Page 77 of Partner Pursuit
“He has to say that. He can’t say that they have a quota.” Colette sneered.
“They’ve more junior female associates than male associates.”
“That doesn’t seem to have persuaded our male bosses in the past. They presume most of those women will leave to raise families.” Colette leaned forward and bit out each word. “They have never appointed two women partners in the same year. And you can’t say that the candidates haven’t been worthy.”
“No, I can’t,” Audrey said quietly, remembering the talented women senior associates who had not made it.
A tense silence filled the room as both women stared at each other. Audrey felt her flush flooding her neck andshoulders.
“They may have worked against each other—maybe that’s what defeated the other women,” Audrey said. “And you want us to repeatthat.”
“Oh, please.”
“I just don’t think we should accept that they’ll make only one. We should change that construct and act as if both of us willmake it.”
“Are you trying to appeal to some sense of decency?” Colette asked. “This isn’t some kindergarten contest where everyone winsa prize.”
“No, I’m well aware of that,” Audrey said. “I don’t expect that they’ll feel compelled to make us both partners because they don’t want to hurt our feelings. It’s a business. But you acting as if they’ll only promote one woman just legitimizes that premise. If we work against each other, there’s a good chance that neither of us will make it. We’ll both end up tarnished. Advocating for each other is the way to go.”
“I’m not going to support you, Audrey.” Colette crossedherarms.
Audrey stood up. She turned as if to leave, but then turned back to beseech Colette: “At least, let’s communicate—including any disagreements.”
“I just did that.” Colette smiled. It was not a warm smile. “But I can cc you in the future.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Leaving Colette’s office, Audrey ran into Tim. Sometimes she wondered if he spent the entire day walking around, chatting with partners, working that good old boy network. She internally chastised herself for that unkind thought.
“Hey, you look flushed. Are you okay?”Tim asked.
Audrey honestly didn’t know if she could trust Tim. It felt awkward between them now that she was dating Jake. “I just had it out withColette.”
“What do you mean?” Tim followed her into her office.
“Close the door,” Audrey said. “I know you warned me, but I just didn’t think it would be this bad. She wrote a memo contradicting mystrategy.”
A painedI don’t want to hear thislook crossed his face. “She’s just trying to show her stuff to Hunter. I’m sure she didn’t add anything you hadn’t already thought of.”
Seeing that expression, Audrey stopped talking about Colette.Had Tim known that Colette was writing acounter-strategymemo?“You know, I just need to blow off some steam. I’m going to go work out.” She circled back around Tim to open the drawers in the credenza and pulled out a bag of gym clothes. Then she turned around, looked at Tim, and made a shooing motion withherhand.
“Oh, uh.” Tim looked surprised at being thrown out so quickly. He’d just settled into the chair. “Rightnow?”
“Yes.” She was about to elaborate, but decided she didn’t have to explain.
Tim stood up. Audrey held the door open for him and followed him, pulling on her coat and slinging her gym bag over hershoulder.
“Wish I could gowithyou.”
“Probably better if you don’t. I’ve some thinking to do.”
Tim walked with her towards the elevator. As they entered the elevator, Tim turned to Audrey and said: “RememberThe Godfather: this is business, it’s notpersonal.”
“I prefer: ‘Leave the gun. Take the cannolis.’”
“Really? I wouldn’t think you’d like that scene,”Timsaid.
“I like cannolis.” Perplexed that he had come with her into the elevator instead of walking down one flight of stairs to his office, she asked, “Are you going downstairswith me?”
