Page 48 of When the Walls Come Down
“You hadn’t. I gave Maggie their contact info and she called down herself.”
For twenty minutes, Shane and I passed along the new ideas and concepts we’d come up with and it felt like the meeting kept getting better and better.
There was a buzz in the air like it might just work. Maybe Shane was right. Maybe we’d make a great team and even Casey wouldn’t be able to deny it.
“I’m thrilled with this, guys. Really. I didn’t think you’d fall into step so quickly. Shane, I’m shocked that you’ve come around and I’m pumped that you’re on board and working with Maggie. It’s going to make this transition so much smoother.”
Shane and I shared a look. This was it. The moment we went out on a limb and pitched him the real deal we were in there for.
“Thanks,” Shane said. “I enjoy working with Maggie. She’s going to do great things here. And so that’s why we have a second topic to discuss with you.”
It was all or nothing.
“We’ve been talking, and we want to propose a co-management arrangement. Maggie heading up the new more innovative creative side of things, and me staying on to continue our most successful campaigns and grow the relationships we’ve built with our advertising partners.”
I spoke up, not wanting to leave the conversation so one-sided. “Additionally, I bring a lot to the table as far as new, fresh ideas, but together with Shane’s experience, Bay knowledge, and trust with the team already, together we could be unstoppable.” It took everything I had not to bounce my leg under the table.
Shane had known Casey for years, but I couldn’t read him. He was wearing a relaxed grin, and one of his eyebrows arched, but I had no clue what he was about to say.
Finally, after a few seconds—that seemed to stretch on forever—he replied. “Obviously, you’ve both given this a lot of thought. And I can’t deny that everything you’ve said is true.”
In unison, Shane and I exhaled.
“But,” Casey added. But. One miserable, hope-killing word. “We can’t keep both of you on salary. It’s just not in the budget right now for two managers.”
Before I could even think of an argument, Shane chimed in. “I’ll take a pay cut.”
Casey coughed and glared at his brother-in-law like he’d grown a new head. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I’ll take a pay cut,” Shane repeated.
I couldn’t believe my ears. Was he really willing to lose money just to keep me? Or, better yet, just to keep his job here? Those were some stakes I hadn’t been expecting Shane to throw on the line. My chest warmed, finally realizing just how badly he wanted this for both of us. He was willing to put his money where his mouth was. Literally.
Casey saw right through it. “What’s going on, Shane? Cut the bullshit.”
Shane’s chest swelled as he sucked in a lungful of air, and all I could do was watch and listen while he laid it all on the line.
“Remember the date I had last Saturday?”
Casey pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes.”
Knowing we were all in at this point, I raised my hand and gave a little wave. “I was the date.”
Casey pushed himself away from the table and stood. “Are you fucking with me?”
In unison again, we answered, “No.”
“Does anyone else in the office know?” he asked as he began to pace. “You know what this might look like to everyone else.”
“Nobody knows,” Shane confirmed.
“Just you,” I added. “Trust me. I don’t want anyone here thinking I didn’t get this job on my own merits, either.” The truth was I hadn’t had any help landing this position from anyone. That was something I was inherently proud of. I hadn’t needed strings pulled; my credentials had spoken for themselves.
“So you and I can work out a lower salary for me, and then we can both stay.” The hope in Shane’s voice was still strong.
I wanted so badly to feel like it was going to make a difference, but my gut told me otherwise as I watched Casey stare out the window.
Beneath the table, Shane gave my leg a quick squeeze while his brother-in-law wasn’t watching and then said, “Please, Casey. Give it a try.”
When our boss turned around, both hands in his curly hair, he said, “I can’t. My hands are tied. I’d love to make this work out for you guys, but even with cutting your pay, there’s insurance for two. Retirement matches for two. The amount of money we’ve already doled out for Maggie’s relocation. It doesn’t work.”
He picked his phone up, slipped it into his pocket, and stood tall at the end of the table. “But honestly, up until this week, I didn’t realize just how bad you wanted to be here. So this is what I’m willing to do. Maggie, as a new hire, was always contingent that she worked out with the team and was a good fit. Seeing as the circumstances are more delicate now, we can’t really expect her to pay that back if this doesn’t work out. I hate putting you two in this position, but it’s up to you to duke it out. I have to do what’s best for the company here. If Maggie proves her worth and kicks ass the way we expected her to, she stays. Shane, if you step up your game and prove that the best thing for Bay is you staying, you can keep your job, but you’ll cover the cost of what we paid to relocate her.”
