Page 44 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

"I hope you don't mind. Dad gave me your number."

I pictured how that conversation went. Had Will told her to call me and butter me up? Was he that shy around me now?

"No, that's okay…How are you doing?" I turned and stretched my legs out, propping my feet on the coffee table. Things must've been weird or really bad for Abby to call me. Maybe she missed Will too; I knew he was working really long hours to keep the company together and manage board members' expectations.

"I'm okay…I just…Well, I wanted to ask you if you and Dad broke up." Abby's question made me feel really sad. I wiped the tears off my cheeks and swallowed hard.

"No, honey. We didn't really, but things are complicated." She sounded sad too, like she didn't understand what was going on. I felt like she was just trying to get answers.

"Well, it's just that Dad is really depressed. He's been working so much and he's so sad when you're not around. He told me you wanted space, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I never meant to come between you guys. I just…I wasn't sure about him dating someone."

Hearing how Will was hurting without me was a knife to my chest. I wasn't trying to hurt him. I was only trying to have healthy boundaries in my life. I wanted things to happen for the right reason and not be forced.

"I just don't want someone to come along and replace my mom."

"Oh, Abby," I said, feeling her grief in my chest. "I'd never want to replace your mom. I just thought meeting you would be nice. I really care about your dad and…" I didn't know what else to say. I did really care about him, but caring about him and marrying him for the right reason were two very different things. We hadn't been on the same page for more than a month. This work scandal was destroying us.

"Well, can you tell him that?" she asked, and I remained silent for a second and then she changed the subject. "I want your advice too. Dad tells me things, but he has to be all proper and stuff. He says he's not doing his job as a father if he doesn't. I just want someone smart to help me pick the right college. Do you think you can meet up with me sometime? I want to talk…"

I smiled at the sweet request. Will had been hesitant to let me interact with her for a while because she was so upset by us. I saw the way she treated him when she caught me leaving his bedroom that morning, and even at dinner while we ate and talked, I knew she wasn't pleased with me being there. It was likethings had come full circle, and while Will was too busy to be attentive, his daughter was craving my presence.

"Of course…I'll send you my calendar link, and you tell me what day and time and we'll have coffee and talk about college." My call waiting beeped and I glanced at it. It was Allen's number, so I knew I had to take it. "I have another call, hon. But I'll send the link, okay?"

"Thanks, Beth." Abby hung up and I switched to the other line.

My heart was hammering as I said, "Hey Allen."

"Ms. Reid…" His tone was hard and curt. Whatever it was, I knew it wasn't good. I felt my shoulders tightening up.

"What is it?" I asked him and I closed my eyes, waiting for the blow to my ego.

"The board would like you to come in for a meeting. Would you be able to free up some time in your schedule tomorrow?" Pity dripped from his words and I winced at that request. He wasn't my direct supervisor, but I did have to do what he said. And if it was the board demanding this meeting, there was a much bigger problem.

"Of course. I can come by anytime." My heart ached for this entire thing to be over. Allen was only doing his job; I couldn't be angry with him. And Will swore to me this kind of thing wouldn't happen, but now it was. And I still couldn't be angry with him either. I'd done things wrong too. I had to accept my part of the blame.

"Good, I'll see you tomorrow. Just send me a text when you're on the way and we'll be ready for you."

Allen hung up and I slumped over on the couch, curling into a ball. My phone screen flashed and then went black, still clutched in my palm, and I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer that things would go smoothly. My heart couldn't take much more of this.

30

WILL

Iglanced at the clock nervously as I waited in my office, pacing. Allen told me the board was planning to speak directly with me and Beth and it set my nerves on edge. When it was just them hounding me with meetings and strategy sessions all week I could handle it. But dragging Beth into this place and demanding answers from her crossed the line, in my opinion. She had nothing to do with this.

"They're ready," Sarah said, poking her head into my office. She had been coming in late, leaving early, avoiding me. Every time she looked at me I saw guilt in her eyes, but I had nothing on her. No proof she'd been involved. And the board kept me on my toes all week too, too busy to really confront her.

"I need to speak with you, please," I told her, and her face got pale. Maybe right now wasn't the best time, but I needed answers.

"Allen's here, sir," Sarah said, and she looked down. Before I could say another word, Allen pushed the door open.

"Will, let's go. Ms. Reid is here and the board is waiting." Allen's gruff voice and nature pulled me out of my pit bull-like trance and I turned away from my cowering secretary.

"Can they wait a second?" I asked, and Sarah backed out of my office past Allen.

"Do you really want to push your luck?" he asked, and his eyebrows rose. "Honestly, Will, you act like this is a minor issue. You could be facing extinction here." Allen's massive palm splayed on the door and held it open as I scowled.

I walked past him into Sarah's office and passed through, I noticed her sweater was missing and she was not there anymore. It only seemed that much more suspicious. I wish I'd have taken time to investigate the root of these rumors a long time ago, the way I promised Beth I would. Something told me there was something deeper going on with Sarah than I knew, and I wondered if she was the one sending those hateful emails to Beth on company servers when no one was looking.

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