Matt held up a shot of tequila and said, “Well, cheers to us. Reporters obliged by management to expose everyone else’s dirty secrets, while hiding our own.”

“Cheers,” said Natalie, raising her glass of water. “To the total double standard we live with. Like how Chesty can take off his shirt and he becomes stronger and more untouchable for it. But if I tried—”

“If you did that, our VOP would be through the roof,” Matt said, bitterly.

Laughing, Natalie felt herself relax. Strange, but it felt good to say all this out loud. No one ever discussed these things at the office, as if group silence was the price of participation.

“Enough.” Dasha banged her hands on the bar. “We make happy conversation. Not work.” Dasha crossed her arms, clearly determined to make small talk. “You, Matthew. What sport do you play?”

Matt blinked, confused.

Dasha waved her hands in the air. “You understand what I am saying? Sport. The games. You play?”

“Well, I’m a grown man so I don’t play games. But if you mean what do I do for exercise, I lift weights and swim.” Natalie found this unlikely. “And I played lacrosse in college,” he said, warming up to it. “I was the varsity captain.”

Dasha frowned. “I do not know this game. Is it like bowling? You look to me like you would do bowling.”

Matt turned an interesting color and said, “It is nothing like bowling. Lacrosse is very athletic and exciting. And I was captain of the softball team at the Post.”

That caught Natalie’s attention. “You were at the New York Post?”

“No, the Washington Post.”

Natalie couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “You worked at the Washington Post?”

“Yes,” Matt said slowly.

“You once had journalistic integrity?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” Matt said, with a challenging gaze.

“Was married,” Dasha said matter-of-factly while Matt looked at her, mouth agape.

“How did you know that?” he demanded.

“You were married? You were not married,” Natalie said, floored.

“My friend is friends of the ex-wife of Matthew,” Dasha confirmed. “She say is nice woman. Move to Iowa.”

“You have a nice ex-wife who lives in Iowa?” Natalie asked, still floored. Matt blushed furiously.

“It’s old news,” Matt said and picked up his phone.

Natalie was searching for an appropriate response when her phone buzzed.

“VOP is here,” Dasha called out, scrolling on her own screen.

Holding her breath, Natalie opened the email.

From: The Chief

Subject: VOPS

Ryan 54. Natalie 42. Great work by all today. Keep it up!!!

Twelve points. He was beating them by twelve points. Looking at the numbers, Natalie was overcome with exhaustion. “I give up.”

“Wait, I’ve got just the thing,” Matt said, and Natalie, in a daze, watched him reach into his satchel and pull out a handful of little blue pills. “Xanax,” he announced.

She looked at them, feeling unmoved.