Page 68 of Takeover
“Now, if you’ll excuse Mr. Anderson and me, we have another topic to discuss.” Malik nodded to Greta. “Thank you.”
Greta and Michael both rose and filed out at the obvious dismissal. Sam had no time to say good-bye to Michael. He’d have to catch him later. And Greta. He owed that woman a drink. An entire month of drinks.
When the door closed, Malik took a seat. “A unique situation?”
Sam folded his hands on the table. “Unexpected and unique.” A chance meeting in a hotel, an odd twist of fate, and exactly the man he needed. “We were both surprised to see each other at Four Rivers.”
Malik’s mouth twitched in a way that looked suspiciously like the start of a smile. “Michael will be fine. Believe it or not, this is not the first time such a situation has happened. We have protocols and procedures for inter-office relationships and neither of you broke any written rule. Four Rivers’ human resource policy is silent on workplace relationships, and you’re not Sundra employees yet.”
And Sam wouldn’t become one. More of the tension leaked away. “You looked this all up? In”—he glanced at his watch—“ten minutes?”
“Greta has access to a good deal of Four Rivers’ paperwork. She did the legwork.”
Wine of the month club for G. Two-year subscription. “Then why penalize Michael?”
“We’re not. No one outside this room will think anything of what will happen. It’ll look like he was groomed by Greta, rather than promoted because of your relationship with him.”
It made sense, a great deal of sense. “I should have seen that, considered that.” If he’d been less emotionally involved, he might have. Or perhaps, Malik and Greta played at a higher level.
Malik leaned back in his chair. “I hazard to guess that your head is not screwed on very straight when it comes to Michael Sebastian.”
Sam cleared his throat. “No, not at all.”
Malik waved that away. “I’m more interested in William Vandershoot.”
William. The equilibrium he’d lost when William had threatened Michael snapped back into place. Sam leaned forward. “How much do you know about the financial dealings of Four Rivers’ last CEO, Taylor?”
“Only what the report said.” He tented his fingers. “You know more?”
Oh, did he know more. “I’m not sure how William is connected to this, but my instinct tells me he very well might be.”
“Do tell.”
Sam did. All the details he remembered. The discussions with the board around the shady dealings of the last CEO, what he could recall of William’s reactions to the discovery. William’s stunt of trying to shorten the test cycle and his reaction to Sam’s fighting against that. All of what Fabian had told him about the potential Ponzi scheme. He spilled everything he suspected about William—and how he’d planned to verify Fabian’s information.
“And if this becomes a legal investigation?”
“I’m more than willing to help.” He pressed a hand against the table to prevent himself from curling it into a fist. “I don’t appreciate being blackmailed.” He hated how this all had come out. God only knew what Michael thought.
“Nor do I like being manipulated,” Malik said. “The recent audit didn’t turn up any odd dealings with William and Four Rivers, but if he’s involved in other endeavors…”
“He may need a place to duck and cover.”
“Or a new source of income.”
That hadn’t occurred to Sam. Perhaps William had burned through cash? It only took a few venture capital deals going south to take out a pile of money, but the Four Rivers buyout should be pretty large. “I’ll find out what I can.”
“Good.” Malik rose. Sam stood and followed him to the door.
Malik paused. “I will be having lunch with William on my own. I suspect there’s a more important conversation you should attend to.”
Sam stared at Malik.
The other man chuckled and held out his hand. “I saw the look on your face when we walked up. Some expressions are universal, Sam.”
Sam shook Malik’s hand and spoke around the gratitude lodged in his throat. “Thank you.”
“You’re giving up quite a bit for Mr. Sebastian.”
