Page 5 of Just Business

The cane wasn’t just for show, it seemed. Without it, Eli’s steps were more halting. An injury to his left leg? Something around the ankle? Not that Justin would ask. He suspected Eli wouldn’t answer anyway. Mercy didn’t talk about hers, though not having legs anymore was pretty visible to anyone with a brain.

Justin rolled his shoulders. He could do this. He’d done it before.

They stopped at the first office—a double office, but the first room was empty except for an assistant’s desk. The inner office was spacious, decorated, and contained Sam. He glanced at Justin before shifting to Eli and lifting his eyebrow.

“Justin’s arrived for his interview.” Now he knew what Eli’s amused tone sounded like, as if his heart weren’t hammering fast enough.

“Good morning.”

“Thanks, E. Justin, please take a seat.”

Eli retreated—to wherever CFOs retreated to. Justin didn’t care. He focused on the chair Sam had indicated and sat.

“Do you need anything before we begin? Water? Coffee?”

“You have coffee up here?”

Sam laughed and the knots in Justin’s back loosened. “No. I’d have to run downstairs.”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“Good.” Sam took out a copy of Justin’s résumé. “Then let’s just jump in, shall we?”

Sam wasn’t kidding. His questions came, one on top of the next, digging through Justin’s work experience, his schooling, his thoughts on management and the work environment. After a half hour, Justin regretted not asking for water. His throat hurt from talking.

Sam leaned back and crossed his arms. “How do you feel about LGBT rights in the workplace?”

“Strongly in favor of them, seeing as I’m gay.” Justin folded his hands into his lap. “Why shouldn’t I have a photo of my boyfriend on my desk?” Justin shifted his gaze from Sam to the framed photo next to Sam’s monitor—a portrait of a brown-haired man in sunglasses and a garish shirt, lifting a margarita.

Sam’s chuckle redirected Justin’s attention. “Why not, indeed?”

“I don’t even mind working with straight people.”

That got him a bark of laughter. “Good, because we have a few here.”

He didn’t ask who. Part of him hoped Eli was one of them. The other part shivered. Why the hell was he thinking about that asshole? Because he was Sam’s CFO. That he looked stunning in a three-piece suit had nothing at all to do with it.

God, he so needed to find the Scene in Pittsburgh, especially if he got this job. Nothing like a forceful man in a business suit to fuck with his head. Or get him angrier than hell, especially after what that fuck Francis had done to him.

“If I took this position, would I be working for you exclusively?”

Sam sat forward. “Not entirely.” Now he knew what Sam sounded like when very amused. “You’d report to me, but some of your work would be directed by Eli.”

Ofcourse.“I can handle that.”Fake it until you make it.

That sly smile didn’t fade. “See what you think after you interview with him.”

If that wasn’t a wet blanket... or an inferno.Please let that man be straight.“Is that who’s up next?”

“No. The engineering team. Eli’s always last, so the candidates can fall apart afterward in peace.”

He must have blanched, because Sam’s grin widened. “Kidding. Mostly.”

“I don’t think he likes me.”

“See what you think after you interview with him.”

Fair enough.