He runs his palm over his face again. “I’m going to fix it.”
“What about Sam? Shouldn’t he be the one ‘fixing’ some of this too?”
“Yes.” Ben nods. “Definitely. I’m just not sure how to go about making all these wrongs right.”
“It’s not just you, Ben. Sam and Graham need to play a role as well.”
“Are you going to tell Graham all of this?”
Is he asking me not to? Because if he is….
“I think you should.”
Oh thank God. He’s turning out to be the man I’d hoped he was. “Let me talk to Lindsay. Then I’ll write up my report for Graham.”
“In the meantime, I’ll speak to Sam. I can go over at lunch.” He looks over his desk at Sky. “Oh, I can’t….”
“I’ll take Sky. She can sit with me in the conference room while you go to the hospital.”
“But—”
“If we’re right about this, then my work here is nearly done.”
That means, depending on the fallout, Ben and I could possibly, maybe….
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ben
“So you’re saying I’m the one to blame for all the bad shit that’s been going on in the department?” Sam’s tone is telling me everything I need to know. He thinks that’s bullshit.
“No. Not everything. You stole her lunch. I don’t know how many times, but once was probably enough.”
Sam looks sheepish now. “She always had something great, and I can’t cook. Plus I’m getting sucked dry financially by my ex.”
“If you needed help with lunch, you could have told me. I thought we were friends.” Not anymore, but at one time, I thought we were.
“I know,” he mumbles. “Fuck.”
“And as for the part about never inviting her out for drinks?”
He’s thinking about this one. I can practically see the cogs rolling around in his head. “This is between you and me.”
“I’m not sure I can do that.”
“Fine,” he growls. “She’s the spitting image of my ex-wife. Hell, her kids look like my kids. I couldn’t stand the thought of sitting across from her doing something I love most in this world—drinking. She’d ruin it just like my former wife did.”
His words surprise me so much that a laugh escapes even though it’s not funny. Not at all. I mean, if drinking is his favorite thing to do, then he’s got bigger problems than the ones at work. “Then none of us should have been invited.”
“Now. Now none of you should be invited. I had no idea she’d get all bent out of shape. I can’t be blamed just because some chick got butt-hurt because I didn’t invite her to party.” That last bit was said in a high-pitched voice that, I assume, was supposed to sound feminine. It didn’t. It just sounded bitter.
His words only reinforce what I’ve been thinking about Sam lately. He’s a sexist, out-of-touch asshole. “I’m afraid we’re both in trouble.”
“Told ya.” He snorts. “Your ass is gone. You need to do what I told you to do and fuck that consultant.”
“And I thought you were just drunk when you spewed that bullshit at the bar. I’m seeing a side of you I don’t really like, Sam.” But regardless of how he said it, he’s right. Getting fired is a distinct possibility. And I don’t expect Alison to do me any favors. She’s too good for that—she’s a professional. I’d never ask her too, either.
“God, I hate guys like you.” Sam’s practically spitting the words. He really does hate me.
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“You’re one of those good-looking assholes who get any chick they want and shit just falls into their lap. You’ve barely had to work to get where you are. It took me twice as long to make it into management as it did you, and it’s all because of your looks because God knows you’re not that talented.”
Hmm. Okay. Wow.
It definitely wasn’t the booze doing the talking the other night. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“You’re the one who should be sorry. It’s about time you got what’s coming to you, Ben.”
What happened to the guy I visited yesterday? That guy was a tad remorseful. I should cut him a break. Maybe he needs pain meds. No, he’s detoxing. “You need something for the pain?”
“Why the fuck do you care? Jesus,” he mutters. “Get the fuck out of here.”
On that note, I stand and walk out of his room, and for the first time since I’ve been with Morgan Financial, I sort of wish I’d chosen teaching. Money isn’t worth this bullshit.
“It didn’t go well.” I’m standing in the doorway to the conference room. Alison is sitting on the floor next to Sky’s crate, stroking the top of her head.
“No?”
“No. He hates my guts, and I truly believe he thinks women to be the devil.”
“I knew the second part. Why does he hate you, though? I thought you two were friends?”
I hesitate to tell her the truth because it’s embarrassing so I say it quickly. “He said I got where I am because of my looks.”
Her head pops up from looking at Sky to stare into my eyes. “Excuse me?”
She’s making me repeat it? “He said I don’t have any talent and that the only reason I’m in this job is because of my looks.”
She covers her mouth with her palm, obviously trying to stifle the laugh. I get it. It’s funny to her.
“If I were a woman, would you be laughing?” I mean, come on.
Her laugh stops suddenly. In a matter of seconds, she looks as though she may cry. “Oh my…. You’re right, Ben. I’m so, so sorry.”
Walking over to her, I squat down so we’re almost at eye level. “I know you didn’t mean it, but it’s true. That’s what we, in the biz, call a double standard.”
“You… you’re right. I’m the worst.”
I have the intense urge to reach out and wrap her up in my arms, but I can’t because we’re essentially sitting in a fishbowl. Everyone in my department can see in here. “No you’re not. We all do it.”
Reaching out, I take Sky’s kennel. “I need to take her outside.”
She shakes her head. “I just took her. She’s also eaten her lunch and has drunk a bunch of water.” Reaching out, she touches Sky’s head. “She’s such a good girl.”
Fuck. This woman right here. She’s the entire package. Sweet, beautiful, kind, and smart as hell.
I could fall in love with her.
Just. Like. That.
Chapter Thirty
Alison
“So, this is it?” Graham says after reading my report. “This is all about Lindsay Barker.”
“No, I wouldn’t say it’s all about her. I’d say it’s about a number of people within the department who made some errors in judgment. Lindsay seemed to be the one who took the brunt of those errors.”