Gerri comes to work for Waystar at the age of 25. It's the 1980s, a brave new world where women are finally being taken seriously in the corporate world.
She meets Logan Roy for the first time after she's been given the job. She can feel the power coming off this man, but despite his reputation for throwing phones at staff, he's polite enough. He leaves his office door open, to her relief.
"You were a hard sell to the board," he says. "A young woman, unmarried with no kids yet."
"Is being a woman a disadvantage?"
"Of course it is," he says, like it's obvious. She has to admire his honesty.
…
Lester corners her at her desk one night while she's working late. He's always made her feel uncomfortable, but she's avoided being alone with him until now. As he presses her up against the desk, she manages to attract the attention of Frank, who's walking past the open door.
Over the next few months she uses a dictaphone to record Lester's suggestive comments, and makes sure that Frank or Baird is always there when she's working late. She also starts making copies of confidential Waystar documents, keeping a record of the most legally questionable actions.
When she's amassed enough evidence she manages to persuade Logan that it's time Lester was moved on, and he's transferred to Parks and Cruises. She knows she's just passing the problem on to someone else, but self-preservation is key in this world.
…
She's firmly in Logan's inner circle by the time Caroline gives birth to their daughter. When Caroline has the baby blues, Logan asks Gerri to keep an eye on her 'woman to woman'. The two women become quite close eventually, in spite of Caroline's cutting sense of humour. Gerri can spar verbally with the best of them.
When Caroline says she has a favour to ask of Gerri, she thinks it's going to be something she has to keep secret from Logan, but all she says is, "Will you be Siobhan's godmother?"
…
She and Baird start dating shortly after the baptism. For their first date they go to a cocktail bar and he introduces her to the joys of a dirty martini.
Later that night he introduces her to his pet tortoise. "His name is Logan," he explains, "but if Logan asks then he's called Terry."
This is the moment she really falls in love with him.
…
She first witnesses Logan hitting his son when Roman is eight years old. They're in the middle of a meeting and Roman keeps butting in trying to get his father's attention, until Logan elbows him in the face.
To Gerri's shame, her first thought as General Counsel is Fuck if this gets out—
Later she looks in on Roman, who is still being comforted by Kendall. He's clutching a bloody tissue to his nose.
"Are you alright?" she asks.
"Yeah, it's fine," says Roman, with the air of practiced words. "Dad didn't know I was there."
She doesn't do anything. What can she do?
…
She only gets asked to play Boar on the Floor once. Logan points at her in a board meeting and tells her to stand up. She does, Baird's eyes on her pleadingly.
When Logan doesn't like her answer to his question, he tells her to get on the floor with the others. She shakes her head. As much as she values her job, and as much as she wants to be treated equally to the men, there are limits and crawling around in her pencil skirt looking for sausages is one of them.
"You'll just have to fire me," she says, her voice steadier than she feels. "But remember, I've buried more bodies for you than anyone else in this room."
There's a hushed silence, everyone waiting to see what Logan's reaction will be. Baird has his head in his hands.
"You see this?" Logan roars around the room. "This woman has more balls than all of you combined! Sit down, Gerri."
Her heart thumping, she does.
…
Baird dies in hospital, with Gerri the only one at his bedside. His stroke was so sudden, their daughters didn't have time to get there. She goes home alone, to his pet tortoise, and wonders what she's supposed to do now.
Logan, or someone who works for him, sends her flowers the next day. Take all the time you need, the note says.
She takes a week.
…
The thing with Roman starts almost accidentally. She's berating him on the phone when she realises that he's enjoying it a little too much, and she finds herself intrigued. She's also flattered, that she can succeed where Roman's girlfriend can't.
It's a harmless flirtation, really, and she has plausible deniability. She hasn't really done anything, Roman is the one sending images of his genitalia from every angle.
She's genuinely fond of him, and finds him attractive even when he's being repellent. But she's also aware of her position. If it comes out she'll be the one who gets judged.
As long as Roman stays discreet, it will be fine.
…
When Roman fires her she's torn between fury and heartbreak. More than thirty years of loyal service, and Logan thinks he can get rid of her just like that. Well, he can think again. She has copies of documents stored away. She has personal experience of Logan's more unhinged behaviour. And she has many, many images of his son's genitals.
She's planning her next move and pondering the best way to kill Roman when she hears that Logan is dead.
…
Tom calls her into his new office, shortly after he's announced as Matsson's new CEO. He wants Gerri to stay on as General Counsel, even though she's been promised a generous retirement package. She knows the company like no one else does. Tom will give her an extensive raise and anything else she wants.
"So what do you say?" Tom concludes. "Will you be the Gerri to my Tom?" She wonders how long he's been waiting to say that.
At that moment her phone buzzes and she looks down to see an image has come through from Roman. She's expecting another dick pic, after all Roman has nothing to lose now the company is sold, but instead it's a photo of a martini, just how she likes it. The caption says simply I miss you.
She blinks back a tear and returns her attention to Tom. "What else can you offer me?"
A/N: Title from Queen Bitch by David Bowie