Page 3 of The American

The door was shut and the car driving away before she thought of what she could say. She whipped her head around and the last thing she saw was his hand up, watching her go. She was in more trouble than she thought.

Chapter 2

Thad pulled out his laptop and plugged into the Torren international Wi-Fi router. They had their own family network. When Thad’s brother Nico lived in North Carolina and the Wi-Fi was spotty, their father lost patience and immediately set things in motion so that they would always have a great signal, and their own private towers, even their own satellite. Thad shook his head. He missed his father. If something could be improved, he worked to fix it before the dust settled on his thoughts.

Thad clicked on his computer video icon and instantly the Valdez breakfast and conference room came into view. Looks like he was the first one there. Then Lucan’s face took up his whole screen.

“Aah! Brother, it’s too early to be looking at your unappealing nose.”

Lucan snorted. “As if you don’t have the exact same nose, and remember you were voted most handsome something or other.”

“A distinguished nose on one face could be disturbing on another.”

“Are we discussing noses now?” Trane, the second oldest joined them, laughing.

Thad smirked. “Well, now that the productive part of the Valdez family is present, perhaps we should begin?”

It was an old joke, one that no longer applied, but sometimes they liked to revert back to old jabs, as brothers do.

“How’s America, brother?”

Thad thought for a moment. He had been in town all of three days. Sage came to mind and he smiled. “Excellent.” Then he frowned, “Though I seem to be stirring a pot of highly competitive and cutthroat Americans.”

“Men in suits look genteel but it might be better to see them as their true selves, with full American football uniforms and helmets.” Trane picked up his breakfast tray and moved to the table.

“This camera works great. I can see the whole room.”

Lucan raised a thumb. He was their expert on all things having to do with surveillance. Thad wondered for a moment if Lucan was tracking him all the way in America.

Lucan turned to him. “Yes, brother, I have plants on you and don’t try to find them.”

More than once Thad had wondered if Lucan read minds. “Did you ever consider having a right to privacy added to the Torren constitution?”

“Now you sound like the American you are so excited to be.”

“It’s not like I want to be American.”

Both of his brothers snorted.

“No, I am a Torren forever.” He started to sing the Torren national anthem.

“Ok brother.” Lucan held up his hand. “We believe you, enough hackling.”

“But I do love their country. You should see the industry. The work ethic. They are all about producing and working and building. It’s inspiring.”

“And sounds to me like they are climbing on the heads and feet of others.”

Thad remembered the people in that room last night. “And that’s true as well.” He considered. “And they are not all suits. Women might be the most talented.” He remembered Sage and her keenly observant eyes, flitting about the room. He had watched her, more than she realized. He knew what was coming for them both and he wasn’t sure how well it would go down. He guessed, not well.

“Oh, has Thad finally found someone with eyelashes and curves to attract his eyes?” Tripp drank his orange juice.

“Figures she would be at an American business meeting.”

Nico finally joined them, the king of Torren since their father died. “She? Has someone caught Thad’s eye already?”

Thad leaned back in his chair. They weren’t having this conversation. Sage wasn’t up for discussion and would not be an easy one to impress. He suspected it would take all of his people skills to simply be on good terms with the woman. “There are many ladies to be found.” He thought of the upcoming cocktail party and another night at a high class nightclub a little later this week. Once word had gotten out that he was in town and planning to stay for a while, the invitations had come pouring in.

Dahlia, their sister, popped up on a screen across the room. Thad smiled. “Whoa, is that Dahlia I see? To what do we owe this honor?” She rarely ever joined them for their breakfast meetings.

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