Page 45 of Havoc
“My contract with him will be substantial. You don’t want to be the reason he loses it. Or be the reason his job will be in jeopardy.”
Lawrence wanted to wipe that smug look off John’s face. The loss of his contract wouldn’t put his job in jeopardy. He was good at what he did and wouldn’t have been promoted otherwise. But Lawrence was able to read between the lines. John would lie if he had to. It seemed his boyfriend had, too.
“I love it when people make threats outside of their weight class,” Remy stated, and Lawrence could hear the amusement in his voice before he even looked at him.
“Outside of my…excuse me?” John questioned, offended.
“If you’re contracting with Global Technologies to be your supplier, then that likely means you own a medical supply company for hospitals and clinics, direct to patients through insurance companies, or both. Either way, you’re likely publicly traded.” Remy stepped around Lawrence, looking down at John. “And you want to know something I’m great at. Takeovers. Stripping someone of their livelihood. I’m usually the voice of reason in those situations. Typically, only doing so when the company is going under, but I know we can turn a profit.” Remy shrugged. “In your case, I’ll make an exception.”
John began to stammer, and Lawrence watched fear enter his eyes. As if karma was favoring them, Kieran and Alijah approached them at that moment.
“Kieran,” Remy started. “How do you feel about another hostile takeover?”
The mentioned man briefly looked between Remy and John. “Two in as many months. I like it.”
“Great. It’ll be easy,” Remy stated.
John did an immediate about-face and walked away quickly, nearly tripping on his feet in his haste. A second later, Chayse’s soft laughter filtered over the small group.
“What did we miss?” Alijah asked.
“Just some asshole that asked Lawrence out,” Erin responded.
“Do you want to do this takeover?” Kieran inquired.
“I just wanted to scare him. It’s medical equipment anyway.”
“So?” Kieran responded.
“So what would we do with it?” Remy countered.
“Donate it,” Alijah supplied. “There are plenty of people who need home care and have to have the equipment. Sometimes insurance doesn’t cover the equipment, and it can be expensive.”
“Are you giving me permission? I distinctly remember you telling me letting personal feelings drive the last takeover was unnecessary,” Kieran stated.
Alijah pursed her lips. “I’m making a suggestion if you decide you want to.”
“I say do it,” Chayse suggested. “He’s basically been phone stalking Lawrence for two weeks.”
“What?” Remy questioned, and Lawrence could read the look in those brown eyes. His boyfriend was not happy.
Remy grabbed Lawrence’s wrist and excused them from the group as he pulled him out of the event hall and into the hallway. He led him down the hall until he thought they were far enough from prying ears.
When he’d seen the man speaking to Lawrence, Erin, and Chayse, he’d gotten a bad feeling, and when he was joining them and heard him ask to talk to Lawrence in private, he’d got the feeling it was the man he’d met with, the one that asked him out.
Remy wouldn’t have gotten so upset if the other man had taken no for an answer and walked away when dismissed, but he’d threatened Lawrence’s career, and Remy was not about to have that shit. On an average day, he wasn’t one to threaten to take someone’s company for the hell of it. That was Kieran’s domain. However, the other man had pissed him off. So, Remy decided to throw his weight around.
It had the desired effect, but the thought of ripping his company from him was still all too appealing, especially now since he knew that the man had been calling and harassing Lawrence, something his boyfriend had neglected to tell him, which didn’t help Remy’s irritation presently.
Lawrence placed his hand on the back of Remy’s neck and pulled him down, connecting their lips. Remy was no fool; he knew Lawrence was trying to calm him down to keep him from being upset with him about not telling him. He hated to admit it, but it was working. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t talk about it right then, and Remy pulled away from the kiss.
“I know you’re upset, but I didn’t tell you because it didn’t seem like a big deal. It was more irritating than anything else,” Lawrence spoke quickly.
“He’s been calling your office for two weeks, and you want me to believe it wasn’t a big deal.”
“It wasn’t. At least not to me. It was annoying, sure, but what would telling you have done besides get you upset?”
“Telling me would have stopped it,” Remy informed him.
