Back then, we fought side by side. Pulled all-nighters to hit deadlines. Dealt with impossible clients together.
She told me I was the person she trusted most, that the company wouldn't be where it was without me, that half the credit was mine.
But after Nelson came back, everything changed.
She started finding me lacking. My degree wasn't impressive enough. My way of thinking was too old-school.
Nelson could float any half-baked proposal and she'd call it cutting-edge, forward-thinking, globally minded.
Anything I suggested, she treated like I was just being contrary.
In my previous life, after I pointed out the flaws in his program, Nelson went running to her. Told her I'd embarrassed him in front of everyone. Said months of his hard work had been shot down in a single stroke.
Kate came home and tore into me. Said I didn't know how to respect people. Said I never should have called him out like that with the whole team watching.
I'd felt wronged. Told her I was only stating facts.
She told me I could have handled it differently, that my emotional intelligence was too low.
Looking back now, it wouldn't have mattered how I handled it.