The Headhunter Chapter 6

The Headhunter

Chapter 6

Will Barb be Seduced by the Corporation ... or Randolph?

Barb walked out of one of the break rooms with a fresh cup of coffee. She was in a small cadre of other managers who had taken the time to refill their mugs together. The sound of their laughter wafted more strongly than even the potent aroma of their coffees.

One manager told a particularly good joke and Barb laughed hard with everyone else as the group emerged from the corridor onto the expansive shop floor.

Their laughing slowly subsided as they broke their huddles to find out what Jack had their work groups doing now. Barb shook her head from the laughter as she looked up from taking another happy sip from her mug, right into the eyes of the most important person in her team.

Jack didn't bother to conceal his disappointed glare. He turned away from his lonely quest to refill his own coffee mug, treading back to his work. Barb could virtually see the weighty yoke she'd put across his shoulders. She plastered a calm expression on her face as she discreetly scanned to see if anyone had caught the interaction, feeling great relief that no one had. Then her stomach rolled with the notion that was the wrong response. It rolled worse when she acknowledged she wasn't sure why.

* * * * *

Barb and Jack's anniversary was rapidly approaching. The physical project buildout was complete, and the betas were progressing nicely. Although it didn't have a large visual presence the last and most vital part of the operation was full integration with the existing system. After the integration, the existing system would be upgraded to meet the specs and capabilities of what Jack had designed. After it proved itself, the project could be taken to other plants and eventually worldwide.

Jack should have become a division chief, if that didn't happen, he should have slid over to head the national rollout. There was no one more qualified.

Jack sat in an all too dark living room alone shaking his head knowing he'd already been sidelined. He chewed his lip. Heading the national conversion would be one way to restore his faith in the corporation along with everyone who had seen his mistreatment. The bump in pay would mean Barb could quit and they could start raising their family.

Jack shook his head harder and poured himself another two fingers of bourbon. Drinking alone wasn't healthy but sometimes at least the booze was a companion when there was no other. It wasn't healthy to harbor such unrealistic dreams about being picked for the national rollout either. He knew exactly what was going to happen. As soon as he was finished the integration, he'd be out the door so fast it would take one's breath away. No one wanted him to share the credit for the project. Jack had summoned the future, now others planned to rule it.

It had been a long road to get here, there was perhaps a year left with full integration, testing, and drawing the blueprint to take it national. Afterwards he'd be done, yet he'd also know what he'd built. Which was especially good as the only person who was ever going to pat him on the back for it was himself.

Though Jack had kept his nose to the grindstone, he kept his eyes open. Folks had grown used to his situation. Occasionally, he'd see the pity or anger in the eyes of those he worked with. Mostly though everyone had grown too used to it. They'd followed his example of professionalism not speaking out against it, then it had just become normal. Then he feared it had become okay. He frowned again, yeah ... everyone.

Jack didn't want Barb fawning all over him, he didn't want a daily reminder that he was in a losing situation. Then again, she'd grown too used to it. She'd dealt with it well. Considering she knew his exact plight she was "dealing with it" too well. She wasn't supposed to break down over it, though he wished she keep him motivated. Largely she'd begun to just leave him alone, like it was the natural order, the way things were supposed to be. Like he was the loser they were trying to make him, instead of her management buddies being the oppressors Jack and Barb were planning to overthrow.

Barb was now almost as hand in glove with Randolph operationally as he'd once been. Jack had a hard time reconciling it. She knew he disapproved. If he had to remind her who the enemy was, were they really her enemy? He needed her to feel it for herself, not just do it for him. Except she didn't even seem to be going through the motions with her heart not in it. She seemed to be lapping it up as a very willing happy participant. They were throwing every good thing at her, and she seemed to enjoy it. In fact, she seemed to be having a grand old time. Was she really cavorting and laughing and living it up with the people who had put them in this terrible situation? Did he have to say it? Did he have to tell her to back off? What did it really mean if he did? If Jack had to tell Barb the way she should feel deep down in her heart, did he really have a place there any longer? Worse he needed her to feel more enmity towards them than he did. If he gave reign to those emotions in his situation he'd crack. He had to sublimate them. So, she had to feel them for him. She should feel it more keenly than he did.

Why did it appear that the same people he needed her to despise were her new best friends more and more each passing day?

Jack hated the term, but as the victim he had to put his back straight and rise above. Barb was the one who was supposed to harbor the holy wrath. He'd shoulder the burden, but she was supposed to burn with the desire for revenge against them for doing this to her beloved mate.

Instead, she played her part so well Jack was no longer what her real feelings were. If the managers were laughing about something, they normally didn't bother to quiet down when a subordinate passed by, they were happy to share the mirth with them. But they all grew quiet when Jack drew near, even his Barb. He was sure some were gleefully drinking in his situation; others probably rightfully feared his eventual wrath. But damn it all, his wife grew quiet too. She played her part so well he seemed to have more naturally in common with those who mistreated and feared him than playing his loving wife. She played her part too well, and he resented it more and more.

Of course, no one knew they were married, and damn it, they sure as hell weren't going to suspect from her behavior. He'd pass by the and group would go back to their mirthful byplay. Were they laughing at him? Did she join in? Was it still a cover? Had she chosen them over him? Or worse?

Two years ago, she'd apologized when she got home explaining she was doing what was best for them. She was trying to fit in being the new kid. Now it seemed she was one of them. Especially as she'd stopped apologizing. Had she played the part until she became the part? Did she think he'd grown used to the life either of them lived? She had to know his bile increased with each passing day. She needed to scream righteous indignation for him when they were home. After all, she was the architect of this plan and their respective parts in in it. Jack was certain he was playing his part both at work and at home.

Jack didn't feel Barb was playing her part at home. What he really feared is she wasn't playing a part any more at all. He feared her becoming one of those corporate lackies, a company toadstool. He feared her trying to fit in so much with Randolph. He wondered if she would try out that damn desk. If so, it was over. She surely understood that if she betrayed him that way, that he'd burn it all down. In that scenario he wouldn't go gracefully. He wouldn't leave her with his job that he did the dirty work for. He wouldn't just leave her to cavort with those who brought him down after she'd cajoled him into making very bright futures for them all.

If that was what she wanted, she could have left him over two years ago. Or any time since.

Jack rubbed his neck. He was becoming unhinged. Sometimes the feelings swelled up like this and punched him in the gut. Sometimes he had to vent them to keep from exploding. It was becoming more frequent. He knew the root was the original doubt he'd never been able to deal with. He was no longer sure which of these issues would never vex him without that doubt, or which ones were legitimately adding to the original evil's sway over him. He'd face it as much as he could to put the devil dog back in its fetid kennel.

Barb was out searching for a new job and taking interviews before telling him. He knew the notion that she was doing it behind his back was a misinterpretation. Then came the revelation that she'd cheated on him. She'd definitely kept that from him. So, what other secrets did she have? Was one of them that she had fallen out of love with him? Perhaps her original indiscretion with the dancer was a one-night thing or thirty second thing, but for Jack it was an absolute. You either had or hadn't. Barb had, regardless of how long.

That knowledge only served to change the question. Had she really only popped the guy in her mouth for thirty seconds and spent two years trying to repent? Had she done more with the dancer? Had she done it for the whole night or for the entire time she was gone? Wasn't the real question if she truly did regret it? No, that wasn't the question, not the main one anyway? Did Barb still feel about Jack like she once had? Did she still love him? That was the essential question.

The problem was Jack had loved far too long with that question unresolved. His day to day was horrible, was he able to withstand the humiliation of work because escaping it meant he had to face that most essential question?

Jack rubbed his face. He had to snap out of it! But damn her behavior. She didn't have to play her part so convincingly. Damn it, he knew she wasn't always playing a part. She really was laughing and cutting up with those slimy bastards! He did that with Randolph when they were partners, but he'd never given those lazy slugs the time of day precisely because they were lazy slugs. But Jack didn't hear her laugh with him anymore, the only place he heard Barb laugh was at work when she was laughing with them.

Jack's head hung low. This was killing him. Barb had a good life going on and she was enjoying it. The more she did, the worse his miserable life got. He wasn't sure how far in she'd been pulled. Stepping away from his personal feelings, he knew Barb had a good head on her shoulders. Although it wasn't her nature, and boning a superior at work was never wise, if she was single and decided to try a spin on Randolph's desk just to live the cliché, Jack felt she could manage it with few ill side effects, even if she hated the actual performance.

But Barb wasn't single, and because she loved Jack, she was supposed to hate Randolph. But she didn't hate Randolph, and it made Jack wonder how much she loved him. Yeah, the corporate world could be a blast. He'd never done an intern, or any of the women that made it known they be happy to give him a go. It could all seem so natural and harmless. It would never go anywhere. It was only a lark and a way to blow off steam. Perhaps a one off that could be, God help them, a team building experience. Jack knew how easy it was to be seduced by the culture. Especially when you lived in it, and Barb was trying so hard to live her part ...

Jack tore at his hair. It wasn't at all like the Barb he knew, but was she still that woman? He hated to give it voice in his head, but he knew if she'd had an affair they'd be done. It seemed too easy to go from thirty seconds with an unknown dancer's cock in your mouth to just one roll on Randolph's desk. But it was way too far to go considering who she was married to and the way things had gone down.

Jack sat back stunned. He guessed there were degrees of betrayal. The dancer thing seemed like a trifle compared to doing Randolph after Barb knew what Jack's life had been after Randolph's treachery.

He held his head in his hands. Damn he felt alone. He felt like everything that mattered in the whole world was resting on his shoulders. Surely, she understood if she joined them, especially if she took Randolph out for a spin, they were done. Jack should have been certain. He was if he just thought of Barb. But to see and hear her. To know she was staying late at work instead of being home with him. Jack felt the tears well up.

'Please don't fall Barb, please. I love you. I need you. I'm breaking apart.' The sad reality crept in. He was at home in the dark and she was still at work or having a drink with the enemy afterwards. Barb sure wasn't there with him.

Jack knew if the tears came, he'd break. He couldn't afford that. He was too strung out, too crazy.

Jack sighed. He was known for being decisive, what could he do? He still had another year in the plan before he could begin to forge ahead. There just had to be something he could do now.

Of course: their anniversary. He'd book reservations for the best restaurant. He'd make the night special. He'd make Barb feel like his queen. If it worked the world was back to what it should be. If instead she didn't want him to be king, then he could walk away without wondering what else he could have done. He'd always been a decisive man, except for one brief period where he found his wife had cheated on him, his career was over, and that the woman he loved had taken that career. That confluence had shorted out more of his brain than just his ability to perform cost benefit analysis. In that vulnerable time Barb had stepped up, seemingly to protect him. She'd come up with a plan to persevere and triumph, and he'd gone for it. He wanted to be appreciative of her for having the vision for their escape when he was impaired. However, just as the brunt of the bad news had landed on him, so had the worst part of the plan forward. He got the dirty job while Barb got the accolades and rewards. More and more the unwanted notion crystallized that perhaps he'd been manipulated into an even deeper betrayal.

Jack shook his head ruefully. This was maddening. He was certain Barb was on his side initially, but damn it all, he wasn't certain anymore. She was no longer so sympathetic or warm. Frankly, she just wasn't as concerned or involved with him as she had been. He'd understood that they couldn't be man and wife at work because of the company's no spouse clause. Yet Barb had become more involved with plans at work and less involved with him at home. Had her presence in the cabal corrupted her? Had she begun to see Jack as her group of management cronies did? Had a good plan morphed into betrayal?

Which cast the spotlight on the coldest cut of all. Jack wanted to believe in her, but dammit, he knew Barb could betray him because she had. She'd cheated on him, and they'd never resolved it because of his crisis at work. And now that Barb had everything Jack had earned, she'd grown distant. After she'd come up with a plan that he'd rule at home she started staying away more. Which was the real Barb, the one that loved him and cared for him or the one that used and betrayed him?

If didn't seem fair that he had to make the effort that he felt she should be making, but Jack had always believed that when there was a problem, the first face you should look to for help is the one in the mirror. So be it; he'd make their anniversary a night to remember; either a rekindling of what their marriage should be or a negative referendum on what it had dissolved into.

* * * * *

Several days later when Barb returned from work Jack took her hand and led her to the family room. They had a comfy couch they loved to sink into to watch movies or just have a few drinks and enjoy what flowed afterwards. Jack was encouraged when Barb smiled at where he deposited her. He noted she hadn't fully let down her guard from work yet, though she softened more when he disappeared then reappeared with two already prepared cocktails. Taking the cool libation, the corner of Barb's mouth screwed up into a naughty grin.

Jack happily announced, "Barb, you don't have to lift a finger, I've already taken care of all the details."

Her eyebrow raised happily, accentuating her crooked smile, as she sampled her drink.

Jack continued, "Our anniversary is coming up three weeks from Thursday. I have us booked at your favorite restaurant."

Barb's eyes lit, "Tony's? Wow, that's a hard reservation."

Jack mirthfully explained, "It helped that it was a Thursday and not a Friday."

"Thursdays are tough too."

"True, but they know us. It being our anniversary played a role too. We have the table near the piano and the fireplace."

"Oh Jack!"

Tony's was Barb's favorite place. It was everyone's favorite. It had a view too, overlooking a beautiful, wooded area near the river.

Jack went on to describe a number of details he'd procured for the evening, and a rough agenda ending in their oversize tub which they had somehow fallen out of using the last few months.

Jack concluded, "The next day I figure we won't be worth much after a long hard night." Jack flashed a wolfy grin eliciting a purr from Barb. "But we can take off for the mountains or shore in the morning. I wasn't sure which you preferred so I've left that to be planned."

Barb eyes had suddenly gone from dazzling to confused, "The next morning?"

"Sure, we'll make a long weekend of it. Lord knows we need "us" time."

Barb's instant reaction showed she agreed with Jack's statement about time alone together.

Jack continued happily loving his wife's reaction. He felt himself relax thinking perhaps he'd been blowing recent events out of proportion.

"But our anniversary is on Thursday night. You just said so," Barb stated.

"Yeah?" Jack's open expression showed he didn't understand her reluctance. When she didn't say anything, he filled in, "We'll take the day off making it a long weekend. We certainly deserve it and I think our marriage could sure use it."

That's when the problems started.

He stared at Barb who had gone quite stiff. He'd noted some of what he'd said had met with some initial concern. His more detailed explanation had taken slight concern to full bore worry. He didn't have to ask her why. She was clearly feeling the pangs of taking off work; the company made it tough for managers to ask off.

Barb had felt herself stiffen as her mind raced with the new problem. She'd finally realized she'd concentrated on the issue to the exclusion of her husband, who was rolling out a wonderfully romantic weekend. She looked up in time to catch Jack's reaction to her hesitance. Jack wasn't happy.

Barb tried to explain, "Jack. Jack please. You must understand. They make it very tough for managers to take off."

Barb cringed seeing his reaction. Jack had been a manager there for years, several times her tenure. She was doing something far worse than preaching to the choir telling him that; she was treating him as an underling who didn't understand the intricacies of management life. Jack had outranked her their entire married lives until she got his promotion. She'd tried hard to not let it affect their marriage, but, of course, it had. Barb knew instantly that if she wasn't very careful, it was about to make the biggest impact yet.

Jack snapped into management mode himself, about to instruct a worker who had disappointed him. Barb felt awful.

"I shouldn't have to tell you this, as we've lived it for years now. The corporate guilt trip is why you pick your spots and don't give them a choice. You TELL them you will be out. Cut and done. You don't ask permission. You don't give them a chance to push back. You don't leave the door open even a smidge to receiving alternatives."

Barb tried to keep her anxiety out of her voice, "But they'll still ask why I'm going to be out. Jack, think about that, I can't tell them it's my anniversary. That's a secret!"

Barb felt her throat constrict seeing Jack's disappointment in her. He was still instructing an errant employee, "We work to support our marriage, that's the priority. Our marriage and my pride have taken a serious backseat to work, babe. They are so far in arrears I'm not sure they aren't in a trailing zip code by now." His voice firmed, "Which is precisely what I want to tighten up."

Barb swallowed hard realizing the very point she was objecting to, was the point Jack was emphasizing as needing correction -- in the opposite direction.

"H-Honey, I have no excuse to give them."

Jack saw no problem and gave no quarter, "Don't give them one. They hire hard asses. That's what they respect."

What made it so awkward was Barb saying at exactly the same time, "What do you want me to do, just not tell them?"

Barb's throat constricted further she felt a tightness in her chest.

Jack's eyes seethed hearing her words. Ignoring her emphasis he concentrated on her exact verbiage, "Good. We've mutually come up with the same plan." He looked at her pointedly, "I don't care what they think. That's the same way they feel about me. It's mutual! I didn't care what most of them thought when I outranked them. The fact that they cut me off at the knees because they feared me, doesn't help me respect them one iota more. I thought you were in agreement with me."

Jack let the last part hang in the air. Barb felt it encase her shoulders like a shawl.

Jack resumed disappointedly instructing, "Don't give them power over you." He paused looking pointedly at her, "Or you'll end up like me." He paused poignantly again, "My wife used to hate what had happened to me. I presumed she'd jump at this rectification of work/marriage time. I presumed she'd love reaffirmation of the household order that she'd helped prescribe. I thought she'd want to set things passionately ablaze for an evening as much as setting things right. Then we can go back to our unfortunate subterfuge on Monday reenergized and reinforced."

Barb felt her mouth open and close a few times. "But Jack, there has to be a subterfuge to go back to. I can't upset the applecart."

Barb knew she'd stepped in it immediately. He'd referred to their subterfuge as unfortunate. For Jack it was entirely so. His life was made miserable while hers was made as nice as possible. Global Priority expected results and she'd always produced more than expected. Of course, Jack had a lot to do with that. But he wanted to acknowledge his wife, he was seeing if she felt as badly not being able to recognize Jack as her husband. She nodded to his skill in setting up the situation. Only now did Barb realize she should have said something. This was the second time she'd left Jack hanging. He wasn't happy.

"Really? I want to flip that damn cart over! I hate the new order. I hate the circumstance we're in. You used to know that. You used to hate it too. But you've been growing closer and closer to the same folks that endangered their company and our livelihoods. So far, we've managed to save both despite their best efforts. But our lives, our natural order, is shredded and upside-down. Except you've fit in very well to their new world order. Maybe too well!"

"What does that mean?" Barb asked, fearing Jack's ominous expressions.

"You don't seem very concerned with me or this marriage and haven't for a while."

"Jack?!"

"Okay," Jack answered, his tone far from okay, "let me set the table for you as you wanted it set: you'd gotten my job. I guess you've forgotten that. I guess after all this time it seems to you like it's your job now. Funny how I can't get past anyone but me getting it: if I let go of that anger, I won't have the steam to go back to work there another day. We seem to have reestablished the pattern I was trying to move away from: wage slaves as commodities, instead of proud workers using their talents. I'm no longer the most respected person in the building. You seem to have sided with the people who changed my status. I'm just a flunky with a good idea that you'll kick out the door for when you're done with me. I had no idea you had the same plan for me here at home."

Barb gasped out, "Jack, you can't think that I ..."

Jack spoke through clenched teeth, "We used to be collaborative, Barb. Then my life became a train wreck. You not only got my promotion, you became my boss. YOU said to restore the balance I was in charge here at home. So, here's the situation in a way you'll understand: the managing partner of this organization is not pleased with your performance. He needs to see a change. And Barb, I expect results. You're on notice. I need your decision where you want to be more, here with me or there with them. We definitely need a reset. As usual I can do the heavy lifting. I don't need you to stop serving one or the other, but I need to know your priority."

Barb stood dumbfounded. She saw Jack honestly didn't know if she preferred work to him. She wasn't sure where to begin. And once again she had no idea he was in such rough shape. She had most certainly been wrong as to where she put her energies. She watched Jack fight down his anger.

When Jack spoke, it was in a very controlled way, "Once you state your priority, I'll be able to prioritize myself. And you can bet your ass I'll take action on my priorities." He wheeled and left the room.

Barb more lay than sat. She was bowled over so strongly she couldn't muster the energy to right herself. She was breathing heavily. Her eyes were clamped shut. The days when she noticed her husband needed to vent steam and giving him a torrid blowjob to relax were long gone. So were the torrid sessions they started. All she could give him now was something to vent at. He was obviously receiving no satisfaction, nor apparently support, from her. How had she let things deteriorate to this degree? How could she counter his belief she cared more about work when things had reached such a terrible point without her noticing?

Barb was used to scanning for troubled waters ahead. All she could do now was reconstruct how she'd sailed into this maelstrom. Chief among many reasons was once again she thought Jack had mastered his situation. Why couldn't she get it through her head his plight was never going to be okay. It was never going to get better while he was working at the company, and it would never dull when they remembered it twenty and thirty years from now.

It was certainly clear Jack's pain and humiliation had not dulled. He felt them with the same intensity as discovering his company's treachery. Jack was muddling through, sticking to the plan that would finally grant his freedom. 'But,' Barb thought, 'he sees me get by just fine, cajoled and in command. He thinks I've become fine with his swinging a pick in the coal mine. Damn, have I? Worse, he's not forgotten it was my plan that he enters the mine while I figuratively sit above smoking cigars with my corporate cronies. He sees my rolling high based off his hard works. Hideously, there's most definitely a measure of truth in that notion.'

Barb felt her stomach lurch as she wondered how she kept seeing all this, only to let it devolve again. Each time it happened it set a new low. How could she explain to Jack precisely what he warned her of before they embarked on their damn plan: that she was constantly being seduced. The company would dull her pain until she realized she was happy. At which point she'd look up to see Jack even deeper in his tarpit. His condition never improved, it constantly devolved. What could she say in defense? That she was playing her role too? That narrative was exactly what tied Jack in knots; her living like a big shot with Jack's job while Jack toiled to make the very same job a success. She only had to show him she understood his plight. When had her compassion for him melted into lip service? Jack was right, no matter the degree, she'd grown complacent with his situation, which was awful!

Barb sighed heavily trying to ascertain exactly how bad things were, 'Jack knows I'm doing a good job, but he still sees it as the job he should have. He knows exactly what he would do differently than me. He's shown me respect by not pointing out the differences. He probably doesn't respect any aspect of the job now because of the injustice surrounding it. And he's right. Trying to make him proud of me at work isn't just a dead horse, it's radioactive.

'He's right in other areas too. I take pride in my work, and it's been so long that I DO see it as my job now, regardless of how I got it. I've grown involved with it, considering our circumstances perhaps too involved. I've let myself treat it as I would normally approach a job. I mustn't forget Jack created the position. Worse, I've been so involved that I've brought my work home. That would be what I'd normally do, but Jack and I aren't in a normal position. I've been thinking of the job instead of discussing it. Jack's situation was so toxic we stopped talking about it. It was my decision to completely separate home and work. I used to devote myself to him at home to make up for the imbalance at work, except I've stopped.'

She shook her head, 'He has a hard path by my plan. It's my tune he's been dancing to. And I've let him dance alone. Shit! And now, entirely because of Jack, all I have to do is go enjoy a wonderful evening. Better yet, he'll ravage me within an inch of my life. Damn, I could use that. Why in hell did I worry about the job first? Because it's taking most of what I have to continue the charade. To save energy I've let myself show my enjoyment of the job. It was one aspect I thought I didn't need to disguise. But I so buried myself there that Jack came to resent it, and now me. Here I am trying to think a way out of the conflict instead of putting energy into making our anniversary special too.'

Barb resolved, 'I'll take his advice: I'll simply tell them I'm taking the next day off. Jack doesn't ask for much, he labors silently and always consistently for my good. I can't believe I let him hang there on his own!'

Barb asked for the specific Friday off the next morning. Randolph grudgingly gave in but used the moment to tell her that he was about to call an after-hours planning meeting for the evening before. As he explained the reasons, she saw it was merely a terrible coincidence.

"But Randolph that doesn't fit, I was going to leave straight from work Thursday."

He shrugged, "You still can, just a few hours later than planned."

When she didn't have a response Randolph seized the moment to walk away. As far as he was concerned, problem one hundred and fifty for the day had been solved, leaving only three hundred or so more until he could go home.

Barb found her mouth going dry on the way home. She was a tough accomplished businesswoman. She only got like this when she knew she had to disappoint Jack. She knew they both felt it was too often and far too easy for her to disappoint him now. What could she tell him? He hadn't exactly thrown down the gauntlet, but he'd clearly put the ball in her court. And this was a big one. She could see the conversation now: "Jack, I have to disappoint you."

He'd respond, "I expect as much Barb, as you can never disappoint anyone else."

She closed her eyes for a moment shaking away the imaginary conversation. This decision seemed more important. She did choose Jack, but to serve him she had to pay fealty to the corporation. His entire escape hinged on their plan going full duration. The problem was there was still a lot of time left. Barb could feel Jack was near the end of his patience now. Still, she couldn't think of a way around it. Would he be placated that she got the day off? Not likely when she explained that she'd traded their actual anniversary for the day after their anniversary. Dammit, Jack expected them to be so involved with each other that night they wouldn't be fit for work the next day. If Barb spent Thursday night with Jack, she wouldn't be able to work Friday. If she didn't spend Thursday night with Jack, she didn't need Friday off to recover. For Jack Thursday evening and Friday weren't a matched set, they were part of a singular whole.

The night Jack had made so many plans for was their actual anniversary. He'd wanted the next day to rest from everything he planned for the night before. He hadn't made plans for the weekend yet because he was waiting on her input. Now she was telling him he had to cancel all his wonderful plans and make additional ones for the weekend. And there was no way to push what he'd set up to the weekend. Barb dreaded this conversation. The way Jack spoke it seemed to have so much more import that a wonderful evening and a great weekend.

Barb came in to find Jack sitting in the kitchen. He didn't look happy. Supposedly still a member of the management team, Barb was sure Jack didn't know a meeting had been called on their anniversary. Worse, he'd be expected to give a progress report to people he knew were laughing behind his back. Barb could confirm that as fact. She'd never joined in and had quashed it around her as Jack was one of her employees, but she'd seen it first-hand.

"Uh Jack... I have good news ... and some bad. I got Friday off."

Jack looked at her with momentary scorn. She bit the inside of her lip. She could read his mind. He was wondering why she asked Randolph about taking time off; Jack told her to tell him. But damn it, she HAD told him. That was when Randolph told her of the manger's meeting.

There was no "managing information skillfully" with Jack, she decided to tell the truth short and sweet. "Uh Jack, Randolph unbeknownst of the importance of the date to us, has called for a manger's meeting for Thursday evening." Barb didn't know what else to say.

"A meeting that you'll be missing, right?" Jack stated flatly.

Barb marveled at her husband. Damn, Jack didn't miss a beat. And wow he was good at delivering the message. He'd framed their anniversary as her choosing between the company and him. He'd reframed her response in that same mold in his first sentence!

"Uh, I tried to squirm out."

Jack squinted like Clint Eastwood.

"Jack, please, Randolph didn't give me any wiggle room. He was ready for anything I said."

Jack scowled this time, "Did you ask him if you could hold the meeting a day earlier?"

Barb felt like she'd been hit by a rock. Shit! That was a perfectly reasonable suggestion, and one that Randolph may very well have gone for. She just didn't think of it. "Uh, no."

Jack shrugged his shoulders, "Suggest it now."

Barb fought down her panic. She'd hesitated telling Jack all day trying to find a way around. Jack was so natural at it. He'd worked there longer; he knew how they worked.

"Jack, it's too late. Randolph has already disseminated the meeting notes. He won't change the date now."

Jack looked skeptical. "I haven't gotten the memo. Surely, they want to grill me about the project."

The confusion looming on Barb's face placated him that at least she believed what she'd said.

"Jack, what could I have done? I spoke to him. I got the day off. I just came up short on the evening before."

Jack's forehead furrowed. ""The evening before?" Strange, I just call it our anniversary."

Barb felt that one. Boy that was a big strike against her. It didn't look like she valued the night enough to fight for it. She prayed her body language was screaming differently.

"W-What else could I have done?"

Jack had a ready answer. Barb felt her heart stop.

Jack shrugged, not even seeming that angry, "Tell Randolph you have family plans and plane reservations that couldn't be changed. You're racing to the airport right after your regular shift ends. He'd have no defense against that."

Barb felt dizzy, she wanted to throw up. She put her hand on the table to steady herself.

Jack's expression demanded an answer. Barb explained, "It's not that I fear to ask. It's just that it won't do any good. You know that. I really think it's best I keep as low a profile as possible. We don't need them looking into my personal life. That would be the end of our plan."

Barb could see Jack's enthusiasm for their plan had just about run out as he said, "Yeah, I really see you laying low at work. Looks to me like you're living it up. You have already fixed it where the expectation is my keeping a lower profile than everyone else. But you're wrong about low profiles. It hasn't helped me one bit that I bow lower than everyone else."

As Barb started to explain, Jack turned and left. His dismissing her was becoming the norm. She cringed knowing he only did it when he felt he was ready to blow up, and when he believed she'd disrespected him first. She called out to him, "Please Jack, I love you. Make whatever plans you wish for the weekend. I'll show you I love you. And at least we'll be together on our anniversary..."

Her words didn't deter his stride. Sure, they'd be together - in a manger's meeting. A place where she'd watch without defending him as others treated him as a menial. She didn't think he needed defending as his presentation showed he was head and shoulders above everyone else in the room. But from Jack's perspective even Jack's WIFE didn't defend him. Instead, she desperately hid her marriage and affiliation to him, while she openly flaunted her happiness with them. Oh wow, this was bad!

* * * * *

On their separate drives into work the next day, Barb thought of their problem. The company expected you to personally kowtow to business needs. They might make an allowance for her anniversary except they didn't know she was married. She'd stayed away from Randolph as much as possible, knowing how Jack would react if he knew how much she liked working with him. She liked Randolph. He was too slick, but he got his job done, was a forward thinker, understood the dynamic that was needed in the workplace and how to form it, and he was easy to work with. It was also a plus that he loved his job. Then again, Randolph was kissing her feet and, yeah, blowing sunshine up her skirt.

Why wouldn't she like it? Barb was still the company's fair-haired poster child. All the more the hero for being more productive than hoped. Her teeth ground knowing the actual production was mostly Jack's, but she was damn good too. The secretly married couple worked more hand in glove as the implementation matured. It was part of the plan. Thank goodness Jack initially knew she was on his side; how had she ever let things get bad enough that he'd questioned it?

The answer shouted itself in Barb's head: by not defending him, by distancing herself; the plan to save them was also toxic to Jack. He was willing to go with it presuming she was still on his side. While Jack knew she was close to the management for Jack's sake, she was too close for Jack's taste. It had been years now. She thought they were settling in and allowed more contact with the group. She forced away tears. She had settled in, Jack's situation had only gotten worse. She connected the dots: Jack needed her to distance herself from them if she wouldn't get closer to him. Damn! She'd done just the opposite.

The mangers meeting being called on, of all nights, their anniversary magnified everything Jack hated. Yes, they'd be together they always asked Jack for the implementation progress reports. But spending the night together trying to ignore each other on their anniversary sounded better than spending it apart. Until you figured in her allowing everyone else in the room to treat her husband as a menial. That sounded perverse.

* * * * *

Early in the shift that same morning Barb spied Randolph walking up to Jack on the shop floor. She saw Jack bristle at Randolph's words. She felt a pang of guilt realizing she now knew Randolph well enough to read his body language. He was well practiced walking in a manner befitting a man in charge. But he'd been scared to deliver whatever message he had for Jack. His hasty retreat left no doubt in anyone's mind that while Jack may have just lost the battle, he was still in possession of the high ground. Jack stood there resolute as Randolph walked away from him. To some it may have looked like Randolph had dismissed Jack. To most, however, it was clear Randolph was beating a hasty retreat.

Barb took her time making her way to Jack checking with several other work groups first to keep her precious low-profile intact. When she finally reached Jack, she asked quietly what Randolph had wanted.

Jack didn't bother to keep his tone down, answering in normal conversational volumes, "Randolph told me there was a manager's meeting next Thursday night, then informed me my presence wasn't needed. Which means my presence is not wanted."

Jack was pissed. At first Barb was horrified Jack was being so cavalier, then recognized this was exactly how Jack should notify his boss that a higher up was interfering with her employees.

Jack continued not disguising his disgust, "I'm getting them through the hardest part of the transition now. It will be tricky but downhill afterwards. But the work IS necessary, and it IS tricky, so if they think they can dismiss me now, it proves they don't know what I'm really doing for them or how it works. I'm not begging to hang on here, just explaining that if they kick me out the door before I'm finished, they'll have to hire much more expensive consultants to come in and figure out what still needs to be done. It will push back the start date and cost a lot more money, and all those corporate brown nosers will have pie on their face." He paused, "Barb, you're the only one I trust to understand what I'm building and that I won't cost them an extra penny. Try to make them understand if I decide to leave or they kick my ass out before the work is finished that it will be their sorry asses hanging out in the wind."

Barb noticed several employees had been drawn by the proceedings and had overheard. She said what she felt. "I'm sorry this whole fucking shitshow has landed on you. I've told you that before. Thank you for what you've done for us, Jack. I promise I'll do my best for you with the management team."

The other workers were surprised and appreciative of Barb's sincere response. She'd meant "us" in the context of her and her husband, but her words accidentally applied to the company and the rest of the plant employees just as well.

Barb realized Jack's words had also. She suppressed a wry grin; Jack was a very clever man. Even in the midst of his defeat he'd found a way to bolster her position in the company. She thought, 'He doesn't know if my loyalty is stronger to the company or him yet, but he set me up for success either way. He wants me to be happy even if it's not with him.' She shook her head, 'I wouldn't be so gracious -- especially under fire.' Barb looked at him, Jack was already engaged with other employees working out some problem they'd run into. Barb marveled at him, then moved off.

* * * * *

Barb let Jack flame out about it at home, scarcely believing matters had gotten to this point. Jack had been right about everything so far, why would he be wrong now? He clearly saw his disinvite as labeling him expendable. He complained the management team didn't understand that the machine being completed didn't mean it was fine-tuned or ready to roll. He warned again that it would serve them right to push him out before it was ready. He chucked evilly, "They'll never get full use of what I've built if they do."

Barb had an awkward moment realizing that Jack may not give her all the secret nuances of the project if he left prematurely. He may no longer be interested in helping the company or fostering her career there in that eventuality. She was smart enough this time to not bring that up, which would have been dismissive of his problems. This was certainly no time ignore his problems to concentrate on hers. She'd already made him think she was aligned with her corporate cronies snickering at his fate, possibly even believing he was as expendable as the others believed. Jack was carrying the weight of "their" plan.

Barb offered, "This is so wrong, Jack," sympathizing with him.

"Are you going to ask your buddies why I've been dismissed?"

Barb made sure to answer in a way letting Jack know she was on his side, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Except not in any way they'll understand."

Jack was placated enough to let it drop for now, though he was angry the rest of the night.

* * * * *

Barb asked Jack that weekend what they were doing for their anniversary and the weekend after. He challenged her, "We're going to dinner at Tony's Thursday night. And you are going to inform me of what you want to do that weekend. I've done enough unilateral planning. We'll set up the weekend as a team."

Worried Barb admitted, "Jack, I've told you that I'm too scared to duck the meeting Thursday night."

"Well Miss Barb, if I have to cancel our actual anniversary on Thursday, I can't think of why I'd bother to plan anything new for the weekend. It wasn't easy getting Tony's to help us out for Thursday. Hell, considering how much effort you've put into our anniversary, if you cancel Thursday, you may decide you have to work the weekend too."

Barb was stuck. What could she say to him? She'd done nothing for their anniversary. Jack obviously felt like he was having to talk her into spending the date with him. His train of thought wasn't out of bounds as he was losing! Barb asked feeling her panic rise, "How can I explain I need off for my anniversary when the fact that I'm married is hidden?"

Barb noted Jack's frown deepening at her mention of their marriage being hidden. He stated plainly, "You're bright, you can figure a way. This is your plan, surely you can amend it." Barb could tell her husband was forcing his dismay and anger down. He added ominously, "You're going to do what you want most. You're going to spend our anniversary with who you want to spend it with."

"Jack, that's not fair. I don't want to go."

"None of it is fair. Especially that I've been told to do the work then dismissed as a manger." He paused, "That I must have THIS talk with the one person who is supposed to be MY ally is preposterous! So is the fact that I must ask this question: where are you going to spend the evening?"

"Jack, I have to go!"

Jack's face blanked. He worked hard to not feel whatever he was feeling. He said quietly, "Wow, didn't even hesitate with the verdict." He looked so intently at Barb she struggled to not look away. "Nope. No, you don't have to go. Just like I don't have to spend our anniversary night considering why you're not with me, and how that answer dovetails with the fact that no one benefits more from your plan governing my actions than you."

Barb felt the blood drain from her features, "Oh Jack, could you really think that?"

Jack looked at her incredulous. His expression saying for him, "I won't, unless your actions make me. If I were you, I'd get my head out of my ass far enough to understand that what you should fear is missing our anniversary Thursday night. You crowned me the head of this family. I'm telling you directly that your attendance is required." It was plain he was losing faith in her. Her actions were making him. His head shook ruefully as he turned to stalk off.

Barb wasn't sure why she was dumbfounded; she got every reward and perk, while Jack got spit in his eye. She stood by and let it happen. Jack had been in charge of the other managers, technically still was, now he's told not to show up at the managers meeting because the cool kids don't want him around. Now she was telling him there was no reason to show up for their anniversary. To Jack Barb was disrespecting him far beyond the others by choosing to spend their anniversary with them instead of him. Barb knew that wasn't why she was doing it, but this anniversary debacle was accentuating every discrepancy. Worse, she'd hung him out to dry again by letting him walk out of the room believing it!

But wait. Jack had stopped! Barb watched as Jack tamped down his anger. He said in a small voice. "That I have to explain this to you is pathetic. You're better than this ... or were. They've handed the night off to you on a golden platter by abusing a valued employee and doing it in a way that invites a lawsuit. As a corporate employee you can make your point by informing them unless they get smart about my dismissal that you won't be seen as part of the team that brings down the company, especially by working afterhours with them. That you haven't seen that opportunity or duty says bad things about you as a manager. That you aren't yelling at them about it with your finger in their face says bad things about you as a person. Choosing them over me on our anniversary screams bad things about how much you value me and this marriage. This is the last time I'm going to bail you out after you piss on me. I expect to see you Thursday night."

Barb let her head hang as Jack walked out of the room. This was serious. He was angry, disappointed, and disgusted with her. He told her how navigate the situation. He'd made it clear that was his expectation. Barb knew she wasn't up to that. If Jack was fired earlier than they planned, they wouldn't have the money to build their own business as rapidly as they'd hoped, making it more important than ever for her to still have a great income.

Jack, however, saw it as a loyalty test pure and simple. His perspective was more important: family came first! They just disagreed on how she could best serve him. Barb didn't want him to go through all this crap with his present company only to have to go start somewhere else afterwards, before starting something of his own. The whole point in having him stay was so he could work for himself afterwards. So he never had to be placed in this situation again!

* * * * *

There was no point delaying the issue further. The next day Barb told her husband she was attending the management meeting on their anniversary, and further, she was doing it because she loved him. She also wanted some answers; there had to be something major for management to call a night meeting AND to disinvite Jack. She told him she understood if he didn't plan a trip for them that weekend. Secretly she thought it might be counterproductive to spend that kind of money right now with their future so uncertain, although she didn't dare voice that concern.

Instead, Barb told him, "I'm going to suck and fuck your eyes out all weekend, my love." She was concerned when he'd winced at first. It dawned on her that they never reconciled her blowing the dancer. 'Shit!' she thought, 'Jack's got the weight of the world on him. I absolutely must carry the weight this weekend!'

* * * * *

Their anniversary arrived. Jack's silence on the subject was deafening. He'd barely had anything to say to Barb since she informed him of her decision. Which was completely consistent with Jack's perceptions. Barb wasn't sure when Jack left work for the day, she just realized he was gone. Barb stayed late to go to the meeting. Of course, the meeting ran longer than planned, though the subject of the meeting revealed much. Barb stayed later to mine more answers out of Randolph.

When the pair were the last ones left, Barb asked Randolph why Jack was told not to come.

"How do you know that?"

She replied, "Jack told me I'd better compile my notes because he'd been informed he wasn't welcome tonight, and you might want a progress report."

Randolph winced, "I fucked that up. As normal, Jack has the basics of the situation correct. Without knowing tonight's topic, he was correct thinking you should be ready to report."

"But Randolph, why do that to him? He's worked tried and true."

Randolph openly studied Barb. Did he suppress a smile? If so, it was tight and wan. "Because we've messed Jack over enough. He can't get promotion, why waste more of his time making him report? And I certainly couldn't tell anyone the topic until we were assembled. And ... Jack's situation is completely different that the rest of ours."

Barb liked that answer believing Randolph liked Jack. It made Randolph look pretty good. Perhaps he could be an ally? Lord knows they needed one. Perhaps Randolph could be even more than an ally. Perhaps he could be - a confidant.

Barb rested her hands on her hips. They were still in his private office where the meeting had been held. Their conversation drifted from the corporate world to honest evaluation. "I really like you, Randolph. I think I can be honest with you as long as no one else is around to hear it. You know that even if I disagree that I'm going to carry out your directives to the hilt."

Randolph didn't hide his smile, "I know, Barb, I'm happy to have someone give me real insights and not just be a yes man." He nodded in deference to her gender. "It's best done in a strategic time and way. Currently there's a lot of jockeying for position. You don't want to give anyone ammunition to use against you. It's always good to not threaten your peers. Be successful and confident and let those qualities carry you. Those who embellish their accomplishments normally trip themselves up. As far as disagreeing? Hell, I don't agree with many things I'm assigned to do. Some I can change, some I can't." His brows dropped letting her know this next part was important, "Every disagreement with corporate policy is best kept in conversations of two people only."

He peered at her to confirm her understanding then continued, "Barb, I've been happy to have your opinion exactly how and when you've given it to me. But could I give you some off the record advice on that ammunition thing?"

"Sure, Randolph, I'd appreciate it!"

He lifted his eyebrows skeptically, "Maybe. This is a bit of a minefield. Being sure you can handle it is why I'm telling you. And this stays strictly between us."

Barb's "Spidey sense" didn't tingle, she was sure Randolph wasn't making an advance, though she knew he enjoyed taking inventory of her features.

"Jack," Randolph said simply.

Barbs heart raced.

"Yeah?"

"To answer your question, I need to share two things. First, HR told me you figured out you got Jack's job. You did. Ironically, Jack was the one who convinced corporate to change how we operated, which unfortunately scared some important people into thinking Jack might supersede them. They were right: he would have. I prefer quality. I would have preferred Jack rise above those who were less worthy.

"But once convinced it was the time for change, upper management stuck their finger in the air to see what else could be done. They thought that as long as we were changing that we should make the most hay doing so. It was my job to implement what they came up with, and I hated it.

"The HR employee who interviewed and hired you knew my opinion on things. Let me lay it out: if he couldn't find someone who could really do the job, he was supposed to find someone who would wash out spectacularly. He came back after one interview with you assuring me he'd done what I thought couldn't be done: found someone who could actually do the job. I wasn't happy about that until I met you. You've convinced me that both Jack and corporate weren't entirely wrong. However, even with you onboard I thought we were running on borrowed time."

"How so?" Barb was now fascinated. Here was a chance to fill in the gaps she and Jack didn't have.

Randolph explained, "Jack's smart, many folks here are dedicated but most aren't smart. They don't have to be, diligence suffices to perform most of their jobs. But intelligence sure helps. Except for those smart enough to make the people they'll eventually pass over, fear them. Intelligence isn't a trait that's always rewarded.

On the flip side Jack's smart enough to read his being passed over for what it was. I bumped him two steps in pay when corporate wanted only one. I knew it wasn't enough to keep him, but also that we couldn't roll out his plan without him. No offense, Barb, but the folks loyal to Jack weren't going to be loyal to you until after you'd proven yourself, and we just didn't have that kind of time. You said as much yourself." Randolph studied her for a moment before admitting, "That was impressive," He held up a hand for her to let him continue before she remarked.

"Imagine Jack being told he wasn't getting the job we tailor made for him. Then being told we'd throw him a little hay, very little hay, and expect him to still implement his plan at a less than fair salary, while someone else got the credit." Randolph chuckled ruefully, "Jack would have been out of here so fast it would cause explosive decompression. Our chief competition is comprised of former employees that we incorrectly doubted. Jack could take whatever secrets he has to our competitors, and it would serve us right."

Barb broke in, "Randolph, Jack wouldn't have done that. He'd be angry, maybe even heartbroken, but just because the company stopped loving him doesn't mean he'd stop loving the company. He wouldn't have done anything to bring us down."

Barb hoped Randolph didn't notice how abruptly she'd stopped. There were too many similarities to what she'd done personally to Jack. She succeeded in keeping the growing thickness out of her voice as she added, "He just wouldn't keep us from bringing ourselves down."

Randolph smiled then looked at Barb like he was looking inside of her. His smile changed with his evaluation. It was still supportive, but unsettling. Randolph was too perceptive, although he wasn't always as smart as he thought he was.

His tone was that of a mentor now, "We're quite profane here, Barb. You know it by now. You don't quite swear like a sailor, but you don't bat an eye at profanity, and I've heard you produce a blue streak now and then. Allow me to speak bluntly, it's just faster.

"I think you saw how much we needed Jack. I think you also felt sorry for him. Combining those insights I think you found a rather unique way of keeping Jack around for a while. Even if you did that for purely mercenary reasons, I'd applaud you. But you aren't mercenary, you're a true believer. So am I, God help us both," he laughed.

Barb said quietly, "Randolph, I know you didn't mean it, but I'm not promiscuous. I wouldn't ..."

He cut her off with a knowing glance, "Honestly Barb, I think you're still sweetening his deal. But I'm not sure if it's solely to keep him coming back here." Randolph looked at Barb like he had to hurt her for her own good. "We can't overvalue our pets. They're beasts of burden not labors of love. They must serve a purpose, not require service from us. I need you to be careful. Management's upset about increases as the manager's position rises. Your project will see many old-line mangers swept out. Those folks would like to get even. And those who fear you taking their next promotion would gladly use a relationship between mangers to sabotage your promotion, to clear the way for themselves. If such a situation was taken to upper management, their actions would be expedient not judicious. Don't let others derail you.

"You need to learn from Jack's fate. This project should have been Jack rising. It won't be, so it needs to be you. You are the literal poster child of our change in philosophy. You mustn't be involved in a scandal. In fact, it would involve many more people than just yourself. A complaint of such a personal nature that goes to upper management will crush the career of many. Those directly involved, those who brought the case to upper management, as well as their immediate superiors, because it's expected to be dealt with on a lower level."

Barb's face showed real emotion though she tried to hide it, "Randolph I ..."

Randolph's hands flew up as if protecting himself from a splashing liquid, "No, for God's sakes, don't tell me."

Barb recovered quickly, "Look then, if it did come up, what would be the best way to respond to such an allegation?"

Now Randolph beamed, "You're so smart it's a pleasure doing business with you. That's exactly what I hoped you'd ask. Theoretically, if you got called into a manager's office -- probably mine, you listen to the allegation. If it's false, then deny it to any degree you wish while understanding it then becomes HR's challenge to find something. They'll try hard to do so. If the allegation is false, you have no worries. They'll do their due diligence plus some. They want to catch the thief, but they don't want to railroad you. They hate looking into stuff like that."

Barb added somewhat boldly, "What if it were true?"

Randolph studied her body language; he was a wily old manger. He smiled.

"If it's true, don't say "it's true." Say something like, "I guess it's possible something like that could happen." If they press you, change it to, "I guess something like that might have happened." Then ask, "If it has, what would I need to do to fix it? I want to comply with all company regulations."

Randolph leaned back enjoying Barb's reaction. He explained, "It may sound like gobblety-goo, but those are the perfect corporate response words. If you straight out admit guilt their hands are tied, and they must respond according to the rules. It's better for everyone to have some flexibility. Even if HR doesn't believe you've been completely upfront, you've just sent the secret code that your loyalty is to the company, and that you'll pay a price and play an active role in getting the ship back on course. Of course, it means your "partner" is getting fired, but the choice is really you both getting the axe, or you having the possibility of salvaging your career alone. Know this too: the few folks caught in such a situation, especially if their partner was truly important to them, have gone on to great careers after they discarded their partner, because corporate knows there's nothing they put above the company."

Barb absorbed the message thinking, 'You must pick your true love: your romantic partner or the company. Wow, the company was incredibly centered on loyalty to it, while sowing betrayal in return at every chance.' She'd waited long enough to verify, "So they want to kick Jack out."

Randolph glowered at the situation, "Yes, but not because you may, or may not, be dallying with him. The implementation is almost through. And with it, his usefulness to the company. They have no plans to kiss and make up, even after he's stayed through all the adversity. If anything, they're trying to convince themselves that he was weak to have stayed. There are a few stages left before the implementation is complete. None are as large or complicated as what Jack's already put in place. It's like running out the fourth quarter in a football game after you've amassed a huge lead. Whoever is running the thing when we cross the finish line will get the glory. There are two parts to this. You'll see why we just had the last discussion.

"First, they don't want Jack anywhere around when the buzzer sounds, and the game is won. They now want to erase his fingerprints from his own plan. They want to charge ahead with their chosen victor wearing an untarnished winner's crown, with no one looking at the person to whom it should have gone. With Jack gone there's still one bright shining face that has fought tooth and nail to pull this project through. That person has been part of every phase every day. That person will be the undisputed champion - as long as Jack isn't around.

"Secondly, and this a huge compliment, they are completely confident you can take the reins and finish from here. Maybe we needed Jack initially, and maybe you were creative in finding a way to keep him on board. But you've also made him completely dispensable now. You should carry the flag to the finish line and do so for you and all your troops. The company plans to shine a big light on all of you, but there's no room for Jack in that spotlight. They don't even want him seen scurrying into the shadows like a cockroach."

Barb tried hard to not let Randolph see her swallowing when hearing her own role in summoning Jack's execution. She seemed to pull it off as Randolph chugged merrily along.

"Corporate feels like they took a big chance adopting Jack's plan and wants to pat themselves on their backs for pulling it off. Frankly, they don't want to look the man in the eye who talked them into it or feel worse for what they've done to him. They're telling themselves this is exactly what Jack told them to do, that they've simply achieved his vision. It's regrettable that to achieve it he was the one person who had to be sacrificed. But hey, now that they've won, they don't want awkward pauses or dour faces to spoil their victory parade."

Barb started to respond, hating that her hard work was what made Jack replaceable. She'd not only gotten her husband's job, now she'd provided the impetus for his complete removal.

Randolph saw her objection coming and stopped it before it began. "Barb, just listen. Don't think ill of me, but it's imperative that if you're still doing something "creative" to keep Jack on board, that now is the time to start shutting it off."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't make me say it. If you have something with Jack, end it, and don't bat an eye when he leaves. There are rumors about you two. Doing what I say will cement your reputation in the company. If there's nothing going on, there shouldn't be any hard feelings on your part when he leaves anyway."

Barb forced herself to stay in the conversation, "I just don't like stepping on a man in return for good solid loyal work. Don't you worry that the company will turn around and do this to you, Randolph?"

Randolph showed a well-prepared expression. Barb saw right through it; the corporation decided there was a price to pay for the new direction Jack advocated. They finally saw Jack was right. They understood they'd reap large benefits from the change. But the first part of the change was telling those in command that the emperor had no clothes, and someone had to pay for that.

Barb saw it all now. The choice had come back to Randolph. He could fall on his sword, probably in the form of early retirement with full benefits, which would bring him up short of what he'd walk away with after a full career. Or he could fuck Jack over to prove his loyalty. Jack was right, it was Randolph himself that had chosen self-interest over his loyal right arm!

Randolph seemed genuinely concerned, "Barb listen, if you have feelings for him get a hold of them now! This is a huge opportunity for you. And ..."

Barb read between the lines; Randolph had backed the "new girl" coming in. If she blew this up, she'd take Randolph with her. She was tempted to purposely blow things up to even the scales with Jack a little by taking out his betrayer. But that would leave them unemployed and short of their goal. She needed Jack to win in the long run, he'd put in the time, it was the only fair course left to him. He deserved to win and to be the captain at the helm of his own revenge; specifically, living how he wanted to. Except they weren't there yet.

Barb snapped back to what Randolph was saying. And what he said amazed her.

"Barb, listen for God' sake. Jack doesn't have to take it in the shorts again, not entirely. But he's got to play it smart, and Jack can certainly do that. You just sat through the secret meeting, hearing the official word that the corporation has run the betas and loves the results of your project. And that once it's "real-world" is proven here, they plan to integrate your work throughout the corporation. There's an absolutely huge opportunity here for you! But you don't have to worry about making a career founded on Jack's misfortune."

What was Randolph saying? He seemed desperate to sell her on whatever he was trying to explain.

"Now we're changing direction, there will be incentives to leave the company rolling out next year. Jack has set us up, hell, he may have saved this branch, but other divisions aren't doing so well. It's extraordinary but corporate wants to trim our staff. They even want a ten percent reduction across the board of management too. That's never happened before! Typically, the higher you go the more bulletproof you are. Not this time.

"Barb, I need you to survive. So don't give your peers ammunition to use against you. Don't make some grandstand on behalf of Jack. Besides, it's not needed." Randolph looked ill, he clearly didn't like what he was about to reveal, "There's a secret list of people they want to go. Most of them have run afoul of their bosses. And most deserve to be flushed. Corporate will do it by turning up the wick until they quit. There are a few names on the list that shouldn't be except for some strategic reason. I didn't put it there, but Jack's name is on the list."

Barb closed her eyes.

"Look Barb, you don't want to be connected to him now. This is strictly just between us, while you've done an excellent job of covering your tracks there are still rumors about you two. I won't say that there haven't been male mangers that haven't dipped into the secretarial or sales pool. No one thinks worse of you if they believe the rumors. Some think it's hysterical that you not only won Jacks' job, but then made him your boytoy."

Randolph held up his hand to stop her from speaking, "If something IS going on and you don't distance yourself, your career could be hurt. Jack upsets some because they fear retaliation. They got ahead of him but know he's smarter, they still fear him bringing them down. Others think it's hurting moral that he's so well thought of and has been dead ended. It makes us look bad, and rightly so. Either way he's on the list. They're going to start using the stick on him, and if he doesn't leave, they'll just turn up the heat and replace the stick with harpoons."

Barb shot back, "Be careful Randolph, Jack is smart and capable. Smart enough to maneuver Corporate into some sort of actionable offense. I think he's almost ready to go. If they push him however, he could shift his focus to taking down as many asshats as he can lasso. Don't let yourself get caught in that net." Barb swallowed hard again. She'd just warned Randolph to safety while he was laying out the diabolic end to his betrayal of Jack.

"It wouldn't be me turning up the heat on him. I appreciate your warning, but I can't defend him either. That would pour gas on the matter, and I can't get away with reminding HQ that they started it."

Randolph waited to make sure Barb wasn't seething before making an unexpected turn.

"I told you to listen! Please, there's a better way out. They want to wrap this full implementation up in another eighteen months. They want at least six months without Jack before then. There's also a carrot to this stick: the management buyout. If Jack can last six months, the tables will turn to his favor. At that point corporate will be anxious to resolve the matter. They won't just pour the heat on me but also H. R. to get rid of Jack. When that happens, HQ won't care if his exit is punitive or not; they'll just want it done. At that point it will be hard for me to keep H. R. from offering him a hell of a golden parachute for him to resign. They'll sweeten his buy-out to play good cop to my bad cop. I'll play my part of grudgingly giving in, and tell them to max Jack's offer to get him out quickly.

"So, you can still do good by Jack and offer him a good parting gift if he goes quietly. If there's something between you two, tell him what's coming, but not in a way he could out you for. Tell Jack to take the money and run. By then corporate will be happy to have the cinder out of their eye. The whole matter will disappear, and we get a ticker tape parade -- and big bonuses. It's gamesmanship. It's the next thing, the next level, of what you must learn here. Jack won't get the career he should have, but he's figured that out already. What he doesn't expect is that he can roll out of here with a trunk full of Benjamins to help him get out of dodge and start over in style."

Randolph was practically pleading with Barb to understand this was the happiest ending possible, and more than any of them could have hoped for a year ago.

Barb didn't know whether to smile or laugh while struggling not to show either response. Instead, she took a chance at trying to teach a lesson.

"Dammit Randolph, I think not hiring the absolute best in the past put you in this mess today. By reversing the prejudice instead of eliminating it, you still aren't hiring the best. I'm proof. I'm good, damn good, and I'm going to kick ass in this job. But I'm not the best candidate that applied for this particular job: Jack was. Not hiring the best is going to put us in a bind tomorrow too. Hopefully we'll be wise enough to do the best thing then."

Randolph heard what he thought was a buy-in from Barb. He smiled, "Until then, we do the best with what we've got, and throw what we can into our retirement accounts!"

They shared a mutual smile before she added, "I think it's going to be great, still, working with you."

Through his smile he tilted his head to ask her, "You okay, Barb?"

She had to consciously keep her lips from curling maliciously, "Living the dream, Randolph. Living the dream."

He beamed at that. It was great to have someone he could trust.

* * * * *

On the way home Barb thought about what might face there. She'd pushed away from Jack. Like everything she'd done to him it wasn't intended. But holy hell, it wasn't like when she'd caught a buzz while drinking too much and did something stupid either. Jack had been communicating with her, or at least trying. Jack told her exactly what he needed and expected from her. She'd failed to deliver. But she'd won the war. Their happy ending was in sight. She'd done the right thing to sacrifice their anniversary for the information she'd gleaned. But how far had she pushed Jack to obtain it? Would he believe her when she gave him the good news? Or would he see her news as what she hoped would be credible justification for going against his express wishes?

Barb knew how Jack thought: not telling him she'd stay was telling him she was going. She paused, 'But that's true, isn't it? How do I rebut any of this? Jack's logic is holding firm, whether I like it or not. His forecasts have all been spot on. He was right about Randolph's betrayal, and he's still right about Corporate's delusional behavior. And also, Corporate's lack of will when you hammer them, despite their reputation for being badass.'

None of that gave Barb the answer she was looking for. She had good news for Jack. How could she get him to listen to a word she said after what she'd done to get it. Her blood ran cold as she faced the possibility that she'd never be able to tell Jack the happy news because she may have ended their marriage procuring the information.

* * * * *

When Barb came home Jack was nowhere to be found. Barb searched their home then froze looking out the window. Jack's old truck wasn't there. She was shocked by how hard she yanked the garage door open. The Jeep was in the garage where Jack parked it to keep it gleaming. The Chevy, however, wasn't there.

Barb dashed upstairs bolting into their bedroom. She flung open his closet door and fell to the ground: his clothes were still there! She fought off crying with relief. She made herself check his tools and family heirlooms. Nothing was missing. Jack hadn't moved out. Suddenly exhausted she plopped herself down on the floor again.

Barb thought, 'Jack just didn't want to mope around an empty house because his wife let him down big time on their anniversary. Dammit, he's keeping busy to keep from thinking about his wife choosing to spend their anniversary with his betrayers.'

Barb sighed reminding herself she'd betrayed him once as well. What a group; the assembled managers, including her, were a club of Jack backstabbers. Then Barb had the worst thought of all, 'The two people that have benefit most from Jack's getting screwed over are Randolph ... and me.'

Barb stayed on the floor thinking. 'I went to the meeting. I stayed the entire time. I didn't rush back as fast as I could. I stayed until the end to make it look good, then I stayed fifteen minutes longer talking to Randolph alone. Jack would just looove that, regardless of why I stayed. He'd say I could reconnoiter any day but our anniversary. He told me exactly how to get out of going and I told him I was going. He'd made wonderful plans. I told him to cancel them.

She looked around the house knowing their anniversary was shredded. 'Damn, I guess I nixed our anniversary before he did. This abuse is a regular thing, now being taken to greater heights. I told Jack he was "king at home". Then I vetoed his first major decision concerning our household. I guess I have come to reserve all power for myself. Why would anyone want to spend ANY evening with some who did all of that to them, especially a special night? Jack could hardly be celebrating my fealty to him.'

Barb's blood ran cold thinking, 'Jack couldn't think I'm having an affair with Randolph, could he? No,' she forced the thought away. 'No, if he did Randolph would already be dead and I'd be on the curb.'

Barb got up, drifting back to the kitchen. 'I need to view this from Jack's perspective. Jack referred to me as his "one ally" which I sure wasn't tonight.'

Barb poured herself some wine. She did have a warm opinion of Randolph. Heck, Randolph just tried to save and bolster her career. Then he found a way to justify their awful treatment of Jack. Barb chastised herself, "And I listened, and felt warmly towards him for it. Damn, he's slick. Jack sees right through all of it. Randolph thinks I'm good looking. I am good looking. And I'm going places, and that makes Randolph look good.'

Barb peered deeper, 'I'm the teacher's pet and prom queen rolled into one, while Jack was bullied.' She laughed at the notion of Jack being bullied, he'd never stand for it. Except he was taking abuse now. Why? The answer was as obvious as it was awful: Her! Jack was taking care of her. 'I'm a fine friend. I didn't take care of him tonight choosing to be the good corporate stooge instead of the faithful wife.'

She chastised herself. She was playing secret agent at work, playing the dutiful employee while really working for Jack. But it had twisted itself around to where she'd just stabbed Jack right in the heart in order to serve him the best. Jack was going to rip that notion to shreds. It sounded preposterous but it was true. Barb wondered how could both interpretations be true? Her gut wrenched at the conclusion. Sure, she was helping Jack, but this wasn't the way Jack needed to be helped.

Barb had played the evening like an ordinary workday: playing her part of the plan. But their anniversary was a night to forget the plan! She hadn't weighed this properly. At least she'd gotten key information from Randolph pertaining to Jack. Considering the source though, Jack wouldn't believe a word of it.

Barb's thoughts became more troubling, 'Did I just tell Jack not to walk me home from school because I wanted the chief bully to do it? If it wasn't for me and our future family, Jack would never put up with this situation. Randolph is Jack's betrayer. They used to be friends. I'm too close to the flame. Just trying to blend in I'm already acting like the others. I'm way too close to being like the people who are laughing at Jack while partaking of the feast he fixed. Watch it girl, you're playing your part too well.'

Then she asked herself a question she hadn't thought to ask. What made her feel better, fulfilling the mission or playing the part needed to fulfill it?

* * * * *

Barb sat at the kitchen table, finding it especially conducive to being philosophical. She was spent and stymied. Aghast, she wondered if Jack could be in trouble. She was angry she only thought of that now. Barb raced for her cell phone. She was mortified to find it was silenced. She'd done that for the damn meeting and hadn't reset it! She was astonished that she'd actually cut off communications from her husband on their anniversary. Sure enough, Jack had sent her a message. She felt like screaming.

Jack had left her a note sent on their home social media account, which also included private messaging. Barb pulled up the account amazed at how long it had been since she'd checked it. She remembered distancing herself from it, fearing someone at work would see it discovering her true identity. But why hadn't she pulled it up at home? Barb ground her teeth confronting the fact that she'd been slacking on the home front. She scrolled through the queue. She'd missed a lot of activity, noting that Jack had begun responding to all their messages, even those from Barb's friends and family.

Barb found a video timestamped to when she was in the meeting, when Barb and Jack should have been enjoying each other's company at Tony's. She desperately pushed "play" despite fearing what she faced.

A drawn Jack spoke to her from the screen, "Barb, I wish I could tell you that the Chevy was really the hero, that it was more capable than the GX, but frankly the GX isn't a poser. It may be fancy, maybe some of the fancy gets in the way of some of the capability, but it really does supersede the old chevy. The suspension and chassis are as good. Maybe the engine isn't as classic as the old 350, but those Toyota engines are legendary too. Unlike most other fancy trucks, the GX is just as tough off road. I can't speak to the wisdom of mud bogging in a vehicle with special order leather or nice carpeting, but that misses the point."

Jack paused looking plain sad. "The life you're living gives you GXs and they're great. I was on trajectory to give that you that but now you have it on your own. My current trajectory is no longer akin to yours. Mine has me clinging desperately to an old Chevy. My Chevy is reliable, or was, but it's old and beat up now, and never was fancy. Heck, the new Chevy's are often as fancy as the GX, so I really am the odd man out. I'm on the decline and I don't know how it happened. I was ahead and outpacing others, then I found myself out of the fast lane. Soon I may be out of gas altogether.

"I'm just being selfish. I want you to be with me whether it's in the Chevy or if I'd bought the Lexus myself. But you're in the GX all on your own. You're in a place right now I can't reach for years. Why shouldn't you meet up with a fancy truckload full of guys for drinks and tall tales on the way home, especially if you're driving? Once they had nothing in common with you, but now they all have more in common with you than I do, and the list is growing every day.

"You're right to take care of yourself. All I've ever wanted is you taken care of. At least for now I've failed. I get it, and I agree with the obvious message of our anniversary apart. I want the best for you, even if it isn't me. So ah, just take care of yourself, okay." He said it like Bogart wishing his love a good life while putting her on a plane with another man. The video ended.

Barb sat stunned. She heard herself ask, "What have I done?"