Pyramid Schemes at Sunset

The corporate retreat had been Elena's idea—something about team building and climbing the pyramid of success together. Now she sat poolside at the Sunset Palms, watching storm clouds gather over the artificial lake, nursing her third gin and tonic.

Her iphone buzzed on the lounge chair. Marcus again. He'd been texting all afternoon, pretending to check on the presentation they'd both spent weeks perfecting. But Elena knew better. She'd seen the way he looked at Sarah during the breakout session, the casual hand on her shoulder, the private jokes.

A flash of lightning split the sky, illuminating the resort's faux-Egyptian architecture. Pyramid-shaped cabanas, unnecessary obelisks, all of it expensive and ridiculous. Just like Marcus's promotion scheme—restructure the department, eliminate positions, create new titles that meant nothing but came with better business cards.

"Mind if I join you?"

Elena looked up. It was Sarah, wearing a red bikini that left little to imagination. Fox-eyed and knowing, she stood with one hand on her hip, the other holding a glass of white wine.

"Free country," Elena said.

Sarah sat on the adjacent lounge chair. "He told me about the restructure."

"Did he."

"He thinks you don't know. About us. About the restructuring affecting your position specifically."

Elena took a long drink. The gin burned pleasantly. "I've known about us for months. I've known about the restructuring since he emailed the draft to his personal account and forgot to log out of my computer."

Sarah's composed expression flickered. "Oh."

"You're not the first, Sarah. You won't be the last. But you might want to ask yourself: if he does this to me—his wife of twelve years, his business partner—what exactly do you think happens to you when the pyramid needs another rearrangement?"

Another lightning flash. Closer this time. The storm would break soon.

Sarah set down her wine glass. "He said you'd say something like that. Said you're bitter, controlling. Said you drove him to it."

"And did you believe him?" Elena asked quietly.

Silence stretched between them as the first heavy drops began to fall on the pool surface, rippling the water into fractured patterns.

"No," Sarah said finally. "I didn't."

Elena nodded, finishing her drink. "Then you have a choice to make. I made mine earlier today." She held up her phone. "I booked a single ticket home. The joint account transfers are complete. The dissolution papers will be waiting when we get back."

Sarah stared at her. "You're leaving him?"

"I'm leaving before I become someone I don't recognize anymore." Elena stood up as the rain began falling in earnest. "The question is: what are you going to do?"

She walked toward the hotel lobby without looking back. Behind her, she heard the splash of someone diving into the pool—perhaps Sarah, perhaps just another guest making another choice. It didn't matter. The lightning flashed again, and for the first time in years, Elena felt entirely alone and entirely free.