Chapter 30
Chapter thirty
Convincing Ian to meet at Baz’s office the next morning was a piece of cake.
A pleading tone, a defeatist ‘ Neither of us wants to deal with forty-two cases, Ian.’ A strategically placed ‘let’s make both of our lives easier’.
The implication that Baz was willing to settle for Ian’s outrageously low offer, and boom.
Ian stepped right into their trap, a naive little bug settling down on a Venus flytrap.
All while Sami was shaking his head with bewildered amusement, even though he had eagerly agreed to the plan two minutes ago; they both wanted to be there when Ian realized he was fucked.
The moment Baz hung up, Sami broke out laughing.
“What?” Baz asked.
“I had no idea you had a flair for theatrics.” Sami’s arms slithered around his neck. “That’s kind of hot.”
Baz held him by the hips. “Just kind of?”
“Fishing for compliments is beneath you.”
“You better bite if you want me to be beneath you later.”
Sami’s filthy chuckle triggered all kinds of memories in Baz’s brain that he should not be thinking about in the foyer of the State’s Attorney’s Office.
“You’re scorching. I really threw myself at the right dick.”
What an assertion of endearment that was.
“Come home with me.” The invitation slipped right over Baz’s lips, too natural to hold in.
“For more dry toast on your balcony?”
“I’ll throw in some butter, just for you.” Actually, he had snuck out early and picked up all kinds of sweets from the bakery a few blocks north, but Sami would find that out soon enough.
“Ooh, Mr. Hadley. You really know how to charm a broke boy.”
With that, Sami kissed him—the most beautiful version of a yes.
The fantasy of romantically sharing pastries in bed was interrupted by Mr. Dunkeld’s call at six-thirty in the morning, informing them that Sami’s immunity deal was ready to be signed.
Still, Baz was nothing if not a man of his word, even for a promise he only made to himself.
So they stopped by the bakery on their way.
His car might never be free from the flaky crumbs of Sami’s croissant again, but they also offered the perfect excuse to feel Sami up when Baz thoroughly wiped them off the shirt Sami had ‘borrowed’ before they went up to Dunkeld’s office.
They each read the deal and found everything in place.
Sami’s hand was shaking as he placed his signature on the line.
How they had managed to keep a modicum of composure instead of falling into each other’s arms in front of Dunkeld, Baz didn’t know, only that their restraint wore off the moment they stepped outside.
Sami bounced on the spot before hurling himself at Baz. He held Baz in a chokehold, his legs wrapped around his lower back in the middle of the sidewalk. An old lady tutted at them. Baz couldn’t care less.
“I’m free.” Sami’s whisper turned into a laugh. He squeezed Baz tighter.
“Let’s tell Ian, shall we?”
Sami nodded, his eyes glowing. Wonderful. He placed Sami on his feet and slung his arms around him. This would be the fun part. He couldn’t imagine how gratifying it would be for Sami to finally get his payback.
His office was much brighter with Sami planted on his desk. Perhaps he could redecorate it, Sami-fy it, now that he was bound to stay here for a while. Aya seemed confident that he’d get to keep his job, anyway.
He snuck Sami to the partner floors’ kitchen to steal a proper coffee and got blessed with that light, mischievous giggle when they hurried down the stairs hand in hand—and ran straight into Aya.
“There you are,” she said. She was sporting a bright red blouse under a gray suit-hijab combo. One of her many get-shit-done outfits that shone especially bright next to Collin’s boring navy suit. “We’re about to leave for the settlement meeting. You coming?”
It hadn’t even occurred to Baz that was an option. A few weeks ago, this meeting had been all he wished for, but now…
“You and Collin got that. We have something more important to take care of.” He traded a knowing smile with Sami.
Aya’s nod felt approving. She turned to Sami. “Who would have thought you’d be a good influence?”
Now that was just uncalled for. “Aya—”
“I’m as shocked as you are,” Sami said, charming as always. Baz loved him so much. Who knew, now that he got to be around him more, maybe he could pick up a few tricks.
“You have a weird taste in men,” she said, then added something in Arabic that had Sami’s spine straightening.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” With a last once-over and just the hint of a smirk softening her face, Aya strutted to the elevator, her red heels clacking on the floor.
“Okay, I’m officially obsessed with her,” Sami gushed.
“What did she say to you?”
“Uh, I’m rusty and she speaks in an Egyptian dialect, but I’m pretty sure she threatened to break my knees if I break your heart.”
Of course a threat was what got Sami obsessed with her. He truly was a masochist.
Still, Baz couldn’t suppress a silly smile, hearing her be so protective of him.
“Yeah. She’s awesome.” Probably in a lot more ways than even Baz knew. He couldn’t wait to find out, explore their friendship outside of the office. Life beyond the hyperfocus on work offered so many possibilities.
Speaking of. Collin still lingered as if he didn’t know whether he was a part of their conversation or if he should follow Aya.
He had been Baz’s rival since the first day of law school, the only one who could compete with him for the top grades. Baz had done nothing but dismiss him the entire time, and for what? Because he was jealous that Collin was better at the social stuff?
Looking back now, Baz had been the true source of their antagonism.
In fact, he was almost positive Collin didn’t think of him as a rival at all, given that he was the one to invite Baz to networking parties and attempted to include him in group activities, for better or for worse.
Not to mention he had kept Baz’s secrets, both about his sexuality and Sami.
Not many people tried to be that friendly with Baz, and Baz had kicked him to the curb. Well, no more.
“I owe you an apology.”
Collin dismissively waved his hand. “Nah, dude. I should have known it wasn’t the time for jokes. My bad.”
“No, it was mine. I think you’ve been trying to be my friend, and I was too focused on being better than everyone to see that, and for that, I am sorry.”
“Thanks, man. There’s no need, though. I know it was all love.”
It really hadn’t been. But perhaps it could be. “Maybe we could grab a drink sometime. Talk about anything but work.”
Collin smiled. “I’d like that.”
Baz offered his hand—and got pulled into a hug instead. Collin patted his back twice, way too hard, but he also nodded his approval when he let go and finally followed Aya. He’d learn to not let her wait soon enough.
Sami’s tongue darted across his bottom lip. “You’re hot when you make up with people.”
Baz chuckled. “Thanks.” He’d make the most out of those bedroom eyes, later. For now, he guided Sami back to his office.
Everything was in place for their show. Sami was planted on his desk, legs crossed, a sight Baz wished he could immortalize in a painting.
Jack—a lieutenant now, it turned out—and a fellow officer were ready with the arrest warrant, waiting out of sight for their cue, namely Ian trying to make a run for it like Sami swore he would.
Sami wiped his palms on his pants and drew a deep breath.
“Are you nervous?” Baz asked.
“No. It’s just a little overwhelming. I’ve spent two years waiting for the worst to happen, and now, we’re the worst that’s going to happen to him.” Sami huffed a smile.
Baz had always known he had been destined to be someone’s nightmare. The circumstances made it all the sweeter.
Bzz bzz.
If that was Ian canceling because he had heard about his office getting raided right now—
Eevee
GOOD NEWS!!
I gave one hell of a passionate speech you would have been SO proud of
the dean is happy to reconsider Sami’s enrollment!!
Baz squished his lips to keep his face in check and skimmed the requirements: a character reference by a licensed attorney, a personal interview convincing the dean of his commendable morality. More than doable.
“What’s gotten into you?” Sami asked. Oh, Baz couldn’t wait to tell him. Afterward. He stole a kiss and might have forgotten it was supposed to be a quick one until Sami pushed him away and rushed to straighten out his suit.
What just happened? Baz turned—Ian. Swaggering through the halls like he owned the place, nodding at a female attorney who pulled a disgusted grimace in return. All it did was make Ian grin. Such a dick.
There had been a time when his approach made Baz tremble in his shoes, back when he was a rookie and Ian was the first lawyer he properly went up against. Now, all Baz saw was a pathetic man who had to lie and manipulate his way to the top because he could not endure his own mediocrity.
Well, he had fucked up thinking Baz was an easy opponent. Baz would make him choke on his misplaced sense of invincibility.
Ian halted mid-step when he clocked Sami. His smirk faltered for barely a second, long enough for a frown to try and crease his stiff forehead.
Baz half expected him to smell the trap, turn around, and leave—once again, he had given Ian’s intelligence too much credit. No, Ian all but stormed in, the air around him vibrating with a sense of betrayal.
“What do you think you’re doing here, Sammy?”
“My name is Sami. I know you know that, and I know you enjoy being a racist piece of shit, but I will not stand for it any longer.”
Baz’s heart swelled. That was his man.
“I’ll explain everything. Have a seat, Ian.”
Baz pulled out a chair for him lest Ian’s look of disdain festered into something darker.
A muscle feathered across Ian’s jaw. He eyed up the seat as if he expected a poison dart to be sticking out of it, but, ever the most arrogant, god-complex-ridden person in any room, he sat down.
Baz picked up the paper preset on his desk and cleared his throat.