Page 102 of Due Dilligence (Takeover)
“Fuck.” Something thudded in the background behind Sam’s voice. “Eli said something similar. He’d dealt with it all before, it wasn’t a big deal, and he overreacted.”
“He hardly reacted at all. I’m the one who turned into a screaming shithead.” He chewed on his tongue. “I shouldn’t have touched him.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” There was pain in Sam’s voice. “But the whole thing should never have happened.”
Sam. Always the idealist. “You know the world isn’t like that.” Sam had hidden in the closet for years out of fear.
“I know. I do.” Sam paused, his breath rasping into a sigh. “There’s also the issue of your relationship with Todd Douglas.”
Fazil cringed. “Eli said—”
“Eli isn’t your boss.” Sam’s voice was forceful, loud, and meticulously clear.
He caught himself on the conference room table and lowered himself into the nearest chair.
“Fazil, you’re the best engineer I’ve ever known, but this kind of indiscretion—”
“Don’t go there, Sam.” His fingers tightened on the arm of the chair.
Utter silence at the other end.
Fazil’s heart slammed against his chest. He knew how Sam had met his partner, Michael—everyone did. He wet his lips. “I know I should have managed things better with my personal life. Been more careful. But don’t you dare get on my case aboutindiscretions.” Maybe he’d end up out oftwojobs after this. Probably shouldn’t be reaming out Sam. But he’d had enough with everyone.
A cough or growl or something came over the line. “Does he mean that much to you?”
“Yes!”He practically shouted the word into his phone. “He’s the first guy I ever loved, and I...”Loved. He loved Todd. “Look, we were careful at work. Kept our heads down. Did our jobs. I’ve sent you status reports. Copied you on e-mails. YouknowI’m doing my job. Todd has nothing to do with this.”
“Fazil.”
“And if you’re going to fire me for falling in love on the job, you’re going to have to let go of half the office, Sam.”
“I know.” Those two words ripped out of the phone. “Believe me,I know. I’m nottryingto fire you, Fazil. For fuck’s sake,I am not the enemy. Calm your shit down.”
His heart and lungs ached. “I didn’t realize how—” The words caught on a sob, and he coughed to cover it. “This was supposed to be a simple job,” he whispered.
“It was. In and out. An easy task.” There was a great deal of sympathy in his voice. “If I had known...”
Fazil wouldn’t have been here. They wouldn’t have taken the job. He would have never seen Todd again. “Contains racist assholesisn’t usually on the tin.”
A pained laugh. “No.” That was followed by a deep breath. “I’m pulling you out. Justin’s booking you on a flight tomorrow. Get your stuff, call a cab, and get the hell out of that office.”
Tomorrow?Shit.“Wait, all my stuff’s at Todd’s.” He couldn’t drag Todd out of the office with him. That would cause even more problems. He looked at his watch. “It’s only a little before eleven.”
“Actions have consequences, Fazil.” Sam sounded exhausted. “Theirs and yours. Believe me, I’m on your side, but that means removing you from a bad situation, effective immediately.”
“Okay. I’ll figure it out.” It made sense to leave. “I’m sorry, Sam.”
“I’m not thrilled with youyellingat me—but I understand. We’ll talk more when you get back. None of this was your fault.”
That was good to hear. “Thanks.”
“Be on the lookout for mail from Justin, and come see me as soon as you’re back in the office.”
That put a damper on his relief. “Will do.” They both hung up.
Shit.Shit. He stared at his phone and rose on unsteady legs to grab his laptop, charger, and all the paperwork Erin had collected from the other conference room for him. He shoved it into his laptop bag.
His phone vibrated once. A text, from Eli of all people.
