Margo held onto the edge of the table as if she thought it
might levitate. “Screw it, Nadia. One of the men can help.
Why should Ava and I get stuck with so-called women’s
work? Why should you, for that matter? Stand up for yourself for once.”
Nadia looked shocked. “It’s no trouble. Really, Margo…”
“I can wash dishes,” Russell offered with a sheepish expression. “I do it whenever I run out of plates.”
Margo snapped her fingers at Russell. “Then do it here.
Get going.” Russell scurried away, while Nadia started to
follow him. Margo, however, put out a restraining arm. “No,
you don’t. Let one of these bozos go with Russell.” Her
withering glance took in Killegrew, Max, and Gene.
“Why not?” Gene said with a shrug. “I’m single, like Russell. I have to fend for myself sometimes.”
Margo dropped her arm but kept her attention on Nadia.
“What are you going to do when Frank retires? You’re not
yet fifty, you’re too young to retire. Are you going to hang
on with OTIOSE and be a slave for the next CEO?”
Nadia lifted her pointed chin. “Frank’s not going to retire.
How can he, after all this?”
“Isn’t that up to the board of directors?” Max’s expression
was puzzled as he regarded his chief.
Killegrew held his head. “Of course it is. I’ll be sixty-five
in June, which is the mandatory retirement age. Of course,”
he continued in a thoughtful voice, “the board could change
the by-laws.”
“Maybe they will.” Ava’s tone was bland. “Why not,
Frank?”
“Well…” Killegrew scowled at Ava, then brushed toast
crumbs from his plaid shirt. “If WaCom really plans to attempt a merger with us, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep
the same skipper at the helm of the S.S. OTIOSE.”
Max was now looking more worried than puzzled. “Are
you saying you won’t fight the merger, Frank? Hell, you
won’t officially retire until June. This deal’s supposed to
come down next week.”
“I haven’t charted our course yet,” Killegrew replied. “How
can I, without a first mate? Ward’s…gone.”
“Name someone to fill his spot,” Margo said, finally sitting
down again. “The board can ratify the appointment later.
You can exercise emergency powers. If,” she added dryly,
“there ever was an emergency, this weekend is it.”
Judith thought that was an understatement. Still standing
by the door, she peeked into the kitchen. Somewhat to her
surprise, Russell and Gene were hard at work. The vice
president—research and development was scrubbing the
stove; the company’s legal counsel was sweeping the floor.
Judith quietly closed the door.
“We should discuss this,” Killegrew said. “Formally, I
mean. Nadia, bring my coffee into the game room. We’ll
take a meeting there. Get Gene and Russell out of the kitchen.”
