The Better Man

by Len Webster

  “Is that true, Emerson?” Mr. Jackson asked.

  It was their word against Walter’s. And unfortunately for Will and Emerson, Walter was an important client for Coates and Jackson. Will was replaceable; he knew that coming into the finance world.

  But Emerson wasn’t.

  There was no other advisor like her.

  “Yes, sir. I knew,” Emerson said in a small voice. Then she straightened her spine. “I supported Will …” She glanced over and shot him a reassuring smile. “I still do. Will did nothing wrong, and Savannah isn’t some property Mr. Vidović can claim.”

  Mr. Jackson nodded. “That might be so, but what you both did was unethical. Walter is our client. I expected better from two of my best advisors but especially from you, Emerson. You were up for a promotion to supervisor. We spoke about your future, and you said you were ready. Your actions say otherwise.”

  No.

  Will felt sick. He had no idea Emerson was up for a promotion. He had taken it from her. He looked over and saw the distraught on her face as she nodded.

  “Emerson,” he breathed.

  She turned, and that supportive gleam remained in her eyes before she focused back on their bosses and Walter. “I know, sir.”

  “Will,” Mr. Jackson said, getting his attention. “Emerson.”

  He sensed it.

  He saw it on his boss’s face.

  “Unfortunately, there is nothing more I can do. You’ve both damaged not only the company’s image but your own. The deceitful behavior from you both cannot be tolerated. You broke a client’s trust, and that is something we take seriously. I ask that you both empty your office of your personal belongings and leave the building.”

  He heard Emerson’s sniffle before she said, “Yes, sir. I’m so sorry for my actions, but Will is my partner and friend. I supported him, I still do, and I accept the consequences. Thank you for the opportunities you have given me.” Then she turned and began to walk out of the conference room.

  “Wait!” Will yelled after her, stopping her. She spun around, and her eyes were wide with questioning. Will knew what he had to do. Emerson had worked so hard for years. She was always up against men and fought for her position. Will would not be the reason she got fired. He would not let Coates and Jackson lose the best thing that had ever happened to their company.

  “Will, no,” she begged.

  But he wouldn’t listen. She had always supported him, and that belief and support had cost her everything. Turning, he would appeal to his bosses and Walter. He never thought he needed Walter, but he did. He needed him to change his mind and see that Emerson had nothing to do with him and Savannah. Will was the one who had crossed many lines, not his partner.

  “Please, Mr. Coates and Mr. Jackson. Please don’t fire Emerson. She had no idea. She didn’t know the extent of my relationship with Savannah. She didn’t know. Had she known, I’m sure she would have stopped me if I just told her the truth,” Will pleaded. “I had the relationship with Savannah, not Emerson.”

  Mr. Jackson nodded. “I value trust, and you broke it. You understand that I have to fire someone today.”

  Will nodded. “Yes, fire me.”

  “Will, stop it!” Emerson fought behind him.

  “If it pleases you, please fire me and keep Miss Calvert. She’s been essential to this company and to your finances, Mr. Vidović.”

  He hoped Walter understood. That underneath his rage was compassion. That he would realize how crucial Emerson truly was.

  “I want you to apologize to me,” Walter ordered.

  Will had a lot of pride. He would never apologize to a man like Walter Vidović, but his best friend’s career was hanging by a thread, and Will was determined to ensure it never severed. She had made many sacrifices for him. It was time Will did the same.

  So he swallowed his pride and ignored Walter’s sly grin.

  He would get what he wanted, and so would Will.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Vidović. I’m sorry I hurt you and your confidence in not only my professionalism but also in Coates and Jackson. That was never my intention. My actions are not a reflection of this company. And for that, I profusely apologize.”

  He would apologize about his professionalism and the bad image he gave his employers, but Will would never apologize for falling in love with Savannah.

  Not a single inch of him was apologetic for loving her.

  And it appeared as if Walter understood that an apology concerning Savannah would not be what he heard today.

  “I accept your apology. Coates, Jackson, I’m happy to keep Emerson as my only financial advisor so long as you terminate your employment with Will,” Walter demanded.

  “I’m sorry, Will,” Mr. Coates uttered. Out of Will’s two bosses, he was close to Trenton Coates and respected him. But at the end of the day, it was business. And Will was not good for theirs.

  He nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Coates and Mr. Jackson. It has been an honor.” Then he spun around to find the tears running down Emerson’s face. His partner—ex-partner—never cried. He appreciated her tears, but he had put her through enough. “I’m sorry to put you through all this, Emerson.”

  Then Will walked out of the meeting, unemployed but happy. He didn’t have to worry about Walter threatening Emerson’s career. They wouldn’t fire her now that Will was no longer an employee of Coates and Jackson. His co-workers had expressions of disappointment on their faces. It was clear they heard him get fired. Will was saddened that he wouldn’t get to properly say goodbye to the people who made his job enjoyable. Security would be on the top floor soon to escort him off the premises as per protocol.

  Will would leave with his head held high.

  But first, he had to clean out his office.

  After opening the door and stepping inside, he felt sorrow when he saw his desk next to Emerson’s. She had gone from his competition to his partner. He knew she would accomplish great things after him. He hoped her next partner was better than him. He hoped she made supervisor because she deserved the promotion.

  Will walked over to his desk and smiled at his name on the silver plaque. He was unemployed, but he’d get back on his feet. He’d find a job. He wouldn’t stop hunting until he found one.

  Hearing footsteps behind him, he spun around to find Emerson with two boxes in her hands. Her eyes glassy with her unshed tears. “I can’t believe you did that for me, Will.”

  As he walked over to her, he shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me you were in line for a promotion? Emerson, I wouldn’t have let you get involved and risked it.”

  “It might sound crazy, Will, but you’re actually my best friend. Lisa jokes that you’re my work husband all the time. I didn’t want to tell you so you wouldn’t get your hopes up. I know how supportive you are. I didn’t want to disappoint you,” she explained.

  “You could never disappoint me.” Then he reached out for the boxes. “Thanks for grabbing me some.”

  Emerson laughed, confusing him. “You think these boxes are for you?”

  “Yeah,” he said, trying to take them from her, but she stepped around him.

  “Get your own, Will.”

  He stilled as realization ran cold through his veins. He watched Emerson set the boxes on her desk and begin to pack her belongings. “Emerson …”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “What?”

  “What did you do?”

  She spun around, reached over, and grabbed a box. Then she stepped toward him and handed him the box. “We always share, right?”

  “Emerson.”

  She gave him a small smile. “You really think I could work here without you? What you did for me, having to apologize to him, made me aware that I would rather be unemployed than work for a company that let someone like you go. You did nothing wrong, Will. I will always support you. You mean more to me than Coates and Jackson. We could see a lawyer about unfair dismiss—”

  Will dropped the box and wrapped his arms tightl
y around her. She was as much his best friend as he was hers. And he was thankful for her support before and after they walked into that conference room. Pulling back, he glanced down at her. “There’s no need for a lawyer. It’s a blessing.”

  “It is?”

  “Yeah. Coates and Jackson can’t have an advisor they don’t trust. It’s bad for business. Sure, I should have fought harder and made them see that Walter was lying.” He let out a relieved sigh. “But I can’t work here—even if they gave me my job back. Though they won’t because they need a client with money and connections like Walter.”

  “And I can’t work here without you.”

  He appreciated her loyalty. He treasured it. “Ready to be unemployed?”

  Emerson laughed. “So long as we do it together.”

  But they wouldn’t.

  Because Will knew companies had been trying to poach her for years.

  And Will knew one company who would snap her up in a heartbeat when they found out she was free of Coates and Jackson. Though it was sad to be leaving, he knew better things were on the horizon.

  For both of them.

  Thirty

  Savannah

  It was late when Savannah logged out of her emails and smiled at Monty, who had been in a meeting with some of the big bosses. It was Tuesday evening, and Savannah was tired after coming home from New York late last night. She had said goodbye to Walter and to the toxicity that bound them together. Savannah hoped he listened to her and got help now that she was out of his life. When she was packing up her hotel room, she wanted to take a cab to Will’s apartment and tell him that they were free to be together. But Savannah didn’t want to rush her heart or Will’s. They both needed time to think. And that was what they were doing. She had called him when she finally got home from the airport, and they spoke for a little while before she was too tired and told him she needed some sleep.

  Savannah knew they would need to have a conversation soon about what to do next. She had admitted that she thought of Will as one of her best friends. She was even close to telling him she loved him. But like most things in Savannah’s life, it was never the right time.

  “You should go home, Savannah. You’ve worked so hard today,” Monty said as she slipped a folder into her briefcase.

  “I’ll be going home in a second. I have to put these files away before I leave,” she informed before she smiled at her boss. “Night, Monty.”

  Monty smiled. She had been under a lot of pressure now that she had been nominated for the Shannon Award. It was an industry recognition award that not many women had been nominated for. In a month, Monty would be on her way to Boston. She had mentioned that she wanted Savannah to join her, but there was tough competition from other marketers to be Monty’s plus one. Savannah knew that all she could do was continue to work hard and prove to Monty that she was worth taking.

  “Good night, Savannah. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t stay too late,” her boss said as she walked past Savannah’s desk and headed toward the elevator behind her. Once Savannah heard the elevator door close, she picked up the thirteen files sitting on her desk. They weren’t just Monty’s files but belonged to other marketers, too. Savannah was learning a lot from their reports, and she didn’t mind spending hours photocopying them for her boss and co-workers.

  As she was about to stand from her chair, her phone vibrated on her desk. Savannah set down the heavy files and picked up her phone, smiling the moment she saw his name.

  Will.

  She answered and held her phone to her ear. Normally, she wouldn’t take his call while she was at her desk, but the office was empty except for Savannah and the cleaning crew.

  “Hey,” she greeted, unable to fight the happiness in her voice. Ever since she left Walter for good, she felt happier. She knew she was stronger, but she also knew she had better with a man who took care of her and wanted the best for her.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” Will said, sounding tired. “Are you still at work?”

  “I am. Just got some files to put away, and then I’ll head down to the garage.”

  “Savannah, it’s after eight.”

  Her heart warmed at his concern. “I’m going to leave soon. Don’t worry. I called security not too long ago, and they’re going to walk me to my car,” she explained. It wasn’t like Savannah was in a rush to go home. Her apartment was empty, and she didn’t particularly feel like the cheese sandwiches she had planned on eating for dinner.

  “That’s good.” Though he sounded relieved that she would be safe with security, something in his voice sounded off.

  “Is everything okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”

  He sighed. “No, sweetheart. Everything is not okay. But I don’t want to burden you with my day.”

  Savannah tensed with concern. “Will, that’s ridiculous. Please tell me. I don’t know if I can do anything from Vermont, but I’m here to listen.”

  Will was quiet for a long while before she heard his sigh and clatter in the background.

  “Savannah, I got fired today.”

  Her heart stopped as a lump formed in her throat. The air in her lungs thinned. He couldn’t have gotten fired. Will was one of the best at his jobs. He was so dedicated. He made finance interesting.

  “Fired?” she uttered, trying to suppress the anger that heated her body.

  “Yes.”

  Her heart didn’t want to believe it, but her head knew. Savannah was the cause. She had pushed Walter Vidović too far, and Will was a casualty because of her need to be free.

  “Will, was it …?” She couldn’t finish her question. She couldn’t fathom Walter hurting her like this. She didn’t understand.

  “Yes.” His voice cracked. He inhaled heavily and exhaled slowly.

  “He got you fired?” Even as she raised her voice, she couldn’t believe it.

  He sighed. “That’s not all, Savannah.”

  “There’s more?” she asked, bewildered as her body numbed.

  “He tried to get Emerson fired, too, but I convinced him to keep her as his financial advisor.”

  Her heart died in her chest. Emerson was innocent. The guilt made it difficult for Savannah to breathe. “Oh, my God,” she uttered. “Will, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. When I confronted him, he asked me if I slept with you. He took my silence as his answer. I should have known he would do this. It’s the only way he can hurt you. Let me talk to him—”

  “Savannah.”

  Tears of frustration and remorse watered her eyes. Savannah had to blink in order to see. “This is my fault.”

  “Sweetheart,” he said gently. “It’s not. He told Mr. Coates and Mr. Jackson that you’re his girl, and they believed him.”

  “I’m not his girl.”

  “I know.” He paused. “I even had to apologize to him.”

  Her chest ached, understanding what he had just said. “You’re sorry about us?”

  “Never. God, never, Savannah. I apologized for making him lose faith in the company. It was the only way for Emerson to keep her job. She was up for a supervisor position. I couldn’t let her get fired because of me.”

  Will had apologized to Walter. She knew it would have been difficult for him to.

  “I told them to fire me so that Emerson could stay.”

  God, she couldn’t love this selfless man more.

  “I’m glad Emerson’s staying.”

  Will let out a small laugh. “Actually …”

  She froze, anticipating the worst. “What?”

  “She quit,” he announced. “She quit for me.”

  Savannah blinked in utter shock. “So neither of you are working at Coates and Jackson?”

  “We cleaned out our office today.”

  “Will, you could have just lied. It would have been your word against his. Why would you sacrifice your career like that?”

  She heard more rustling as if he were trying to get comfortable. “For you,” he breathed.
The emotion in his voice had her chest heaving with the pressure of her undeclared love for him.

  “Will, because of me, you’re both unemployed,” she pointed out as her chest tightened with furious guilt. “I can’t let him get away with this.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “How is this okay?” she asked, her voice tightening as she held back a sob. “I’m so angry with him. Let me talk to Mr. Coates. I met him at the party. He knows I know you. Let me—”

  “Savannah,” he uttered in a soft voice as her frustrated tears fell. “It’s okay.”

  “It’s not, Will.”

  “As I said to Emerson, it’s a blessing.”

  Savannah’s jaw dropped. “How?” She reached up and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “How is this a blessing? He lied. I’m not his to have. I wasn’t his. How could they believe him?”

  He let out a slow exhale. “Because he’s an NBA player who makes millions and has the right connections. They can’t lose someone like him. This is a blessing, Savannah. I don’t have to work for him anymore. I get to choose you. I did choose you in that meeting. I chose Emerson. And I chose myself. This wasn’t about Walter anymore. We don’t have to worry about him or my job. We don’t have to retaliate.”

  But she wanted to.

  She wanted to confront Walter. He couldn’t stop hurting her even after she walked away. She wanted to scream at him for going after Will and Emerson. She wanted to fight him and make him see just how selfish he was. As she thought of ways to hurt him, she realized she would only be hurting herself.

  Savannah didn’t want to stoop to Walter’s level.

  She wanted to be as strong as Will, and she’d channel her anger in another course—not giving her ex any more power over her.

  “We won’t retaliate,” she promised, finding strength in such an oath. “But you’re still unemployed, and he gets to play for the Knicks. How is that fair?”

  “It’s not.” Will let out a heavy sigh. “Sweetheart, things here are going to be insane for a while. Finding a job and everything. I think …”