Conviction (Club Destiny 1)

“Sam, I want to tell you I think it’s a fantastic offer. I didn’t want to be the one to have to tell you about it, but they wouldn’t let me off the hook. So, please just hear me out before you answer.”

She did her best to mask her expression, staring back at him as she waited for him to deliver the death blow. “Ok. Spill it.” This was going to drag out if she didn’t just face the music now.

“Alex has come with a job offer. He wants you to go work for CISS. Now wait, let me finish.” He must have noticed her involuntary jerk, because he stood straighter, walking toward her.

“They want me to leave XTX?” She asked incredulously. This couldn’t be happening. She had accomplished so much in her tenure at the company for it all to come to an abrupt end.

“Sam, it’s a generous offer. You wouldn’t be leaving XTX, at least for now. You would just be working for CISS, rather than employed directly at XTX. You’ll be contracted out to XTX, and you will report to Xavier, still doing the same thing you do today.” He added quickly.

Ok, so that wasn’t exactly what she was expecting.

Her plan to freak out had been thwarted, and it took Sam a moment to adjust to what he was telling her. Contemplating what this really meant for her, Sam stared at Logan, feeling stunned and hopeful.

“So the gist of it is that I will technically not be employed by XTX; however, I will still work for XTX. Did I understand you correctly?”

Logan was frozen in place, the expression on his face unreadable, but Sam could tell he was waiting for her reaction.

“Did you hear me, Logan?”

“Yes. Sorry. Yes, that’s the gist of it.” He confirmed. “You’d be employed by CISS in the same capacity, as an executive, with the same salary, bonus, as well as benefits.”

She liked the idea of it. The execution might be somewhat bumpy, but Sam liked the overall design of the plan. “Would I still manage the same projects I do today?”

“Yes. Everything would remain exactly the same; except you would report directly to Xavier and CISS is offering you a permanent position. Here in Dallas.”

That took her by surprise. Her current position was only temporary, until the project was completed – launched and stabilized. To know she would have a permanent position almost made the decision too easy. She wouldn’t have to leave Dallas. She could buy a house.

“Dylan and Alex are excited about bringing you onboard.”

“Sorry, I don’t know who Dylan is.” Sam stated, trying to dig into her memory banks to remember who he might be.

“Dylan Thomas. Xavier’s grandson. He has taken a vested interest in CISS and decided to go into business with Alex, relocating here sometime in the next six months or so. His daughter has been accepted to UTD so he’s decided he wants to be closer to her.”

Well, that explained it. Standing, Sam felt a little disoriented. Could this be too good to be true? Was this the answer to all of their problems? She wasn’t sure how Logan felt about the situation, he hadn’t offered his opinion, but Sam was afraid to ask him.

Maybe she shouldn’t be thinking of something so permanent so fast. Sure, he might have professed his love for her just that morning, but that didn’t mean he wanted her permanently employed so close by. What would happen if he decided to move on?

Suddenly, her stomach hurt. She needed some air. She turned and left the kitchen, leaving Logan behind her, still staring in her direction. Making a beeline for his bedroom, she found some clothes, a pair of shorts and a t-shirt she had left over last weekend, pulling them on quickly. She just needed to clear her head, get some perspective.

“Sam, where are you going?” Logan asked, standing in the doorway of his bedroom.

Sam didn’t know where she was going, but she needed a few minutes to clear her head, to think.

“I’m just going for a walk.” She decided.

~*~*~

Shit! Logan watched Sam walk out the front door as he remembered the food on the stove. Jogging through the house, he made it to the kitchen, only to find the butter he had placed in the pan had disintegrated from the heat. Needing something to do, he rinsed the pan, then started the process all over again. He needed to eat, and hopefully Sam would want to when she got back.

The fact that she went for a walk, and not a drive, left him with some hope. Since her car wasn’t at his house, he was pretty sure she would be back.

Pouring the eggs into the skillet, he turned the heat to low so they would slowly cook while he chopped the vegetables and the meat he’d pulled from the fridge earlier.

Logan admitted he wasn’t much of a cook, but when it came down to it, he was capable of making a pretty decent omelet. The problem he was facing now was that he wasn’t all that hungry anymore.