Page 38 of Power Move

I opened my purse and pulled out a Zofran, arming myself in hopes it would work to keep my nausea at bay like cloves of garlic against a vampire.

“That really is so bad?”

I glared. “David, it is horrendous. You have no idea.”

“But doesn’t it get better?”

“Ask your sister that stupid fucking question!” I clapped back.

I had no energy. I took a quick couch nap in my office but flagged about eight when I was piling my hair into a somewhat presentable bun in the ladies’ room.

“Do I look pregnant?” I whispered. “In this dress?”

“You look great. Only you would know,” Davey answered with a slight smile.

It wasn’t rude. It wasn’t skeezy, but it showed interest. Why the hell didn’t he get the hint that I really didn’t think about him that way anymore? Were all straight men eternally hopeful pursuers of pussy? They always told us that we confused them and weren’t direct. Meanwhile, I’d always gotten clear answers from women.

“Are you okay otherwise?” Davey asked as we waited on the host to finish dealing with a Karen sans-reservation.

“Davey, this is bad news.”

He turned back to the hostess once the woman left in a huff. “The chef’s table… will not work for us. My colleague has a dietary restriction, and I know the menu is very bespoke. She cannot have any fish.”

“Sir, the other party member requested it. I just… assumed you’d prefer it. Let me speak to the chef. I am sure for you we can make some sort of accommodation.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“I told you that I had your back,” Davey said.

“Thanks.”

The hostess returned. “Yes, the chef said he understands and is glad to accommodate any dietary restrictions.”

Davey looked to me for confirmation. I nodded in return. The medication was keeping my nausea at bay so far.

We found Norm—a skinny, short man in his seventies—at the bar with a fruity drink. He wasn’t what I expected.

“You did bring a friend, didn’t you?” Norm asked. “Who is this lovely woman?”

He wasflamboyant. I got a feeling the reason Norm wasn’t handsy was he preferred women to bro-y straight dudes like Davey.

“Norm, this is our new Business Information Security Officer, Eva Pavlak. She’ll be at the leadership retreat next month. Daphne couldn’t make it.”

“Daphne couldn’t make it? What a shame. I suppose she gets a pass with the pregnancy. Terrible thing,” he made a face. “Go easy on her. She’s earned it.”

“I try not to be too much of an ogre to the women in my life,” Davey said.

I resisted the desire to roll my eyes. Davey wasn’t anogre, butwouldtoot his own horn.

“They said we have the chef’s table,” Davey confirmed. “Should we head back?”

A server took us to the kitchen. It was as “elevated” as you’d expect. I’d been to a chef’s table before. Mona loved shit like this. Sadly, I preferred to choose my own food. I wasn’t into gastronomy. I would have gladly consumed sushi any other time in my life. In fact, after the miscarriage, I had it as my first meal as a fuck you to the universe.

“So, what does a person like yourself do?” Norm asked as we were seated.

“I work with Daphne and Claire to translate technology priorities or concerns into real talk. I’m an attorney first,” I explained. “A lot of my job is boring compliance stuff.”

“Contrary to what I thought, she doesn’t fix computers,” Davey said.