“Did someone actually say that?”
No more work today.
“Yesterday. With confidence.”
Unfortunately, our own living arrangements weren’t nearly as entertaining.
“Silas, I need the bedroom for my meeting.”
“Again? I was going to grade papers there.”
“You have the kitchen.”
Silas earns less than I do.
“The kitchen table is covered in your files.”
“Then move them.”
“Where? The bathtub?”
I looked around our tiny apartment. “We need more space.”
“Or a bigger bathtub.”
I was going to grade papers there.
***
One Thursday evening, I was presenting quarterly results when an enormous grinding noise erupted behind me.
“Is everything okay?” my colleague Martin asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Are you operating construction equipment?”
Silas appeared in the doorway holding a blender. “Sorry, honey. Banana smoothie.”
We need more space.
“Silas, I’m presenting!”
“I know. That’s why I didn’t add ice.”
***
After my meeting, he placed the smoothie beside me.
“Honey, I think it’s time we bought a house before your coworkers learn my entire smoothie recipe.”
I took a sip. “Fine. But the house needs an office with a lock.”
I’m presenting!
“And a library.”
“And a large kitchen.”
“And a garage.”
“Silas, are we buying a house or opening a shopping mall?”
“Depends. Does the mall have a barbecue?”
The house needs an office with a lock.
We had been saving for years, and our budget could finally accommodate something spacious.
Then Silas found a listing that made our apartment look like a storage closet.
The two-story house had enormous windows, a spacious kitchen, and a backyard perfect for Silas’s barbecue.
“Look at this!” he said, turning his laptop toward me.
We had been saving for years.
“Is that an actual kitchen island?”
“Apparently.”
“One that isn’t also a laundry basket?”
“Luxury living, sweetheart.”
“Can you book a viewing? I’m swamped with work.”
Our apartment look like a storage closet.
“Sure. Saturday?”
“Perfect.”
Silas scheduled the appointment under his name and left his phone number as the contact.
***
That morning, my husband had a meeting with a student’s parents, so he wore his best navy suit.
I had finally earned a day off.
Luxury living.
I wore black leggings, a faded oversized hoodie, and sneakers that had survived approximately three presidential administrations.
Silas studied me over breakfast.
“You know, we look like I’m taking my unemployed college girlfriend to buy a mansion.”
“Perfect. Maybe they’ll offer us a student discount.”
He kissed my forehead. “The agent will probably think I’m some wealthy businessman.”
I had finally earned a day off.
“Let her. I just want to see that kitchen.”
***
Forty minutes later, we pulled into the driveway.
“That’s the house,” Silas said.
“And that’s our agent?”
A woman in a fitted cream blazer and dangerously sharp heels approached us.
I’m some wealthy businessman.
“Silas!” she exclaimed. “I’m Chloe, your real estate agent. So lovely to meet you!”
“Likewise. And this is my wife.”
Chloe looked me up and down, her smile fading as her eyes settled on my faded hoodie.
“Oh. Wonderful,” she said, barely hiding her disgust.
“Nice to meet you, Chloe.”
So lovely to meet you!
She gave my hand a reluctant shake before turning back to my husband.
“Come inside, Silas. You’re going to love this place!”
I followed them.
The entryway was gorgeous, with high ceilings and polished wooden floors.
“This would make a wonderful executive office,” Chloe told my husband. “Perfect for all those important business calls.”
Chloe looked me up and down.
“I’m actually a teacher,” Silas replied.
“Oh, really?” She giggled. “Well, you certainly look like a man who knows how to take charge!”
Silas leaned toward me.
“I told her I’m a teacher,” he whispered.
“Maybe she thinks you own the school.”
This would make a wonderful executive office.
He grinned. “You’re keeping score, aren’t you?”
“Obviously.”
We entered the kitchen.
I examined the cabinets. “Do you know when these were installed?”
Chloe looked directly at Silas. “The previous owners renovated everything recently.”
She thinks you own the school.
“Do you have the exact year?” I asked.
“I’m sure your husband can review those details later.”
Silas frowned. “Actually, my wife handles most of our paperwork.”
“How wonderful that you have such a helpful partner!”
I felt my smile tighten.
The previous owners renovated everything.
Silas leaned toward me. “You okay?”
“Wonderful. Apparently, I’ve been promoted to your assistant.”
“You’re the one who handles our budget.”
“Don’t tell Chloe. She might faint.”
He squeezed my hand. “Want me to say something?”
You have such a helpful partner!
“Not yet.”
I’d spent years proving I belonged in rooms where people assumed I didn’t.
I wasn’t about to start explaining myself to Chloe.
By the third room, I realized Chloe wasn’t showing us a house. She was auditioning to become my husband’s second wife.
“How old is the roof?” I asked.
I’ve been promoted to your assistant.
Chloe turned to Silas. “It’s in excellent condition!”
“And the property taxes?” I asked.
She handed him a brochure.
“Everything’s listed here.”
I glanced at the brochure. “Not the heating system.”
Chloe smiled at Silas. “By the way, that tie looks wonderful on you.”
Chloe wasn’t showing us a house.
Silas looked at me. “Did she just answer a question about heating with a compliment?”
“Apparently, your tie is very energy-efficient.”
Forty-five minutes into the tour, we reached the outdoor kitchen.
Chloe ran her fingers across the granite countertop.
“I know exactly what a man like you needs in a home,” she giggled, placing her hand on his bicep again.
That tie looks wonderful on you.
“A man like him?” I repeated.
Chloe glanced at me. “Yes. Somewhere to unwind while his wife handles all the boring stuff.”
Silas pulled away. “Actually, Chloe…”
I gently touched his hand.
“It’s okay, honey. I’ve got this.”
A man like him?
Then I smiled at her. “Since I’m the one handling all the boring stuff, would you mind answering one quick question?”
“Of course!”
“Just between us?”
She leaned closer.
I whispered something into her ear.
I’ve got this.
Her smile vanished.
She stepped backward so quickly that her heel nearly caught the patio rug.
“No,” Chloe whispered. “You can’t be serious.”
“Does it look like I’m joking?”
“But I didn’t realize…”
I whispered something into her ear.
“I noticed.”
Her face turned pale.
“Please, don’t let me interrupt your wonderful tour,” I added.
Silas stared at me. I squeezed his hand.
Whatever Chloe thought she knew about us had apparently changed in approximately four seconds.
You can’t be serious.
Chloe returned.
“About the roof,” she said. “You wanted the inspection report?”
“Yes.”
“I can email it immediately.”
“And the property taxes?”
Don’t let me interrupt your wonderful tour.
“Those too.”
Silas raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t we ask about those earlier?”
Chloe swallowed. “I may have overlooked the question.”
“Several questions.”
“Of course. I’m terribly sorry.”
I can email it immediately.
Silas glanced at me. “Funny. Five minutes ago, you couldn’t get a word in.”
“Apparently, my questions have improved.”
Chloe forced a smile. “They were always excellent questions.”
“Honey, what exactly did you say to her?”
“Just asked a question.”
I’m terribly sorry.
“About what?”
“Something she probably should’ve known already.”
He stared at me. “Why do I feel like I’m missing an entire conversation?”
“Because you are.”
Chloe thought she’d fixed her mistake.
But I already had a lesson in mind for her, and things were about to get much more interesting.
Just asked a question.
“Did the question involve organized crime?”
“Not remotely.”
Outside, I explained that we wanted to view other properties.
“Absolutely!” Chloe exclaimed. “I’ll arrange everything personally. Sunday works beautifully!”
“Don’t you have Sunday off?”
I already had a lesson in mind for her.
“Not anymore!”
“Chloe, please don’t rearrange your life.”
“It would be my pleasure, ma’am!”
As we reached our car, Silas shook his head. “I almost feel sorry for her.”
I looked back at Chloe, who was waving with both hands.
“Don’t worry, honey. This girl is going to get exactly what she deserves.”
I’ll arrange everything personally.
He stopped smiling. “What does that mean?”
“You’ll see.”
And apparently, Chloe wasn’t willing to wait for me to decide what happened next.
***
Sunday morning, my phone rang. “Good morning, ma’am! It’s Chloe!”
“Good morning.”
I almost feel sorry for her.
“I found another house that matches your preferences!”
“That was quick.”
“I worked all evening! Would eleven work?”
Silas overheard. “Is that our personal butler?”
I covered the phone. “Be nice.”
“Ask whether she does laundry.”
Chloe wasn’t willing to wait.
I elbowed him.
“Eleven works,” I told Chloe before hanging up.
Silas looked at me. “We’re really going again?”
“We still need a house. And this one looks promising.”
“Fair enough.”
Besides, I was curious whether Chloe had actually learned anything. And I had a feeling our second viewing would be even more interesting than the first.
Be nice.
***
When we arrived, Chloe was waiting with coffee and pastries.
“Good morning! I brought coffee!”
“Actually, I prefer cappuccinos.”
“I’ll get one!”
“Chloe, please. It’s fine.”
Our second viewing would be even more interesting.
Silas accepted a pastry. “For what it’s worth, these are excellent.”
“Thank you, sir!”
“Please call me Silas.”
“Certainly, sir!”
The house had a beautiful living room but a disappointingly small kitchen.
These are excellent.
“We could remove that wall!” Chloe suggested.
“Is it load-bearing?” I asked.
“Possibly.”
“Then let’s not knock it down before breakfast.”
Silas grinned. “I’d prefer our future kitchen without a ceiling collapse.”
We could remove that wall!
“Of course!” Chloe agreed.
Chloe seemed determined to impress us. Unfortunately, the house wasn’t making it easy.
As we returned to the driveway, she pulled me aside. “Can I ask you something privately?”
“Of course.”
Her fingers tightened around her clipboard. “Are you going to tell anyone?”
The house wasn’t making it easy.
“About what?”
She swallowed. “You know. Saturday.”
“I’d rather hear you explain it.”
“I thought your husband was the primary buyer.”
“So you ignored me?”
Are you going to tell anyone?
“I misunderstood.”
“And his wedding ring?”
She looked down. “I was being friendly.”
“There’s friendly, and there’s touching a married stranger while insulting his wife.”
Her eyes widened. “Please. I really need this job.”
You ignored me.
“Then you should’ve treated every customer like they mattered.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
I studied her for a moment. “I hope you mean that, Chloe.”
She nodded quickly.
But something about her apology bothered me.
She seemed more afraid of losing her job than sorry for what she’d done.
I really need this job.
***
That afternoon, I made a decision.
I’d worked too hard to tolerate people who treated others that way.
So I spent the next hour making a few arrangements.
Chloe had no idea our next meeting would be very different.
Before you judge what I did next, remember that she had plenty of chances to show me who she really was.
And I still hadn’t told you what I’d whispered in her ear.
She seemed more afraid of losing her job than sorry.
***
The next morning, I put on my favorite navy suit.
Silas looked up from his breakfast. “Big meeting?”
“Something like that.”
“Should I wish you luck?”
“I think I’ll manage.”
What I’d whispered in her ear?
He grinned. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
I kissed him goodbye.
***
At headquarters, Denise, one of our branch managers, was waiting outside my office.
“Everything ready?” I asked.
“HR reviewed the documents.”
I’ll manage.
“And?”
“We need to talk.”
I opened my office door. “Then let’s get started.”
***
A few minutes later, Chloe walked in.
“Denise? You wanted to see me?”
HR reviewed the documents.
Then she spotted me behind the desk.
Her face went pale. “Oh, God.”
“Good morning, Chloe.”
“I thought… I thought we’d settled everything yesterday.”
“Have a seat,” Denise said.
Let’s get started.
Chloe sat down nervously. “Am I in trouble?”
“That depends,” I replied. “Do you remember what I whispered to you on Saturday?”
“Of course.”
Denise looked at me. “What did you tell her?”
“I asked whether she’d ever bothered to learn what her regional director looked like. Then I introduced myself.”
I thought we’d settled everything yesterday.
Denise turned to Chloe. “And how did you respond?”
She lowered her eyes. “I apologized.”
“Only after you knew who I was,” I reminded her.
Chloe gripped her handbag. “Look, I’m sorry about Saturday. I apologized yesterday!”
“And I appreciated that. But I had a question afterward.”
I introduced myself.
“What question?”
“Had you treated other customers the same way?”
Denise opened a folder.
Chloe went still.
“Three complaints,” Denise said. “Two formal warnings.”
I’m sorry about Saturday.
“What?”
“One customer said you dismissed her because you assumed she couldn’t afford a property. Another said you ignored her and spoke only to her husband.”
“That was different!”
“How?” I asked.
Chloe hesitated. “I was trying to make a sale.”
I had a question afterward.
“By ignoring the person asking questions?”
“I didn’t know who you were!”
I leaned back. “And there it is.”
“What?”
“You would’ve treated me differently if you’d known I was your boss.”
I was trying to make a sale.
“Of course I would’ve!”
Denise looked at her. “Chloe, that’s exactly the problem.”
For the first time, Chloe seemed to realize what she’d admitted.
“Please, I need this job.”
Denise closed the folder. “Your last formal warning was three weeks ago. You were told another incident could result in termination.”
I was your boss.
“I said I was sorry!”
“And yet,” I replied, “you only started treating me respectfully after learning my name.”
Chloe looked between us. “So… you were testing me?”
“No. My husband and I genuinely needed a house. You made the rest happen yourself.”
Denise slid the paperwork across the desk. “HR has approved termination under company policy. We’ll go through the details with you.”
Your last formal warning was three weeks ago.
Chloe stared at the papers. “But I didn’t know she was my boss.”
“And the other women weren’t,” I said. “They deserved respect too.”
***
For years, I’d worked hard to earn respect, then tried to leave my title behind whenever I could.
Now I understood that the best use of my position wasn’t demanding respect for myself. It was making sure others received it without needing a title.
They deserved respect too.
