Page 70 of Takeover-
Chapter Ten
Dr. Vijay Malikwas an unassuming man, unless you’d seen him in action. Sam had. Shorter than Sam and wiry, Malik had a quiet, watchful demeanor until he had something to say; then his presence expanded to fill an entire room. Intense was one way to describe Malik’s conversational style. Commanding was another.
Sam’s heart lodged itself in his throat. This meeting would probably ruin him, which was fine. He had more than enough money to live off of for quite some time. Sam had no idea how Michael would survive. However, Michael hadn’t even shown a touch of fear at Malik’s appearance.
God, what a mess. A glorious, wonderful, and horrible mess. Sam’s fault, too. He couldn’t think around Michael, not in the way he should. He’d nearly confessed his love to Michael… should have. Shit.
Sundra had known about Michael—his past with Four Rivers. It showed a competency that made Sam feel a bit inadequate. But then, he’d only ever headed up smaller companies. He still had much to learn, apparently, if he even wanted to continue along that path. Consulting started to look better and better… he might be able to support them both, if it came to that.
Malik entered a small conference room and they all followed—Sam, Michael, and Greta. Sam glanced Greta’s way, but her expression was the same one she wore while playing poker—utterly unreadable.
Not even an inch, G?
Then again, he wouldn’t give her leeway in the same situation. It wasn’t personal, just business.
Fuck that. Everything was personal now. His life. Michael’s life.
Malik closed the door and gestured at the table. “Please have a seat.” It wasn’t a request.
They all obeyed. Malik remained standing. “Greta has told me you two are involved in a relationship with each other, yes?”
“Yes,” Michael said. “And it’s my fault. I—”
Malik held up a hand. “Fault, no fault. That’s not important.”
No, it really wasn’t. Still, there were details that were. “It’s mutually consensual,” Sam said. “And began prior to us knowing we’d be working together.”
“Ah,” Dr. Malik said. “That’s good to know.” He gripped the back of one of the chairs. “Though a workplace relationship with an employee is not very politic. Your record speaks better of you, Mr. Anderson.”
That was a bit of a punch to the gut. Sam took a measured breath and ignored the warmth in his face. “It does. This situation is—unique. Unexpected.”
Michael shifted in his chair. “He didn’t, in any way, take advantage of the situation.”
“Did you?” Malik had golden-brown eyes, sharp as a hawk’s.
Michael didn’t flinch under that gaze. “No.”
“You’re both lucky that this is a case of prior engagement and that Mr. Anderson has a short-term assignment.” He turned to Michael. “He was never going to remain your boss.”
Michael nodded and a look of understanding passed over his face. “Of course. He’s not part of the merger.”
“No. That was a particular sticking point with the Four Rivers board of directors, though we would have liked him to join us.”
News to Sam. It was a struggle not to speak, but something told him caution was a better approach. Maybe the weight of Malik’s stare, or the indentation his fingers made in the seat cushion he gripped.
“Which brings us to William Vandershoot, the man who would out you, in more ways than one.”
Michael smiled. “I go to Pittsburgh Pride every year. I don’t make a big deal of my sexual preference, but he’s only outing me to nonobservant folks. If they have an issue, that’s their problem.”
“Perhaps it’s not a worry for you, Mr. Sebastian, but for Mr. Anderson?”
It was Michael’s look, not Malik’s, that pressed against his heart. “I—made the decision recently to remain in Pittsburgh.” He swallowed and added. “To be with Michael. I was going to come out anyway.” His face must be red from the heat he felt all over his body. “I’m tired of hiding my sexuality, but I’d rather it be for Michael, not because William is trying to blackmail me.” Anger and pride were a potent mix. He clung to those rather than the fear. He’d been afraid too long.
Michael leaned back in his chair, his confidence so breathtaking Sam focused on Malik instead. Getting turned on now would be even less politic than having sex with Michael in the first place.
But he knew Michael approved of what he’d said. That was what mattered.
Malik nodded once. “And William?”
