I clicked out of my email and focused on my spreadsheet.