There hasn’t been a single time whe

There hasn’t been a single time when you’ve let me figure things out with you. Not once.”
“If I did … if I do—and I will—you’ll come back to me?”
“I haven’t left you, Gideon. I don’t know how.” I looked out the window, spotted a young couple kissing each other good-bye in front of a revolving door before the man ran off. “But yes, if we could really be a team, nothing could keep me away.”
“HEARD you guys landed the PhazeOne campaign.”
I turned my attention from the coffee I was sweetening to raise my brows at Will. “I haven’t heard that.”
He grinned, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. He was such a happy guy, anchored solidly in a relationship that worked. I was so envious of that serenity. I had felt it only a few times since I’d been with Gideon, and every time it was … bliss. How amazing would it be if we could get there and stay there?
“That’s the buzz I’ve been hearing,” he said.
“Man.” I gave an exaggerated sigh. “I am always the last to know.”
I’d been putting on an Oscar-worthy performance all week. Between Mark’s excitement, the imminent adjustment in my work situation, starting my period, and dealing with the mess in my private life, I was focusing every ounce of energy I had left on acting calm. As a result, I’d avoided the office gossip cliques to limit my contact with people. There was only so much happiness/joy/contentment I could fake.
“Mark’s going to kill me for telling you.” Will looked completely unapologetic. “I wanted to be the first to congratulate you.”
“Okay. Thank you. Maybe.”
“I’m dying to get my hands on that system, you know. The tech blogs are wild with rumors about PhazeOne’s features.” He leaned against the counter next to me and gave me a hopeful look.
I wagged my finger at him. “You won’t be hearing any leaks from me.”
“Damn it. A guy’s gotta hope.” He shrugged. “They’re probably going to lock you in solitary somewhere until the release just to keep a lid on it.”
“Makes you wonder why LanCorp would take it to an outside agency, doesn’t it?”
He frowned. “Yeah. I guess. Hadn’t thought about it.”
Neither had I. But Gideon had.
I looked back down at my mug, stirring absently. “There’s a new GenTen coming out soon.”
“I heard. That’s a no-brainer, though. Everyone’s going to buy it.”
Flexing my fingers, I studied my wedding ring and thought about the vows I’d made when I accepted it.
“You got plans for lunch?” he asked.
I picked up my mug and faced him. “Yes, I’m going out with Mark and his partner.”
“Oh, right.” He moved toward the coffeemaker when I got out of the way. “Maybe we could grab drinks after work sometime this week. Drag our significant others with us. If Gideon’s up for it. I know he’s a busy guy.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it again. Will had given me the perfect opening to excuse Gideon. I could take it, but I wanted to share the social parts of my life with my husband. I wanted him with me. If I started excluding him from my life, wasn’t that the beginning of the end?
“Sounds like fun,” I lied, imagining a tension-fraught evening. “I’ll talk to him about it. See what we can work out.”
Will nodded. “Cool. Lemme know.”
“I’VE got a problem.”
“Oh?” I looked across the table at Mark. The Cuban restaurant Steven had chosen was both large and popular. Sunlight streamed in through a massive skylight, while colorful murals decorated the space with parrots and palm fronds. Festive music made me feel like I’d gone on vacation to somewhere exotic, while the rich smell of spices made my tummy perk up for the first time in days.
I rubbed my hands together. “Let’s fix it.”
Steven nodded. “Eva’s right. Lay it on us.”
Mark pushed the menu aside and set his elbows on the table. “So Mr. Waters told me this morning to start working on the LanCorp brief.”
“Yay!” I applauded.
“Not so fast. In light of that, I had to give him my notice. I’d been hoping to wait until Friday, but they need someone who can stick with the client all the way through, not just the first month.”
“You’ve got a point,” I conceded, my smile fading. “What a bummer, though.”
“It sucked, but …” He shrugged. “It is what it is. Then he called in the other partners. They told me that the LanCorp brass was insistent that I head the campaign when they first approached the agency, enough so that the partners are worried they’ll lose the account if I’m not managing it.”
Steven grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what we like to hear!”
Mark gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah, it was a boost, for sure. So anyway, they offered me a promotion and a raise if I’ll stay.”
“Whoa.” I sat back. “That’s a serious boost.”
“They can’t offer what Cross did. Not even half, but let’s be honest, he’s overpaying me.”
“Says you,” Steven scoffed. “You’re worth every penny.”
I nodded, even though I had only a vague idea of what Gideon had put on the table. “I agree with that.”
“But I feel like I owe Waters Field and Leaman some loyalty.” Mark rubbed at his jaw. “They’ve been good to me and they want to keep me, even knowing I can be poached by someone else.”
“You’ve given them good work for years,” Steven countered. “They got a lot out of you. You don’t owe them any favors.”
“I know that. And I was fine with leaving an empty office behind, because they could fill that quick enough. But I’m having a hard time with possibly costing them the LanCorp campaign when I go.”
“But that decision isn’t yours to make,” I pointed out. “If LanCorp doesn’t retain the agency, that’s up to them.”
“I’ve tried spinning it that way, too. But it’s still not something I want to see happen.”
The server came by to take our order. I looked at Steven. “Can you do the honors?”
“Sure.” He looked at Mark, who gave a quick nod to signal the same request. Steven ordered for all of us.
I waited until we were alone again to speak, unsure of how to say what needed to be said. In the end, I went with blunt. “I can’t work on the PhazeOne campaign.”
Mark and Steven stared at me.
“Look, the Landons and the Crosses go way back,” I explained, “and there’s bad blood between them. Gideon’s got some concerns, and I see his point. It’s strong enough for me to be cautious.”
Mark frowned. “Landon knows who you are. He doesn’t have a problem with it.”
“I know. But the PhazeOne system is a pretty big deal. There’s risk involved with having access to it, and I don’t need to contribute to that in any way.” It was hard admitting that Gideon was right, because I knew I was right, too. Which left us at an impasse I didn’t know how to get around.
Steven leaned closer and studied me. “You’re serious.”
“Afraid so. Not that your decision is in any way affected by me, Mark, but I thought I should put that out there.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Mark said.
“She’s telling you that if you stay with your job, you’ll be losing both the money and your assistant,” Steven clarified. “Or you can move to Cross Industries as you’ve already agreed to do, get the money, and keep Eva.”
“Well …” God. This was harder than I’d thought it would be. I had heard it but now I was living it: Any woman who loses or gives up a job she loves because of a man will resent it … What had ever made me think I would be somehow exempt? “I can’t say yet that I’ll be making the move with you.”
Mark fell back against the burgundy vinyl booth. “This just keeps getting worse.”
“I’m not saying definitively that I won’t.” I tried to shrug it off as no big deal. “I’m just not sure that Gideon and I should be working together. I mean I’m not sure he should be my boss … or whatever. You know what I mean.”
“I hate to say it,” Steven said, “but she’s got a point.”
“This is not helping my problem,” Mark muttered.
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t tell them how sorry I really was. I didn’t even feel like I could offer advice. How could I be nonbiased about Mark’s options?
“On the bright side,” I offered instead, “you’re definitely a hot commodity.”
Steven elbowed Mark with a grin. “I knew that already.”

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Belum ada satu waktu ketika Anda telah membiarkan saya mengetahui hal-hal dengan Anda. Tidak sekali.""Jika saya melakukan... jika saya lakukan- dan saya akan — Anda akan kembali kepadaku?""Saya belum meninggalkan Anda, Gideon. Aku tidak tahu bagaimana. " Aku memandang ke luar jendela, melihat Pasangan muda mencium satu sama lain selamat tinggal di depan pintu putar sebelum orang lari. "Tapi ya, jika kita benar-benar bisa tim, tidak bisa menjauhkan saya.""Mendengar kalian mendarat kampanye PhazeOne."Aku mengalihkan perhatian dari kopi saya adalah pemanis untuk menaikkan alis saya di akan. "Aku tidak mendengar itu."Dia menyeringai, matanya bersinar di balik kacamatanya. Ia adalah seperti orang bahagia, berlabuh kokoh dalam sebuah hubungan yang bekerja. Aku sangat iri Serenity itu. Aku merasa itu hanya beberapa kali sejak aku telah dengan Gideon, dan setiap kali itu... kebahagiaan. Bagaimana menakjubkan akan lebih jika kita bisa sampai di sana dan tinggal di sana?"Itu adalah buzz saya telah mendengar," katanya."Man." Aku memberinya napas yang berlebihan. "Saya selalu orang terakhir yang tahu."Saya telah meletakkan pada pertunjukan Oscar-layak sepanjang minggu. Antara Mark kegembiraan, penyesuaian segera dalam situasi pekerjaan saya, mulai periode saya, dan berurusan dengan kekacauan dalam kehidupan pribadi saya, saya berfokus setiap ons energi yang aku telah meninggalkan pada bertindak tenang. Sebagai hasilnya, saya telah menghindari geng gosip kantor untuk membatasi kontak saya dengan orang-orang. Hanya ada begitu banyak kebahagiaan/kebahagiaan/kepuasan saya bisa palsu."Markus akan membunuh saya untuk memberitahu Anda." Akan tampak benar-benar menyesal. "Saya ingin menjadi yang pertama untuk mengucapkan selamat kepada Anda.""Oke. Terima kasih. Mungkin.""Aku mati untuk mendapatkan tangan saya pada sistem itu, Anda tahu. Tech blog liar dengan desas-desus tentang fitur PhazeOne's." Ia bersandar counter di samping saya dan memberi saya berharap melihat.Aku menggeleng jari saya kepadanya. "Anda tidak akan mendengar setiap kebocoran dari saya.""Sialan. Seorang pria harus berharap." Ia mengangkat bahu. "Mereka mungkin akan mengunci Anda di soliter di suatu tempat sampai rilis hanya untuk menjaga tutup di atasnya.""Membuat Anda bertanya-tanya mengapa LanCorp akan bawa ke lembaga eksternal, bukan?"Ia mengerutkan kening. "ya. Saya rasa. Tidak memikirkan hal itu."Tidak memiliki aku. Tapi Gideon.Aku kembali menatap cangkir saya, aduk sambil lalu. "Ada GenTen baru yang datang segera keluar.""Saya mendengar. Itu adalah no-brainer, meskipun. Setiap orang akan membelinya."Meregangkan jari saya, saya belajar cincin kawin dan berpikir tentang janji yang telah kuikat ketika aku menerimanya."Anda punya rencana untuk makan siang?" tanyanya.Aku mengambil cangkir saya dan menghadap kepadanya. "Ya, aku akan dengan Mark dan pasangannya.""Oh, benar." Ia pindah ke arah mesin kopi ketika aku keluar dari jalan. "Mungkin kita bisa ambil minuman setelah bekerja kadang-kadang minggu ini. Menyeret kami signifikan lain dengan kita. Jika Gideon untuk itu. Aku tahu dia adalah orang sibuk."Aku membuka mulut. Ditutup kembali. Akan memberi saya pembukaan sempurna untuk alasan Gideon. Saya bisa menerimanya, tapi saya ingin berbagi bagian sosial kehidupan saya dengan suami saya. Aku ingin dia dengan saya. Jika aku mulai tidak termasuk padanya dari hidup saya, tidak bahwa awal dari akhir?"Kedengarannya menyenangkan," Aku berbohong, membayangkan malam yang penuh ketegangan. "Aku akan berbicara dengan dia tentang hal itu. Lihat apa yang kita dapat bekerja keluar."Akan mengangguk. "Keren. Lemme tahu.""Aku punya masalah.""Oh?" Aku memandang di seberang meja Mark. Restoran Kuba Steven telah memilih adalah besar dan populer. Sinar matahari yang mengalir di melalui jendela atap besar, sementara mural berwarna-warni dekorasi ruang dengan burung beo dan daun-daun palem. Musik meriah membuatku merasa seperti aku pergi berlibur ke suatu tempat eksotis, sementara bau kaya rempah-rempah membuat perut saya menjadi gembira untuk pertama kalinya dalam hari.Aku menggosok tangan bersama-sama. "Mari kita perbaiki."Steven mengangguk. "Eva yang tepat. Meletakkannya di kita."Mark menyingkirkan menu dan menetapkan siku nya di atas meja. "Jadi Mr Waters mengatakan kepada saya pagi ini untuk mulai bekerja pada LanCorp brief.""Yay!" Aku memuji."Tidak begitu cepat. Berdasarkan itu, aku harus memberinya pemberitahuan saya. Saya telah berharap untuk menunggu sampai Jumat, tapi mereka membutuhkan seseorang yang dapat bertahan dengan klien semua jalan melalui, bukan hanya bulan pertama.""Anda punya titik," Aku mengakui, saya tersenyum memudar. "Apa yang menyedihkan, walaupun."“It sucked, but …” He shrugged. “It is what it is. Then he called in the other partners. They told me that the LanCorp brass was insistent that I head the campaign when they first approached the agency, enough so that the partners are worried they’ll lose the account if I’m not managing it.”Steven grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what we like to hear!”Mark gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah, it was a boost, for sure. So anyway, they offered me a promotion and a raise if I’ll stay.”“Whoa.” I sat back. “That’s a serious boost.”“They can’t offer what Cross did. Not even half, but let’s be honest, he’s overpaying me.”“Says you,” Steven scoffed. “You’re worth every penny.”I nodded, even though I had only a vague idea of what Gideon had put on the table. “I agree with that.”“But I feel like I owe Waters Field and Leaman some loyalty.” Mark rubbed at his jaw. “They’ve been good to me and they want to keep me, even knowing I can be poached by someone else.”“You’ve given them good work for years,” Steven countered. “They got a lot out of you. You don’t owe them any favors.”“I know that. And I was fine with leaving an empty office behind, because they could fill that quick enough. But I’m having a hard time with possibly costing them the LanCorp campaign when I go.”“But that decision isn’t yours to make,” I pointed out. “If LanCorp doesn’t retain the agency, that’s up to them.”“I’ve tried spinning it that way, too. But it’s still not something I want to see happen.”The server came by to take our order. I looked at Steven. “Can you do the honors?”“Sure.” He looked at Mark, who gave a quick nod to signal the same request. Steven ordered for all of us.I waited until we were alone again to speak, unsure of how to say what needed to be said. In the end, I went with blunt. “I can’t work on the PhazeOne campaign.”Mark and Steven stared at me.“Look, the Landons and the Crosses go way back,” I explained, “and there’s bad blood between them. Gideon’s got some concerns, and I see his point. It’s strong enough for me to be cautious.”Mark frowned. “Landon knows who you are. He doesn’t have a problem with it.”“I know. But the PhazeOne system is a pretty big deal. There’s risk involved with having access to it, and I don’t need to contribute to that in any way.” It was hard admitting that Gideon was right, because I knew I was right, too. Which left us at an impasse I didn’t know how to get around.Steven leaned closer and studied me. “You’re serious.”“Afraid so. Not that your decision is in any way affected by me, Mark, but I thought I should put that out there.”“I’m not sure I understand,” Mark said.“She’s telling you that if you stay with your job, you’ll be losing both the money and your assistant,” Steven clarified. “Or you can move to Cross Industries as you’ve already agreed to do, get the money, and keep Eva.”“Well …” God. This was harder than I’d thought it would be. I had heard it but now I was living it: Any woman who loses or gives up a job she loves because of a man will resent it … What had ever made me think I would be somehow exempt? “I can’t say yet that I’ll be making the move with you.”
Mark fell back against the burgundy vinyl booth. “This just keeps getting worse.”
“I’m not saying definitively that I won’t.” I tried to shrug it off as no big deal. “I’m just not sure that Gideon and I should be working together. I mean I’m not sure he should be my boss … or whatever. You know what I mean.”
“I hate to say it,” Steven said, “but she’s got a point.”
“This is not helping my problem,” Mark muttered.
“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t tell them how sorry I really was. I didn’t even feel like I could offer advice. How could I be nonbiased about Mark’s options?
“On the bright side,” I offered instead, “you’re definitely a hot commodity.”
Steven elbowed Mark with a grin. “I knew that already.”