Chapter 9
Tristan had heard through the grapevine that Tatiana was back with Randy Durbin and it really bothered him. His thoughts threatened to swallow him alive. Why was she seeing that loser? Couldn’t she see through him? Why wasn’t she with someone better? Why isn’t she with me? he asked himself but then dispelled the thought and concentrated on his paperwork. Segovia Industries couldn’t run itself.
That night, he had a first date with Irma Guerrero, a pleasant woman he met at the grocery store. She was only too happy to help him pick ripe tomatoes.
She’ll be a breath of fresh air in my stale life, he told himself.
Randy came to Tatiana’s home regularly and brought her all the pizza she could ever want. Tatiana wished for flowers though. He was as happy as a clam in front of her TV. When she suggested a picnic in Ascarate Park, he vetoed it.
“Let's stay here,” he said.
“All we do is stay here. There's more to life than that,” she stated. “Why can’t we go out once in a while?”
“We've got everything we need here, Baby. In fact, we ought to move in together.”
“Move in together?” Tatiana blurted, surprised at his suggestion.
“I can have my stuff here by the end of the week.”
You've got to be dreaming.
“No, it's too soon,” she declared. She was still refusing to let him in her bed. Tristan is right, Tatiana thought. Something is off about Randy.
“But we belong together.”
“You're not moving in, Randy.”
“Tatiana, I love you.”
“I'm not ready for an arrangement like that,” Tatiana stated.
“Did you hear what I said? I love you.”
“I heard you. I'm still catching my breath on the other thing you said.”
“I. Love. You.”
“Thank you,” Tatiana muttered.
“Is that all you're going to say.”
“Yes.”
“Do you at least care for me?”
“Of course I do.”
“I think of you all day.”
“I just wish we did more together.”
“We will as soon as I get my life straightened out. I don't want to work in a pizzeria forever.”
“Okay.”
“The only way I relieve the enormous stress I'm under is being with you. You need me too.”
He was getting much too serious. “Randy—”
“Tatiana, why won’t you make love to me?”
“I’ve told you, I’m not ready for that.”
Randy let out a frustrated breath. “But it would be so awesome between us. Randy Jr. sure wants to meet you. You need him, Tatiana. He could take all your problems away.”
Tatiana rolled her eyes. She hated when men revered their poles, as if that trouble making thing deserved its own zip code or altar. “Why do men think that all the world's problems can be solved with sex?”
“Because they can.”
Please Louise! Por favor!
“Passion with me would be so great,” he continued. “I promise I’ll be the best lover you’ve ever had. Let’s make love.”
“I already said no,” grumbled Tatiana.
“But—”
“No! Stop insisting. I mean no when I say it,” Tatiana growled.
He left soon after the discussion. Women need as much sex as men do, he reasoned. She'll realize how much she needs me. However, far from being upset or amiss of him, Tatiana was relieved. She didn't know exactly why, but she liked the idea of an evening to herself.
As soon as Tatiana saw Jack entering Magda's office, she knew there was trouble. He was still trying to act like the person in charge, but now he did it with more subtly. Bill wasn't in the office, so it was a prime time for Jack to take over.
“Hello, Magda,” Jack said.
Magda crossed her arms in front of her. “Jack.”
“I'm sorry about your mother passing away.”
“Thank you.”
“I know you must be going through a trying time,” Jack said.
“I am.”
“Suzanne wanted me to speak to you.”
“About what? I've kept up with my work,” Magda stated defensively.
“Yes, but it's your attitude.”
“My attitude?”
“You can't wallow in self-pity, Magda.”
“My mother just died. I'm not going to skip around the office with a big smile and singing happy songs.”
“This is an advertising agency, and we have to deal with clients. We can't have your sad face around them. It's not their fault your mother died.”
“I do graphics. I'm hardly around them.”
“Still, we can't have you bringing down the morale in the office. Our optimism has to be high for our clients.”
“I wasn't aware I was bringing anybody down,” Magda growled.
“Yes, you are. I've got to say that your lack of toughness surprises me with you being a lesbian.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You've got more man in you than the average woman has.”
“You're a complete idiot,” she retorted.
“What did you just call me?”
“A complete idiot.”
“If I were you I'd apologize for that comment,” Jack snapped.
“Go to hell.”
“You're fired!”
Magda’s face twisted in rage. “I quit! This place is a nightmare! My personal life shouldn’t have anything do with my work here. I don't appreciate Augusta gossiping about my business, and I don't appreciate you trying to tell me how to grieve for my mother.”
As soon as Tatiana heard yelling coming from Magda's office and Jack striding out, she knew something very serious was happening. She stepped into Magda’s office to find her packing.
“Magda, is everything okay?”
“He's a real asshole.”
“Jack has got a few steps to go to even make it to asshole,” asserted Tatiana.
Magda explained what occurred to a bewildered and shocked me.
“You're not really leaving, are you?” Tatiana asked her, concerned.
“I can't wait to get out of this place.”
“But you're the best graphic artist we've got,” Tatiana stated.
“Why would I stay? We've got an alcoholic director who’s never here, a wannabe director who is as stupid and power hungry as they come, a hateful head administrative assistant, and an owner who closes her eyes to everything and is easily swayed by the aggressive, incompetent jerks in this office. These are the people who run this agency. We keep it afloat so that they make the money. We're the idiots who are underpaid and have to put up with their shit.”
“I know,” Tatiana murmured quietly.
“Did you know that Augusta makes twice what Judith does when Judith does most of the work and—” Magda stopped herself.
“And what?” Tatiana asked.
“I shouldn't tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“The heck with it. You need to know. There's a rumor in the office that Jack makes much more than you and Nydia.”
“What?”
“My guess is that it's probably true. Suzanne is stupid enough to pay that loser more than she pays you.”
Bile rose to Tatiana's throat. “What is she thinking?”
“I'm not going to be their patsy anymore,” Magda retorted. “I've got more brains than to stay here and be unappreciated!”
Magda grabbed her packed box and rushed out of the agency, saying a quick good-bye and good luck to Tatiana. Tatiana marched straight to Suzanne's office. Jack and Augusta were already sitting in front of her desk.
“I need to speak to you,” Tatiana stated. “Alone.”
“Can't you see we're having a meeting,” Jack growled.
“We'll call you when we're done,” sniffed Augusta, dismissing Tatiana.
Y
ou play your cards, you crapholes. I'll play mine.
“Come to think of it, I don't need to speak to you, Suzanne. I'm sure Bill's got his cell phone,” Tatiana announced, nonchalantly stepping away.
“Wait!” Suzanne exclaimed. “We're done. Come in and sit down.”
Checkmate.
Jack and Augusta tried to stare her down as they left, but she gave their poison back to them. Tatiana's evil eye was more perfected than theirs, having grown up in a household with people who had nothing better to do than hate each other vigorously.
“I imagine you're here to speak to me about Magda,” Suzanne murmured.
“News sure travels fast around here,” Tatiana stated.
“Of course I know about that, Tatiana. I'm the owner.”
“Then maybe you can tell me what Jack, just an advertising executive like me, was doing in Magda's office telling her how to comport herself. Who runs this office?”
“Bill isn't always here. Jack was only trying to help.”
“Help what? Where does Jack get off telling a person who just lost her mother that she needs to change her attitude?”
“I know he's a bit gruff. I'm going to have a talk with him,” Suzanne explained.
“Meanwhile, we lost the best graphic artist we've got.”
“You don't have to worry about that. We'll get another one.”
“Aren't you going to call her to apologize?”
Suzanne shifted in her chair. “I don't think that's a good idea. She doesn't fit here.”
“Because she's gay?” Tatiana questioned bluntly.
“No, of course not,” Suzanne said nervously.
“Then what do you mean?” Tatiana challenged.
“A time to convalesce about her mother will probably do her some good,” Suzanne asserted. “Jack probably did her a favor.”
“Can you tell me how is it that Jack with all his arrogance has practically no advertising experience, no degree, no visible talent and has only been here a few months, but he's allowed, maybe even encouraged, to try to run the rest of us?”
“Jack is more talented than you think. He—”
“Does he make more money than Nydia and me?” Tatiana decided to get right to the point.
Suzanne's mouth flew open. She shifted in her chair. “I . . . I . . .-”
“Does he?”
“No,” she said with a shaky voice.
I don't believe you.
“It would be unforgivable if he did,” Tatiana said.
Suzanne's eyes shifted away from hers. “He doesn't,” she murmured in a tiny voice.
“Why do you give him so much authority, Suzanne? Is it because he's a man that you think he should be put in charge?”
“Where did that come from?”
“How can you sic us with that dog?” Tatiana asked with frustrated exasperation. “Who is running this show? Him or Bill?”
“Bill is the Agency Director. I didn't realize Jack irritated you so much. I'll have a talk with him.”
“Keep that dog away from me, Suzanne.”
“I don't know why everybody is having such a problem with him.”
“What do you mean you don't know? He's a power tripper.”
“I don't agree, but if it makes you feel better, I'll ask Jack to keep away from you.”
“He needs to take care of his own stuff and not poke into other people’s business,” Tatiana snapped.
If you want more balls around here then let’s see your ovaries out from where you've hidden them.