Double Standards // ziam

Chapter 12

Zayn spent the rest of the week working like a fiend at the office. At home he alternately thought about Liam and worried about his parents' financial situation. The hospital was demanding half of the fee at once. The only thing he could think of doing was to sell his mother's splendid grand piano, but the thought broke his heart. It was his piano too, and here in Michigan he missed it. He missed being able to play, to work out his frustrations and disappointments at the keyboard as he used to do. On the other hand, his mother was far from being well, and if she needed to go to the hospital again, he couldn't risk having her turned away because her last bill wasn't paid.

Late Friday afternoon, Susan Brook stopped him in the public relations department. "Harry's birthday is next week, on Thursday," she told Zayn. "It's sort of a custom here to bring a cake for your boss." With an irrepressible grin she added, "Cake and coffee is a terrific excuse to quit working fifteen minutes early."

"I'll bring a cake," Zayn quickly assured her. He glanced at his watch, said good-night to Susan and quickened his pace toward his desk. Sophia Sinclair had called and invited him over for dinner that night, and he didn't want to be late.

On the way to his apartment to change his clothes, Zayn considered telling Sophia about the Curtis deal. He felt uneasy about it, however. Before he interfered with anyone's reputation and job, he ought to be certain of what he actually knew. It occurred to him that Sophia might consider news of the Rossi project "valuable information," and that she might pay him the $20,000 she'd offered, but his conscience screamed at him for even contemplating the thought. He decided to write to the hospital and offer $5,000. He might be able to borrow that much from a bank.

Over dinner later Sophia asked him if he liked his job at Pay-co. When Zayn replied that he did, she said, "Have you heard mentioned any of the names I gave you?"

He hesitated. "No, I haven't."

Sophia sighed with disappointment. "The most important contracts we've ever considered bidding on have deadlines only a few weeks from now. Before then I've got to know who's leaking the information to Pay-co. I need those contracts."

Zayn immediately felt guilty for not telling her about Curtis or Rossi. More than ever he felt confused, torn between his loyalty to Sophia and his desire to do the right thing.

"I told you Zayn wouldn't be able to help," Carter put in.

Zayn didn't know how he'd ever let himself get into this mess. In his own defense, he said, "It's too soon to know, actually. I've been reassigned to work on a special project on the eightieth floor, so I haven't been working full time for Pay-co until yesterday, when Liam-Mr. Payne-flew to Italy."

Liam's name sent a bolt of electricity through the entire room, and all three Sinclairs stiffened perceptibly.

Carter's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Zayn, you're fantastic! How did you manage to get yourself assigned to him? Hell, you'll have access to all sorts of confidential-"

"I didn't manage anything," Zayn interrupted. "I'm there because I happened to put down on my application that I can speak Italian, and he needed a temporary secretary who was fluent in it to work on a special project."

"What kind of project?" Sophia and Carter demanded in unison.

Zayn glanced uneasily at Georges, who was watching him intently over the rim of his glass. Then he looked at the others. "Sophia, you promised when I agreed to work for Pay-co that all you would ask me to do was tell you if I overheard one of those six names. Please don't ask me about anything else. If I tell you, I'll be no better than the person who's spying on you."

"You're right of course, dear," she instantly agreed.

But an hour later, when Zayn had left, Sophia turned to her son. "He said Payne flew to Italy yesterday. Call that pilot friend of yours and find out if he can get access to his flight plan. I want to know exactly where in Italy he went."