Chapter Forty-Eight

Will insisted on coming to Diane's office the next day and take part in the damage control like he'd promised. They hadn't made any other plans, they wanted to take one step at a time. Everything had happened so fast, they needed to adjust to the different circumstances, to talk things through thoroughly.

"Let me introduce our private investigator, Kalinda," Diane said when Elsbeth and Kalinda entered her office.

"Will Gardner," Will shook Kalinda's hand.

"The rumor was true," Kalinda said with a smile.

"What rumor?" he asked.

"Don't worry, I've only heard good thing about you," Kalinda replied and sent a smile in Diane's direction.

Diane was relieved to see that Kalinda approved of Will, she was aware that it was hard to achieve that by her and for the future it was important that they got along well.

"Will's not working for Stern/Holt anymore and he intends to help us solve this peculiar situation, so you can talk about anything openly in his presence," Diane gave Kalinda the necessary information and permission to tell them what she'd found out.

"All right, I'm 99% sure that the leak came from this firm and that it was Christopher Wilson."

Diane hadn't told Will about the possibility that it might have been Christopher who had helped their case by providing information. She knew how he would have reacted and they'd had enough tension between them already the previous day. Not to mention she'd secretly hoped it hadn't been Christopher, but Kalinda's statement made that hope disappear.

"The bastard," Will reacted angrily and Diane raised her eyebrows, she wished he'd tried to hold back on his emotions until they would be alone again.

"I have photos to prove he had a very friendly meeting with one of the equity partners at Stern/Holt last night," Kalinda added and showed them the said pictures.

"He will feel at home there," Will said sarcastically, turning away from the evidence.

Diane took the pictures and stared at her former boss. She couldn't have been more relieved that she didn't have to be a part of his dirty tricks anymore. Not that it was much better to be on the receiving end of their dealings. And of course there was Chris. She hated herself for having been so blind, for believing that someone she'd rejected so many years ago, would still be on her side. He basically sabotaged what she had been working for this past year.

"Will you just let him go?" Elsbeth asked, looking at Diane.

"I don't see what other choice I have," Diane sighed and placed the photos on her desk, "He would deserve to be kicked out of course, but we really don't need more bad publicity. We can't exactly prove what he did and our client wouldn't profit from that either, we've caused them enough damage already."

"But we can't allow Stern/Holt to get away with it," Elsbeth replied, "No offence, Will," she smiled at him.

"Non taken."

"We'll make sure they won't fool us twice," Diane said, with determination, "Thank you Kalinda," she nodded. Kalinda did the same and left the office.

"Please tell Evelyn to call me when Chris gets back from his court hearing, I want to talk to him first thing," Diane addressed Elsbeth.

"I will…and I'm sorry," Elsbeth said with empathy in her voice and Diane really appreciated her support, especially because she wasn't expecting the same reaction from her own husband.

Once the door closed behind Elsbeth Diane looked at Will.

"I can imagine all the things you want to say to me right now, just please wait until we're alone some place else. I need to keep some respect around here."

"You couldn't have seen this coming, none of us could have" Will's calm and understanding reaction was a pleasant surprise, he'd seemed very angry just a few minutes ago and Diane knew how much he hated Chris, "Who knows what Stern and Holt offered him in return? Probably even my seat. They hated that you were opposing them on this one, always one step ahead, while in the past you helped them win against the same client. I'm just glad I got rid of them for once and for all."

"I am too," Diane smiled. She couldn't believe his words. She'd expected at least a 'told you so' and some accusation, not a sudden understanding. But it was exactly what she needed at that moment.

"Is that still my office?" Will pointed at the empty room on the opposite side of the corridor.

"It's yours if you want it," Diane said with a smile.

"Considering that I'm unemployed right now, it seems to be my best option," he joked.

"That is not how you sell yourself to your future boss," Diane teased.

"I'm sorry, do you want to know about my special skills?" Will continued in the same tone and it felt good for Diane to finally be playful again.

"Depending on what those skills are," she challenged him.

"Let's see, I can make a pretty good coffee, I can drive you wherever you want whenever you want it and I know the best restaurants in town," Will listed his skills as he got closer to Diane behind the table.

"I'm sorry, but those kind of positions are already filled," she started to enjoy their little game.

"Damn. How about my kissing skills?"

"How about them?"

"I could offer my services during the day," Will bent closer to her

"I'm not sure my husband would approve of that," she could see it in his eyes that her reply satisfied him.

"You don't have to tell him," he challenged her once more.

"But we tell each other everything."

"What a lucky guy he is," Will smiled and pulled Diane up from her armchair.

"I'm sure he knows that," she put her arms around his neck.

"I do," Will said before his lips touched hers.