Page 68 of Takeover-
Michael still reeled from some of the information Sam had spilled. “What do you mean ‘sink’?”
“He wanted to give you a week for testing after freeze.”
Michael sat back in his chair. Sam had gotten him three and he’d been furious. If they made it out of this, he’d owe Sam. Big time. Now more than ever. “Well, shit.”
Greta put her drink down. “I saw your test plans. That’s— No way in hell you could have done your testing in one week.”
“It’s all very hinky,” Sam said. “And I was dumb enough to give him an opening.” He scrubbed his face.
“We.” Damned if he’d let Sam take all the blame. “You didn’t act alone.”
The corner of Sam’s mouth twitched as if to smile. “No, I didn’t.”
Michael stared at his water. William had never been kind, had always been an ass to him, even from the day the board took over. Michael still had no idea what Rasheed and Susan had told the board about him. He looked up. “Do you think he knew about me? From before?”
“I don’t know,” Sam said. “The paperwork I had access to was scrubbed clean.”
“Before what?” Greta’s question had the snap of irritation.
Well, she had asked for everything. “I helped found Four Rivers. Why I’m not on any of the paperwork is screwed up and entwined with personal reasons, but I was there.”
“From day one,” Greta said.
“Yes. Except I was also—” Michael’s throat tightened. Because he still couldn’t betray Rasheed. Not even after all these years.
Greta took another sip of her Bloody Mary. “You and Rasheed Esfahani were lovers.”
“How did you know?” It was Sam who asked the question Michael wanted to. Good thing, because Michael couldn’t. Not through lungs so tight he could barely breathe.
“Mr. Esfahani told us.” She set her glass down. “I told you we did our diligence.”
Michael found his voice. “Youspoketo him?”
“And his wife, yes. You were demoted when they sold the company. We wanted to know why.”
Wife. Susan.Shit, they had gone and done that, then. “You knew this before we sat down back there.”
“They think the world of you.”
Michael reached for his water, wishing it were something much stronger. Sam wasn’t the only one who’d need therapy when they got back to Pittsburgh.
Rasheed. Susan. His heart twisted into knots.
“They confirmed that where you ended up was not where you should have. It speaks volumes to your loyalty that you stayed. You care quite a bit about Four Rivers.”
That was an understatement. “Yes, I do.”
“Good.” Greta turned to Sam. “You have lunch with Dr. Malik, yes?”
“At noon. With William. Whereupon I am to warble about his wonders or William will toss Michael under the bus.”
Michael nearly choked on his water. “Me?”
Sam studied his hands. “He guessed that threatening me wouldn’t do anything. So he chose another target, one he thought I might protect.” He looked up. Lines of anger and worry marred Sam’s face. “It was a very good guess.”
That heartened Michael, as did the sudden realization of one of the other reasons they were sitting here. “You don’t want to see everyone back at the office screwed over by William.”
“No. Neither of William’s outcomes is acceptable.” Sam leaned back. “So I’m doing the only thing I can.”
