“Who said it didn’t work?”

“I just kind of think we don’t work—”

“Kind of?” Jennifer looked nonplussed.

“Have you asked yourself why you want to hang out with me, Jennifer? Really?” Dorsey said.

Jennifer was nodding before he finished. “This line of questioning wouldn’t have anything to do with whoever you were texting with your cock on your mind, would it? I swear, you are off the charts, Dorsey.” Her fury did a poor job of masking the hurt in her voice. “Do you even want Netherfield to succeed? I thought we had shared goals. That’s your answer. I thought we were alike. You said you wanted this. And now I can’t get you to sit still for ten minutes to go over the financials. You’re all over the place, Dorsey, and it’s going to cost us Netherfield Court and the Alexandria project. Senator De Berg told me he asked you to make a gesture of unity for Alexandria, and you refused.”

“It was beneath me,” Dorsey said. He patted his pocket for cigarettes. Nothing. His head was pounding.

“Beneath you?” Jennifer smirked. “I catch you ripping the shirt off a woman in your office, and you are talking about what is beneath you? I don’t want you to become like one of these men in power that get . . . lusty and end up abusing people. You need to cut a clear line. I mean, despite appearances, you are a man in power. The MeToo movement would eat you for lunch,” she said. “Now you’re late-night texting God knows who, looking like the cat who swallowed the canary. Just promise me it’s none of your employees—no paralegals, no secretaries.”

“I’m not a predator, Jennifer. I am aware of my position and have never preyed on anyone weaker than me.” Something about the way she said “despite appearances” infuriated Dorsey. He just wanted her out of his home and out of his ear. His heart wasn’t in this work. He knew it. She knew it. But he would try to be the man his father had been. He was trying. But it wasn’t enough. He was starting to fear it never would be. “I should pay more attention to this work. I concede that. But that’s all you get to comment on. Are we clear?”

“I wish that was all I could comment on. Look, I know for you this is a shortcut to increasing the philanthropic budget, but this is my actual life, you know.” Jennifer crossed her arms.

“I think I just need some sleep,” he offered. He stood up and walked over to the door. “Good night, Jennifer.”

She yanked her briefcase up and choked out an angry goodbye as she rushed out. Dorsey closed the door behind her and leaned his head against the cool metal. The phone burned in his hands. Finally. Liza.