Page 17 of Power Move

“I have a hypothetical for you, Leighton,” I said. “Just purely fiction.”

“Uh-huh.” Her face suggested she heard this not-hypothetical totally hypothetical at least once today already.

“So, if an officer in the company was to date an employee, what would you say was thelegalconcern.”

“Is he her direct supervisor?” Leighton asked.

“Well, let’s assume it is a woman who has dated a man. And she’s two lines above him in the org chart.”

“When did this relationship start?”

“Say it was before the company employed him.”

“Did she sign off on his hiring information?”

I thought about the document I’d signed with Daphne’s approval. I also had to approve that level of appointment.

“Technically, yes… for budget purposes… but she wasn’t even in the interview.”

“So, they signed off but didn’tknowthe person?”

“What if it was like a hookup—something casual?”

Leighton rubbed her temples.

“What, it’s bad?”

“David, you aren’t giving me much good news here, are you?”

“I mean… he… or she… they didn’t do anything wrong?”

“That’s first an HR question, but I suspect they would tellherthat she should probably end the relationship or at least make it clear she is recusing herself of any personnel or disciplinary matters with this hire—and do so to the direct supervisorimmediately. But from a legal perspective, if there is no disparate treatment or retaliation with separation of employment or promotion, this officer should be fine.”

“Good to know… in this hypothetical situation,” I said, a bit relieved.

“But I strongly would urge this person—if they report to you—to notify the direct supervisor of this hire. It might be helpful to involve HR in that conversation just to CYA, too.”

“Sure.”

Oh, great, a meeting to confess my sins to my sister with HR in the room!That wouldnotbe happening, but I probably did need to come clean. Of course, my sister was a pregnant, hormonal disaster. Yes, it would be just one more Davey fuck-up for my sister to judge me about. She was the golden child, after all.

7.AN UNWELCOME SURPRISE

Eva

“We didn’t findanything on your tests to worry about.”

I sighed relief, sitting at the gyno office in my paper gown. Ever since the chance encounter with my asshole boss, I’d been nervous he’d given me something. I told myself it was better safe than sorry.

“So, what made you run in for tests?” She asked. “Was it a concern or something else?”

“I had an incident,” I explained. “It’s not like me to hook-up with anyone, mind you. I just left a five-year relationship with a woman. But like… I slept with this guy. We tried to be responsible. And the condom broke. I took Plan B, though.”

“This is a judgement-free zone,” the doctor explained, compassionate. “No worries. Do you want to discuss contraceptive options?”

“That’s not a bad idea.”

“Great, let’s get you a pregnancy test, confirm it’s negative, and we can decide what works best.”