We whirl at the sharp words. Behind us, backed by a sneering little crowd of women who were giving me the stink eye earlier, is a stern dark-haired woman in an aggressive shade of teal. She glares at us down the bridge of her nose like we’re dirt on her carpet.

I went to an all-girls’ private school. I also grew up hanging around the Crown and Black offices, watching female interns, paralegals, and junior partners eat each other alive for coveted promotions.

I can smell mean girl energy a ...