Having Fun with Mr. Wrong Read online

  Unlike the other partners, Cathy didn’t give an employee an opportunity to read the review ahead of the face-to-face meeting. Carmala hated this practice, but Cathy sounded as though she was a little impressed with Carmala’s work. She took the form, noticing her trembling hands. Carmala focused on the overall-rating section. Satisfactory. Not above average or, God forbid, excellent.

  “Carmala, you’re coming up on your fifth year with us.”

  Uh-oh. That didn’t have a good ring to it.

  “And while your work is satisfactory, there are mixed opinions about your performance.”

  Carmala’s heart sank. Was she being fired?

  “You’re an enigma. You wow some and puzzle others. It’s not that we don’t think you have the talent. We wouldn’t have hired you in the first place. However, at this juncture, you should be ready for the audit manager position. And for that level, we expect something more than we feel you’re ready to give.”

  “I don’t understand.” Ugh! She could hear her voice shake. “If the work is satisfactory and the clients are satisfied—”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying any of the clients are unhappy. Allow me to finish.”

  Oh no. “Of course, I’m sorry for the interruption.”

  “That’s quite all right. The consensus is that you’re”—Cathy hesitated—“too bubbly. As public accountants, we must present ourselves as independent, professional, and unbiased in our work. While you perform your audits with technical accuracy, you lack a certain, ah, impression of decorum expected of Banter employees.”

  Carmala leaned forward. “I’m confused. I dress and behave the same as my colleagues.” Damn. And to think she’d taken special care dressing to perfect android (as industry people jokingly referred to Banter employees). At home that morning, she’d changed clothes three times before she was satisfied. She finally settled on a dark gray classic two-piece suit and plain three-inch black pumps, which she thought would leave little room for criticism. At least as far as her clothes. Still, it was way too dweeb. To pop a little color, she’d tied a maroon polka-dot scarf in to a neat but simple bow around the collar of her white button-down shirt. Apparently, none of this mattered to the Dragon Lady.

  “It’s the image you project to the client that concerns us, Carmala. To put it simply, you’re getting a little too friendly with the client—not only with Synergy Plus, with others as well. You know the old saying about familiarity breeding contempt. If you’re too friendly, you might be less willing to report an omission or error. That would obviously put us in a difficult position. Since you’ve functioned as a manager on some of your smaller jobs…”

  She would have to emphasize that the jobs I supervised were small.

  “…you realize the responsibility of presenting the audit results falls on the manager of the job, although the partner is available for support.”

  Carmala couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “Regarding my nature, ah, Cathy, that’s just my personality. I think we want to make the client feel comfortable. After all, they are opening their records up to us and…” She paused in midsentence because she frankly didn’t know what else to say.

  “Yes, however, if we get too friendly we dim the image of independence. You’ve taken the course on decorum at the Charles Center, but I suppose we are in agreement that you behave the way you do because it’s inherent to your nature.”

  Yeah, the Charles Center, where the androids went for all kinds of training that had nothing to do with the real world. No matter how many classes she took, she couldn’t fake android good enough. The job sucked.

  Hands folded, Cathy leaned forward. “I don’t want you to think that we’ve received any complaints from our clients, Carmala. We haven’t. However, we don’t think you’re ready for a promotion to audit manager.”

  “I’ll educate-up. I’ll adjust. I’ll enroll in more courses and change my disposition. It’s not impossible.” Ugh! She hated begging, but if she were fired, it would look horrible on her resume.

  Cathy raised her eyebrows and nodded. “I’m sure you would be willing to do that. You have a great attitude. But be honest with yourself. Do you really want to? I don’t think you’re happy here. There are opportunities out there in which you can better apply your unique skills and talents.”

  She made it seem as though Carmala’s skills were distasteful. Beneath Banter.

  Carmala squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, although her heart beat wildly. “So what are you proposing? Should I begin to put my feelers out in the job market?”

  “I know this is hard to hear. But you now have experience with a world-premiere accounting firm. You’re a marketable asset. I suggest that you continue with your current assignments, for now. Begin to hunt around for a better situation. There’s no rush, and you can take your time. Your job is safe while you seek other opportunities.”

  Other opportunities. It sounded so final. “Wow! I’m rather surprised. I’ll have to give it serious thought.” Like she had any choice. The last thing Carmala expected from this meeting was to learn she had to find another job. Dragon Cathy and the lot of Bantor Androson & Co. were something else.

  “That’s all we’re asking. And good luck. You know I’m here to help you.” With that, Cathy stood up from behind her big mahogany desk and walked around to give Carmala a hug.

  The Dragon’s show of affection was so unnecessary and contrived.

  Dejection settled in the pit of Carmala’s stomach, making her instantly nauseous. Of all things to happen, instead of a possible promotion, now she had to look for a new position elsewhere. In truth, she hated the damned job but kept at it because she worked for the most prestigious, elite accounting firm in the world. Or so the company touted itself.

  But after absorbing the initial shock waves, she realized Cathy had done her a favor and given her the little push she needed out of the proverbial nest. Only what would she do next, and where would she go?

  Chapter Two

  Carmala felt her cell phone buzz in her purse while she waited in line at a deli to pick up a sandwich.

  “This is Paul Synder. I’m a recruiter from John Halfway and Associates calling on behalf of Synergy Plus, Inc.”

  Her heart pounded in her chest. This is it! After a nail-biting week, he’d finally called. “Yes, Tom Johnson telephoned me last week and mentioned you’d be calling.” Tom, Synergy’s CEO and her favorite client, had become friends over the company’s past couple of audits.

  “Are you free to talk?”

  “Yes, no problem. I’m picking up lunch.”

  “Good. I’ll cut to the chase, Carmala. Synergy Plus is very impressed with the ideas you had for business improvement during your audits. They think your experience would be a perfect as a business consultant on their team.”

  Yep, she’d fit in fine with Synergy. The employees there viewed her as bright and resourceful. Finally, she might have a chance to work with an employer who’d appreciate what she had to give. She didn’t care that Tom hadn’t followed the proper protocol by calling her at the office because soon, hopefully very soon, she wouldn’t have to worry about watching everything she did and said.

  “I’d like to set up a lunch with you this week,” Paul said.

  “I’m on an engagement the rest of the week and usually eat with the audit team, but…” She pulled her calendar out of her purse and checked it. “Friday is good.”

  They set the time and place to meet.

  ****

  Rosie’s bustled with the Friday midtown lunch crowd. Instead of feeling awkward, like the unpopular kid at a school lunch table, as she usually did with her audit team, Carmala felt exhilarated. Change was in the air. Still, she needed to proceed carefully and not burn the proverbial bridges with her current employer.

  After they placed their lunch orders, Paul Synder straightened his jacket sleeves. “Synergy Plus wants to make this move as seamless as possible. They need you right away. They’ll sweeten t
he deal by paying for you to move to an upgraded apartment and kick in the rent for the first six months.”

  Based on her research, as a business consultant she would get a salary increase plus commission income, and that could bring her well over a potential three-quarters of a million dollars a year. However, the commission would be fifty percent of the projected income, and that had her concerned.

  If she took the deal, she’d be under no obligation to stay with the Synergy Plus beyond the initial six months.

  “The reason why Synergy Plus is being so dogmatic is that your CPA license and diverse public accounting background are going to come in handy. In addition, your experience with consulting work in the small business and nonprofit sector appeals to them.”

  She didn’t like to gloat, but she enjoyed the validation of what she already knew: she was good at her work. She’d never get that satisfaction from Banter. “This is exciting. I’d like to set up a meeting with Tom to negotiate the terms of the position.”

  “Absolutely. We’ll do that for you. What days are good for you in the next two weeks?”

  They set up a date for Carmala to meet with Tom the following week.

  Wow! Little ol’ Carmala Rosa, a simple South Philadelphia girl, was moving on to an opportunity bigger than she ever imagined. Synergy wanted her, badly enough to pay for an apartment upgrade.

  Banter could kiss her ass.

  The glow of satisfaction coursed through her soul, but the deal wasn’t finalized yet. She hoped it would be…and soon.

  ****

  Carmala couldn’t wait to tell Guido all about the Synergy Plus job offer.

  Later that night at the apartment, he unpacked a brown paper bag filled with several containers of Chinese takeout and placed them on the breakfast bar. Carmala grabbed plates, utensils, and napkins and set the table.

  “Do you think the Synergy Plus job is in the bag?” Guido asked while he served the food.

  She tasted the chicken and vegetables in oyster sauce. God, it was mouthwateringly good. But she could barely concentrate on eating. “I don’t know, Guid. I sure hope so. Ever since my review with Cathy, I feel more and more uncomfortable going to the office.”

  “Yeah, because they’re squeezing you out. I think you should go for the job at Synergy Plus. What have you got to lose?” He spooned another forkful of food into his mouth, licking his lips in apparent delight.

  “I’d love to work with a group of people that think like me. But the commission income concerns me. I need to count on a salary, especially if I’m going to be moving into a higher-rent apartment.” Carmala was silent for a minute and thought of her next words. “Guido, we Italians don’t stray far from the family, yet I uprooted myself from three generations who lived within blocks of our home. And broke Mom’s heart. And now Banter wants to force me out.” She pushed her food around in her plate.

  “You have to realize that all things happen for a reason. It was your destiny to come to New York. Besides, if you didn’t come here, you never would have met me.” He winked at her and pulled her to him across the breakfast bar long enough for a juicy kiss. For a tiny second, a flash of heat swirled at the bottom of her belly.

  She looked down at her unfinished food and lost her appetite. “Dad wanted me to take advantage of the chance to work with Banter in New York. At the time, Banter was excited to have me on board and paid for my move. I know it’s what they did for all new hires. But they supposedly picked me out of hundreds of students, claiming that I was more qualified than my peers. All that, to now be pushed out. It hurts, even though I want to move on.”

  “They had a position to fill, and you filled it. But that was then, and this is now. It’s time to move on. You’re dwelling too much on the past.” He pointed at her plate. “Eat your food, it’s getting cold.” He spooned more food in his mouth and appeared to drift off in thought for a moment. “You know, Carmala, I love takeout from China Star. It’s worth walking the extra blocks.”

  The last thing on her mind was food. Anxiety, apprehension, and fear replaced her taste for even her favorite dish. Thoughts of relying on a commission-based pay structure tortured her mind.

  And all Guido cared about was food.

  She pushed her plate away. “My career is heading for an about-turn. Which Chinese take-out place we use doesn’t seem to be the issue. I almost feel like you don’t understand the full impact of what I’m going through, Guido.”

  He looked at her, surprised. “What do you mean? How can you say I don’t care?” He hesitated and then added, “I care that you’re not eating. You need to eat.”

  “How can you expect me to sit here and eat?” She raised her voice; her heart rate shot up. “I’m worried about taking on a job that’s fifty percent based on commission. I can’t count on paying the bills if my income is unpredictable.”

  God! She wished she hadn’t had the outburst. Now she’d started an inevitable argument.

  He threw his fork down on the table. “You’re overreacting, Carmala. The guarantee is more than you’re making now. With your fancy degree and accreditations, you can be in charge. They’re even going to upgrade your apartment. What the hell do you have to complain about?”

  Oh, yeah, she’d pissed him off. “Guido, let’s not go there. Please.” It was late. She was tired and so didn’t want to argue. But once an argument started with Guido, there’d be no turning back.

  “What do you mean, let’s not go there? We’re already there. You have a better opportunity, and you’re going to complain about it? I don’t get you. You know I sit here with you every night as you bitch about your problems at work. I try to get your mind off it, but it doesn’t seem to help.” He rose and scooped the rest of the food on his plate into the trash. “You sure know how to kill a person’s appetite.”

  “You’re being selfish. If you had to make a major change like this, you’d be as scared as I am. Only you never have to worry—”

  “Oh, so you think my work is easy. Half the time, I’m either freezing or sweating my balls off, and I risk injury every day on these age-old properties. You ought to appreciate your cushy offices and working in an air-tempered climate. You wouldn’t know a hard day of work if it hit you in the face.” He cleared the plates off the table.

  And now she somehow hit the nerve that “he didn’t measure up to her,” which she often heard. And hated it. She’d been supportive of him. Why couldn’t he get over his insecurities and accept that white-collar work was work too?

  “You’re not being fair.” Crap. She could say nothing. She’d have to sit back and let him rant and rave.

  “You think you’re so high and mighty with your business suits and all the stuffed shirts you work with from Wall Street. Us little blue-collar guys, we don’t matter.” He grabbed plastic containers out of the cabinets and shoveled the leftovers into them. He shoved the containers into the refrigerator and slammed the door so hard the pictures, secured by magnets, slid down the front.

  “Guido, let’s not make this about you. I was just―”

  “You were just nothing. Thanks for ruining my dinner!” He stomped into the living room, grabbed the remote, and clicked on a football game putting the volume super high.

  Fine then, she’d let him stew. She had a lot to think about anyway.

  ****

  During the following week, Carmala met with Tom Johnson to negotiate the final terms of the Synergy job offer. He needed an answer within days, but she needed the reassurance that this was the right decision.

  One morning, she placed a call to Marc Blass, whom she’d met through a client assignment and had since considered a mentor. Carmala had a high regard for his opinion, and he was certainly a good contact to have considering his influence on Wall Street. An hour later, she darted across the cubicle toward her ringing phone.

  “Hey, glad I caught you.”

  Marc! Just who she needed to hear from.

  “How are you, Carmala? Word on the street is that yo
u might be moving over to Synergy Plus.”

  So he’d already heard. “Yes. Can’t talk about it now, though.”

  “Understood. How about meeting me for drinks after work tonight?”

  Although tonight was a workout night with Guido, she couldn’t miss the opportunity to meet with Marc. If he was going to make time for her, she needed to take advantage of it. “Thanks, Marc. I would really appreciate some support. I have my concerns.”

  “Meet me at Delmonico’s, seven?”

  She’d have to figure out a good excuse to cancel with Guido, who believed after work was their time to be together, even if it was only a workout. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”

  It was noon. If she called him now, she could get him squared away.

  He answered the cell on the first ring. “Guido, you busy?”

  “Nope, what’s up?”

  Now that the fight from last week was well behind them—and he sounded as if he was in a good mood—maybe she could wiggle her way out of meeting him. “Yeah, I’m probably going to be a little late at work tonight, so we’ll have to skip the workout.”

  “Why would you be working late when you’re going to leave the job soon?”

  “Well, I…” Damn! She didn’t want to tell him. If she were truthful, he’d get pissed because, for some reason, he was jealous of Marc. On the other hand, she didn’t want a relationship based on lies. “I need to meet some people who’ll help me with the decision about the job change.”

  “People, huh? Or do you mean a specific person?”

  Ugh. He’d caught her. “Look, I can’t get into it right now. I’m at work. I won’t be late. Promise. I’ll meet you at the apartment no later than nine.”

  “Nine? That’s late. Who are you meeting?”

  “Not now, Guid. I gotta go. See you later.” She clicked off before he could pummel her with one more question. Regardless, he’d get the whole story out of her. Later. She’d deal with him later.