Chapter 23
“Now, come on, Florence, you know that’s never gonna work out,” Ben said, pointing his pen toward the PowerPoint presentation one of his colleagues was explaining. “The investments are safe, I’ll give you that, but if word goes out that Blake Incorporated is investing in a nuclear plant, they’ll have to deal with a bunch of crap in terms of reputation. They can’t build their brand on organic and local food, support for their farmers, and then do this without blowback. It doesn’t fit their image.”
“What do you suggest then?” Florence asked, crossing her arms over her chest. It was the end of the day, but she looked as impeccable as ever. Perfect skirt suit, crisp white shirt, blond hair with curls that always stayed in place. She was the epitome of the efficient businesswoman, and she knew it. “They have specific directives regarding return on investment and our options are limited.”
“Look into green energy companies.”
“They’re too new, it’s not as safe.”
Ben shook his head. “Would you rather invest in Apple or in Nokia?”
“That’s not the same.”
“No, it’s not. Just an example that just because something is older doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for the company. Just my opinion.”
Florence turned around, eyeing her charts again. “I don’t disagree. Convincing them is gonna be something else.”
“You could convince Santa Claus to support Weight Watchers, Flo. I don’t doubt for a second you can do it.”
A few chuckles echoed across the table as Florence let out a smile. “I’ll try to look into energy companies that offer both: traditional nuclear and green energy. It could be a good compromise between modern and good old safety.”
“See?” Ben asked as he dropped back in his chair. “Already found a third solution.”
“Well, I think that’s a good way to end the week, everyone,” Damon, the head of their department, said as he closed his file and stood up. “Good job, Flo. I know they’re difficult customers, but I think you’re on the right path. Ben, great input. The rest of you, nice job on polishing off the donuts.”
Ben glanced at Florence, sharing a grin with her. They were, by far, the most efficient of their teams. There was a healthy rivalry between them and a mutual understanding. They weren’t exactly friends but were definitely on good terms.
“Wanna head out for a drink?” Florence asked as he gathered his notes. “I’m parched, and I could use someone to bounce ideas off of.”
“I still have a bunch of things to do. The Kane contract is reaching its end, and they’re not sure if they want to stay with us. I’m supposed to meet with Carl about it. And it’s Friday.”
“Right. The mysterious Friday night drinks. Sorry, I forgot. You seemed to go less and less lately.”
“Well, when two have a baby, and two are planning their wedding, it’s harder to gather everyone.”
He didn’t mention that it was actually the case for tonight. He didn’t have plans, or at least not what Flo had in mind.
“Why does everyone start settling down so young?”
“We’re over thirty,” he reminded her as they headed back to their offices. There was no denying he kinda missed the usual weekly meeting. Things were changing, though, and to be fair, he really liked his new Friday night activities with Madison.
Almost as much as he liked their Saturday night activities.
And Sunday morning.
And-
“True. I guess it’s the norm to start thinking about these things now,” Florence replied, interrupting his thoughts. “Thankfully, I’m not there yet. Can you imagine, spending the next fifty years or so with the same person? Seeing their face every morning for the rest of your life? It freaks me out just thinking about it.”
“Yeah… same,” he mumbled absently. Although, to be fair, there was something really nice about waking up next to someone all snuggled up against you.
Especially if her hair smelled like honey, and she liked morning sex and pumpkin spice drinks.
“Mister Ackerman,” Gregory, his secretary, hailed him as soon as he entered the large working space.
“Yes?”
“There is someone downstairs who wants to see you. I wasn’t sure I could let her up, so I asked the front desk to keep her down there. Madison Goldstein? She says she is your friend?”
“Madison?” He asked in surprise. Madison had never stopped by his office. They had met once or twice just outside of the building whenever they would plan to spend the evening - and the night - together, but she had never dropped by unannounced. “Yes, of course, let her up.”
“Madison, huh? Interesting…” Florence hummed innocently as she continued to her own office.
He had left his phone charging on his desk. He saw a couple of texts from her, saying she was downstairs and was going to wait until he was done for the day. Frowning, he quickly went through his agenda, wondering if they had made plans, other than her spending the night at his place, and he had forgotten about them. Apparently, men tended to do that, as Ian and Chris had once shared wisely.
He’d have to be more careful, now that he was in a relationship too.
Wait.
He wasn’t in a relationship. He and Madison were still in a weird no-go zone, not a couple, but much more than friends.
He’d have to sort this out because it was getting ridiculous. He liked her, she liked him, it was time to be upfront and open about it. It had stopped being about hooking up a while ago. It was good she was dropping by, so he could inform her of his decision to be a gentleman and make their relationship public.
He wasn’t sure what he expected, but it clearly wasn’t the vacant look on Madison’s face as his secretary let her in.
“Madison, what’s wrong?” he asked as soon as the door was closed. Her eyes were wide, and she almost seemed in shock.
“He attacked another girl.”
It took him a moment to understand what she meant. “Henry?”
“Yes. He… he wasn’t interrupted this time. Oh, Ben, it’s my fault. I should have fought harder to make sure he was punished, I shouldn’t have listened to them.” She looked at him, her eyes welling with tears. “It’s my fault.”
“Oh, baby, no,” he whispered, pulling her in his arms. Loud, painful sobs tore through her throat as he rocked her gently. “It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”
He had never understood why his friends hated to see their girls cry so much. Not that he was an asshole. He didn’t like seeing anyone cry, period. But holding Madison in his arms and feeling every heart-wrenching sob tearing her apart… he was getting it. If he could, he would bottle up that pain and take it upon himself rather than being so helpless while she was suffering.
He was so focused on Madison that he didn’t even hear the door open. Gregory eyed him, wincing when he saw Madison. He was probably there to remind Ben of his last meeting of the day. It was nothing that couldn’t wait until Monday, and he felt no guilt at all when he shook his head and mouthed, “Cancel everything.”
Gregory, who really needed a raise for his efficiency and discretion, nodded with a thumbs up then softly closed the door behind him once again.
He didn’t know how long they stayed there but eventually the light shifted in the room, and her tears dried out. He smoothed her hair back and handed her the handkerchief he always carried with him - something his grandfather had drilled into him, for which he was now very thankful.
“Thank you,” she murmured before drying her cheeks. “Do you have a tissue?”
He frowned. “I just gave you one.”
“I’m not gonna blow my nose in your handkerchief.”
“That’s… Pumpkin, I’m pretty sure that is the purpose of a handkerchief.”
“But it’s gross.”
“We exchange fluids on the regular, I took care of you when you had the flu, and you draw the line at using my handkerchief?”
She huffed out a small laugh, and the sound loosened something in his chest. That was how Madison was supposed to be. Carefree, happy.
“Come on, Pumpkin. Do it. Smash that barrier down.”
“I can’t blow my nose with you staring at me,” she protested as she unfolded the square of fabric.
He turned around to give her privacy, shaking his head. “I swear to God, the things you make me do. Also, please don’t be too loud, I have the reputation of being an extremely elegant blower.”
The sound that came up from behind him was a mix between a snort and a cough and he grinned when Madison said, “Stop trying to make me laugh!”
“Why? It’s working.”
“You know why,” she replied in a much more sober tone.
With a sigh, he turned around, then gathered her in his arms again. “Madison, nothing about this is your fault. You wanted to report it. Those who failed this young girl are the ones who didn’t protect her. That is not you.”
“I feel so guilty. She’s only nineteen, Ben. She’s a kid.”
“How did you find out?”
“Doctor Guggenheim, my mentor who was with me in London, remember?”
“Yeah?”
“She was in New York for a few days and came to tell me and… to apologize for not taking this as seriously as she should have.”
“What did you say?”
“That she should apologize to the innocent girl who had to go through something horrific that could have been avoided.”
“That’s my girl,” he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead.
“But I feel terrible for her, and at the same time… I’m so relieved he was interrupted with me. Because he would have gone that far, and that was something I kept wondering about and now… I know he would have. I wouldn’t have been able to stop him. I’m relieved over something that happened to someone else, how twisted is that?”
“It’s not twisted. It’s human. Madison, you were a victim too. Things didn’t go as far for you, and thank God for that, but you’re human. You’re allowed to feel relieved. It doesn’t make you a monster. There is only one monster in this story, and it’s that asshole.”
She nodded, then rested her cheek back on his chest. “I’m sorry I came without warning.”
“It’s not the first time. Although, usually, it does happen when we’re in bed.”
“Ben!”
“Sorry. It also did happen once on the couch.”
He would be lying if he said he didn’t deserve the slap on his chest, but the small smile she gave him made it worth it.
“Now that you have me all to yourself, what do you want to do tonight? My place, your place? Dining in, dining out? Movie? Bowling?”
“Bowling?” she asked. “You?”
“Me? Hell, no. But I’m trying to get your mind on something else.”
She grinned then reached up on her toes to press a peck against his lips. “I just want something simple, and easy, and uncomplicated. Exactly like the past five months or so. You don’t have to change for me.”
It twisted a little something in his chest when he realized how happy she was with their current relationship. He had wanted to try to move forward but… it obviously wasn’t the right time. Maybe it never would be. Maybe he would always be the guy who made the girl laugh and forget her problems until she was ready for the real deal.
At that moment, with Madison looking up at him, her eyes still red and puffy from crying, it became impossible to ignore how much, just this one time, he wanted to be the real deal.