Free Dark, Dangerous, Delicious - Control by Cassandre Dayne Page B

of the firm Bart had insisted on. From his “need” to have the office in the back, sequestered away from the employees to the custom leather furniture in the conference room, the entire direction of the company had been Bart’s decision alone. And Michael had allowed his partner to take the reins. This exercise would prove to be interesting.
    He stood outside the closed door, hearing the berating tone in Bart’s voice, and grew more and more agitated. Pressing his hands down the front of his one hundred dollar crisp, white cotton shirt, he narrowed his eyes and resisted knocking, choosing instead to walk right in. Michael did own half the company after all. No, he owned fifty-one percent. The bizarre drinking game had solidified the ownership. Maybe now he was glad. The look of disdain crossing Bart’s face annoyed the hell out of him. And he made certain his ex-lover knew it by the scowl he planted on his face.
    “You heard exactly what I said. Two o’clock or no deal. You got it? Yeah, that’s right. You heard me.” Slamming down the phone, Bart snarled and turned his gaze toward the window. “Bastard. You can never allow the stupid assholes to get the upper hand.”
    Michael was surprised he waited for a full minute before clearing his throat. By that point he could hear Bart’s breathing becoming ragged. Of course Michael never made waves. Look out buddy . “Bart. We’re going to talk. Now.”
    “All right. What do ya want to talk about?” Bart sat back in his seat but continued to type, his gaze locked on the computer screen.
    “Stop working and look at me.” When Bart didn’t budge he slapped his hands on top of Bart’s desk and the single word came out as a stern bark. “Now!”
    Bart jumped and narrowed his eyes, yet he looked up and removed his hands from the keyboard. “Good God. Okay. What is it?”
    “Your behavior and your bad attitude.” He inched closer, leaning forward until his face was a mere four inches from Bart’s. “They’re going to stop.”
    “Behavior? What the hell are you talking about? And I have fine attitude. I just don’t like jerk offs.”
    Remaining quiet, Michael sucked in his breath.
    “You mean dealing with the assholes we have to deal with? Come on. You know we’re required to take a heavy hand, make sure they know their place.”
    “Their place? They’re our customers and the people who allow us to pay our bills. Your ridiculous and very nasty behavior is slitting our throats and it’s going to stop. You’re as unprofessional as I’ve ever seen and I refuse to have it any longer.”
    “Stop?” Bart laughed.
    “You heard me. This is going to stop. Period.”
    Tilting his head, Bart glanced up and down the length of Michael. “Or what?”
    “Or what?” My God his ex lover was arrogant as hell. Michael knew the man would challenge him. So why not pull out all the stops? “Or as majority owner of this company I will push you out the door.”
    Bart seemed shocked, his face flushing. “What did you say?”
    “You heard me.” Michael kept his voice even, his eyes unblinking as he allowed the understanding to sink in. And boy was the line in the sand drawn in blood. “Now, I have a list of rules that you are going to follow and the new regime starts today. You will follow my lead and obey every order I lay down. Clear?” He didn’t know where this brazen and authoritative side of him had come from, but he liked this guy.
    “Rules? Obey you? Are you kidding me?” Bart snickered.
    He leaned further over the desk. They could almost kiss. “Hear me. If you want to keep your position in this company as President and if you like the sexy new Mercedes you’re driving, you will do as I say. Do…you…understand?” His tone was terse, his stance completely dominating, and for the first time in the years he’d known his partner, his friend and his lover, the man was intrigued. And his cock was aching like a son of a bitch. Whew.
    Tick. Tock.
    “I