Page 74 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
Heat straight to his face. Fazil grabbed a polo from his suitcase and threw it on. Score one for Eli flusteringhim.
“No, I didn’t ask. I knew exactly what it was, and I know how it got there.”
“I appreciate you not pointing it out last night.” Fazil checked himself out in the mirror to make sure he did, in fact, have all his clothing on. He grabbed his laptop.
Eli gathered his cane and his bag. “I figured you might.”
They headed down to the lobby, but had a few minutes before the car service would pick them up, so they both ended up with complimentary coffee in their hands. “I suppose I should tell Sam about Todd.”
Eli sipped, then spoke. “At this point, yes. He needs to know, in case it comes up.”
“I’m guessing we should make sure it doesn’t.”
“That’s the wisest thing,” Eli said. “But I’m the last person who can complain about that.”
The whole office had known when Eli and Justin had paired up. And broken up. And gotten back together. Fazil savored his coffee. That was one thing Seattle had going for it—even the shitty hotel coffee was good.
When their car came, he noticed the driver eyeing his neck, but true to Eli’s words, the man didn’t say a thing.
“Ready for round two?” Eli said.
“Question is, are they?”
Eli sank against the seat. “They better be.”
***
There wasn’t enough coffee in the world to prepare Todd for the Monday-morning engineering meeting, especially today. He was in Hangover City, despite barely drinking anything all weekend. Only Fazil and more Fazil. He couldn’t think of his name without a mental glimpse of him in the throes of orgasm, or fucking himself on that dragon dildo, or bent over Todd’s couch.
Todd rubbed his temples.
“The little shit is trying to change the way we do things.” Nathan’s voice cut through Todd’s haze.
He gripped his coffee mug. He’d missed something.
“Notchangethings,” Stephen said. “Document how we do stuff and offer suggestions.”
Nathan snorted and leaned back in his chair. “Whatever. They also took the best conference room and we’re stuck with this.” He gestured around the smaller, windowless room.
“They were given that room,” Todd said. “And we have meetings in here every other week.”
Nathan cocked his head. “You’re the one helping him.”
“I...”Doing more to Fazil than helping.Heat rushed to his cheeks. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”
Everyone else in the room except Nathan and Stephen was staring at their cell phones or coffee cups.
Nathan furrowed his brow. “Aren’t Muslims supposed to hate your type?”
Histype? He almost stood. “Dude—”
Stephen cut in. “You’re out of line, Nathan.”
“Just saying.” Nathan folded his arms.
“Well, don’t.” Stephen sighed. “Look, Anderson’s people are here to help. Don’t fight them and they won’t be here any longer than necessary.”
“Then what?” That was from Ganesh. “We get sold? What about our jobs? Are we doing this to work ourselves into unemployment?”
