Page 25 of Boss Level

I had to know, “What are we discussing, specifically?”

Even back then, I’d sided with the jaded, old Batman who had seen his efforts thrown back in his face time and again, and was tired. But Judith took up Terry’s defense. She insisted even if there were bad apples, the cause was righteous.

Looking back, the subtext of her relationship with her faith at the time was obvious. She was at a point where she was starting to waver, which made her dig in and defend it even harder. Trying to convince herself as much as anyone else.

“I love that Terry was so unswayed by fear and the opinions of those around him,” Claire said. “He knew what was right and he pursued a way to make the world better.”

“And Bruce Wayne had learned that focusing his efforts was better than attacking everything that moved.” Apparently sometime in the last few decades, Judith had started to see this my way.

Claire shrugged. “Or you could say Bruce decided his shortcomings weren’t worth overcoming.”

Ouch. Wrong thing to say. I could interject, but this was fascinating to watch.

“I absolutely could not say that. It’s not true.” The flash in Judith’s eyes was at the challenge. She was excited, rather than frustrated. “If a feature proves to be more expensive to build than the ROI, there’s no reason to pursue it. That’s not a shortcoming, that’s a strategic decision.”

She was sexy when she talked about things she was passionate about.

The way Claire wrinkled her nose, she disagreed. “You sound like Dale.You play the game or the game plays you.”

“Yeah, no.” I couldn’t help but interject. “I guarantee, she’s nothing like Dale.”

Judith’s smile was strained for the first time since I arrived. “If that’s how he feels aboutthe game, he’s playing the wrong one.”

“Dale’s super smart. He knows what he’s doing.” Defensiveness bled into Claire’s voice.

I’d heard that before, but under different circumstances. Judith wouldn’t use those exact words, but she had similar defenses about her father knowing what he was doing. Being smart and experienced. Usually right after her parents fought, and she never sounded like she believed it any more than Claire did now.

Thatwas definitely a bit of the past I didn’t need to dwell in. It was done and gone, like my memories of it needed to be.

10

judith

Iwanted this conversation to go well. Talking to Claire wasn’t bad as long as we stayed away from topics like family and work. But if I heardDale says…one more time, the mental calming breaths were going to stop working.

“Dale says—”

“What about what you say?” I was done with this.

Claire furrowed her brow. “What?”

She’d heard me. I had no doubt. “If I wanted Dale’s opinion, I’d be talking to Dale. What about what you think?” I asked.

The quick shake of Claire’s head was frustrating. “I think he’s right, of course.”

“Because heisright, or because he’s your husband?” I should be tucking boss-me away, and embracing docile, wife-to-be me. Or, fuck that, because no.

Her hesitation told me everything I needed to know. “Because he’s right,” she said.

Uh-huh.

“You agree with a lot of things Dom says, right?” Claire asked.

I bristled hearing the nickname come from her mouth, but I hid the reaction. “Dominic. Only Dom for his spouse to be.” Apparently I’d been helping Dom and Xander play the pronoun game for so long that I defaulted to it. “And yes, I do. I wouldn’t be engaged to him if we didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. But I don’t agree with all of it.”

For instance, fake engagements to trick real people into thinking we were a perfect little church going family.

“I don’t agree with everything Dale does, either.” Now Claire sounded defensive.

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