The Promotion

by Nan Dale

  “Our business has been growing quite dramatically. As a partner and a board member, I am actively raising capital for our next project.”

  “Well, that’s good,” said John. “How much are you looking to raise?”

  The waitress returned with their coffee and then quickly took their orders.

  “We are looking to build an organic-food supermarket in Newark and some upscale condominiums. Right now, we need about fifty million,” said Aaron.

  “That’s nothing to sniff at. Why don’t you just take the company public, then?” said John. “Sell some shares.” John studied his friend’s face carefully.

  “I think we would prefer to keep the company in the hands of a small subset of folks that we know.”

  “I see,” responded John. “How much do you personally have to raise?”

  “Ten million,” responded Aaron.

  “Hmm, that’s not chump change,” John grunted. “What is your capital-raising plan, then?”

  Aaron hesitated. “I was hoping that I could count on you to be an initial investor actually.”

  There was an awkward silence. Act interested, John thought. Aaron is an old friend. This isn’t one of your regular buyout businesses. Act human. “So, we do have some real estate investments in our portfolio, although we often own the entire building and are not just passive investors. Tell me a bit more about what your management team and you are planning to do?” Aaron looked relieved and started to talk at length uninterrupted. John looked around the café at the crowd. The place was very popular. There were people lined up outside, mostly families. He watched a couple get seated at a booth behind him, recognizing the girl from high school. It was buzzy but not too loud and the food seemed to be served quickly.

  About five minutes later, the waitress, who had green dyed hair, a nose ring, and a tattoo on her left wrist, arrived with their order. John practically dove into his buttermilk pancakes with an extra side of turkey bacon and fried tomatoes. Aaron had a western omelet, with grilled tomatoes and French fries.

  “This is delicious,” said John, looking up after several mouthfuls and taking the opportunity to try and change the topic. “Have you been playing basketball at Chelsea Piers lately?”

  “Newp,” responded Aaron. “Been busy with work. How’s it all going for you?”

  “Well, as you know, I am on track to make partner this year. “

  “That’s terrific, John. I know being a partner at an investment firm has been a lifelong dream of yours.”

  “Yes. It has. All that hard work seems to be finally paying off. That said, I am going to have to put my own money into the company. I know you were looking for a personal investment into your real estate project, but sadly, I don’t think that you can count on me this year. That’s not to say that I won’t be in the future. However, I would like to help you out. I can probably introduce you to some of our real estate investors, if that works.”

  Aaron seemed visibly disappointed. He clearly had expected John to be a sure investor. They went way back. John also detected something else in Aaron, though, maybe envy, when he’d mentioned partnership. Aaron was competitive, but he had never been vindictive, at least not toward him. Even though they had very different careers, Aaron had always been one step ahead of him, always getting promoted well before him, and he had made partner at his firm a year ago. He had the most attractive dates after college and would go on the best vacations. Still, they had held an almost fraternal relationship and would celebrate their victories. But lately as they approached their fortieth birthdays, Aaron had become quite bitter. His first marriage had ended in a divorce and he had had a series of unpromising relationships after that. He was generally unhappy with his personal life, and most of his weekends were spent either working or partying with single folks that were much younger than him. Since his divorce, Aaron had fallen apart and going out after work had become a daily sport. John had sensed the strain in Aaron’s life and his search for something more meaningful. As Aaron picked up his espresso, John noticed that his hands were shaking a little, his face looked gray, and he was unshaven. The guy hasn’t slept in weeks.

  The conversation steered away from work for a few minutes and then in an unanticipated turn of events, Aaron casually said, “So guess who I ran into a few weeks ago.”

  John looked up. “Ya?”

  “Jessica.” As Aaron said this, John could feel Aaron watching his face for a reaction.

  “Jessica?” John played dumb.

  “Jessica,” confirmed Aaron with a knowing look.

  “Oh … Jessica.” John pretended to be suddenly enlightened. “How is she? I don’t think we have been in touch for over twenty years.”

  “She’s doing great. She’s a mom, you know?”

  “Oh yeah?” John feigned interest.

  “She has a twenty-one-year-old daughter,” Aaron continued.

  John almost spat out his fried tomatoes. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach. A daughter? Was it really possible? Aaron continued talking, but he couldn’t process or follow anything that he was saying. This was worse than not making partnership. His marriage, his reputation in his community with his friends and his parents—what would they think? John felt giddy and put his fork down.

  “I guess she was pregnant in high school. Who would have known?” John was quiet. Aaron continued. “She kept that a secret for a while. Man, I know this news is not welcome and it isn’t an ideal situation, but I just can’t help saying, CHECK.”

  Aaron paused for effect, allowing the full degree of this revelation to take effect and clearly savoring every moment of his reaction. One of their favorite pastimes together was chess, and Aaron loved saying “CHECK” whenever he felt that John was cornered.

  After a pause, Aaron switched gears and skillfully turned the conversation away from Jessica. “How is Ruth doing? You guys are coming on ten years, right? Ruth and Jessica, they are both so different. I wonder how they would get along.”

  John remained quiet and stony faced. Nicely done, John thought. Did Aaron just blackmail him by bringing up Jessica’s child, his marriage, and money for his firm all in one conversation? In just thirty-six hours, his picture-perfect life had become a scene out of Breaking Bad. Unwelcome surprise after unwelcome surprise.

  Chapter 9

  John was in a stupor as he drove home from lunch. Jessica had been his first girlfriend. They had met the first year of high school and began dating shortly afterward. Initially friends and both sharing an avid interest in history, they warmed to each other. The two quickly became inseparable after ninth grade and would eat lunch together and often spend time after school studying or going to the movies. They had an uncanny connection that no one could deny, completing each other’s sentences and being perfectly at ease in each other’s silence.

  Playing for the high school lacrosse team got quite demanding. By senior year, John became less and less available after school, which put some pressure on their relationship. Jessica switched gears, joined the leadership of the high school newspaper, and published an article that celebrated the successful women over the last century. It so happened that her article was published a week before International Women’s Day. It made headlines across the local newspapers, and eventually caught the eye of a New York Times editor who happened to live in Montclair. In one week, Jessica went from a relatively hidden, talented creative to a local celebrity. Jessica was even invited to speak on several local radio and TV shows. John watched as Jessica, enamored with her newfound fame, transformed from a best friend and study partner, the woman he had shared his dreams with, whom he had intended to share the rest of his life with, to a local celebrity, an attractive beauty that would rather hang out with the popular crowd.

  Jessica had bombed her senior year, deciding that she really didn’t need to go to college to get into media. Meanwhile, John was on a different path, being recruited by top colleges for lacrosse and keeping straight A’s. It was a painful breakup. In hind
sight, it should have happened six months earlier. The relationship came to an end on prom night, when Jessica chose to spend the last portion of the evening at a party hosted by one of the high school football team players.

  That summer before college, heartbroken, John took off and spent eight weeks volunteering at an orphanage in Uganda. When he got back, it was August. He left for college two weeks later, never running into Jess. He had never looked back since.

  But today, after his conversation with Aaron, he was suddenly gripped with the possibility that Jess’s twenty-one-year-old daughter could be his. The timing would make sense. And if that was the case, he would have a lot of explaining to do. He’d have to explain this to his parents, his children, his firm, and, most of all, Ruth. It would break her heart.

  Chapter 10

  The house was quiet when he got back from brunch. John sat down in the study, stunned by the brunch. He absentmindedly started going through his desk, not sure what he was looking for. He logged into the computer and thought of Jessica. Wow, that was a real blast from the past.

  I wonder what she looks like now. He did a Google search for Jess. Nothing came up. Maybe she’d gotten married and changed her name? Hmmm, where else would I get some information on her? He could call her parents, but then that would be very awkward; he hadn’t spoken to them in years. What about his sister? She could be the key. His sister had been friendly with Jess’s sister and would likely be looped in enough to get her phone number. He decided to send her a text asking for Jess’s contact information. A text would preempt any questions that would come up from his nosy sister.

  As he stared at the screen, he noticed an Excel spreadsheet. Ruth must have been doing their monthly accounts. He decided to give the sheet a quick glance.

  Wait a minute, this was her personal account. I shouldn’t look—this is private, he reasoned. But then … he noticed frequent monthly outflows going to an unknown account. He downloaded the information to Excel and then expanded the rows. It was Patrick, Vanessa’s boyfriend for the last six months. She had been paying Patrick biweekly for the last three months. They were relatively small outflows, but the last two payments had been quite large. Was Patrick working for Ruth or was this bribery? The two did seem quite close and—

  “Hi, Dad!” His older son wrapped him up in a hug.

  His second son came bulldozing into the office. “We heard that you were kidnapped by a bear!”

  “Really?” John responded with amusement. “How are my two favorite people? I missed you.” He squeezed them both in one bear hug. “How was le français?” he continued, really exaggerating his accent. “Are we ready for a family trip to Montreal yet?”

  Ruth popped her head in the door. “Hi, darling. I am popping out for a yoga class. Will you be OK with the kids for a couple of hours?”

  John had thought about feigning a headache, or nausea, but he caught himself. Ruth’s tone didn’t sound like she was really asking. She was just telling him. Plus, he had been relatively absent the last four days. “Sure, what time do you think you will be home? Do I need to get us some dinner?”

  “That would be nice, but no need,” Ruth responded with a quick peck on his cheek. “After yoga, I have to go to the supermarket. I am making a German meal for Vanessa’s birthday. Patrick will also be joining us.” She winked.

  “Patrick,” he said, trying to sound nonchalant. “Yes, of course. The boyfriend.”

  Ruth nodded, then hurried out with her yoga bag. A minute later, she came back in, deleted the browsing history, closed a few windows, and closed the Excel spreadsheet. “Stop being so nosy, darling,” she said while leaning over and giving him a peck before heading out. She was normally an open book. What on earth was she planning with Patrick? Maybe he was the reason for her cheery mood of late, and emphasis on going to the gym and updating her wardrobe.

  As he sat there, blindly seething, his sister texted him with Jessica’s phone number. “You better NOT be planning anything fishy. And remember, you didn’t get this number from me.”

  Holding his breath, John made the call.

  The phone rang three times before she picked up, with that same breathy voice: “Hello?”

  “Jess, it’s me.”

  In a flash, time went backward, and they were in high school again.

  John cleared his throat. “I am sorry to call you out of the blue, but I have a dilemma, and was wondering whether you would be free for a coffee tomorrow morning?”

  There was an awkward silence, before Jessica said slowly, “Ummm. John, I am not sure that would be a good idea.”

  “Jess, you know me. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  There was another pause. “OK, John. Tomorrow morning at eight a.m. I’ll see you at the Nutley Diner.”

  As John put down the phone, he felt a flush of excitement and worry at once. He was hit with mixed emotions as he recalled the warm times that they’d had together alongside the stark pain of a breakup that he’d battled so hard to forget. He could not believe that he was meeting her again.

  Chapter 11

  John awoke early on Sunday morning, and announced to a half-asleep Ruth that he was going out for a quick bike ride and would grab a coffee afterward. He kissed Ruth on her forehead.

  “Don’t be tardy, John. Remember, it’s Vanessa’s birthday today and I want to make it special. Also, Patrick is coming,” Ruth said. John stiffened at the name Patrick, and then headed out.

  When he arrived at the diner in Nutley, he sat down at a booth next to a window. He was feeling both excited and nervous, and slightly ill. He and Jessica hadn’t spoken in twenty years.

  A few minutes later, he noticed Jessica coming in, and he instinctively stood up and waved to her. Jessica seemed to fill every room that she walked in with sunshine. As she walked toward his table, he felt the air change with her positive energy. She was still beautiful. She had aged a bit, but her eyes held that mischievous look. He was suddenly back in high school.

  “John! It is so nice to see you. It’s been ages,” Jessica cooed, leaning over to give him a hug and a quick peck on the cheek. He had flashbacks to the times when he would wait for her after class and would get the same reception. He suddenly thought of Ruth and kicked himself.

  “How have you been? You look stunning!” he said.

  “Thank you! I try! It is sort of a branding and credibility requirement for my business.” She laughed.

  “Really?” John said.

  “Yes! I run an energy-healing practice and salt room in West Orange. You’ll have to come in for a cleanse,” she added. “So how can I do you?” She was still as flirty and fun as ever.

  John’s face grew warm as he fought not to become entangled in her web. “I’ll get right to the point. I ran into Aaron recently and I was both surprised and happy to learn that you have a daughter.”

  “Yes,” Jessica said proudly. “Lauren just graduated from UCLA and she is looking to become an actress. I am really proud of her. She is absolutely my best friend.” Jess took out her phone and showed him a photo of the two of them. Her daughter looked a lot like Jess.

  “Wow, Jess, that’s really terrific,” John said. “Forgive me for being so blunt, but what I would like to know … I mean, what I am asking is …”

  “Are you the father?” Jess finished off for him. “I am not sure, John. Honestly, I am not. I am not proud of how we ended, but clearly it was for the best. You seem to be doing well and are happily married. Does it matter at this point?”

  “Well, the thing is, Jess, remember how my dream was always to become a partner at an investment firm? That dream is actually happening. The only thing is that the partners have asked to run an extensive background test on me. I am an open book, but it feels like someone is trying to throw me under the bus.”

  A lightbulb went off in Jessica’s eyes. “Is that why you asked me here? Did your firm look into our past and then learn that I had a daughter?”

  “I’m …”
John paused. “I’m not really sure. Aaron brought it up at breakfast, which made me think that if he knows, then my firm may have already been putting two and two together and coming up with three.”

  “Do you think that Aaron is the one behind the investigation?” asked Jess. “I mean, I know he is one of your good friends and all, but you know Aaron can’t help himself but be a prankster. Especially when the stakes are high.”

  John thought about what Jess was saying.

  “And you remember how he sabotaged Frank for class president junior year, all because Frank had asked his ex-girlfriend out?” Jess continued.

  Yes, the thought had occurred to John, but he had tried to dismiss it. He couldn’t bear the thought that Aaron, his dear friend, would actually sabotage him. Yet, somehow it all seemed to make sense when you thought about it. The blacking out at the party and then Jess suddenly coming up at brunch. How was Aaron connected to the partners at Silicon Alley?

  “Aaron is an interesting character, I agree,” John said slowly, “but he has generally always had my back. And … don’t forget, you two were never really the best of friends. How did you run into each other?”

  “Funny you ask. Aaron reached out. Apparently, he heard that I was in the neighborhood and he wanted to check out my new wellness clinic as a potential investor,” said Jessica.

  That was interesting. Very interesting. Especially since he had just asked him to inject his own money into the real estate firm. Perhaps Aaron was behind all this sudden drama surrounding his promotion. Still, that didn’t change the fact that he needed to know whether Jess and he shared a child. It wouldn’t preempt his promotion, but it would tarnish his clean image from the get-go. Not to mention the knock-on effect to his family life and marriage.

  “Jess, thank you so much for agreeing to meet me at such short notice. It doesn’t change the fact that if your daughter is mine, I would still need to know. I couldn’t live with myself knowing that I had a child out there that I was neglecting. It doesn’t sit right.”