I want someone who argues with me and calls me out and doesn’t treat me like I’m made of glass and money. I don’t want your money. I know. That’s why I’m here. Their food arrived. They ate and talked and the conversation flowed easier than it had any right to. Victoria told him about her father, about the pressure of inheriting a company at 25, about proving herself to men who thought she was too young, too female, too soft.
Noah told her about Sarah, about the car accident, about the first year after when he’d barely functioned, when Marcus had basically moved in to make sure Emma was fed and Noah didn’t completely fall apart. I don’t talk about her much anymore, Noah said. It feels disloyal somehow. Like I’m forgetting her.
You’re not forgetting her. You’re living. There’s a difference. Does it feel like betrayal to you? This? Victoria set down her fork. Honestly, always a little. Sometimes. My ex, the one who said I was emotionally unavailable. Part of me wonders if he was right. If I’m too damaged to actually do this, if I’m going to hurt you because I don’t know how to be vulnerable.
You’re being vulnerable right now. This is terrifying. Good. Me, too. They shared a smile, fragile and honest. When the check came, Victoria handled it without ceremony. Outside, the April night had turned cool. They stood on the sidewalk, neither quite ready to leave. I don’t want to go home yet, Victoria said. What do you want to do? Something normal, something that isn’t a fancy restaurant or a business meeting or any of the usual stuff.
What would you do on a normal Friday night? Noah laughed. I’d be on my couch, probably asleep by 9:30 with Emma using me as a pillow. What would you do if you didn’t have to be responsible? He thought about it. There’s a park near my place. Nothing special, but it has this view of the city. I used to take Emma there when she couldn’t sleep. Just walk around.
Look at the lights. Show me. It’s not fancy. Good. They drove separately. Victoria following Noah’s beat up sedan in her sleek black car. The park was nearly empty this late. Just a few joggers and a couple walking their dog. Noah led Victoria to a bench overlooking the city skyline. All lit windows and distant traffic. This is it, he said. Not much.
Victoria sat down, looking out at the view. It’s perfect. They sat in silence for a while, a comfortable silence, the kind that didn’t need filling. Finally, Victoria spoke. I need to tell you something about what happens next with Richard. Okay. I’m going to handle it. Build the case. Involve HR. Do it by the book.
But Noah, you need to be prepared. When this comes out, people are going to know you were involved. They’re going to assume you went to me. They’re going to talk. Let them. It could affect your career. Make it harder to work there. I’m already the guy whose ideas get stolen. How much worse can it get? Victoria turned to face him. I’m serious.
This could blow back on you. On us? Are you ready for that? Noah thought about Emma asking if he was going to marry Victoria, about Richard’s threats, about four years of staying quiet, of playing it safe, of letting fear make his decisions. “Yeah,” he said. “I’m ready. There’s something else.” Victoria’s voice was careful.
“I need you to send me everything. All the documentation you have, every original draft, every email, every piece of evidence, not through company servers, personal email tonight.” You really think? I think Richard’s been doing this for years and getting away with it. I think he’s connected and protected and he’s not going to go down easy.
I think if we’re doing this, we do it right. Airtight. No room for him to wiggle out. Noah pulled out his phone, opened his personal email, forwarded the entire folder he’d compiled. Done. Victoria checked her phone, scrolled through the files. Her expression hardened. This is This is worse than I thought, Noah. Some of these ideas saved the company millions and Richard took credit for all of it.
I know you sho-uld be furious. I am. I just got used to swallowing it. Don’t. Not anymore. She put her phone away, looked at him directly. Monday morning, I’m calling an emergency audit of the engineering division. Internal review, HR investigation, the works. Richard’s going to know something’s happening. He’s going to suspect you.
It’s going to get ugly. I can handle ugly. Can you? Because I need you to understand what you’re signing up for. Richard has allies, people who benefit from his management style, who’ve looked the other way. They’re going to close ranks. You’re going to be painted as a troublemaker. A guy who couldn’t hack it, so you went crying to the CEO you’re sleeping with. The words hit hard.
Is that what people will think? Some of them. Yeah. Noah looked out at the city lights, at all those windows hiding all those lives. What do you think? I think you’re the bravest person I’ve met in years. I think you’re standing up for yourself and for everyone else Richard stolen from.
I think you’re doing the right thing even though it’s going to cost you. She paused. And I think I’m falling for you, which is possibly the stupidest thing I could do right now. But there it is. Noah’s breath caught. You’re falling for me terrifyingly so. Victoria, I He stopped, tried to find the right words.
