Connor had anerection too, and he rubbed it against Tim’s. The pleasure from the doublefriction of his hard-on chafing against his clothes and Connor’s gyrationsalmost made Tim come right there on the balcony.
Asif sensing the urgency of his need, Connor hooked a finger in the waistband ofTim’s pants and tugged him back inside. “Come on, let’s go to bed and dothis the right way.”
Tim wantednothing more than to follow Connor and spend the rest of the night in ablissful, lovemaking haze. But for once his brain overruled his cock, and hisfeet remained planted on the spot. “Wait, we need to talk.”
“Later,” Connormuttered while sliding his hand in between Tim’s legs and cupping his balls.“We need to take care of this first.”
Though breathingheavily from excitement and anticipation, Tim forced himself to take severalsteps out of Connor’s reach. “They’re not going to publish the article.”
“What?” WhileConnor’s voice sounded shocked, the light from inside the penthouse allowed Timto witness the glimpse of guilt that crossed his face before a composed maskreplaced it. “That’s terrible. Did you publisher tell you why?”
Tim continued towatch Connor carefully. “She gave me a song and dance about how the interviewwas no longer compatible with the paper’s long-range goals.”
“That’s too bad.I’m sure that was very frustrating to hear. But at least your publishercanceled the article for business reasons and not because of the quality ofyour work.”
“Do you knowanything about those other business reasons?”
Connor suddenlyseemed to have trouble meeting Tim’s gaze. “Is there any particular reason why Ishould?”
“Since thosebusiness reasons are related to Albright Software Media suddenly getting intobed with the Chronicle’s parentcompany, I thought you might know a thing or two, seeing as you’re the fuckingfounder and CEO.” Tim regretted the harsh tone, knowing it wouldn’t get himanywhere. In a softer voice, he said, “I’m sorry, it’sbeen a rough day.”
“I can imagine.”Connor took his hand and squeezed it. “Why don’t we go back in and I’ll fix youthat drink? Sounds like you could use it.”
They went intothe penthouse, and Tim watched while Connor made him a vodka tonic. He acceptedthe drink and took a token sip, but picked back up where they left off on thebalcony. “Did you know anything about Albright Software Media’s deal withPickering Media Group?”
Connor took abottle of water and sat on his massive leather sofa. “No specifics, but thehead of marketing indicated something along those lines might be happeningsoon.”
“And when didthey let you know this?” With him standing and Connor sitting, Tim felt alittle like a prosecutor cross-examining a witness.
“I can’t saythat I remember.”
“Beforeor after your trip to Cedros? Before or after I interviewed you? Before or after theyfound out you told me about your heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery?”
Connor scowled,clearly not used to being questioned or challenged like this. “I repeat, Ican’t remember. If there’s something you want to know, don’t beat around thebush. Just ask me straight out.”
Tim took a gulpof his vodka tonic. “Did you know they were going to cancel my article? Did youhave anything to do with it?” The way Connor’s head bowed and his gaze droppedto his lap gave Tim his answer. “Damn it, why?” he asked, unable to keep theanguish out of his voice.
Still notmeeting Tim’s eyes, Connor took a deep breath. “There is a major deal about totake place that we’ve been working on for months. Billions are at stake, and sois Albright Software Media’s future. Negotiations are still underway, and anarticle that focuses on my heart attack and surgery could derail them.”
“Okay, fairenough. But why kill my article entirely? Why not let it be published afternegotiations are completed and this deal of yours goes through?”
Connor finallylooked Tim in the eye again, and his expression was one of sympathy mixed withpity. “It’s already been arranged for TheWall Street Journal to conduct the first interview about my heart attackand surgery. It will run in conjunction with a story about the business dealwe’re currently negotiating.”
Tim gripped theglass of his vodka tonic so tight he thought he would crush it with his barehand. Instead, he set it on the counter and said with the steadiest voice hecould manage, “But you’ve already conducted your first interview about yourheart attack and surgery. Remember, about five weeks back on Cedros?”
Connor stood andslowly made his way over to where Tim stood. “I really shouldn’t have grantedyou that interview. I let the panic of being found on Cedrosoverrule my instincts. And your practically blackmailing me further compromisedmy judgment―”
“It wasn’tblackmail, it was journalism,” Tim snapped. “I wasn’t looking for you on Cedros and was shocked to find you there. But I won’tapologize for seizing an opportunity. Don’t try to revise history by callingthis blackmail to soothe your own conscience. You made a deal with me in goodfaith, and now you’re reneging on it.”
Connor’sexpression turned contemptuous. “Now, who’s the one revising history? Goodfaith never entered into any of this. You coerced me into doing the interview, then seduced me to ensure I let my guard down and revealmore than I should have.”
The accusationsmade Tim dizzy with anger.
Before he couldrespond, Connor continued. “Let’s do each other a favor and be totally honesthere. I granted you the interview, but deep down, you had to know there wasvery little likelihood of it ever seeing the light of day. You’re only angrynow because you got outmaneuvered. You’ve lost the advantage you had down on Cedros, and there’s nothing you can do to get it back.”
Tim felt tearsspring to his eyes, but he said a silent prayer that they’d remain unshed. Hedidn’t want to look any weaker than he already did. “You think I slept with youto get a better interview? Sounds like you slept with me to keep me distractedjust long enough to yank the carpet right out from under me. Well played. Nowonder you’re a self-made billionaire and run one of the top software companiesin the world. Now you can add me to the long list of casualties you’ve left inyour wake to get to that position.”
Tim noted with amixture of sadness and triumph that now Connor
