Chapter 145

Will dismissed his eighth and last meeting of the day. His brain felt like it was going to fall out of his ears before he made it home. In the short time Robert had taken over, Stewart Industries was in free fall. It reminded on the catastrophe he dealt with right after he and Emma had been married and he had to run off to Italy. The employees were terrified especially after the police had begun the formal investigation.
So many people had been let go or arrested in connection with the corruption. The remainder were scared. Will set up meetings with every department so hear their grievances and begin to heal the wounded company. Stewart Industries was bleeding, and he had to stop it.
It had gone that way all week. Meetings after meetings after meetings. He was finally done. The most pressing issue is that the remaining employees felt overworked. They needed to hire people. He authorized for the HR department to post jobs for all of the positions lost. He also promoted existing employees to higher positions. Things were shifting and quickly. And it was wearing him out.
“Sir,” Margie said from the doorway. “I was told you wanted to see me?”
“Yes,” Will said, fighting to keep his head up. “I have something for you.” He handed her a file folder. She opened it and her eyes went wide.
“Sir! You’re not serious.”
“I am.”
“Plane tickets?” her voice vibrated with excitement.
“And hotel accommodations for two. Two weeks paid vacation whenever you want. Also, you’ve been a great assistant to me. I’m going to hate to lose you, but it’s time you get a promotion.”
“What?”
“You’re the new Manager of Human Resources. That comes with a new office and a salary bump of $25,000 a year. You start Monday.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she sniffled.
“You don’t need to say anything. This is my way to thank you and to recognize all of the hard work you’ve done for. Your last assignment for me is to send me the recommendations for your replacement.”
“Yes, sir. Right away, sir! Thank you!” Margie dashed away, squealing with glee. Will smirked at her reaction. Pop was right, he thought. Making employees happy is what will keep the company afloat.
It had been a stressful few days. All he wanted was to drive to Lyncrest and spend the weekend with Emma and Lizzie. More than anything, he still wished that Emma would come live with him. But that would be a fight for another day. The company still required too much of his attention and he was more than happy for the distraction.
He was so conflicted. He knew how was supposed to feel. It was supposed to be easy. Grace did awful things. Not just to him, but to the woman he loved. And people she cared for. Not that long ago he had even said that she meant nothing to him. It wasn’t a lie. There wasn’t any room in his heart for Grace at all. But… there was something he couldn’t shake. Guilt? Pity? Pain? Whatever it was, he wanted it gone. There was no place for it in the new life he was trying to create. It’s like she was haunting. Which is exactly what she wanted.
“Fuck,” he whispered, letting his head fall into his hands. “I’m going crazy.” His mind spiraled, careened into memories without his permission. Emma had picked up on his turmoil during their last phone call. He brushed it off as work-related stress. Emma had let it go, but he knew she wasn’t stupid. She knew something was wrong.
No matter what happens in your life, you need to remember that you didn’t know happiness until you knew me.
“That doesn’t make anything you did okay,” he said through clenched teeth to the ghost that plagued his peace. His phone rang, startling him. It was Emma.
“Hey baby,” he greeted.
“Mmm,” she purred. “I love when you call me that.”
Her voice was like a balm on his frayed nerves. A soothing, cool breeze whispering on a hot day.
“You can’t talk to me like that when I’m at work,” he smiled. “I could get in trouble.”
“In trouble? Aren’t you the big bad CEO?” she teased.
“You need to stop before this big bad CEO goes over there and shows you just how big and bad he can be.”
“Maybe that’s exactly what I want.”
Will’s pants suddenly felt tight, and all his previous thoughts were forgotten.
“Get ready,” he warned.
“I’m always ready,” Emma shot back.
Every time you kiss her... That feeling. I taught you that.
“Good,” Will answered, with a touch less fervor than before.
“Okay, there it is,” Emma said, snapping out of their sexy game. “Something has been off all week. What’s wrong?”
“Emma…”
“Will, please. We promised we wouldn’t do this. You need to talk to me. This has to do with that safety deposit box, doesn’t it?”
Will heaved a long sigh. He didn’t want to talk about it. Which is exactly how he knew that he should. His instinct was to hide, retreat, and repress. Emotions were not things he wanted to deal with. Ever.
“I can’t…”
“You have to,” Emma was soft but stern. “Will, please.”
“Yeah,” he relented, feeling heavy and deflated. “Most of what she left behind was nonsense. But she left behind a photo album and a note. It was essentially a suicide note.” The more he spoke, the more he found he couldn’t stop. “It’s like she planned this a long time ago. She did this just to spite me, or because of me, I don’t know. It’s like she’s a ghost haunting me. Emma, it’s driving me crazy. I want her gone. I want the very essence of her removed from me. But she won’t leave! Emma, she won’t leave! I just want her gone and she won’t fucking leave!”
He was panting by the end of his rant. Emma was silent for a moment, digesting his words.
“That’s been building up for a while, hasn’t it?” she said, a sadness in her voice.
“Yeah,” Will admitted, feeling a touch lighter. “I need you to know that none of this means I miss her. I don’t. Not at all.”
“I know. We should talk about this when you come over. This is a lot over the phone.”
“I won’t ruin our weekend.”
“You won’t. This is part of what we have to do now. You need to be open with me.”
“I’ll try,” he relented.
“That’s all I can ask for. For now,” she added for a touch of levity.
“See you tonight,” he said.
“See you tonight,” she repeated.
He hung up the phone, wishing that that outburst was enough to alleviate the confusion that afflicted him. That feeling, whatever the hell it was, is what let him know that something more was coming. That unshakable sense that the nightmare wasn’t over.
If you’re reading this, it means I’m gone. Whether by my own hand or someone else’s I’m not sure. But I guess you’ll know.
That part of the note disturbed him. Grace hadn’t expected that someone else wanted her dead. There was a secret player no one knew about. Dread sat like a stone in the pit of his stomach.
“If we don’t end this miss soon, I’ll probably go insane,” he groaned.
“Mr. Stewart?” Margie squeaked by the door.
“Yes, Margie?” He looked up, trying to feign control.
“I have a call for you. Captain Damon Whitlock.”
The name had become a source of anxiety for the employees. It reminded them of the investigation that had devastated and tarnished the name of Stewart Industries. Will would have preferred that Captain Whitlock called him directly. But all calls regarding the official investigation had to be made through recorded and protected lines. It was a precaution he hated. But one that was necessary.
“Send it through.”
“Yes sir.” Margie dashed to her desk. In about five seconds, the phone on Will’s desk rang.
“Hello, Captain.
“Hello, Will. Listen, we need you to come down to the station.”
A cold chill pierced Will’s skin.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. We have some new evidence. We need you to take a look.”