Ben
The city is alive as people pour out of their offices and spill into cabs or move in tiny herds down the sidewalk. It’s moments like this I’m grateful for the flexibility my career affords me. I can think, design, create, almost anywhere. Men in their too tight neckties and women in their uncomfortable shoes walk by looking defeated. That’s not for me.
But what’s coming my way, that is all for me.
“Were you waiting long?” Kylie asks as she casually slips her arm in mine.
“No, but if I was you’re worth it.”
She smiles and brushes her lips over mine. “You give even a bad day a good ending.”
“Tough day?”
“No more than usual. Just some things I’m working through.”
“Want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet.”
“Hungry?”
“Starving,” she says with a smile as the prospect of food excites her. “I did take a couple small breaks thanks to your gift.”
“Really?”
“It was brilliant. The suggestions were good. Easy to do and there was some serious instant gratification of crossing stuff off that list. The idea is solid.”
“You’ll give me some feedback while I continue to develop it?”
“Sure. I was thinking you could add a feature that makes it wearable. Not a watch. Those are overdone. But if it can measure biometrics too, people will love that. Or have it build off what a phone can already do. I know programs like that already exist, but with the right AI software, yours could stand out.”
Kylie gets it. It’s not about intelligence. I’ve been out with very smart women before. But Kylie speaks my language. We move in tandem through conversations, neither of us falling behind or jumping ahead. The ideas flow. We debate. We challenge. Kylie is the first women I’ve been with who makes me feel like more of myself. A Ben 2.0.
“That’s a great idea.” I’m just about to launch into a few other enhancements I’ve been kicking around when a loud voice interrupts.
“Kylie, I’m on my way to your office.” A woman in a gray power suit and a tight bun that looks like it’s yanking at her face cuts me off.
“Mom?”
“We need to talk. What’s this business about you arguing with the other tenants at the Tower?”
“What are you doing here, Mom?”
“Didn’t I just make that clear? I’m asking you a question.”
“You could have called.”
“Who is this?” She takes notice of me and dissects my appearance with the expression of someone who has just noticed a stray dog lingering around.
“I’m Ben,” I say.
“He’s my neighbor.”
Her mother’s nose wrinkles. “Kylie, you know better than to—”
“Can we do this later please?” Kylie asks, and I see a very new look of unease on her face. Something clearly reserved for exchanges with her mother.
“I don’t have time later.” Her mother purses her lips and eyes us again.
“Mother, I will call you tonight. We’re on our way to dinner.”
“Would you like to join us?” I can imagine few people I’d have less fun dining with, but if this is Kylie’s mother I’m curious.
“It’s six p.m.,” she says, looking at us like we’ve just broken out of prison. “You’re going back to the office after, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m done for the day.” Kylie fidgets with her purse and draws in a deep breath.
“Really?” She looks me over as if she’s discovered a tick on her child and tries to determine how to dislodge it. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
“We’re leaving.” Kylie stiffens her back and tips her chin up defiantly.
“You’re doing so well, Kylie. I thought you’d learned your lesson. Don’t throw all this away on—” Her eyes narrow as she looks at me.
“I’m not throwing anything away.” Kylie winces like someone has just driven their thumb into a fresh bruise on her body.
“Kylie, you’re making some serious enemies in the building you moved into. You shattered the glass ceiling. Great. Now be smart and move out or convince them you’re on their side.”
“I can handle them, Mom.”
“You shouldn’t have to, Kylie. You’re smarter than this. They should be eating out of your hand.”
Kylie looks briefly in my direction then back at her mother.
“We’ll talk about this later, Mom,” Kylie announces as she tugs me by the arm in the other direction.
“Oh, and you need to talk to Penny. She won’t return my calls again.”
“She’s probably just busy.”
“Too busy for me? I hoped she’d outgrow that phase. How about you? Dinner on Sunday?”
“I have plans with Ben.” Interesting that Kylie can’t simply say no to her mother.
“I’m sure you can change them.” She looks me over without a hint of approval. Her phone rings. She answers it and turns away to speak for a moment.
“Perhaps we could all get together soon.” I look at Kylie to gauge her reaction. Her expression is carefully blank. “Might be fun.”
Her mother shakes her head. “It will be uncomfortable and stilted at best. My two daughters could not be more different. Penny—”
“I know Penny well.” I really don’t want to hear whatever she has to say.
Kylie’s mother’s eyes narrow. “Then you understand my frustration.” To Kylie she says, “Call me tomorrow.” Then she turns on her very high heels and marches away.
Kylie gives me a bearlike grip on my arm. “So that’s your mother.” I use my free hand to scratch my head.
“That’s her.” She clears her throat and tries to shake it off. “She’s not as bad as she comes across.”
“I’m sure.”
“My father hurt her badly, whether he meant to or not. There’s a lot of fear and hurt under all that bravado.”
I nod, wondering if Kylie has made the connection back to how she presents herself. She’s certainly not her mother, but she protects herself in a similar fashion. “Who did you fight with at the Tower? I thought things had settled down.”
“They have, but I had some words this morning with a couple guys who saw me coming out of your place.”
“Who?” My hand balls into a fist at the idea that she had to walk past those creeps.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
“What would you do? Start throwing punches?”
“You don’t deserve to be heckled in your own building. I’ll talk to those guys. Just tell me who it was.”
“Talking doesn’t work.”
“How would your mother want you to handle it?”
“Play the game.”
“The game?”
“Yes. Play nice. Work my way in. Earn trust. Find a weakness and then exploit it. Take out the opponent before he can take me out.”
“Those are direct quotes from her?”
“She’s full of them. I’ve been hearing them since I was twelve.”
That explains a lot. “Is that your philosophy? How you deal with people? Play nice then take them out?” I have to ask. “Is that the game you’re playing with me?”
“No.” She stops and turns to me so I can see just how serious she is. “You’re different. This isn’t a game for me.”
“Me either.”
“Okay.”
“Are you still hungry or should we just do a couple of shots to take the edge off?”
“Can we do both?” She rests her head on my shoulder and links her arm with mine again as we walk toward the restaurant.
I enjoy being with her, but what she said echoes in my head. I wouldn’t say my life has been easy. My parents died when I was young. Being raised by my sisters wasn’t always a walk in the park. Everything I have I worked for. Nothing was handed to me, but I don’t see competitors in the industry as opponents.
The more time I spend with Kylie, the more she shares with me. Today is the first time I see a side of her I hope I’m wrong about.