Five - Lunch

A chill went down Tom's spine. He fought every instinct he had to steal a look at Stacy. 

"Leaving?" Doug asked, incredulously.

"Yeah, I know it's a bit of a surprise..." Will started.

"You're Goddamn right it's a surprise." Doug said. "Have you thought this through?"

"I have. When Melanie and I decided to get married we had a serious conversation about the future and we decided that we didn't want to start our family in DC, so I started looking for jobs in Chicago."

Tom was conflicted. On on hand, his best friend was leaving; on the other hand, this would make him the most senior Senior Associate on the team; and on the other hand, his rivalry with Stacy just moved to a whole different level. He didn't know what to think, especially since that gave him three hands, which was never a good thing.

Tom went to Will's office after the senior staff meeting was over.

"What the fuck, man?" he asked.

"I know," Will said, "you weren't expecting that, were you?"

Tom shut Will's door so no one, particularly Stacy, would overhear their conversation and sat in a chair across the desk from Will.

"I thought you weren't even that sure that you wanted to get married?"

"Yeah," Will said, "but the decision has been made and this isn't something that you do half way." He paused. "I thought you'd be happy."

"Happy that my best friend is leaving?"

"No," Will replied, "happy that the door is open for you with Doug."

Tom looked down at his hands, feeling uneasy.

"Stacy's already half way through that door," he said.

"You're paranoid. She's still only been here a couple of months. You've got six years in The Agency. No way she's jumped ahead of you."

Just then, there was a quick knock at the door and then Doug opened the door.

"Sorry to interrupt the bachelor party planning," Doug said, "but since Will is leaving us, there is no reason for him to accompany me to lunch today with Reiter today."

Edward Reiter was Doug's boss and a well-known asshole within The Agency. The more blatant the ass kissing, the more Reiter seemed to enjoy it. Will had been going to lunches with Doug and Reiter for a year or so, under the pretense that Reiter wanted to hear about Will's top-secret work, but the real reason was that Doug wanted someone to help with all the ass kissing that needed to be done.

"So," Doug continued, motioning to Tom, "that means you get to go."

Tom momentarily felt good about his situation again.

"Stacy's coming, too. I want you guys to meet me and Reiter at El Cantina at 12."

Doug turned and left the room. Tom's enthusiasm waned. He looked at Will, who just shrugged.

***

Tom sent Stacy an email, giving her the details of the lunch. She had already known.

"Of course," Tom thought.

He didn't even consider riding to the restaurant with her. He had avoided being alone with her ever since their late night argument several weeks earlier. He pulled into the parking lot of El Cantina, the worst kind of Americanized Mexican restaurant, at just before noon.  He saw Doug's car already in the lot. And Stacy's.

When Tom got inside he found everyone already seated at a table and drinks already in front of everyone.  It seemed to him that everyone was at ease and in a good mood and that his arrival interrupted the good time.

"Hey," Doug said, "we were able to sneak away a few minutes early, so we've been having a drink. You'll have to catch up."

Tom thought it was a very bad idea to be drinking with Stacy and his boss and his boss' boss, but he didn't want to be a stick in the mud, so he ordered a beer.  Everyone at the table seemed to ignore him.  The looks that he had caught Stacy giving Doug in the past were magnified for Reiter.  Doug had to notice, but he didn't care. In fact, it seemed to be exactly what he had been hoping for.

"How can I compare with that?" Tom thought.

The conversation went on, mostly without Tom's involvement, until after they had finished eating.  When the server cleared the plates away, Reiter brought up the hearing before the Oversight Committee.

"I heard what a good job you guys did in front of Oversight, the pricks," he said, "I wish we had a way to keep them off of our backs."

Doug and Tom just nodded in agreement, then Tom's blood ran cold as Stacy spoke.

"Tom made a friend with an aide, that day," she said. "Maybe she'll be useful."

"A friend?" Doug asked. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"It's no big deal," Tom started, "just an attorney..."

His voice trailed off as Doug from him to Stacy to Reiter.

"That's great!" Doug said. "Keep in touch with her and let me know how it goes."

"Good thinking, Tom," Reiter said, earnestly.

Tom stole a quick glance at Stacy and saw a hint of the same smirk that she had worn when she saw him talking to Andrea.