Things My Boss Said To Me

It must be Friday - because it's time for another chapter of Things My Boss Said To Me.

This is another often told tale of my days at Bear Stearns. I was 7 months pregnant and really struggling one day. I was having braxton-hicks contractions. It was painful and uncomfortable. My feet hurt. I just wanted to lay down. If I could lay down for a half hour, I knew I could work the rest of the day. I told my wonderful boss Bill Clemente and he said absolutely, go to the nurse. (this isn't the bad boss part yet)

So, I head down to the nurse where there is a bed. I walk in and then at the same moment, another man comes in. The nurse looks at us both and asks what we need. I say I need to lay down, pain, blah blah pregnant blah blah. I didn't have to say too much - I looked pretty pitiful. She turns to the "gentleman" and asks him what he needs. It was Ralph Cioffi. Yes - that Ralph Cioffi - of I burned down the financial markets when when my hedge fund was the first to get marked down 50%. The Ralph that went to trial (was not found guilty). He said I called because I have a migraine and need to lay down in the dark.

Awkward silence.

The nurse says haltingly - well the policy is you have to call first and he called first. I think she was expecting him to give me the ONE bed. But noooooo. He made a beeline for the bed. Left me in the dust. The nurse and I just kinda looked at each other. At that moment in my highly emotional pregnant state - I starting crying. It was just too degrading. I had actually worked for Ralph at one point. And he pulled SMD ranking on me. That's senior managing director. Rank was a big deal at Bear.

So, the nurse says you can sit here in my office. I cry "I have my own office I can sit in." So I head back up to my own office and proceed to sit and cry. It was just too much. I was exhausted and stressed and just desperately needed to lie down My boss bill comes and in wonders what happened. I tell him and he sends me home. Smart move because I was completely worthless.

The day I saw Ralph Cioffi do the "perp" walk for the trial over the hedge funds - was a wonderful day. It took years, but karma's a bitch.