Read Online Shades of Fortune by Stephen; Birmingham - Free Book Online Page B

pleasantly. “Let it all out.”
    In a business noted for temperamental characters, Mimi Myerson is not known for emotional outbursts. During her years in the industry, she has been exposed to various of its titans: the volatile Helena Rubinstein, who, hearing news she did not wish to hear on the telephone, would often rip the cord from the wall and hurl the offending instrument across the room; the imperious Elizabeth Arden, who enjoyed making surprise visits of inspection to her salons where, finding nothing to her liking, she would sweep through her selling floors crying, “Fools! Knaves! Nincompoops!” while salesgirls cowered behind their counters in her wake; and the notoriously foul-mouthed Charles Revson, whose favorite tactic was to leap from his desk and shout, “You’re fucking fired! Get the fuck out of here!” Mimi has never found temperament to be an effective business tool and has always practiced a more coolheaded, evenhanded executive style, having discovered that more can be accomplished with honey than with vinegar or vitriol. But now, of course, in the privacy of her own home, and alone with her own son, it is a different matter altogether.
    â€œThat shit Nonie!” she says now. “She changed all my place-cards. Did you know that? To put her used-car-salesman-type greasy boyfriend next to Granny, so he could talk up some new hare-brained scheme of Nonie’s. And then Edwee and Nonie, whispering together like two old maids and refusing to join the conversation. And wretched old Granny! Wouldn’t you think, after all these years, she could let up on Mother? But she never lets up! And poor Mother—who didn’t want to come anyway, but whom I made come. And those stupid-ass models: did you ever encounter such a pair of airheads? The whole thing, the whole evening, was a stupid idea to begin with. Why didn’t you tell me, Badger, that this whole evening was a stupid idea?”
    He spreads his hands. “ Mea culpa, ” he says. “It was all my fault.”
    â€œOf course it wasn’t. It was my stupid idea. Even your father wasn’t a lot of help, was he? Sneaking out on some trumped-up excuse, and leaving me to sweep up the wreckage.”
    â€œHe said the Sturtevant case. I know it’s been on his mind—”
    â€œHa! You don’t live with a man for twenty-nine years and not know when he’s fibbing. If he’s working on the Sturtevant case right now, I’m the Virgin Mary!”
    â€œCome to think of it,” Badger says, “there is a certain resemblance. But in letting off all this steam, your halo’s gotten a little crooked.”
    â€œOh, shut up,” she says, only half-crossly. “It’s just … it’s just that I wanted everything to be so … perfect … with the whole family … just once … to celebrate …”
    He moves across the room now, sits beside her on the green sofa, and circles her shoulders with his left arm. “It wasn’t your fault, Mom,” he says. “Sometimes things just go wrong. The best-laid plans of mice and men …”
    â€œAnd my beautiful dinner—people just played with their food. And Mr. Greenway here from Fortune . I’d worked so hard.”
    â€œNo more self-pity, Mimi Myerson. Nothing old Greenway writes about us can hurt us. The old farts who read Fortune don’t buy Mireille perfume. Besides, maybe you work too hard, Mom. Ever think of that?”
    She looks quickly at him. “Is that it, Badger? Have I been working so hard with this company that I’ve let the rest of my family fall apart all around me?”
    â€œWhy not give me more to do? I’ll take a promotion any old day.”
    â€œOh, Badger. You’re the best. You’re the best thing that’s happened to this family, and this company. Ever. I couldn’t run it without you.”
    â€œWell, I do have some