by Tricia Owens
“Come to my office,” Max said bluntly when he picked up.
“Something important?” Ethan asked.
“Just come.”
When he let himself into the large office, Ethan found his dark-haired lover with his hands steepled in front of him, his sapphire gaze fixed on a space somewhere in the middle of the room. Ethan didn’t like the look—Max wasn’t one for deep introspection while at work—but he kept his concern from his face as he took a seat facing his husband and boss.
“I’m approving Merrick Felix’s contract unless you give me a reason not to,” Max said without preamble.
Ethan considered the possible outcomes of this, but he doggedly returned to the belief that this association could ultimately benefit The Elite Poole Worldwide. Networking was vital in a business that focused on people’s comfort and trust.
“I’m fine with it. I accept the assignment.”
A file was on Max’s desk, lying beneath one elbow. “His alleged stalker is a former client. Moira Harper is her name. She owns a boutique in Chicago selling men’s accessories. Have you heard of her?”
“Never. And Merrick never mentioned her while I was around.”
“She hired him to produce a video and print campaign but she was dissatisfied with the results and demanded a full refund.”
“She just changed her mind after everything was completed?”
“Apparently so. Felix offered her a limited refund, but she wasn’t satisfied with the resolution. Instead of taking him to court, she began harassing his other clients, trying to force them to drop his services. She’s interfered with his work at least twice, but not within the last four months.”
“Ran out of steam?” Ethan suggested.
“No way to tell. She doesn’t appear to be a physical threat, but of course, you will remain vigilant and armed.”
Ethan nodded, well familiar with the orders that accompanied a job.
“I trust you,” Max stated. “If you are at any time made uncomfortable, you are to end the assignment. That has been stipulated in the contract, and if Mr. Felix wants your services, he will agree to this. I need you to adhere to it.”
“I will, Max.” Ethan didn’t waste his breath telling Max not to worry. The man would do what he wanted in this case, regardless of what Ethan suggested.
“Then you’ll meet him at the airport tomorrow at ten am. He’s moved up his schedule, so you’ll be with him for just over a week. I’ve emailed you the details and his flight information.”
Ethan questioned why Max had needed to call him into his office to tell him information that he typically conveyed in an email.
“I thought you should be made aware of an issue,” Max went on.
Here we go, thought Ethan, bracing himself for the worst.
“We’ve experienced a series of client cancellations.” Max’s expression was stony, but Ethan knew him well enough to read his frustration and anger at the turn of events. “Only one has supplied me with a reason, though the others can reasonably be assumed to feel the same, given the timing.”
“Max—”
“I wanted you to know that I’m taking a wait and see approach with this.”
Ethan’s rising concern subsided. “I think that’s wise. People can have knee-jerk reactions and then come to their senses later on.”
He could tell Max doubted that would be the case, but he was willing to play along for the time being. Ethan shared his frustration. They’d done nothing wrong. The Elite Poole hadn’t changed at all, and yet people’s perception of the company had changed and for what? Because the owner was in a committed relationship with a man? It made no sense to Ethan, and he hated that Max’s fears about the fallout from Randolph’s announcement were coming true.
“Don’t call Axel about this,” Ethan begged. “Not yet. Like you said, we need to wait. There could be other factors at play, and people will calm down when they realize nothing’s changed in how we operate.”
“Your optimism matters more to me than you will ever know,” Max said quietly as the natural coolness of his gaze grew warmer. “Thank you, Ethan.”
“You don’t need to thank me,” he demurred. “It’s human nature. People don’t like change but they’ll grow used to it. We just have to give them the time to do so.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Ethan didn’t ask what Max would do if he was wrong. He knew what his husband would do. Max would find a way to argue successfully that Randolph had sabotaged the deal and worked against The Elite Poole’s best interests, giving him a reason to cancel the contract. But Ethan didn’t want that. This was a tremendous opportunity and he hoped they could get past this initial rough start and experience the benefits of the partnership.
“We’ll keep an eye on it,” he said brightly, like it was a plant that needed proper watering to flourish.
“Indeed, we will.” Max sat back, appearing more at ease. His heavy-lidded gaze inspired inappropriate office fantasies, but Ethan let them fill his head anyway. “I believe I’ve been patient so far, but I’m a curious husband who’s admittedly flawed. When will you tell me everything that transpired between you and Merrick Felix?”
He asked it calmly, as though he didn’t care what Ethan’s answer was, though of course Ethan knew better.
“I’m not telling you now,” he said with a smile, which Max returned faintly. The dark-haired man was definitely on the prowl for answers. “Tonight, I guess. But don’t expect much because there isn’t.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“I’m serious, Max. I’m not hiding any dirty details.”
Max gazed back without comment.
“Fine,” Ethan said, beginning to grow annoyed. “If you want to know what he—”
The phone rang, interrupting him. Max continued to look at him, as if content to ignore the call. Ethan was tempted to call his bluff because Max valued business above everything, especially at the office. But risking business wasn’t Ethan’s thing. Not even to prove something.
“Please answer that, Max.” He stood up. “I’m going. We’ll talk tonight.”
He hurried out, hoping Max wouldn’t order him to come back. Outside in the hall, Ethan sighed. Perhaps taking on Merrick wasn’t the best idea, after all. The man wasn’t even in Vegas yet and Ethan already felt like he was keeping secrets from Max.
“Hey, Ethan.”
He quickly found a smile for Veronica, one of the other agents.
She looked bemusedly from him to Max’s door behind him. “Everything okay?”
The question held weight now that she knew the true nature of their relationship. For the first time since the news broke, Ethan realized he felt irritated that someone else knew. Veronica’s expression was one of caring concern, but it was a concern he didn’t want. If there were problems between him and Max, that was no one else’s business.
“Everything’s fine,” he replied, faking a chipperness he didn’t feel, which annoyed him further. Ethan wasn’t a fake person. He believed in honest interactions with people when possible, unless deception was required to be polite. But acting to hide the truth bothered him, especially when it shouldn’t happen in the first place.
“My assignment next Tuesday was cancelled.” Veronica crossed her arms and shrugged. “It’s a first for me. I hope it’s the last.”
“I’m sure it will be. Things happen. There’ll be more clients.”
“Yes,” she said, watching him steadily, “I hope so.”
He was tempted to ask her what she wanted him to say. Was it an apology she was after? Was she hoping for someone to join her in a rant? Neither option appealed to Ethan, and neither was appropriate.
“Have you and Mr. Poole been facing any—you know—backlash?” Veronica looked uncomfortable having to ask the question.
“It’s been business as usual for me,” Ethan replied, which was mostly true. The only significant changes had occurred between him and Max, and those had been te
mporary. “Looks like the world is more tolerant than we’ve been led to believe.”
He said it pointedly, and she seemed to get the message, flushing slightly.
“For the record,” she said, finally glancing away, “I back you and Mr. Poole one hundred percent. I don’t share your optimism about people, but I would enjoy being proven wrong. This is a good company and it’d be a shame if things had to change.”
“Like what?” Ethan was genuinely curious.
“Well, I don’t know. Something like you leaving, or Mr. Poole assuming a quieter role…” She trailed off, looking as though she wished she hadn’t opened her mouth. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing should change. You’re right. We have to place our faith in people.”
“Right.” Ethan was bothered by her initial suggestions, though. Did the other agents believe the situation would improve if he no longer had a presence at the office? Did they think Max needed to lie low? Ethan couldn’t imagine broaching that subject with his lover, but as far as his own role in this…Stepping back was something he might consider in the future if things didn’t improve.
And what a terrible thought that was. It was one Ethan didn’t want to entertain for long.
~~~~~
“No drink, Maxmillian?”
He inclined his head at his iced tea. “This is fine for me, thank you. I have the feeling I should be clear-headed for this conversation.”
William Hilcox, owner of the shooting range where Max and his agents maintained their marksmanship skills, raised his own vodka soda in a toast. “Didn’t mean to give you the impression that this is some sort of emergency. It’s not.”
Max had a long relationship with Hilcox that had grown from the man’s relationship with Edgar Poole. Hilcox had a level head and managed to spend time in social circles without being bogged down by the politics associated with him. He wasn’t a man to spread gossip or cry wolf, which was why he now had Max’s full attention.
“You said over the phone that you needed to discuss The Elite Poole Worldwide in person. That implies a certain amount of seriousness, Bill.”
“So it does.” Bill took a sip of his drink while studying Max from over the rim. They were seated in the piano bar at Bellagio because it was central to both men. Max would have preferred a quieter venue, but in truth he was willing to travel nearly anywhere to hear what Hilcox had to tell him. The man was well connected in the law enforcement and security community. Anything he had heard would be important to Max.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush,” Hilcox began. “We’re both busy men with businesses to run. I’ve been hearing some talk at the range and at the softball games I play. You know I play on a team made up mostly of cops and other LE people.”
“I’m aware.” Max corralled his impatience.
Hilcox swirled the ice in his glass. “As a group they’re not the most tolerant of folks. Get ‘em one on one and it’s a different story, but you know how a lot of them are when they’re together. Gotta prove they’re tough and masculine, all that bullshit.”
“What have you heard, Bill?”
“I know you’ve got the contract covering Eric Schneider’s events.”
Las Vegas’ large-scale events were something of a legend in the industry. No other city could put together productions of such scale and scope week after week through an entire year. From entertainment to business conventions, something huge was always happening within the city and event planners fought for their immensely lucrative contracts. Schneider was the owner of one such company. Max had worked with many others, too, providing security for entertainers, speakers, and their families.
“My agents frequently handle the talent he brings in, yes.” Max was beginning to regret not having hard liquor in his glass. He could sense where this might be going and he dreaded it.
“Schneider’s a bit of an ass,” Hilcox said by way of apology. “Ever since that announcement by Axelrod Randolph, well…Schneider’s been running his mouth, implying that his people aren’t safe with a gay agency and that he’s shopping for new security and that others should consider the same.”
“A ‘gay agency’,” Max repeated, biting each word off with the edge of his teeth.
Hilcox grimaced, wouldn’t meet his eye. “Yeah.” He drained half the contents of his glass. “Like I said, he’s an asshole. Worse, he’s got a big mouth and he likes to run it. I’m just giving you the heads up. Maybe nothing comes of it.”
“Maybe,” Max murmured, unconvinced. Schneider utilized both Metro PD and private security staff for his events. He wasn’t the most charming man, but he had the ear of a lot of people who mattered to The Elite Poole Worldwide. He levied significant influence, both good and bad.
“It’s unfortunate that this misconception is being spread around town,” Max said, keeping his voice level even though his blood boiled. “One would think the reputation of my company would matter.”
“It does, Maxmillian, trust me.” Hilcox sat back while shaking his head in apparent disgust. “You’ll always have these outliers, especially in the business you’re in.”
The business he was in. Where muscles and big guns were more impressive than quiet competence. Max had bucked the trend, gone in the face of traditional security and built an agency where a different sort of face made the difference. But it was appearing as though the same beauty he had cultivated was going to turn around and bite him.
“You know I don’t care,” Hilcox began.
Max’s mouth turned down as sourness filled his mouth. “Spare me the protestations, Bill. I know it’s not coming from you.”
“You’ve got an image problem,” the other man said flatly. “The service you provide is top notch. But right now people aren’t seeing that. They’re seeing and listening to the noise.”
“The noise will quiet down.”
“Eventually, sure. Can you hold out until then?”
Max didn’t respond, thinking of the cancellations he’d already received. Others were probably in the pipeline. He’d erred in thinking disaster would come via the media. Instead, it was building quietly through word of mouth, leeching away his clients.
“I’m avoiding the media and treating this as a non-issue,” he told Hilcox. “Beyond that, I refuse to allow gossip and innuendo to affect how I run my business. My agents are effective and they will remain so regardless of what people like Mr. Schneider choose to say.”
“I’m with you. I call out anyone who spouts homophobic crap in my range. But speaking as a friend and as a fellow businessman, you can hope this thing loses steam or you can nip it in the bud right now.”
Max folded his hands over his lap, intrigued. “What do you propose?”
“Damage control. Except it’s of a sort I doubt you’ll like.” Hilcox finished off his drink. “But what’s more important to you: your business or avoiding temporary trouble at home?”
“Never,” Max snapped, predicting what he’d say. “I won’t lie about my relationship or who I am.”
“I understand. It’s a tough call. But maybe you won’t have to say a thing. Let your actions speak for you. Show up at a few events with a woman. Refuse to answer any questions about who she is to you or where your husband is.”
Max’s smile was blade thin. “Ignore the enormous elephant in the room?”
“I admit it sounds stupid, but people nowadays only look at photos and read the headlines. They don’t care about the details. The optics is what you’re after, Maxmillian. If enough photos circulate showing you in the company of women, some of these idiots will forget that you’re married to a man.” Hilcox tapped his temple with his forefinger. “They’re not the brightest bulbs in the box, these guys. Show them what they want to see and they’ll accept it because it fits their idea of what’s right.”
Hilcox’s proposal turned Max’s stomach and sounded ludicrous. But sadly, he’d come to learn that he gave other people too much credit to think rationally. Short attention spans made him shake hi
s head in disgust, but in this case it could work in his favor. People tended to believe what was in front of their faces that very moment, regardless of what had occurred mere days before.
However, there was more to this than the right photo ops. Posing with women and pretending as though he were heterosexual contradicted the intention behind Max’s announcement that he was married to Ethan. He had been making a point with that announcement, proving that he no longer found it acceptable to hide the man he loved. He had enjoyed having Ethan be proud of him for putting love before business.
Ethan wouldn’t be proud of him for this. Neither would Max.
“I’m not lying about my marriage.” He said it in a tone that made Hilcox shut his mouth against whatever arguments he’d been about to field. “I’m proud to be married to Ethan and I refuse to encourage the suggestion that I’m spending personal time with other people. If Mr. Schneider feels the need to cancel his contract with me, that’s his choice. If he feels compelled to tell others of his decision, again, that’s out of my hands. I will not alter my life to appease him or those who currently share his opinion.”
“There has to be a way to counteract this,” Hilcox mused. “It’s just wrong what’s happening. This is the twenty-first century, for god’s sake.”
“Business is business. My company’s reputation means something to those who care about keeping safe. I’m confident that will be enough.”
Hilcox toasted him with his glass full of ice cubes. “Here’s to hoping you’re right.”
“I am,” Max said firmly and carefully boxed away the flicker of doubt that threatened to grow into a flame.
~~~~~
Ethan was home when Max arrived at the condo. The blond had stripped down to only his boxer briefs, making it apparent he had no intention of going out tonight. That was more than fine with Max. During the drive from Bellagio he’d fought against a headache as Bill Hilcox’s warnings ran through his head.
“Hey, Max, I’ve got Analisa’s eggplant parmigiana heating in the oven,” Ethan said as he made his way to the kitchen.