“So, Sam Ford steals fucking lunches? Don’t I pay him enough?”
“That’s between you and Sam. All I know is he’s dealing with large child support payments that are taken directly from his paycheck.”
“And that’s my fault?” Graham’s voice is getting more agitated.
“No. That’s all on Sam.”
“And Ben taking credit for Lindsay’s idea?”
“I don’t think he meant to. It just sort of snowballed.”
“Still. That’s bullshit. He should have manned up.”
I hate that expression. It’s sexist at its core. “He should have done the right thing, you mean.”
“No. I mean if he had balls, he would have given credit where credit is due.”
The balls analogy is even worse. “You’re being sexist.”
“Excuse me?” He leans forward. “Because I said ‘balls’?”
“Yes.”
“Fine,” he snaps as he sits back into his chair. “He should have done the right thing.”
“What about the claim of favoritism?”
“Sam again.” Graham shakes his head. “He’s got a drinking problem.”
He seems to want to give Sam the benefit of the doubt, but Ben, not so much. “And a favoritism problem.”
“Because she looks like his ex?” Graham chuckles. “I can relate to that.”
“None of this is funny, Mr. Morgan.”
Rubbing his chin, he nods. “No, it’s not. I need to get with HR about all of this. Thank you for all of your hard work. Please send me your bill.”
And that’s it? I’m done? I guess I am, since I answered the questions as it relates to the green file. I still have others, though.
“If I may….”
“What?”
“I still have some unanswered questions.”
“Like?”
“Like who provided Ben with the incorrect social media data for his presentation?”
“You’re sure making it obvious.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ben. You’re trying to help him, but I think it may be a fruitless endeavor.”
“I like both Ben and Lindsay. Actually, I like almost everyone in your department.”
“Almost?”
I’m not about to tell him my feelings about Sam and Clive. “Almost.”
“Who doesn’t make the cut? Sam?”
I don’t say a word.
“Okay. Sam and who else?”
“I’m not going to say.”
“I know it’s Clive because he took your office and hasn’t done jack shit since I promoted him.”
“What’s he supposed to be doing?”
“Spying. Giving me intel.”
“And how’s that going?” I smirk. The guy hasn’t stepped foot from his office except to go to lunch. I know because I’ve kept an eye on him, and because people have been talking.
Graham scoffs. “Not good. According to IT, all he does all day is play video games.”
I put my hand over my mouth to stop the laugh, but it’s no good.
“It’s not funny.” But then he smirks. “He’s the one who handed me the folder.”
“Oh?” I’m not surprised. But this means he wasn’t completely truthful with Ben about all of it. If he and Lindsay were in on this together…. “I think he and Lindsay have been co-conspirators, especially as it relates to Ben. My guess is she’s the source of the incorrect social media data and Clive’s the one who added it to his presentation.”
Graham leans way back in his seat as he rubs his palms over his face. “Jesus. That department is going to be the death of me. So much fucking drama.”
“Yeah, well, it’s because marketing is a creative field, and creative minds tend to have feelings.”
“Fuck feelings.” He must know his words are absurd because he laughs after he says them, which makes me laugh too.
The meeting with Graham went as well as could be expected. Unfortunately, I wasn’t privy to any decisions he may make based on my report.
I’m a little fearful for Ben. I did my best to write the report as objectively as possible, but it wasn’t easy. I have feelings for the man, but he made some mistakes. Mistakes I hope he’ll learn from. I think he will. As for Sam? I’m not so sure.
The one good thing that came from my discussion with Graham is he decided I should stick around for a bit longer. He wants me to find out who was behind the social media data issue, for one. For another, well, I’m not sure.
“How’d it go?”
I’m so deep in my own thoughts that I jump hearing Ben’s voice. Looking up, I see he’s standing in the doorway to my temporary office. “I think it went okay.” What else am I supposed to say?
“Am I fired?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t get that impression, but honestly, I presented my report and he said he’d think it over. So I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Ben’s hands are at his sides, but they’re twitching a little bit. “You know all that stuff with Sam not taking responsibility has got me thinking….”
I remain silent, waiting for the rest.
“I wrote up an email.”
I arch a brow. “An email?”
“Apologizing to Lindsay for taking credit for her idea.”
I reach out and open my email app. I search for my new email but don’t see anything from Ben. “Did you send it?”
“Not yet.” He steps closer, pulling a folded piece of paper out of his pocket, unfolding it as he walks. “Will you read it and see what you think?”
“Sure.” I take the paper and begin to read.
From: Ben Schilling
Re: Apology
As you know, last year Morgan Financial Holdings went through rebranding. I was part of the team who worked on that project along with Silvia McAllister and Lindsay Barker. I presented our idea to Mr. Morgan on my own, and because of that, he gave me credit for the winning concept when that credit should have gone to Lindsay Barker. I took credit when I shouldn’t have. I would like to sincerely apologize to Lindsay and say that while it was unintentional, I did nothing to correct Mr. Morgan’s impression that it was my idea. That is not acceptable, nor is it professional. I’m sorry.
Ben Schilling
“Wow.” I blink at Ben a few times. “You’re sending this to the entire company?”
His head moves up once, then down.
“Okay. Do you think you should clear this with Graham before you send it?”
“Nah.” He shrugs. “I’d rather ask forgiveness.”
I force myself not to roll my eyes. “You do that a lot, huh?”
He chuckles softly. “I guess. But the thing is, if I don’t do it now, I may chicken out, and I owe this to Lindsay.”
“You do,” I say without hesitation. “Then do it.”