A few suggesting his relationship with Victoria was more than professional and attacking both of them for it. Noah’s stomach turned. He’d known there would be criticism, but seeing it spelled out in angry internet comments was different from anticipating it abstractly. His phone rang. Victoria, have you seen the news? I’m looking at it now. Ignore the negative comments.
They’re a vocal minority. Victoria’s voice was firm. The speech was powerful, Noah. The foundation has received over $50,000 in online donations since last night. The website crashed twice from traffic. This is good. It doesn’t feel good, I know, but we knew there would be backlash.
People are always suspicious when someone from outside their world succeeds. She paused. Are you okay? Gen Noah thought about lying, then remembered Victoria valued honesty. No, but I will be. Do you want to take the day off? Clare can handle any media requests. No. If I hide now, it’ll just make things worse. Noah took a breath. I’m coming in. We have work to do. Okay.
But Noah, don’t read the comments. Trust me on this. He didn’t listen to her advice. By the time he got to the office, Noah had read dozens of comments, each one making him feel worse. The ones about Sarah were the hardest. Strangers dissecting his grief, questioning whether he’d really loved her or was just using her memory for sympathy.
Emma had questions at breakfast about why people were talking about dad online. And Noah had fumbled through an explanation about how sometimes when you try to help people, others get upset about it. That’s dumb, Emma announced. You’re helping people. That’s good. Not everyone sees it that way, sweetheart. Then they’re dumb.
Noah wished he had an 8-year-old certainty that the world was that simple. The office felt different when he arrived. People stared more openly, whispered as he passed. Some offered congratulations, others just watched with expressions Noah couldn’t read. David Reeves was waiting by Noah’s office. Quite the performance last night.
It wasn’t a performance, wasn’t it? The tragic widowerower story, the struggle, the emotional appeal. Reeves leaned against the door frame. You played that room perfectly. Very manipulative. Noah felt rage flash hot and sudden. My wife died. My daughter and I struggled. Those are facts, not manipulation.
And now you’re using those facts to build a career. Convenient. I’m using my experience to help people in similar situations. There’s a difference. Is there? Reeves smiled coldly. Be honest, Bennett. If Victoria hadn’t offered you this job, where would you be right now? Back in a warehouse somewhere, living paycheck to paycheck.
You saw an opportunity and you took it. Can’t blame you for that. But don’t pretend it’s purely altruistic. Get out of my office. This isn’t your office. It’s Victoria’s office in Victoria’s building, funded by Victoria’s money. You’re just the face she put on her pet project. Reeves straightened up.
Enjoy it while it lasts. Eventually, she’ll get bored. her pregnant brain fog will clear and she’ll realize what a mistake this was. He walked away before Noah could respond. He walked, leaving behind words that burrowed under Noah’s skin like splinters. Noah sat at his desk, trying to focus on work and failing. Every email felt impossible, every task overwhelming.
The voice in his head that sounded disturbingly like Reeves kept whispering that he didn’t belong here, that he’d fooled Victoria somehow, that eventually everyone would see through him. Victoria found him an hour later staring at his computer without actually seeing anything on the screen. Noah. He looked up. Victoria stood in his doorway, hand resting on her belly, concerned clear in her expression.
What happened? Nothing. just a lot of emails. Don’t lie to me. You look like someone kicked you. She came into the office and closed the door. Talk. Noah wanted to deflect, but Victoria was looking at him with such genuine worry that the word spilled out. What Reeves had said, the internet comments.
The feeling that he was in over his head and everyone could see it. Victoria listened without interrupting. When he finished, she was quiet for a moment. “David is threatened by you,” she said. She said finally. He’s VP of corporate development. I’m running a nonprofit with a budget that’s a rounding error in his world.
How am I threatening? Because you have something he doesn’t. Authenticity. Connection with people outside our bubble. The ability to make others care about something beyond profit margins. Victoria sat down across from him. David’s brilliant at business strategy, but he’s terrible at human connection. He knows it and he resents anyone who has what he lacks.
But that doesn’t make what he said wrong, doesn’t it? Noah, you didn’t manipulate me into anything. I offered you this job because you were qualified, not because I felt sorry for you. Her voice was firm. Yes, your experience with loss and struggle is part of why you’re good at this work. But so is your intelligence, your empathy, your ability to connect with people.
