Page 123 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Eli...”
“Fazil.” He softened. “I know this game. I play it myself. Don’t torture yourself because you feel like shit.”
“I’m not...” The words died in his mouth. The orange juice was the first thing besides coffee and water he’d had all day. “Maybe you’re right.” He did feel better after drinking it.
Too much sadness in Eli’s expression. “Think you can make it home in one piece?”
“Yeah.” He lifted the juice bottle. “Thank you for this.” When he stood, the world stayed still, and his stomach whined. “I promise. Lunch tomorrow.”
“Good.” Eli gestured to the door. “Shall we?”
They did. Eli shut off the lights and set the alarm as they left.
They parted ways on Murray Avenue when Fazil reached his apartment. Halfway up the stairs, it struck Fazil how much Eli must have cared to stay and wait and worry. Eli and Sam and Justin. Adam and Jen and Sertab. Shit, he owed them all for the past few weeks.
Inside his place, Fazil tossed his keys on the side table and headed to the kitchen. First food, then he’d figure out how to break Todd’s heart.
***
It was already past seven thirty when Todd got home and tromped up the steps to his apartment and computer.Please still be on.Fazil usually was, but it was later than he liked. On nights like this, their conversations ended too soon due to Fazil living three hours in the future.
Fazil was there. Todd opened a chat window.
Hey, I’m here. Traffic sucked and work was hellish. Left late. Took forever.
Little flashing dots, then a reply.It’s okay. I worked late, too. Haven’t been sleeping.
Their chats weren’t helping.Want to go to video?
Yeah.
He clicked over to that, Fazil accepted, and Todd’s heart leapt into his throat. The Fazil on the other end was pale and drawn. The only color in his face was in the red rimming his eyes and the dark circles under them.
“Hi.” Fazil’s voice was soft. Contrite.
Shit, shit, shit. “Hey.” He swallowed. “What’s up?”
Fazil looked away. “I... talked to Sam.” He looked back.
There was the answer, written all over his expression. “He said no.”
Fazil nodded. “He wants his team with him, interacting with each other. I don’t blame him. There’s a camaraderie that builds.”
“But you get sent out to other places all the time.”
“Sure.” Fazil rubbed his brow. “Alone, or as a group. Sometimes we’re all working on the same project. The point is we can all work with one another at the drop of a hat, because wedowork with one another, every day.”
We.Fazil was still part of that. “Are you staying?” Was he being dumped over videochat?
Fazil looked down at his hands, his face a mass of emotion.
Oh no. Don’t do this to me, Z. Not again.
Fazil exhaled. “Yeah. I’m staying. I can’t leave this job.”
“But you can leave me?” Todd’s hands shook. “Over a stupid fuckingjob?”
“I’m not— It’s not a stupid...” Fazil rose. “Fuck it. You wouldn’t get it in a million years, would you?” He paced in front of his computer.
