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.”
“Right.” Ben reaches out, and I place the paper back in his hands. “I’m doing it.” Turning, he stops and looks back. “Thanks, Alison.”
“You’re welcome.”
And with that, he’s gone.
Five minutes later, my email alerts me to a new message from Ben. I click on it and reread the email, then smile. While it may be career suicide to put something like that out there companywide, it’s the right thing to do. Now if only Sam would do something similar. But it sounds like that’s not going to happen anytime soon.
