The Headhunter Chapter 4

The Headhunter

Chapter 4

Is Barb Going to Sell Jack Out?

Jack heard Randolph's voice behind him. "How are you doing today, Jack?"

"Why Randolph, you know the answer to that: I'm living the dream." He turned to face Randolph, "I'm just trying to figure out how much of a nightmare the dream has become."

Randolph intoned sadly, "It's certainly not all wine and roses. But Jack, perhaps it's not dross either."

Jack chuckled ruefully not giving his partner and friend any slack, "Alright Randolph, convince me. Turn my dross into silver." He made a sweeping gesture with his arm to give Randolph the floor.

"Jack we both bleed corporate colors. We see eye to eye."

Jack cut him off, "Apparently not."

"Still more than you think." Randolph paused, "You know what happened. I presented. I fought. Your plan won."

"But I lost."

"Yes. There's a price to be paid for being so bold."

"How about that. I'd give a guy that bold the rank of Field Marshall. After he proved himself, of course."

"You're smart enough to know the existing generals would fear that. You're right that due to the corporation's direction our future is dim. And you're right as far as where we need to go. But people also bleed their own blood, not just corporate colors. The board saw themselves and their legacy threatened. Once you have ultimate power, once you have riches, the ego is what's left to satisfy. People want to be seen as the wise one who guided their flock into present and future prosperity. They don't want to be the old fool who drove them down."

"I would have given them credit," Jack explained honestly.

"And they should have seen that. I think it's testament to you that they listened, thought it through, and decided you were right. It's also Old Testament that Moses led to the Promised Land but couldn't enter it himself."

"Randolph, you're not saying you want me to go Biblical on anyone's ass, are you?"

Randolph chuckled, "No, no. Certainly not. We're trying to save the corporation here Jack, not have you call down righteous fire and brimstone. Look, you aren't getting canned. They would love you to stay on."

Jack had to compose himself by drawing a large inhalation before continuing, "You know Randolph, if they'd done this to you, I would have done what any of THEM would do for each other. I know they expect more loyalty from us than they'll ever show in return, but I would've taken you out and explained the problem in private. WE would have figured out how to best handle it, and then WE would have dealt with it.

"You've made this adversarial. You sold me out. And I think I know exactly how much and how far. You did just what they wanted. You aren't a patsy, and they don't need patsies. You and I, and a few others, know we're here to give HQ what they NEED, not what they WANT. Their leadership is driving us off a cliff. We didn't used to have competition, now we have four rapidly growing competitors. We can wipe two of them off the map by just making good decisions, but the others will be here to haunt us for years. They're doing things better than we are right now. What we proposed to HQ would catch us up and surpass them. They didn't need a corporate sacrifice."

Randolph's response was immediate, "You don't see it all, Jack. You really shook them up. They positively devoured what you proposed. They tested whether I believed in it by forcing me to choose between you and your plan. They knew we were partners. I chose for your plan to convince them it really was the direction they needed to follow." Randolph looked at Jack expecting him to say he'd do the same thing. It took only a glance for Randolph to realize he was very mistaken.

Jack suppressed a bored sigh, "You chose yourself Randolph. Think of that every time you look in the mirror. You didn't come up with the plan to save us, I did. I'm smart enough to see the problems and their solutions. You aren't. I'm the leader and the engineer. You're the salesman. No, I take it back. You're less: you're the fucking politician."

Randolph stopped the tirade, "That's enough. I get it, but that's enough."

They both knew Jack had all the power here. Since he'd already been betrayed there wasn't much they could do to him now. If Jack wanted to push it, he could, and there wasn't a thing Randolph could do to stop it. Randolph decided it was time to cede the day and save the future.

Randolph stuck his toe back in the water, "There are others that understand the precarious nature here, Jack. This Barb that you'll be working with, she gets it." Randolph moved closer for emphasis, truly wanting Jack to get the message. "She really does, it's almost a miracle. I thought you'd be out the door the second you talked to whoever was chosen for the job. I'm imploring you to give her a chance. She speaks our language. She'll listen to you! She's more interested in making this work than putting her stamp on it. She's approaching it the way you wanted Corporate to approach it... but didn't."

Randolph was surprised when that tact calmed Jack. He was expecting a miserable failure. Surprisingly mentioning that Jack's new boss had an understanding of what he was trying to accomplish lowered the temperature.

Barb had been watching from the wings. She fought gasping as she'd seen and heard Jack's reaction. Jack was about to lay down the law hard, yet backed off hearing her name. He should have been allowed that victory, except fighting for both of them, he sublimated his own needs to fortify her position. Further, he did it in a way that didn't sell her out, as she'd pretended to do to Jack when speaking to Randolph earlier.

Barb thought. She'd said disloyal things convincing Randolph to save Jack's job. Jack would have said the truth outright and saved the day. Then again, she was a secret agent, her real mission was completely secret, including her family life. Still, Jack would've found a way to do it completely above board. Barb felt low.

Randolph jumped at the pause, "Jack you are... I'd like you to stay in your current role. Jack, please see what that role really is. You've been punching above your title for years as a brevet. You still won't have the rank, but now you will have the authority officially. Your role now IS to build out, implement, then integrate, the new command and control plan. The software, the hardware, the changes in business protocol, you can rebuild it all! I'm asking you to save Global Priority and also to build your magnificent machine."

Randolph paused, "It's not what we both envisioned. You won't be my heir apparent unless you can convince Corporate. That's unlikely. You won't get all the public credit, but it will still be on your resume. You'll be paid a bonus of two jumps on the salary scale," He looked Jack in the eyes apologetically. "Although you'll still be on your current rung." He held up his hand. "I know that's far short of what we thought. However, it does mean you'll take the next rung at your next review. If you stay on, I'll move heaven and earth to make the review in six months, not a year."

Jack didn't have to act insulted. He did, however, pretend to relent, "On what rung is this new Barb starting?"

Barb knew this was gamesmanship as Jack knew everything about Barb's deal. It was, however, a question Randolph expected Jack to ask. Jack also knew Randolph wasn't supposed to say, especially to her subordinate. Jack was gauging Randolph here.

Randolph cringed, "That's why - just in case you stayed on - HQ made her two complete rungs higher than you. She'll still out rank you even if you're promoted in six months. Even if her career stalls, it will take you years to catch her rank-wise. I'm sorry Jack."

Both men took stock of the situation. Jack would get to build his dream project. But he'd be staying in his current position. However, he already had entire departments answering to him unofficially. The final insult was the financial compensation for being passed over and his career sidelined, was two scoops of the same tired old cereal, instead of the Eggs Benedict he'd earned. Jack was expected to build out his plan, take less, and let others take the credit.

"In other words, you want me to show the corporation the same huge level of loyalty and integrity I bring to work every day, just as always?"

Randolph was silent.

Jack added, "Despite the company showing me none of the same."

Randolph could tell he was boxed in. Jack wasn't just a protégé, he was formidable in his own right. Randolph answered in a way to minimize negative exposure, "Yes Jack."

"So, you want me to build your future while you destroy mine?"

Randolph stood there and took it. Barb thought that spoke well of him. Barb felt that Randolph hated this situation, which also spoke well of him.

Jack saw it differently. Randolph didn't hate what was happening to Jack. Randolph knew Jack would see his traitorous behavior and hold him accountable. Randolph's ego didn't like being painted that way nor being found wanting. Randolph saw this as the necessary medicine he had to swallow in order to get where he wanted to go. Somedays you eat the bear, somedays the bear ate you.

Jack saw what happened. Randolph had gone to HQ to push Jack's ideas. He sold the change to corporate HQ but put his own name to it as well. Yet he couldn't lose Jack because Randolph couldn't deliver the goods. He thought he could talk HQ into keeping Jack as his eventual replacement, but he'd undersold Jack to emphasize himself and underestimated the egos involved at HQ. In the end Randolph was given a choice to prove his loyalty to the corporation and knuckled under having gotten himself in too deep. To escape his own fate Randolph put the knife in Jack's back while still needing him to pull the project through. And here they were.

As a result, Jack could walk all over Randolph until the project was done - if he wanted to behave like Randolph. Now Jack was teaching a clinic on how to live properly. Do your best and don't tolerate less from yourself. Jack was going to fulfill his mission while letting Randolph know he found him wanting.

Jack's eyes took on a wild intensity as he summed up, "Living the dream, eh, buddy?" There was an ominous edge to it. He stared at Randolph holding his gaze until deciding he was too disgusted to stay. Dismissing Randolph completely, Jack left to do his job, sending the message that Randolph hadn't been doing his for quite a while. Their partnership and friendship were dissolved.

Barb shuddered at Jack's cold efficiency, wondering if that was how Jack saw her as well. She wondered if Jack would treat her as he'd treated Randolph in the end. Did he feel she was one of his betrayers too, planning to teach a betrayer how a genuine person acted before leaving them for dead?

Barb sighed; all she could do was her best now. She had to look out for Jack. Although Jack was clearly done with Randolph, Barb wanted to cultivate as many "Jack allies" as she could. Even if Jack didn't see the value in this one anymore.

Barb held her tongue waiting in the wings.

After Jack left Randolph repeated his parting phrase, but passively, like it was strange to him now. "Living the dream." He momentarily added, "Even after its lost its satisfaction." He said it ruefully. He turned not a bit embarrassed to face Barb knowing she'd seen the interaction.

Barb tried to give Randolph a graceful way out, saying, "I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't' catch that."

Randolph didn't need Barb's mercy. "Oh nothing," he replied, "or little more than nothing now." He glanced into Barb's eyes explaining, "Jack hasn't merely lost a promotion, he was my hand-picked successor. He was just acknowledging that's no longer the case."

Randolph pondered a moment before stating, "Don't worry Barb, times change, and we must change with them." His lips pursed in an odd, frustrated, pucker. It was the second time she'd seen Randolph ruffled.

He asked her, "Where were we?" Clearly demonstrating the two of them were now connected at the hip, now that the operation of removing Jack from his earned future was complete.

Barb hoped she read more, that Randolph wasn't happy about Jack being sidelined. Although at odds with her husband's interpretation, Barb hoped she'd found a Jack-centric partner in Randolph. Despite Jack having just burned his half of the friendship bridge he felt Randolph had already set ablaze. She also felt Jack had put on a tour deforce presentation about playing with matches. She marveled at Jack's mastery of the situation. Yet everything hinged on how Randolph reacted to Jack staying on. Would he see it as mastery over Jack, or understand that Jack held all the power with his ability to simply walk away and leave his betrayers hanging? Those were two viewpoints unlikely to find common ground.

Barb sighed silently, knowing that was her job. After all, she WAS there to facilitate...

* * * * *

Only a few months in it was plain to see Jack and Barb worked well together. They worked quickly and efficiently and very closely, with a definite chemistry. From their perch in Randolph's glass walled office, the plant's old guard managers watched the duo study a large paper together then going off to quickly in different directions to inspect and reinforce their employees, then coming back to the same spot to look at the plan together again.

One of the old guard managers quipped, "It seems the way to get Jack to stay on was providing him a pay raise and a side piece."

"I'm not sure that's the direction it flows in," Randolph chimed in.

"What do you mean?" another asked.

Randolph answered thoughtfully impressed, "I think it's Barb's doing, not Jack's. She has it all figured out. Jack was likely to leave. He was the key cog in the refit because it's his plan. She had to find a way to incentivize his staying to ensure her own success. She sure doesn't show that sort of interest to anyone else. Though it looks like she's enjoying her extracurricular work."

One chuckled, "So, she knows what's good for Global Priority is good for her, eh? Damn, she WILL rise; she fits right in." He rubbed his chin with a growing smile.

Another asked quietly, "But what about Jack? I thought he was married. Hasn't he brought his wife to company functions?"

Another answered concerning spouses, "You know how that goes. Here today, gone tomorrow."

Yet another smiled saying, "Except it's also, "cheaper to keep her.""

"Either way his wife hasn't shown up at any additional company functions recently."

The other answered grim, "Neither has Jack, he sees the writing on the wall. He was part of this group. He should have been our boss in five years. That won't happen now." Some of the group looked relieved. Some looked at Randolph wondering if a surreptitious mention of his possible retirement would meet with wrath.

"It won't take that long for Jack to finish the project," another manager offered.

"As long as they're discreet, I couldn't care less what they do off campus," Randolph answered flatly.

"What about his wife?" The head of HR asked again.

Randolph turned to the man but was clearly addressing the entire group, "What about yours? You find a way to "evaluate the talent" here, you still go home to your wife and provide a great life for her and your kids." Randolph paused thinking, "I want the max allowable raise for Jack the next few years. If we can't promote him, we can max out his allowable salary on his rung. I don't want to see him go to the competition."

"He has a non-disclosure," the HR head reminded.

It was all Randolph could do to not roll his eyes, "Yes, and if we sue him, he'll take us to court for discrimination. He's a smart one. He knows we'd settle to keep matters out of the press. It's better to use the carrot with Jack now as we already tried to beat him to death with the stick and failed. He knows how to use the club on us too."

The others nodded.

Randolph added before stalking away, "Make sure he wins some of those incentive program rewards; the good trips."

"Sure, sure," came the replay, but Randolph was already gone.

* * * * *

Jack was upset. He and Barb were only a couple of months into their secret plan and already there were significant hurdles. Despite the unspoken arrangement of leaving him alone to finish the project there were ups and downs with other managers. The one constant was humiliation. More and more it was apparent to everyone in the building Jack was no longer part of the cool kid's club. The other mangers separated themselves from him immediately upon hearing Jack hadn't been elevated over them as expected. They were politely distant for almost six weeks. Then they stopped hiding their smirks after he'd seen them. There was little Jack could do but soldier on. In his circumstance however, there was nothing else he wanted to do there. The project was his only focus.

One day when Barb was working alongside Jack, she turned unexpectedly to catch one of the managers, Smythe, antagonizing Jack with a smirk. She shot a surreptitious glance at Jack who turned deliberately away from the man and went back to work. Barb knew instantly Jack had seen the intentional slight as his response wasn't only studied, it was well practiced. Barb subtly excused herself.

Barb slowly followed the manager who had smirked at Jack. When he entered the manager's wing she sped up. Barb was relieved when another manager came out of his office to talk to the smirker.

"Hold on there," Barb yelled ahead. As she caught up, she said to the man who had come out of his office, "Stay right there, I want you to witness this."

Barb pulled out her phone. She held it so the others could watch her switch it to record. The man who had come out of his office complained, "You can't record us. It's against the rules."

"Great. We can discuss it in the same hearing where we discuss Smythe's harassment of subordinates."

The two men glanced at each very concerned.

Barb laid down the facts, "We need Jack to finish his job or none of us will be retiring from this company. We should all be bending over backwards to keep him here and happy until he finishes." Barb didn't like adding that last part but feeling it sold Jack short, but thought it "sold" the first part.

Smythe said under his breath, "Some of us are doing plenty of bending over to keep Jack happy."

Barb didn't bat an eye, "You know what you little shit..."

Both men recoiled.

Barb stepped to within a foot of Smythe before she continued, "... if you had a set of balls, I'd rip them off and make you swallow them. But as you don't know anything about being a man, I figure you don't know much about women either. I'm not going to put you up on charges for that remark because I'm going to fix your worthless wagon another way. I'm going to stop intervening on your half with Jack. You've been antagonizing him, which threatens us all! I won't stand in the way next time. I'll stop holding him back and let him wax your fanny if you do it again. Got it?"

Barb asked the other man while maintaining her glare at Smythe. "Do you have anything to say?" She finally looked at the other manager who shook his head energetically.

"Good." Barb raised the recorder turning it off at eye level making eye contact with Smythe again. "I'll take this up with Randolph. He knows you are dead weight; he didn't know you were dense enough to sink the entire ship. I guess that might wreck your fantasy life as everyone knows you'd love to suck Randolph off." Barb stormed off muttering, "Worthless piece of shit can't even spell his own name right."

The innocent manger looked at the Smythe who was pale. Laughing aloud he exclaimed, "You got told, brother. Oh man, did you get told!"

That night at home Barb was recalcitrant. She lamented, "I haven't done a good enough job of protecting you, Jack. I narrow my focus to the job at hand because you're so in control of what you're doing you don't give off any vibe of needing help. I apologize for growing tone deaf to your situation."

"You have been a bit tone deaf, babe. But when it gets to me, I let you know."

Barb winced, "Which is something you hate doing and never thought you'd have to do with me. I'm sorry, Jack."

The corner of Jack's mouth folded down in a shrug of sorts, "I'd tell you something to make you feel better, but you just got it pretty dead on. The mess we're in makes life precarious enough, if we don't have honesty, we'll go off the tracks for sure."

Barb didn't like the sound of that, which was the problem in microcosm. She didn't see them as close to going off the rails, while Jack saw the rails in such disrepair it was a miracle they'd stayed on them this far. Whoever felt worst had to have the reins and she wasn't living accordingly. Why had Barb thought the situation had changed? Why did she think it had gotten better? How had she begun to sink into a rhythm and live normally when Jack had been living in red alert mode since the headhunter issue unveiled his world wasn't what he thought?

"I hate admitting this Jack, I have it pretty damn rosy. I'm busy and in charge. Like most managers who are junkies for this stuff, I'm living large on it. You're so in charge of your work that I just concentrate on other areas. I'm not paying enough attention to how you're seething underneath."

Jack threw Barb an olive branch, "My path is clearer. No one is trying to deceive me, no one's blowing sunshine up my skirt. They're mostly staying out of my way because they need me to finish my job. Except they lord it over me because I have no future, which doubles down on my feeling the fool for staying. I still have power, but my station has eroded. Everyone knows I'm a dead man walking career-wise. Damn, it drives me crazy. I feel I've been driven into the ground like a railroad spike; I can't even acknowledge my own wife. Life sucks!"

Barb felt awful. This ran much deeper than she'd known. It was her job to know as both his wife and his boss. She'd missed his torment in both arenas. Even worse; Jack was in this situation because of the plan she'd formulated.

Now Jack shrugged with his shoulders, "Although I don't have to lie about thinking life sucks. Everyone knows I've been fucked over. While many are thankful, most are worried by it. If it can happen to me, it can happen to any of them. Every single one of them is confused that I'm still there. But everyone knows my life sucks, so I don't have to put on a brave or happy face."

"Jack, I..."

Jack's expression was pure sympathy, "Barb, you must conceal who you are, and what you feel, while also doing your job. That's a lot tougher than what's expected from me."

Barb was thrown by Jack's conclusion. Soon she frowned saying, "Tougher than getting pissed on every day? Jack, they practically throw roses at my feet. It's been hard to not be seduced but I've heeded your warning. There are still too many times I get caught up in it. It's like being in rarefied air, it's not like you can decide to not breathe it."

"And it goes to your head," Jack stated plainly.

"Yeah, but I do defend you. I hope this might let you know that."

Barb slid her phone across the table and pressed play, showing Jack her takedown of Smythe. They shared a laugh over it, but it didn't have the effect on Jack she hoped for.

Seeing her reaction Jack explained, "Barb," Jack made himself calm down. "Don't you get it?" He studied her face seeing she that while she wanted to, she didn't. "Maybe there is a gender thing. You coming to my defense is like a kid's mother telling off the bully who picks on her kids at school. It's only going to make it worse. The bully will see the boy as weak, hapless, and utterly unable to fend for himself."

Flustered Barb tried to regroup. Jack stood and walked to where she sat. He stooped to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I know, it sucks finding out you've been pigeonholed because of something you can't change; like you gender. I'm sure you've seen plenty of examples." He shrugged, "We do what we can, when we can. I still appreciate the sentiment."

Jack stood back up straight. "Barb, not to sound dramatic but every day is a slap in the face, full of various kicks in the shin. But it's my lot and it's on me to deal with it. I haven't responded to my detractors because that tells the bad guys they've succeeded in getting under your skin. Which means it'll get worse." He paused for emphasis, "When the bullied party pushes back they must make an example of the bully. I don't want that level of attention right now."

Jack paused again looking thoughtful, "You know, that stunt you pulled on Smythe threatening to take him to HR has a lot of potential." Jack thought then smiled slyly, he nodded to her, "Thanks."

Barb was delighted she'd helped Jack, though she had no earthly idea how.

A few days later Jack called Smythe over in front of one of his work groups. There may have been forty people there for their morning briefing.

He had Smythe join him in front of the group. Some of those assembled worked for Smythe.

"Smythe," Jack said in a happy charming voice, "You're an idiot. You want to get under my skin when it's so easy for me to get under yours. All I have to do is cite that obvious truth." There were murmurs from the crowd and Smythe grew red from the bottom of his collar to the top of his head.

"Smythe you only have your job because you have one outstanding skill: kissing ass. Go ahead tell HR about this and get me fired, and you'll face another truth: they'll have you out the door in time to hold it for me. So listen, keep out of my way, and if you want a long career here, stick to your one, tiny, thin, lane."

Jack turned to the group. "That's todays briefing, nothing any of you didn't know, it was more of a refresher actually. Thank you all for your hard work." Jack walked off to laughter and applause.

Barb had started around the corner just in time to catch Jack's entire performance. She was extremely impressed. Strangely, she found she wanted to suck him off right on the shop floor. Forming a naughty grin, she resolved to do exactly that no matter where she found him in the house whenever she got home. Her husband knew how to take care of business! She'd show him she knew how to take care of him.

Barb turned to discreetly walk the other way giving Smythe an open avenue of retreat. As she did, she saw Randolph standing only a couple yards away smiling ear to ear. He'd seen Jack's public takedown of Smythe too. He gave Barb a I-was-never-here nod and walked away whistling happily.

* * * * *

Ten months later, almost a full year into Barb's plan, she hadn't seen a repeat of Jack being goaded, though it was inescapably obvious that Jack wasn't included, or welcome, with the other managers. Whether he outranked them or not, because of the project Jack was unofficially in charge of them, still having control over their work groups until the project was finished. They hated him for it, only tolerating him because his stature was temporary.

Jack saw each day entering the building as a humiliation. However, that's where he had to go to build his machine and take care his wife. She outranked him, made more money, was more popular, and was treated with respect. Yet Barb felt more and more like a hostage, held to make Jack capitulate.

* * * * *

Barb had grown used to her job. Everyone went out of their way to be nice to her. The people working on the project were naturally enthused and happy in their work, and she got much of the credit. Mid-level management had found she was formidable on her own, in addition to being Randolph and HQ's pet, and treated her accordingly. Barb knew part of their deference was fake, though all of it was enjoyable. She looked forward to getting to work each day. One of those days came back to bite her.

Arriving home ninety minutes later than expected had become Barb's norm the last few weeks. Entering the kitchen, she called out, receiving no response. Where was Jack? Halfway through a drink she made for herself she began looking around. She looked out the window. Yep, Jack's old truck was outside. She looked at her new Lexus GX 550, it was a pip. Management had encouraged her to drive something more upscale. Something well-built and smart to drive, something in keeping with someone in her station. She smiled at SUV. The GX felt like a tank.

Barb smiled at Jack's old Chevy, too. He'd had that Silverado since the year after college graduation when his old car finally died. The truck had been old when Jack bought it. It was almost a decade older than that now. She looked at it happily, there were many good memories associated with that old clunker.

Barb mused about the past. Jack had wanted an SUV more than a pickup. But Barb and Jack had met and grown serious about each other. They were on the cusp of starting light housekeeping together. She was about to move in with him and then they would get married and look for a new place. She looked around happily at the house they'd found for themselves, before peering back outside. The pickup truck had helped them accomplish their goals, it was cheaper, and they had lots of moving ahead of them, as well as other starting-a-life-together purchases that wouldn't fit in the back of an SUV. So, Jack bought the old sensible truck he didn't want, because his priority was taking care of Barb. She felt warm and loved. She sighed. She didn't spend enough time at the house anymore, but it sure had good memories.

Barb looked at Jack's truck. They said you could always count on the man in a pickup. The maxim had sure been true for her. That truck just kept on running, steady and dependable; "like a rock" Chevy once claimed. Like its owner, she glowed thinking of Jack.

Barb looked at her GX 550 standing stately next to Jack's pickup. The GX was imposing, fancy, shiny, solid, and powerful. New... like her.

Barb began to feel troubled. The old Chevy had paved the American road the GX now rolled down so easily. Did she appreciate how much work it took to carve that road out of farmlands and mountains? She didn't have to make the road just drive it...

Now viewing the two vehicles troubled Barb. She had the easier road and the rewards too. Jack had the hard work. She had the accolades. He was persona non grata. Everyone liked her. Everyone respected Jack, even if they disliked him. Although he was indispensable for the moment, you'd wouldn't know it. The Chevy sat there unappreciated, faded paint and tarnished chrome, some uneven spots where Jack had buffed out some rust that had started. The GX gleamed.

The GX wasn't a poser, it was capable and looked it. The Chevy kept getting the job done without getting many washes, little-less new paint. Depending on your point of view the Chevy either looked haggard or staunch in its weathered state. The GX looked supremely ready but... unchallenged. There were no battle ribbons on its chest, no battle scars on its flanks. It did possess every sort of new electric gewgaw you could imagine. Barb had loved that, now it felt unsettling.

Did the GX look gaudy next to the Chevy? Barb felt sick. The Chevy was needed and called on but looked neglected and unloved next to the new GX. Worn on its own, the Chevy looked all the worse standing beside the GX.

Barb looked at her fancy clothes. She was wearing some pretty nice labels. Jack had made do with older Brooks Brothers suits. His jacket always looked pristine as he took it off first thing in the office and slung it over his shoulder on the way out. He spent the rest of the day with his tie tucked into his shirt and his sleeves rolled up, getting his hands dirty.

Barb glowed entering the room in new clothes, bathing in attention and good will. Jack, already there getting the job done, looked all the worse for standing beside her as he got pushed off the stage into the wings and the shadows.

How had she grown distant from that? How could this be a revelation? It should have been the basis of her everyday life! Had the limelight blinded her to Jack's diminished norm? Now she didn't even know where he was.

Barb put on her detail-oriented thinking cap to search the house. Jack was not in the garage. He was not in the basement nor upstairs. As Barb began to grow concerned, she had an afterthought, there was a good-sized garden shed in the back of the yard. She walked out to it.

As she opened the door light poured out from the well-lit interior. There was Jack, he'd taken the lawn mower apart. He appeared to be changing the spark plug too. Barb was non-plussed.

"Jack, what are you doing out here?"

"Getting some work done," he said tersely.

"Don't you ever stop working?"

"Says the woman who never comes home from her job."

Barb recoiled from the rebuff.

"Jack, I ah..."

"You better not say you have responsibilities. I'm out here getting things ready for spring which won't be here for several more months. I've started doing double duty on the home front, because I'm the only one who does any work here now."

"Well Jack, I have..." Barb stopped in response to Jack thrusting his finger in the air. He was stopping her from doing exactly what he'd just told her not to do.

"Don't! Don't you dare."

Barb froze realizing she had wandered out onto very thin ice.

"I had the job you have. Even without all the fanfare I still made sure I was home a long time ago compared to when you traipse back in."

Barb tamped down her anger and competitive nature. She knew not to take Jack on, especially after the discussion she'd just had with herself in the house. She said very quietly, "I work hard, Jack."

"Yeah, but sometimes you work hard at hardly working. There's no good reason to be out this late every day."

Perturbed she started, "Jack, how..."

"How would I know?" Jack finished her sentence. He hadn't just cut her off, he'd used a guillotine.

"Because I did your job, and still do the hardest parts of it. I did it before you and defined it, that's how I KNOW. Don't dare to tell me its parameters just because you've embraced the parts I never had patience with."

"Jack, I..."

"Want dinner?"

Barb's head spun with the change. She answered honestly in the whirlwind, "No, I caught..."

Jack finished her sentence again, "A bite with the mangers. And at least one drink, "on the way home". Yeah, I know how they phrase it. I hardly ever did that because I was coming home to you. Apparently coming home to me doesn't have the same appeal for you. And you can say someone in your position has responsibilities to team building, but the other managers don't set the tone, they play follow your lead, not the other way around. That's how it worked when I did the job, and I wasn't MADE like you are. I made sure the team building took place at work, through the successful doing of our jobs."

Barb was rooted in place.

Jack suddenly asked, "You want to know what I made you for dinner?"

"Oh shit..." Barb hadn't thought about dinner with Jack, or even Jack having dinner. She'd just done her thing. Her stomach turned as she realized that had become the norm.

"Yeah, because you haven't been calling to say you'd be late, you just expected your maid and chef to adjust. Well, I adjusted all right, after making dinner for two and eating alone for weeks, I finally stopped making dinner all together. Which you didn't notice either.

"What type of team dictates going out for drinks three or four nights a week?" Jack kept her from responding, "The type of team that destroys the team at home! I don't know if you've been played. I don't know if you're just tired of propping up your loser husband. I don't know if you're sick of playing the façade and want to make our disparity real, but something has changed and it's not innocent at all. From my standpoint it sucks. I have to suck it up at work, and now at home too. This whole plan sucks and has from the beginning. I feel like I'm paying the bill for all the pies thrown in my face. And now you're throwing them too."

He stopped to looked at her pointedly, "Anything to say for yourself?" There was tempered venom in his voice.

Barb started to bristle. She'd been sympathetic, then chastened, but the tone had piqued something inside her. Was he calling her to be accountable? What the hell was he thinking?

She felt the fire rise in the veins in her neck, she turned ready to put this underling in his place. Barb looked up into the eyes of her... husband. What the hell was she doing? Then Jack matched her bile by letting her glimpse in his eyes just a bit of the bile he swallowed every day. She was chastened again. Jack looked at her harder, then very hard. He reiterated his question, "Well?"

"Well, what?" she started, but his look took the breath from her lungs.

"You were thinking "how dare I hold you accountable" because you're so fucking important. Except all I see is a woman beginning to lap up the luxury, who's begun to like the heat of the spotlight, who's forgotten that climbing higher up the ladder doesn't give you immunity; it gives you opportunity. And to earn that lofty position you must be responsible AND accountable!"

Jack sighed and made himself calm down, "Listen Barb, I'm still doing the hardest part of YOUR job. You were a wonderful partner but when you began to slip at work you began to slip at home, so whatever's going on is pretty system wide for you. If you're leaving me, so be it, but I'm still going to try to help you until you do. Which means holding you to your typical lofty standards."

Her eyes grew as wide as the shot glasses she'd been throwing back after work.

"You've been missing details at work. You're spending too much time getting compliments from the floor. Now you're holding up my work and asking me to slow my pace. Where do you get off telling me to hold back on the next phase?"

"Jack, you're going so fast you're wearing everyone out. They need a breather and yes, some time to celebrate as they finish a major phase. It's a great accomplishment. Especially for you. But you've jumped right into the next phase, we can't keep up with you."

Jack was not swayed, "Are the rank-and-file partying with your management buddies? No way. Those clowns you hang out with now aren't doing a damn thing. You and I have commandeered their departments. They're getting their checks for nothing now. Why do you see the need to bond with them at all? THAT team doesn't need to be built; it needs to be torn down. I'm tearing it down, this project will see them all replaced with competent people. Although they don't know it, their careers are as dead as mine."

"That's exactly why it does matter, Jack. I need subterfuge so they don't look into us. They know you were gunning for them. Of course, they'll look into how to stop you. And when they look closely, they'll find me."

"And you'll lose your great job? What a tragedy." Jack shook his head.

Barb lightly took hold of his wrist, "Yes, but not for the reason you're thinking. We need money to start our own business."

"So, you need to fool them four nights a week? Wouldn't once a month do the same to keep them off balance?"

"Because if they look into me, it's going to be even easier to find you. The result being both of us out of work at the same time. I want to use that money to make you untouchable, not to pay bills while we claw to find jobs."

"You've made yourself too touchable doing it."

"What do you mean?" Barb was very worried what her husband may be thinking.

"They've played you. Someone had to. You can't tell me it's all strategy when you're missing so many details at work and home. You carousing isn't part of the plan and you never told me you were adding an addendum. You've never even mentioned to me all your late, certainly not that you're out "drinking with the boys." Someone's gotten hooks into you." Jack held up his hand, "... in a way you aren't aware of yet. I'm just telling you to look so you find it. And to pay attention to our damn plan so we can finish the damn thing."

Barb could see the worry and sickness course through him. She tried to be calm and reassuring. "The plan has to run a certain amount of time, Jack. What's your hurry?"

As she heard her words come out of her mouth Barb knew they were a disaster. She looked up afraid.

Jack was seething. "How could you not know? I'm trying to get the fuck out of

there! I'm working like there's no tomorrow, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORK THERE TOMORROW."

Jack clamped his teeth together. His lips pursed and he looked above him like he was studying the ceiling. He calmed taking a long breath, "And I have a new two-fold reason. I work so hard because my wife has gone missing so all I have is fucking work. I drown myself in it because I can't stand to think about a single aspect of what's going on - to either of us. Second, I need to speed our departure to get you out of there before you become one of them!"

He looked away but Barb saw anyway: Jack was a man fighting more desperately than ever because he feared he was already defeated. She was shocked to realize Jack felt he was losing her! She thought, 'All the shit he's forced to contend with every day and what hurts him is losing me.'

She pressed her back into the work bench to keep her knees from buckling. "Jack, I don't know what to say."

"GOOD! You've been doing way too much talking and playing lately. Now listen, at work that makes you a piss poor partner. It does the same at home, except recently you haven't been a partner because you haven't been home."

Jack was tired now, his indignation waned as the defeat waxed. "You haven't spent much real time with me at all lately. As far as our plan goes, I don't know how you're saving our marriage when you carouse with other men at the expense of being with your husband. And I don't see how you're putting every penny aside, necessitating you work after hours, when you've bought yourself a new flashy eighty-five-thousand-dollar vehicle."

Barb felt her stomach lurch. She'd only just noticed the size of the discrepancy of their current lives and vehicles earlier, but she hadn't thought of Jack's reaction at all. She was compartmentalizing way too much. Jack must have noticed her new ride right away and been seething ever since.

"Barb, I'm trying to stretch every fucking penny so we can make the investments needed to climb out of the cesspool you're enjoying so much! I thank God, for the piece of shit Chevy I drive, because it's paid for and still bolted together helping me stretch those pennies you now throw over your shoulder so cavalierly.

"Do you remember any of our plan? Do you remember how happy we used to be here at home? Do you remember having dinner with me? You and all your new friends are out laughing while I come back here and tend to the place alone after pouring myself out at work. Lately, I've done all of it more alone with each passing day.

"I keep the house in order, trying to remember the better days. The ones I want back, the same ones your throw over your shoulder like all those pennies I slave to make to pay for our escape. I do it all so I can have you back."

Jack paused looking ill, "Am I really doing it only to have you tell me on the fateful day we can finally leave, "You go on alone, Jack. I'll catch up. I'm just going to work late and go for a drink on the way home." I wonder if you'll notice when you finally come home that I'm not there. I wonder how long it will take you to notice. I wonder if you'll care by then."

"Jack, I..."

"Please let me say what I think."

"Yes. Absolutely."

"I don't care a whit for talk. But that's what I've heard from you more and more and more. What I see is less work, less attention to detail, more laughing with the same stupid bastards that almost turned a great company tits up. Now you're enjoying their company after work in a more unfettered environment. I'm saving the company that rewards you and your cronies so well. Those jackasses don't even know what I'm doing. They're going to be as obsolete as the dodo by the time I'm finished, and they'll be extinct not long after.

"Damn it Barb, your being obsolete at the end was never an issue because you were supposed to leave with me. I can't figure a single reason why you'd spend your time with them instead of me unless... unless you don't want to leave the company and plan to stay now. Only you're missing an important point. You can only stay and not be obsolete if you pay attention to what we're building now."

Barb moved to respond. Jack shook his head.

"Don't say a word, just nod if you understand."

Barb nodded.

"Good. Then stop being a lousy partner at work and a worse one at home."

She nodded.

She saw Jack's demeanor change. He wasn't finished, he was altering the conversation. From her observations the subject was very important to him, though he was trying not to show it.

"Did you buy the truck because they told you too?"

Slowly she nodded. She risked asking, "Could I elaborate?"

Jack was wary. Barb knew the subject ran deep with him.

"Jack, I won regional manager of the quarter for three quarters. Since I hadn't taken any of the vacations they gave me, they rolled those into something different: the lease on a vehicle. They wanted me driving something more prestigious. I'm a symbol they like to point the outside world to. They want a successful woman helming a big project with the trappings and rewards of her success. The truck is a PR thing for the company as much as a perk for me. The company is paying the lease, Jack. Every penny. I needed a new car and thought I did well by us because we don't have to shell out for one now. We don't have the maintenance expenses either."

Barb stopped, "I know your truck is older and worse than my car was. Not addressing that with you was a mistake. I-I thought I needed to spend more time with the management team as a result of the truck. So, I compounded my mistake. I thought the corporation would like my showing off the rewards, teaching other managers what real work can bring."

Jack rebutted quietly, "Don't you think my showing up at work every day sends the opposite message? I'm proof it doesn't mean crap how hard you work or how loyal or diligent you are."

Barb dropped her head, "According to you my work has actually fallen off as a result, so their reward to me is a failure. I think you're trying to highlight for me that I'm sending different signals than I think I am. I surely have to you! I-I guess I was paying more attention to the corporation's expectations than my own husband's."

Jack responded, "They aren't going to give me a reward for shit. They want me to finish and leave. They don't want to give me any reason to feel warm and fuzzy about the company."

Barb knew for a fact he was right. Randolph had wanted Jack to win awards and Corporate had stopped it. They then tried to give the trips to her. She couldn't take them knowing the truth. And how would she go? There was no way she and Jack could take that time off together and come back with the same tropical suntan without being noticed. The corporation had then taken the money they hadn't spent on reward vacations for her and channeled them into a lease on the truck. She still hadn't shared the origin of the funds with Jack. It occurred to Barb that she not only had her husband's job; she was driving his truck!

Jack spoke in very measured tones. Barb got the idea he actually feared her answer. "Barb, do you think the company paying the tab for the Lexus lets you off the hook?"

"W-Well no, I guess. But it does make a difference that I'm not throwing all those pennies over my shoulder as you called it."

He explained very quietly, "Barb, it might have made a difference... if I had known."

Her eyes went wide.

"Not only is what we drive another stark contrast in our circumstances, but you never told me. Anything. At all. The Lexus showed up and I thought we had a visitor. Then it turned out to be yours. You'd gotten a new car and hadn't even discussed it with me. You haven't shared that it's yours, you haven't even told me that you like it. Which is still the case even though you didn't pay for it. I've been living thinking even worse of you."

She gulped

"And the worst of what I was thinking still stands. That you've been gone from me so much you don't see my situation getting worse as you reveled in how much better yours keeps growing. You're so happy you don't see how sad I am. I didn't know about your awards, nor your car deal, because you aren't keeping me informed. You aren't with me enough to remember that you haven't told me things. Things like winning awards, getting a new truck, or that you won't be home for dinner. Specifically, because you're going drinking with the guys. Yeah, the same guys I see as enemies. You merrily do your own thing, just letting me languish in the damn salt mine, literally hearing your laughter waft down to me from the manager's catwalks. I hear it here at home too, when I'm alone."

"Oh Jesus."

"Yeah. I feared you'd be seduced. I'm sorry to say it's happening. You've been a rotten wife for a while. And in case you're wondering, no I haven't forgotten whose plan this is."

Jack looked at Barb, nodding his head towards the lawnmower, "Any chance you're capable of putting that spark plug in so I can have a few minutes to wash up?"

"Jack I..."

He cut her off, "I want you to ask yourself a question, because we may need to alter our trajectory depending on your answer."

"What's that, Jack?" Barb answered quietly, eyes still the size of anime characters.

"I can list off a number of great things I do for you. I think you could recite that same list pretty well too. So, Barb, you need to ask yourself exactly what you're bringing to the table for me, especially lately."

She looked confused as he turned saying, "See you later."

"W-Where are you going?"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to a bar to hang out with the opposite sex. That's your move and I I'm no copycat. I'm going to go get something to eat since you took care of yourself without so much as bringing me a doggy bag."

Jack was out the door leaving Barb in the starkness of the shed.

Barb looked around the shed thinking, 'This is where I found him, because this is where I drove him. This is how he's living because of me.' She looked at the spark plugs, the old worn burnt one and the shiny new one. She thought, 'Jack drives an old Chevy with duct tape holding the seat cushion together while I have special up-optioned leather, that's better than their normal fancy leather.'

Barb rubbed her forehead. It should be easy to install a spark plug, but she didn't know how hard to torque it, how to set the gap, or how any of the disassembled pieces went back together. She covered her face with her hands, 'I went out to a nice club and had a nice dinner. I didn't tell him I'd be late. I left him high and dry to fend on his own just like I have at work. I didn't even bring him home a fucking doggy bag.' As her hands dropped, they balled into fists. She couldn't refute a single thing he said. She'd gone out for a sandwich and drink most weeknights with the other managers. Jack didn't need to parse that into her spending more evenings drinking with his enemies than being with him. She thought, 'He has my motivation wrong, but the facts correct. As I didn't tell him I was going, not even to spare him having to cook for me, but especially that I was socializing with men he considers his enemies, I can't really blame him for ascribing worse motivations than I had.'

Barb shook her head thinking, 'I was late three or four nights a week drinking with men Jack hates, because the corporation that is screwing him over bought me a fancy vehicle with money that was supposed be his. A truck I drove home but gave him no explanation of. That's without adding in I was out with men after having messed up badly with a man on a trip away once.'

Barb couldn't believe how wrong she'd gotten everything, 'I was so careful not to put myself in any compromising situation. It was well lit, and I was never alone and always in public. I know the safeguards I took, but the battle is in Jack's heart. I know my actions were perfectly safe but taking them without informing Jack has given him reason to doubt me again. No wonder he thinks I'm moving away from him. No wonder he thinks I don't care. Forget being a partner, I really have been a rotten wife!'