The Werewolves of Manhattan 07 - Wolf's Whistle Read online

  “Yes, and I graduated summa cum laude, first in my class.” Richard’s eyes misted. “I received many job offers, one I especially wanted to take, but Dad died of a heart attack in my junior year in college. Just after that, Mom developed breast cancer, so I accepted a job with Switched Power Designs in Chicago.”

  “Isn’t that the company that was in the news for defective power supplies for the Cougar II?” One of Etienne’s eyebrows arched.

  “Yes, it was. The power supply was my design.” Richard clenched his fist, and his eyes narrowed. “It wasn’t designed that way. I specified Charter components with a high heat tolerance. When it went into production, the production manager decided to use Minster components instead. I tested the design with Minster components because they were an approved vendor, but it ran too hot. I wrote several reports describing the problem and complained all the way up to the president of the company. When I saw they wouldn’t budge, I went to my congressman. It cost me my job. I could have sued, but I didn’t have the money because I spent my savings on a decent hospice for Mom.”

  “Were you able to get a job somewhere else?” Etienne asked.

  Richard shook his head. “Switched Power said I was fired for insubordination and poor performance. They blamed me for the Cougar fiasco and gave me a poor reference, even though I had signed documentation saying that changing out the components made the design faulty and downright dangerous.”

  Etienne’s fist came down on the table. “Many of our people serve. It’s bad enough there is the danger of explosion from an enemy planted IED, but to have your vehicle catch fire because of a defective part is untenable. Especially if the manufacturer knew about the issue beforehand and refused to fix it.”

  Richard hung his head. “They blamed me and therefore I’m toxic. Now I work as a clerk at a small grocery store, and I bartend at night. The two jobs pay my college loans, my rent, and my phone, but they don’t leave me with money for much else.” He took a deep breath and blew it out in exasperation. “I know I did the right thing, but I’m paying for it.”

  Gilbert returned with the sodas for Julio and Richard and a beer for Etienne. Alpha, he had his computer and a folder with him when I picked him up. Maybe the folder contained resumes. Garou could…

  “But enough of my sad story. I’m still sending out resumes, although I know what happens as soon as they check my work history.” Richard shrugged. “Even though I was fired, I’m glad I did what I did. They said a failure rate of a little more than five percent was acceptable. To me it meant five out of every hundred vehicles could catch fire and immolate the troops using it for transport. That wasn’t right, and I couldn’t let it stand. It was my design.”

  “You have proof of this?” Etienne asked, jaw clenched.

  “Yes, on my computer I have time-stamped emails and reports that I sent to management. I also have the specs for the original design with an explanation of why I didn’t use our preferred vendor, Minster, and specified Charter instead.”

  Etienne’s lips thinned. “They’re not supposed to be able to fire a whistleblower.”

  “No, they’re not, but there was nothing I could do to stop them.”

  Julio gazed up at his Mate with firm purpose. “Etienne, Garou has divisions that use engineers…Maybe we could…”

  “Garou?” Richard asked, his eyes growing big. “Garou is the top employer in North America for engineers, known for treating their employees with respect, and providing excellent compensation.”

  Julio grabbed Richard’s hand. “Most of the people here today are on the board of Garou Industries. Do you have a resume with you?”

  “I have thirty copies. I just came back from Kinko’s when Gilbert caught me on the stoop. Do you think they’d read it?”

  “I can guarantee it.” Julio peered over Richard’s head at Etienne and let go of his friend’s hand.

  “Of course, we’ll read your resume, if only because you’re a friend of Julio’s and our family loves him.” Etienne kissed the top of Julio’s head.

  Richard’s hands were shaking. “I have them here in my satchel.” After he sat down, he opened his bag, carefully removed his computer and pulled out the folders that contained his resumes. He handed one to Etienne, along with copies of personal letters of recommendation from his professors. He also retrieved both the reports he’d sent to management and the sheets containing the test results with the Minster and Charter components.

  Etienne read the documents.

  “For what I want to do, I should have a master’s. I wanted to continue on to get it, but Mom was sick, so I had to make some money to keep her comfortable for her last few months.”

  “Gilbert, please go upstairs and bring Armand, Julien, and Henri down to meet Richard.”

  “Please, Mr. Daurensbourg, I didn’t come to tell my story, I came to find out how Julio was doing.”

  “First, call me Etienne. You’re Julio’s friend. Of course, I’ll help, if I can. To be honest, Garou searched for you after the congressional hearings. We want to hire engineers of your expertise and integrity. At Garou, you would have been promoted for doing what you did.”

  Julio grinned at the flabbergasted expression on Richard’s face.

  Armand came down the stairs, followed by Henri and then Julien.

  Etienne swept out his arm as he made the introductions. “Armand La Marche, Julien Bellaire, and Henri Giraud, this is Richard Kerrigan, the young man who exposed the power supply fiasco at Switched Power Designs. He and Julio grew up together before Julio’s parents drowned.”

  Richard stood to meet Julio’s friends.

  Julio took over. “Richard, Armand is the Chief Executive Officer of Garou Industries, Henri is the Director of Security, and Julien is the Director of Production and Quality Assurance.”

  Armand walked over to shake his hand, followed by Henri and then Julien. When Julien’s hand touched Richard’s, a spark flickered between them. Julien’s jaw dropped. Richard jumped back. Julio broke out in a huge grin.

  Henri excused himself. “I’ll bring the others down,” he said sadly and went back up the stairs to get the other members of the board.

  § § §

  Richard gazed up through his thick auburn eyelashes, giving Julien a peek at his emerald green eyes.

  My Mate. Thank the gods, I have a Mate. I have to get Richard to come home with me. I can’t leave him in Chicago. Something could happen to him as it did to Julio and besides, I can’t court him long distance. How do I get him to come?

  Julien perused the sheet in his hand. “Except for the incident at Switched Power Designs, you have an exemplary resume. Why didn’t you just leave your position at Switched Power off? You could have said you took a gap year.”

  “That would be dishonest, Mr. Bellaire. There’s enough dishonesty in the world without me adding to it.”

  Armand, after carefully examining Richard, read the CV he held in his hand. “You are the kind of employee we want at Garou. Julien?”

  “I would hire you as a production manager. But perhaps you might prefer a job in R&D or in our Information and Technology Division. Armand, Richard, let’s sit down.” Julien pulled out the chair for Richard.

  “If you really do want me, production and quality assurance is a good fit. To my detriment at Switched Power, I’m a stickler for getting the job done right.”

  “I’m curious, why didn’t you send a copy of this to Garou after you left MIT?” Julien asked. “We are the leading technology company in North America, bar none.”

  “During my junior year at MIT, Garou tried to recruit me. The offer was spectacular, but I couldn’t move my mother to Manhattan. She was undergoing chemo and radiation. Although Sloan Kettering is in New York and one of the best cancer centers in the nation, I couldn’t talk her into leaving her doctor in Chicago, so I had to decline. After Mom died, I didn’t think I’d get another offer after I refused the first one, and then there was the business with Switched Power.” Richard’s eyes got a little misty.

  “I loved your mom almost as much as I loved my own,” Julio said. “Her PB&J lunch was the last meal that I didn’t eat in fear until I met Etienne. When did she pass?”

  “She passed away just after I lost my job. What do you mean, eat in fear?” Richard narrowed his eyes.

  “I’ll tell you, but not today. It’s a long story.”

  Rémy, Marc, Gabriel, and Alexei came down the stairs. Julien broadcast on the Alpha link. This man is my Mate. Aloud he said, “Meet Richard Kerrigan. He blew the whistle on Switched Power Designs and the Cougar II fiasco. This is his resume.”

  “I’m Rémy Clavier, Chief Operating Officer of Garou. This is Marc Thierry, Director of Mergers and Acquisitions. Gabriel Martin is our Chief Technology Officer and Alexei Davidoff, Chief of Research and Development.”

  Richard quickly retrieved several resumes from the folder that now sat open on his lap and handed them to the men who stood before him.

  “Impressive, isn’t it?” Julien’s eyes sparkled. My Mate is very intelligent and accomplished. Julio piped in, “Richard wants to go back to school for his master’s.”

  “We’ll pay for that,” Armand said smoothly. “As we would for any other candidate of your caliber. I don’t know which department you’d like to work with, but you’re qualified for all of them. What was our original offer?”

  “Uh, seventy-five thousand dollars plus excellent benefits.”

  “You’re hired. You can stay with Julien and go to NYU. You wouldn’t be alone. All of our husbands go there. When you finish, we’ll pay you two hundred thousand a year. In the meantime, we’ll pay all of the expenses for your master’s degree plus a stipend of one thousand dollars a week, and you’ll receive the Garou benefit package. We’ll put all the money in an account for you so you won’t be afraid you’ll lose your job and be stuck in a strange city.”

  “You’re all gay?”

  It seemed that Richard didn’t hear the details of the offer, just the part about all of our husbands.

  “Why, is that a problem?” Armand asked in a voice that was a bit too silky.

  “No, sir. It happens that I’m gay, too. I knew Julio was gay from the time we were kids. We gravitated toward each other in Oswego because of our shared sexuality but soon became good friends. I’m so happy to see that everything turned out well for him. My family was very concerned.”

  “We all love Julio.” Armand glanced over at Julien. “Will you consider our offer?”

  “Yes, yes to everything, except maybe I should get my own place to live—”

  Julien interrupted, “Nonsense, I have a townhouse with six floors plus a walk-out basement. My assistants, Denis and Charles, plus my housekeeper and factotum, Isabel and Marcel Quartier, also live on the property. The house is large, nine bedrooms, and I am perfectly willing to mentor an intern. It will also be easier for you if you get to know the city before you decide where you want to live.”

  Richard glanced hopelessly over to Julio, who remained mute on the subject.

  Julien asked, “Do you have much to pack?”

  “No, actually. My lease is month-to-month, and the studio came furnished. All I really have are my clothing, my linens, a few personal mementos and my computer. I sold all the rest and what’s left, except for the work clothing I used at the grocery store and the bar, is still boxed.”

  “Good. Then it’s decided. Marcel, Denis, Charles, and I will go home with you to help you pack. You can call to quit your jobs and stay here tonight and leave with us for Manhattan in the morning on Armand’s jet.”

  He heard what sounded like thunder travel down the stairs. Five handsome men ranging in age from their early to late twenties appeared in the now crowded room. The first, a platinum blond with grass green eyes, a shade or two lighter than his own, strode up to him. “I’m Sean Quinn La Marche, Armand’s husband. This is Ian Sullivan Clavier, Colin Callahan Thierry, Kane Brady Martin, and Donal Berne Davidoff. That’s all of us except for Julio, who just married Etienne. In Manhattan, we’re Julio’s friends. We wanted to meet you, too.” Sean sent Armand a black look.

  Richard almost chuckled but managed to swallow it in time.

  The group overwhelmed him. He couldn’t believe that in reconnecting with Julio, he would meet the entire Board of Directors of Garou Industries and their husbands. Things didn’t always go his way.

  “Julio, when I told you my story, I wasn’t trying to get you to help me. I don’t want to be a mooch.”

  Julio answered quickly with a side glance to Etienne. “Don’t worry, you’ll earn every dime. Etienne, if you don’t mind, I’ll go with Julien. I don’t want Richard to be uncomfortable.”

  “We’ll both go, mon coeur.”

  Richard shook his head. “No need. My apartment has only two rooms, and I have practically nothing to pack.”

  Julio put his arm around Richard, and when Etienne emitted a little growl, Julio’s eyes shot daggers. “You don’t understand. These men are the Board of Directors for Garou Industries. They are obliged to travel with security. Garou is privately held and the seven men in this room along with Henri, who is upstairs, control vast sums of wealth. They never travel alone. Julien is going with you so it follows that Denis and Charles will accompany him, and Marcel will drive. If Etienne and I go, Gilbert, Adrien, and Sebastian will accompany us, and Théo will drive. They don’t have to be in the apartment, they can wait outside. This is Etienne’s Chicago home and his relatives are all upstairs enjoying the party we’re having here for the wedding because the whole family couldn’t fly to New York for the actual ceremony.”

  Richard whispered to his friend, “You should have said something. I shouldn’t be interrupting your wedding reception.”

  “Nonsense, you’re my oldest friend. Etienne tracked you down as a wedding present for me when he heard you were in the Chicago area. If you hadn’t had a problem and were happy with your work, Armand would still have made the offer. As he said, Garou wants employees with your kind of integrity.”

  “Living with Julien?” Richard peered at Julien when he thought he wasn’t watching.

  “It sounds to me like you need to get out of where you’re at, urgently. Your living arrangements upset me, and Etienne doesn’t like me to be upset. I’ll bet that you live in a dangerous neighborhood, just as I did when Donal and I first met Alexei. Donal and I will tell you our stories on the plane back to Manhattan. Let’s take you back to your apartment with Julien to pack. Give your landlord notice and quit your jobs. Trust me, Richard, you won’t regret it.”

  “After all these years, I still trust you, Julio, and for some reason, I also trust everyone I’ve met today. Since Switched Power, I’m not a person who trusts easily. I have to go back to the apartment now if I don’t want to return too late. Chicago traffic can be a bitch.”

  “You haven’t eaten anything. I know you’re hungry.” Julio teased.

  “Do I have time to eat?” His hand shook from a case of the jitters. Richard had no idea why he had agreed and committed to Julio’s plans so quickly, but he would follow through. This offer was the stuff of his dreams.

  Julien approached behind him. His hot breath caressed Richard’s neck. He shivered. This man was too attractive by a half. “Of course, you have time to eat. I’ll get you a plate.” Richard watched the material of Julien’s expensive slacks caress his ass as he walked up the stairs. He shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of inappropriate thoughts.

  Julien walked back down with prime rib, mashed potatoes, bacon fried green beans, and peach pie. Richard stared at the plates. “I can’t possibly finish all of that.”

  Julien and Julio smiled and Julio said, “I know you’re hungry. Of course, you can.”

  Surprisingly, Richard finished his plate and ate a piece of the blueberry pie that Charles brought down for him.

  Richard turned to Julio and asked, “What’s up with my appetite? I’ve never eaten that much in one sitting.”

  “You haven’t been eating right in a long time and your stomach shrunk. Believe me, I know. Besides, Etienne’s family is filled with good cooks. You should try some of our housekeeper Bianca’s food. She graduated from the Culinary Institute.” Julio glanced over at the Armand, then the Mates. “Why don’t you guys go back to the party? We shouldn’t overwhelm poor Richard. He’ll be seeing enough of us once he gets to Manhattan.”

  Richard gazed over at Sean. He watched as he and his husband seemingly communicated without words. Sean gave an imperceptible nod and the husbands, one by one, shook Richard’s hand and welcomed him to the Garou family.

  “We’ll see you for lunch Wednesday,” Sean said as he went back up the stairs with the others.

  “Lunch?” Richard asked, his brow furrowed.

  “I’ll explain later. Finish your plate and we’ll go and get your things.” Julio gave Richard a hug. “It’s so good to see you again, to have someone who remembers me from before.”

  “Before what?”

  “I’ll tell you on the plane. Are you still hungry?” Julio took Richard’s plate. “When we get back, you can have some wedding cake. I had two cakes, one in New York, and now a second one here.”

  “You honestly appear fabulous, Julio. I don’t know what happened to you before this, but you seem to be both healthy and happy now.”

  “If you’re done eating, I’ll have Denis call for a limo, and we can go back to your place and pack. Are you and Julio coming, Etienne?” Julien asked.

  Richard stared at Julien in profile while he spoke to Etienne. All the men were attractive, but Julien, well, Richard would have to be careful not to fall for him while he stayed at his house. That was a very large rabbit hole for him to trip down.

  “Of course, let me tell Théo to pull the limo around to the front. That way we’ll have two trunks in which to pack your belongings.” Etienne picked a phone out of his blazer pocket, had a brief conversation, then Gilbert and three other men came down the stairs.