A special thanks to Chunks for review and editing.
PROLOGUE
With backgrounds as corporate leaders, they approached their growing friendship and affection cautiously lest either expose too much and be seen as weak. Despite the wariness, their relationship was approaching a level of deep unconditional trust. He knew about her challenges of being among the top in every class while being a female; how her parents were proud of her academic achievements but also expected a traditional stay-at-home daughter who would provide numerous grandchildren; the attempts to shame her choice of a career at family gatherings; and how her aloofness was a cover to keep emotional pain at bay. She knew his father felt showing love or praise was a sign of weakness; how his Mom hated conflict so always supported her husband; and his strong competitive streak was a way to show dominance and control. Now they shared divorce stories.
"And that's my story," sighed Henry Worden. Her head lay on his chest as they faced the late summer sunset. Henry gently ran his right hand up and down her arm.
"That is some story. But I don't understand how she could accuse you of being uncaring. I mean, look at the way you have arranged these weekend getaways? This one, for example, complete with a secluded cabin overlooking the lake? The way you treat me? You are really a very kind and thoughtful gentleman."
He smiled. "Thanks, but she was right. Back when my sights were on being the next CEO at Allied Glass nothing stood in the way. Not even my marriage. I promised her when I got the prize there would finally be time to be a good husband and she held on to that hope. We were kidding ourselves because once I made CEO, the workday went from 10 hours a day to 12 or 16 hours plus weekend meetings. So, she finally got tired of being less important than the company and filed for divorce. Can't say that I blame her. But enough about me. Tell me why Elaine Brewster is among the eligible."
"Well, I married out of college like you but where your ex was happy to be home my ex and I both wanted careers. And neither of us wanted kids. We landed underwriting jobs in Property Casualty insurance but different companies. He was in the home office and I was in a competing branch operation a few blocks away. Jim's sights were always set on moving up the corporate ladder as fast as possible. He was working in mainstream coverages while my little branch was charged with some specialty programs designed for specific type of businesses. He advanced and I focused on helping make the branch more profitable. Eventually I was promoted to branch manager. After receiving a 10 year pin and Branch Manager of the Year award, his company contacted me about an underwriting job in their home office. Jim and I talked at length about it and they assured us there was no problem with spouses in the company since we were in different departments. Jim was fine with it because he thought it was a dead-end job."
She fell silent after gripping Henry's hand.
"You OK?"
"Just still mad at him for what happened next," she said coldly.
He wrapped his hand over hers and said, "You discovered his affair with an administrative assistant?"
"Jim was now a Senior VP at Pacific All Risk overseeing company operations. In those 15 years I moved from underwriting to Regional Underwriting, to Large Accounts to eventually leading a department called 'New Products Development'. We analyzed trends and directions in the insurance markets and came up with new contracts, coverages, or endorsements for our eight different specialty branches. And no, there was no affair."
Henry yawned then apologized to Elaine. She smiled saying, "Talking about insurance does that to people."
"Anyway," she continued, "Jim was one of 5 Senior VPs. I reported to an Executive VP who was part of the next tier. Then, the company was bought out and the new owners wanted change. Their impression was that all the Senior VPs were busy preserving the status quo instead of focusing on growth and innovation. But they also wanted to promote from within so they brought in what they called a Temporary CEO. The VP I reported to decided it was a good time to retire and he suggested me as his replacement. The issue of spouses came up again but the new owners said it was not a problem for them if we were OK with it. Jim was a little uncertain but decided it was acceptable because he was still a level above me."
"Why didn't they just leave this guy in as CEO?"
"Turns out he had a great gift for getting companies turned around but was lousy at keeping them going because he got bored once the dust settled. So, he trotted all over the world getting new acquisitions running for the parent company, looking for people in the organization to promote, then moving on. He put together a group of people he thought would be innovative then gave us different tasks to do. It was sort of like that TV show 'The Apprentice' except no one got fired."
"Was Jim OK with you being part of this elite group?" asked Henry.
"Are you kidding? He was livid! He saw all his dreams slipping away and there was nothing he could do about it. We were The Chosen Ones," Elaine emphasized with air quotes, "and we could do no wrong. At least that's how Jim saw it. I was one of two Executive VPs in the group and the rest were VPs, Assistant VPs, and a few directors. What Jim didn't see was that we were under a microscope and this interim CEO was getting feedback from EVERYONE in the company about us. Plus, with all the special meetings our regular workload didn't decrease. I didn't think I had a chance so decided to have fun with the tasks and complete them to the best of my ability. Jim was busy sowing seeds of doubt on all of us including me. Somehow, I managed not to offend anyone, got the tasks done on time, and they were done well if I do say so myself. Sometimes I was leading a team and sometimes I was a contributing member. Our final assignment was to write a paper on where the company should be going in the next 5 years. Jim kept trying to tell me how to write the paper and what I should say but the ideas were all wrong. It was like he was intentionally feeding me bad information. That's when I began to wonder just how far he might go to sabotage my chances. I guess the CEO Temp liked me the best because one day he called us all in and announced that my name was being submitted for the CEO position."
"How did Jim take it?"
"Well, he was outwardly supportive, but inwardly he was mad as hell. Within four weeks he resigned and I was served divorce papers. Three weeks after that he left for a CEO job in Oregon."
"How did that go?"
"He lasted about five years but created one of the best golden parachutes I've ever seen. I was told he married some young thing after retiring but I don't know and, frankly, don't care. I was CEO for 15 years."
"I was CEO for 14 years," he said quietly.
"Was it worth it?", she asked.
"Overall, yes. We expanded the product line, increased revenue, added staff, and paid out record dividends. My personal life went to hell, but it is a rare person who can be an ideal CEO, Dad, and husband. I never found the balance. There was always one more business plan, another problem to solve, more critical meetings to attend, figuring out the next course of action. I loved it. Probably too much. Almost like an addiction. What about you? Was your career worth it? What would you do differently?"
"I like to think I helped make a difference for other career people who happen to be women. There are times not having children bothers me a little but not enough to change the past. The biggest change I would make is apply the axiom 'trust but verify' with others early in life."
"A penny for your thoughts?" he asked after a few moments.
"Just thinking here we are a couple of corporate leaders who have gone from being feared, respected, and sought out for advice to a couple of retired people with respectable incomes and little else to show for our efforts."
She shifted position on Henry's lap. All the talk of corporate intrigue and achievement had given him an erection that he was sure Elaine could feel.
"It's getting dark. What say we go inside and continue the conversation?" he asked.
"If you don't mind, I want to sit out here a little longer."
"OK by me. I'll fix us something to drink. Come in when you're ready."
Henry kissed her hand and lips then walked into the cabin. Elaine sat down on the deck lounge dividing her attention between watching him through the sliding glass door and the calming sunset. He fixed a couple of scotch and waters then came into the den, set the drinks on the coffee table, picked up a remote and turned on the CD player. When he caught her eye, Henry held up the drinks. Elaine could hear the soft romantic music and smiled at him but did not move. Every so often she would steal a glance at Henry. He finished his drink and made another one. After he fell asleep on the couch, Elaine quietly went to her bed.
The next morning they drove back to town in silence. It was late afternoon when Henry pulled into her driveway. They kissed at the door, but Henry was not invited in.
"I need to do some grocery shopping tomorrow. Would you like to come?" she asked.
"Sure. Pick you up at 10:00?"
"Can I pick you up, instead? After all, you drove us to that beautiful resort. I would like to make it up to you, please."
"The counteroffer is acceptable."
The next day was also quiet as they shopped. While pushing their carts toward her car Henry blurted, "What do you not like about me?"
"What do you mean?" she replied.
"I mean there must be something about me you don't like."
"Why do you think that?"
"DAMMIT Elaine, you know very well why I think that! We've been dating for 4 months now, right?"
Elaine pushed her medium cut gray hair behind her right ear. It was the first time she had seen Henry acting like a pouting little boy.
"Correct," she replied noncommittally.
