“That’s great. Not only that he did that, but that he’ll be presenting it to the entire board. We have a situation ripe for making maximum impact.” Raz rubbed his palms together and grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
“Ooo, what’re we going to do?” Anthony’s eyes danced. “I do love a good scheme.”
“First off, I need you or Jonathan to get me a copy of Marco’s contract, the one that has the morality clause. Will you be able to do that?”
Jonathan glanced at Anthony, who appeared supremely confident at his ability to infiltrate any part of Vallen Industries. “If anyone can do it, my cousin here is the man.”
“Aw, thanks, babe.” Anthony put his hand on his heart. “You flatter me.”
“What else?” Jonathan asked.
Sophia spoke up. “We need the most recent bio for Marco, with all his accomplishments, and it would be great to get a copy of his final report to get the specific numbers he’s produced for Vallen.”
“Done and done, doll.” Anthony, having settled down at the table, scribbled busily on a pad of paper.
“Jonathan.” Sophia’s dark eyes locked on him.
“Yes?”
“How would you feel about being interviewed by Raz, here? About what happened between you and Marco on the cruise?”
Before Jonathan could answer, Anthony piped up in mock horror. “Oh my, so much of that is X-rated!”
“Shut up, Tony. I’d be happy to do that, if you think it will help.”
Raz took over. “Even if the details ended up in a press release?”
Jonathan felt his mouth drop open and saw Anthony’s do the same.
Raz used the silence to continue. “Here’s the thing. Companies are quite sensitive to their public image. These days, LGBT rights are a big deal, and few companies want to be seen as discriminatory. So if we put together a press release that outlines who Marco is, what he’s done for Vallen, how he’s being screwed out of his bonus because of their morality clause, and exactly why, Vallen is going to end up looking really bad. No company wants to be perceived as stingy, vindictive, and discriminatory, right?”
The three of them nodded.
“And you know who in particular doesn’t want that? The board of directors.”
Anthony’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I see. Marco. Frederick. Board meeting. And then we walk in with… this is brilliant!”
“Isn’t it?” Sophia bounced in her chair. “I can see the whole board turning on Frederick and eating him for lunch.”
“Ewww.”
Jonathan interrupted Anthony’s retching noises to ask, “And if the board doesn’t succeed in getting Father to stand down, the press release goes live?”
“Right.” Raz twirled a pencil between his hands, staring at Jonathan expectantly.
Sophia sobered. “That’s what I want to know, Jonathan. If it goes live, it’ll bring the details of your relationship into the open. How’s that going to be for you?”
“You need to know I’m not going to mince words on the press release.” Raz threw down the pencil and loosened his tie. “It will say something about the two of you having an intimate relationship. If we withhold that, the details will probably still come to light, but in a less controlled manner. You don’t… er, there’s no sex tape or anything like that, is there?”
Jonathan felt the telltale warmth in his cheeks. “No! There are pictures floating around of us kissing—fully clothed—”
“Or at least in bathing suits,” Anthony put in.
“—but nothing beyond that.” Thank God.
“Okay. Good.”
Sophia leaned forward. “So what do you think, Jonathan? If that’s not okay with you, we won’t do it. We’ll just have to think of—”
“I’ll do it.”
Chapter NINE
JONATHAN TOOK a final sip of Courvoisier as the Rachmaninoff Third came to an end. Anthony had departed a few hours before, lit up by their latest scheme. Before they’d hung up with Sophia, she’d urged Jonathan to get in touch with Marco.
“I think he needs to hear your voice,” she’d said.
He stared into the fire, gathering his courage. Then he picked up the phone and called him.
“Hello?” Marco sounded cautious.
“Marco, it’s me. Jonathan.”
“Wow. I mean, hello! I thought maybe that was your number, but I wasn’t sure. I’m… extremely glad to hear from you.”
“Are you?” Jonathan had a hard time catching his breath, the relief was so great. “I’m…. That’s good. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too. Thank you for the flowers and the painting. And the music.”
“No problem. I’m staring at your poinsettia plant right now. It’s beautiful.”
“Good. Um, are you… can we get together?”
“I was hoping you’d want to.”
“Are you kidding? Of course.”
Jonathan chewed on his lip. “Then you forgive me? For lying? And screwing everything up?”
“I do. As long as you forgive yourself.”
“Okay. Yes.”
“And you know that who you are is enough for me to love you.”
“Warts and all?”
“Exactly.” Jonathan heard the smile in Marco’s voice. “Warts and all.”
“I love you too. You—this may sound weird, but I’ve felt you with me this whole time.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. You know how you said your mother talks to you? You’ve been talking to me. And you won’t shut up!”
“Oh, no.” Marco laughed. “What’ve I been saying?”
“Drink water. Get on with that living life out loud plan. Don’t let Frederick get you down.”
“Hmm. All good things. I agree with the me that’s in your head.”
After their laughter settled down, Jonathan gripped the phone a little harder. “Marco. I heard what Father is trying to do about your severance package.”
“Yeah. Charming, isn’t it?”
“It’s effed up. Are you really going to accept that?”
There was a pause. “Yes.”
Jonathan felt his rage begin to build. “It’s not right. I don’t think you should settle.”
“I don’t want you dragged into things. If reputations are going to suffer, it may as well be mine instead of both of ours.”
The rage melted into warmth. Ah, Marco. “I appreciate you wanting to protect me. But Father needs to not get away with this.”
“It’s outrageous, I agree. But it’s not fair for you to have your life exposed just to fight him on this.”
“I don’t care about that. I care that you get what you earned and what was promised to you when you took on Vallen Industries. You’ve done miracles with the company, Marco. That needs to be acknowledged.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. But enough Vallen talk. When do I get to see you?”
Jonathan wanted to laugh. Pushy Marco was back. “Soon.” Way sooner than you think.
“Until then, I’m going to listen to our music and drink some Courvoisier. In honor of you.”
Jonathan smiled. “I was just doing that before I called. Gathering up my courage.”
“I love you, amore. What were you listening to?”
As they dived into a conversation about music, the sweet sound of Marco’s voice like some amazing grace, Jonathan sent up a thank-you so intense it could have reached to the ends of the universe.
MARCO’S JOURNAL
HE CALLED. He called and I got to hear his voice and now I’m a mess. But in a good way. I may need to go back to the gym and work off some of this tension. God. Jonathan. Jonathan. He said he loved me. He wants me not to settle about the severance package. I don’t give a damn about that right now. I want to lie here and think about Jonathan, and how I’m going to hold him and smell his skin and taste the sweat that beads along his hairline when he makes love. I’m going to mark him so everyone—especially that guy at the LGBT center—knows
he’s mine.
Jonathan. Jonathan, Jonathan, Jonathan. Suddenly I love that name. Soon, he said. Soon, soon, soon, soon. I love that word!
Gratitude: To have a lover who is so totally on my side is wonderful. If I’d known how wonderful, I’d have done this earlier. Actually, no, I wouldn’t have. I wasn’t yet the man I had to be to accept this kind of love into my life. Thank you, God, for turning me into who I needed to be for Jonathan to love me. I will cherish the gift you’ve entrusted me with. And thank you for my usuals: good coffee, beautiful music, Bunny the magical cat, and Sophia the magical sister. Thank you for Mama’s voice—she sounds quite happy for me these days. I love you, Mama. And I just realized it was your unconditional love of me that’s helped me love Jonathan the way I do. Grazie!
For tomorrow: Finalize presentation for board meeting. Cat food. Think of Jonathan’s next present. Would a ring be too forward?
Chapter TEN
“AND SO in conclusion, let me say it’s been an honor to be entrusted with the job of turning Vallen Industries around.” From where he stood at the head of the conference table, the Vallen Industries board members on either side, Marco saw the door open. He faltered in his speech when Jonathan and Anthony come into the room, Anthony holding a stack of papers.
Jonathan had on a dark blue suit and crisp open-necked shirt, the ocean pendant glinting at his throat. He looked amazing. Seeing him again—his clear blue eyes and expressive face—brought everything back. Jonathan nodded at him, and Marco felt Jonathan’s energy surround him, buoying him, while Anthony, fabulous in an emerald-green silk shirt and tight black leather pants, grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. He inclined his head at them. He had no idea why they were there, but he felt a welcome warmth creep up his spine. “If anyone has any questions about my final report, or anything else to say, please feel free.”
“Great job, Pellegrini.” Mr. Bladworth, one of the board members, started a round of applause.
Everyone joined in but Frederick. Meanwhile Anthony and Jonathan stood by the door, waiting.
“Excellent work,” agreed Mr. Henshaw. He’d applauded as heartily as the others, even though Marco was no longer seeing his daughter. No doubt he valued results over sentiment.
A few of the board members turned their heads to see who had come in, and Frederick followed their gazes. “Jonathan? What are you doing here?”
“Hello, Father.” Jonathan strode to the head of the table and paused next to Marco. “I wanted to join you in thanking Mr. Pellegrini for the outstanding job he did in getting Vallen Industries back on its feet.” He held out his hand, eyes caressing Marco with a warm gaze, and let his fingers linger a touch long on the handshake.
Marco felt his cheeks heat. “Thank you, Jonathan. I appreciate that.” What an effect Jonathan had on him, especially being only a foot away from him after all this time. He restrained himself from staring hungrily, but it took effort.
Jonathan turned back to the table and spoke in a clear, ringing tone. “Father, is it true that you canceled Marco’s severance package?”
From the collective gasp and sounds of concern at the table, the other board members had not been apprised of this. They turned as one to stare at Frederick.
Frederick’s chair squeaked at his uneasy movement. “That’s not a matter for the board meeting, Jonathan. We can talk about that—”
Jonathan came in smoothly over Frederick. “Oh, I think the board will find the matter relevant. I can see they’re shocked, and well might they be, given Mr. Pellegrini has just finished giving his final report that shows he delivered well beyond expectations on what he’d promised to produce for the company.”
“Damn right, we’re shocked.” Mr. Henshaw frowned. “What the hell are you playing at, Vallen, to not give Pellegrini his bonus?”
Frederick opened his mouth, then closed it.
“I can tell you exactly what he’s playing at.” Jonathan stood, head held high and radiating strength, and Marco shifted to hide his sudden arousal. “A month ago, Marco and I met for the first time in a year on an LGBT cruise. We spent a week together and ended up falling in love. Father is convinced Marco did this on purpose—seduced me and turned me gay—all to get his hands on the Vallen fortune I’m due to inherit. I’ve since explained to Father that (a) I was already gay and Marco had nothing to do with it, and (b) Marco didn’t even know I was Jonathan Vallen because I went by a different name and he didn’t recognize me.” Jonathan glared around the table as if to challenge anyone who raised a question. “Believe me or not, that is the truth of what happened.”
“Preposterous.” The mutter came from Frederick, who nevertheless was hunched over, scowling down at the table.
“Go on,” said Ms. Gabardine after shooting a contemptuous glance at Frederick. Marco had always had a soft spot for Gabby Gabardine, herself a CEO and a formidable player in her own right. She wasn’t exactly out, but she’d been living with a woman for as long as Marco could remember.
Jonathan continued, commanding the attention of the room, confident and unassailable. “To punish Marco, Father is withholding his severance package on the basis of the morality clause that is written into the contract. I’m not sure how he intended to prove that Marco violated this clause, but I can tell you that the Human Rights Campaign—an LGBT advocacy group, for those who don’t know—is very interested in investigating what is on the surface a blatant example of LGBT workplace discrimination.” Jonathan directed his gaze to Anthony, still hovering by the door with the stack of papers. “Anthony, if you will distribute the handout.”
“Happily, Jonny.” Anthony went around the table giving each member a piece of paper. When he got to Marco, he gave him a mischievous wink along with the handout.
Marco stared at it. PRESS RELEASE—FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION blared in large letters across the top of the page next to the logo for the Human Rights Campaign.
VALLEN INDUSTRIES TO PUNISH TOP
EXECUTIVE FOR LGBT AFFILIATION
Vallen Industries, a venerable Boston company, is withholding a bonus and severance package from its outgoing CEO, Marco Pellegrini, by claiming Pellegrini violated the company contract’s “morality clause.”
Marco Pellegrini, a Harvard Business School graduate, is a business executive star, well known for his ability to revive ailing companies and help them achieve profitability. His methods have been studied by the Harvard Business School, and his expertise is widely sought in the Boston business community and beyond. He was named one of Boston’s Top Ten Business Executives Under Age 30 in 2011. He was hired by Vallen Industries in December 2014 to help jumpstart the company, which had been operating in the red for several years, and was promised a generous bonus and severance package should he achieve his goals.
Pellegrini not only delivered on his promises, but took the company well beyond them. The graph below shows the trajectory of Vallen’s profits after Pellegrini took the helm.
Despite this accomplishment, Vallen Industries has informed Pellegrini he will not receive his bonus and severance package.
Pellegrini’s offence? In December, he participated in a week-long cruise for LGBT people and their allies. There he met and had a consensual sexual liaison with Jonathan Vallen, the son of Vallen Industries owner Frederick Vallen.
“Father is furious,” Jonathan Vallen disclosed in an exclusive interview. “He is furious at me for being gay and furious at Marco for getting involved with me. None of which is his business. He is using the morality clause in Marco’s contract to cheat him out of the severance package he earned by turning Vallen Industries around and delivering a 50 percent increase in profits in one year. It’s spite, pure and simple, and also homophobia. It reflects extremely poorly on Vallen Industries.”
HRC decries this blatant example of LGBT discrimination and asks Vallen Industries to do the right thing by its outgoing CEO.
“What on earth?” Mr. Henshaw sputtered. “This has to be a pack of lies to begin with.” He st
ared at Marco. “You were engaged to my daughter, weren’t you?”
“We were never engaged, but we dated for several months, yes.”
“Then how…?”
Marco compressed his lips, asking the gods for calm. “There is such a thing as bisexuality, Mr. Henshaw. Though discussing one’s sexual orientation seems highly inappropriate for a company board meeting.”
Mr. Henshaw had the decency to seem embarrassed. “Blame Vallen. He’s the one who made it an issue.”
“Yes, Frederick.” Ms. Gabardine rapped her hand on the table. “Why are you pushing this? The whole thing is inappropriate as hell. It’s going to cast Vallen Industries in a bad light.”
“Damn right, it is.” Mr. Bladworth appeared incensed. “If you have a personal issue with Pellegrini, here, take it up with him separately. Don’t drag Vallen Industries through the mud and deprive the man of what he’s rightfully earned. That’s insane.”
All eyes turned to Frederick. Marco enjoyed seeing him squirm. He and Jonathan exchanged glances, and their hands grazed against each other. God. If he didn’t get Jonathan alone, and soon, he would be the one to go insane. He cleared his throat.
“Well, I should leave and allow the board to pursue this discussion, given it concerns me and my compensation. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve Vallen Industries as CEO. I enjoyed the challenge and especially delivering on my promises.” Marco cast a swift glance at Jonathan, then walked toward the door.
Jonathan followed behind, along with Anthony. At the door, he turned back. “Father, I ask you to do the right thing. Listen to your board. I’ll need word by the end of the day on whether or not I give HRC the go-ahead to send out the press release. Good day, all.”
A cacophony of raised voices sounded as Jonathan shut the door, but all Marco cared about was the way he flung himself into Marco’s arms and pressed his sweet lips to Marco’s. Finally. Jonathan’s smell, his sweet energy, the way he clung to Marco—how could he have forgotten?
All the Way to Shore Page 17
