Page 20 of Analysing Her Assets

“Uh huh, totally worth it,” Tally said. They all laughed, and the tension released. “Anyway, that’s my cue. I’ll take my son and give him a bath.”

“No need to help with the cleaning, Tamari,” her father said. But she stayed a little anyway, cleaning the living room’s floor. Sweeping dog hair was quickly becoming a habit.

She walked back to her apartment, deep in thought. There were pros and cons to weigh, and unfamiliar wants to sort through. But by the end of the short walk, she had reached her decision.

When she got home, Tamar logged on to her remote work desktop and checked the employees' addresses. Gideon Sela indeed lived near her place.

She leashed Giddy. Having come to a conclusion, she wanted to act quickly before she lost her nerve or, more likely, came back to her senses.

Time for an evening walk in search of schlongs.

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13. Gideon

As soon as Gideon detected his grandmothers walking towards him, he got out of his car and opened both back doors. He dutifully bent to be hugged by the very short Sarita, who smelled, as she’d always had, of peeled clementines. He then shook the much taller Paulina’s hand and kissed her on both cheeks. She smelled of her perfume, Chanel No. 5.

“Shotgun,” called Sarita.

“Baby,” said Paulina.

“Sit in the back, both of you. It’s much easier to talk that way.”

Thirty-five years ago, Yehoshua, Gideon’s father, Paulina Berdichevsky’s son married Naomi, Sarita Negev’s daughter. Both Gideon’s grandfathers had passed away, and his two grandmothers joined the same retirement home community.

Grumbling and muttering, they settled down on the back seats. It was the shorter Sarita who sat behind Gideon’s pulled back driver seat, leaving Paulina the more comfortable space behind the passenger seat.

“Listen, Giddichka, we need to talk.” Paulina sounded urgent. “I need you to visit Doron in the factory. It’s about your father.”

Paulina Berdichevsky had started Berdiplast with Gideon’s grandfather, who was a chemical engineer. Berdiplast produced flexible packaging in bag-in-box technology for the liquid food sector, such as fruits and vegetables, wine, and even liquid eggs. Paulina was a certified accountant and had worked at Berdiplast since its inception, being its first CFO. She was retired now, but regularly showed up at board meetings, intimidating the hell out of everyone.

“I called him. He wouldn’t tell me on the phone why he wants to meet,” Gideon informed her. “Anyway, Savta Sarita probably doesn’t want us talking about this now.”

“Savta Sarita is with Savta Paulina about this matter,” His other grandmother said to Gideon’s astonishment. “Go on Paulina, he’s a captive audience.”

“We’re concerned about your father. He has changed since you left. I’m afraid he makes mistakes.” Paulina didn’t waste any time.

“Mistakes?” Gideon asked.

“He chose the wrong CFO. Your father misses you so much that he chose someone that looks a little like you. Dotes on him, treats him like he’s his long-lost son.” Paulina spat that one out.

The pang of jealousy was uncalled for. After all, it was Gideon who walked away.

“I want you to go to the factory and meet Old Doron about Young Doron.”

“Who?”

“Keep up, will you? The new CFO’s name is Doron too, so he’s called Young Doron, and the real Doron is called Old Doron.”

“Savta, I’m really busy.”

“So? Just go meet an old friend.”

He hated this idea. He wanted to pursue his success at Peaks, not meddle in a company where his father was the CEO.

“Talk to my mother about it,” Gideon said to Savta Sarita, meeting her clear blue eyes in the mirror. “She’s your daughter.”

Both women huffed together.

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