to be my assistant. She's got a year of experience at another PR firm, wants to learn and move up the corporate ladder and went to school in Boston, which as we know is my favorite American city. The only problem is that she's super hot – tall, leggy but thankfully not blonde. If I don't hire her, is that discrimination?
From: Shelley Manning – August 21, 2013 – 12:45 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Boston Babe
Now that you've put it in writing, yes that is discrimination.
From: Renee Greene – August 21, 2013 – 12:50 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Boston Babe
Damn! I think you're right. Darn electronic footprint! Oh well, I was going to hire her anyway. She's the best person for the job, even if she's gorgeous and young. And her name is Skye.
From: Shelley Manning – August 21, 2013 – 12:53 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Boston Babe
Of course her name is Skye. I will now refer to her as Skinny Skye. Will she have access to your email account?
From: Renee Greene – August 21, 2013 – 12:57 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Boston Babe
No, that will still be password protected – thankfully. So we can talk about our insane jealousy of her without fear of discovery or reprisal. So feel free to tell me something completely unfit for the workplace. I'm all ears!
From: Shelley Manning – August 21, 2013 – 12:58 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Boston Babe
Excellent. Wish I could dazzle you with inappropriate stories of sexual adventures but I've gotta run. Mwah! Mwah!
From: Renee Greene – August 22, 2013 – 3:34 PM
To: Shelley Manning
Subject: Re: Boston Babe
Skinny Skye is on board. She starts next Monday.
CHAPTER 8: LIFE GOES ON
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 2:03 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Hey
Hey, Renee. I didn't want to call in the middle of the night but I wanted to say hey.
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 8:59 AM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
You're not answering your phone. I miss you, too. I'm sorry. So so sorry. Sorry for what you are going through and sorry for being the one to find out and tell you.
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 10:54 AM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Hey
There's no reason to be sorry. You did me a huge favor. I just wish I had known earlier.
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 10:55 AM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
Was there something to know about earlier?
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 12:36 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Hey
No. She said this was the first time but I don't know if I can trust what she says. I just mean that I wish she had cheated on me sooner so that I wouldn't have wasted so much time with her. God, writing that sounds so strange. Who wishes they could be cheated on sooner?
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 12:40 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
Give yourself a break. I know what you mean. Did she offer any kind of explanation? Was she contrite? Does she want you back? Would you consider forgiving her? Am I asking too many questions? Should I butt out?
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 12:50 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Hey
I would expect nothing less than lots of questions and probing from you. I'm actually okay talking about it now…with you. But I don't want Shelley and Ashley knowing all of this. I know that's going to be hard for you. You tell them everything even though you say you don't. Can you at least keep this to yourself?
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 12:54 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
Yes, absolutely. I won't tell a soul. Not even Ethan. And you only need to tell me what you want to tell me. Don't feel pressured to say anything you don't want to.
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 1:16 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Hey
I know how curious you are and I've been keeping this all bottled up for weeks now. I'm already feeling good letting my fingers roll over the keyboard to get this all out. I confronted her when she got home from work the night you showed me the magazine photo. I said, "What the fuck is this?" I know, me swearing is very unusual, but honestly, I've never been this angry before. She didn't try to deny it. How could she? It was right there on page 36 for the world to see.
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 1:19 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
Right there for me to see. <sigh!>
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 1:26 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Hey
She said it just sort of happened and that she didn't plan it and hadn't been wanting for it to. But it did. I asked if he kissed her, she kissed him or they kissed each other. At least she had the decency to tell me the truth – that they kissed each other. She told me how sorry she was and that she didn't tell me about it because she still loves me and didn't want it to jeopardize our future. She said she wanted us to get past this and asked what she could do.
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 1:29 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
And…is there anything she can do?
From: Mark Finlay – August 25, 2013 – 1:34 PM
To: Renee Greene
Subject: Re: Hey
I don't think so. Looking back now, I realize she was wrong for me. I think I so badly wanted what you and Ethan had that I was willing to compromise on things that were important to me. I was fooling myself into thinking that her flaws didn't drive me crazy. Her infidelity just gave me the impetus I needed to be real with myself.
From: Renee Greene – August 25, 2013 – 1:38 PM
To: Mark Finlay
Subject: Re: Hey
Well, I'm sorry that it took something so painful and public to give you the clarity to see things for what they are.
From: