Page 76 of Unbossly Manners

“Who wants to go on a hike?” I asked after we’d unloaded the car and claimed the bedrooms. It had only been a four hour drive and I felt invigorated.

“I won’t relax until I’ve unpacked and gone grocery shopping,” Selena said. “Send me your lists. I don’t mind going on my own.”

This was true, but being my bestest of best friends, she was also manipulating a way for Jackson and me to be alone. I couldn’t have loved her more for it. In recent days, there’d been a pull in my chest that didn’t go away until I was in his presence. And even then, the pull became a yearning. For what… I was afraid to acknowledge.

“My favorite hike is twenty minutes from here. It’s not too strenuous but it has amazing views of the valley,” Jackson said, climbing the stairs to the main level.

I packed a small backpack with energy bars, a water bottle, and sunscreen and slid on my hiking shoes.

As promised, twenty minutes later we were at the trailhead. The trees were full and lush, the leaves still green from summer. Vermont was a major destination to see the foliage change in the fall, but I enjoyed the miles of greenery, the colorful flora in full bloom.

We were quiet during the first thirty minutes of hiking up the steep terrain. Once it evened out, we were able to catch our breath. Jackson had been a staple in my life this week, but his visits had been short and sweet. Dropping in, then rushing off to continue work. He’d been inundated with the investigation and dealing with the people from NOW, reassuring them—and their lawyers—that we were a company worth investing their money and resources into.

He’d brought in a couple of lawyers from an outside firm to assist and would be working a lot of the weekend too.

“How were you able to get away from the office for all this time? You’ve been practically living there.”

We’d stopped in the middle of a glen, a small creek gurgling alongside the trail. The air was crisp, a freshness you never find in the city. I sipped my water and offered an energy bar to Jackson.

“I’m still working. But…” He took a bite.

“What is it?”

“NOW has gone radio silent.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” I tilted my head back and watched the sunbeams dance through the thick leaves, birds calling to each other, hidden by the branches.

“It’s not.” Jackson glared at the trickling water.

I put my hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I know you’ve been with the company since the beginning. And Isaac and Derrick are your friends.”

Jackson exhaled deeply. “I just feel like there’s something I’m missing.”

He crumpled the wrapper and stuffed it in his pocket, and stepped back on the trail. I followed behind him, enjoying the muscles and tendons of his calves flexing as he climbed.

“What do you mean?”

“Things have always flowed smoothly. It’s like a family. Derrick and Isaac went to college together in Queens and are more like brothers. I met Derrick doing pro bono work for the city a decade ago. Analise used to do improv and she was good friends with the sound engineers, Jay and Rashid, and brought them into the company.

“When Derrick and Isaac’s podcast blew up, we all came together. There was more money than they knew what to do with and we started this network, bringing in a half dozen more podcasts. It’s a small operation, with no bullshit. Working daily with people you love is the dream, hence the name. It was like a party in the beginning. A party where you work your ass off, but love the work. Then about two months ago, things began to tear at the seams.”

My legs were working overtime, not used to the effort of stepping over rocks and around switchbacks, the elevation increasing at a rapid rate.

“I remember that.” I sucked down air, panting. “The first month I worked here I was intimidated because of how close everyone was. It was like one big inside joke. But everyone was so kind and took me in.”

I stopped for a minute catching my breath.

Jackson was slightly ahead and looked down the path at me. I put my thumb up to confirm I was okay.

“Do you remember what changed? Or how?” I asked.

“I’d have to look back. Do you remember anything?”

I searched back in my mind and something struck me.

“The first big incident that comes to mind was when Gwen and Natashia had that meeting with Isaac and Derrick in April. They suddenly didn’t like that two men were running the company. Gwen and Natashia were demanding the complete removal of the male voices in leadership. Do you remember that?”

“That’s right.” Jackson nodded. “I found it strange because their intention didn’t seem to support the cause, but to take over. When they made their big speech, it felt contrived, like someone had been in Gwen and Natashia’s ears about it, ruffling feathers. ”

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