Page 72 of Charm

We reach the open door to Jameson’s office, and he’s the first one to step inside. My office may be bigger, but my brother’s is a better reflection of who he is as a person. There are framed pictures of his wife and son on his desk. He even took one of us with his phone at the beach house a few months ago. It’s in a dark wood frame in the center of his desk. I keep meaning to ask for a copy of it, but the request always gets lost when a business matter pops up.

Before taking his seat behind his desk, he motions for me to sit in one of the two guest chairs that face him.

I settle into the left one because the right one has a lump on the seat that always jabs my thigh. I’ve complained to my brother about it more than once, but he tells me the chair once belonged to our grandfather, so it stays as is.

“Krista and Greer had a clause in their partnership agreement that didn’t permit either to sell the business without the other selling as well.”

“That’s complicated.” I lean back in my chair.

“That’s putting it mildly.” James touches the corner of one of the framed pictures of his wife. “My guess is they didn’t see an end in sight to their partnership when they signed that document. They do now.”

Crossing my legs, I loosen the knot on my tie more. “Do they?”

“Krista called an hour ago to tell me Greer has proposed they cut the clause from their contract.”

“Which means Krista can sell her half to us,” I finish his thought before I point out something my brother is well aware of. “We don’t partner with companies. We buy them.”

“That’s not a hard and fast rule, Holden.”

He’s right. We’ve never put it in writing, but the intent of our purchasing fledgling candy companies and taking them under our wing has always been clear. We’re broadening our customer base and expanding our reach.

Jameson calls our end goal “global candy domination.” I call it good business.

“What would we gain by partnering with Greer?” The question is almost laughable coming from me.

All I want to do is partner with her, but I want a bed to be involved and plenty of orgasms for her…and me, but her pleasure is all I think about.

“I’m the one who did the initial research into them,” he states bluntly.

“I know,” I stress the point. “You view the company as a worthwhile acquisition. My question is, do you still view it through that same lens now that we won’t have complete control?”

“You don’t get it, do you?” he says, exasperation evident in his expression.

“I don’t get what?” I ask calmly because that’s what he needs from me.

Jameson needs me to listen to him. For too long, I didn’t, and silencing his voice is something I will never do to him again.

“I tasted every single product they’re selling.” He stares at me. “They’re all great, but some have the potential to make us millions, Holden.”

“Millions?” I question for clarity.

“Tens of millions,” he amends his first declaration. “If we buy Krista’s stake in the business and can convince Greer to mass produce what she’s already producing on a small scale, we do a test run and distribute to a handful of our global locations.”

We’ve taken this approach plenty of times in the past and have enjoyed good results in most cases, but I’ve never seen this look in my brother’s eyes before. I can tell he’s viewing this through a new lens. He’s considering how Sweet Indulgence offerings will complement what we’re already selling under our brand.

“Long term, I see us phasing out Sweet Indulgence entirely. We’ll offer Greer a boatload of money to sell her half to us, and she’ll accept,” he says as though it’s a foregone conclusion.

I laugh so hard my head falls back.

He chuckles, too. “What’s so fucking funny?”

I regain my composure and smile at my younger brother. “You’re underestimating her will to succeed, Jameson. She’s committed to Sweet Indulgence.”

His gaze drops to the picture of his wife. “She sounds a lot like my wife. Sinclair’s been working hard for years to make a name for herself in the literary world.”

My sister-in-law’s ghostwriting career has launched her into a solo and very public endeavor. She’s penning a fact-based book on our grandparents. Interest in the project is already off the charts.

“They are alike,” I agree with a brisk nod. “Sinclair has never given up on her dreams. Don’t expect Greer to give up on hers. If we do happen to partner with her, we’re in it for the long haul.”

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