Page 62 of The Heartbreaker
“The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can offer even more amenities, the sooner we can bump the rates up even higher,” Brady said. “I see no reason to wait.”
I pulled at my tie, loosening the knot at my throat. “We need an executive meeting. I need to see if everyone else agrees.”
“You think they wouldn’t?” Brady pressed. “Because I think everyone in this room knows they’ll agree with me.” He nodded toward me. “Including you.”
I pushed back in my chair, glancing at the phone, fucking dying to know if there was a message from Addison waiting for me on the screen. If I looked at it and there was, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from responding, and the guys would lose my full attention.
“Do you know how much work that’s going to be?” I barked. “As it is, I’m already spending three-quarters of each workday in Malibu. How in the hell am I going to divide my time between both properties and fight the traffic going back and forth between them?”
“Easy solution,” Brady said. “Buy a helicopter.”
“You’re fucking kidding,” I shot back.
“Hell, I bought a plane.” He laughed. “Shit, I bought two for the company. Why not add a helicopter while we’re at it?”
Jenner crossed his legs, his foot shaking in the air. “Now, that might not be agreed upon among the executives, but I can’t lie, I’m all for it.”
“Listen, man, at least you’re home every night for Daisy,” Brady continued. “The rest of us are traveling across the globe to be on location at our hotels. Lily and I went from Scotland to Bangkok, and we’re still only half done. We’ve got at least a few more months in Thailand before we can move back home.”
Brady and I’d had a rocky start when the Coles and Spades merged. There were many things about him I didn’t like. He said what was on his mind, he gave no fucks, he found the mostnegative part of any conversation and highlighted it. But as I’d spent more time with him, I’d realized the good outweighed the bad.
But in this instance, I’d like to kick his ass out of my office.
“You’re saying I have it easier because I’m home,” I voiced a little louder than I needed to. “Is that what you’re telling me?”
Brady’s brows shot up. “Would you rather be away from Daisy? Because those are your two options. Stay home and deal with a remodel—or two. Or hit the road and homeschool your daughter.” He leaned onto the edge of my desk. “We signed up for this. We knew precisely what we were being dealt when we began working for our families.” He pounded the edge of the wood before he moved back. “You’ll figure it out. I know you will. You’ve got it in you.”
“Asshole.”
Brady nodded. “I know I am.”
I looked at Jenner before I dismissed them from my office. “Any other news to share, or are you only dropping one bomb on me today?”
“More news? No.” Jenner crossed his arms over his chest.
“We do have a question,” Brady said.
My gaze shifted between the men. “Yeah?”
“Where the hell did you disappear to the night of my bachelor and Lily’s bachelorette party?” Brady inquired. “I’m assuming you met someone. That’s why you took off and never came back.” He smirked. “Who is she?”
“You’re fucking kidding me.” I sighed.
“I didn’t want to ask during our last executive meeting. You know, in case you didn’t want to say something in front of his wife.” Brady nodded at Jenner, referring to Jo, who was one of our partners. “And since the outing, I haven’t had a chance to get you alone to ask.” He strummed the armrest of his chair. “So, I’m asking now.”
“You think you deserve an answer?”
“Deserve? No.” Brady shrugged. “Want? Yes.”
“Asshole—again.”
“So, are you going to tell us?” Brady asked.
I was silent for a few moments, staring at each of their grins. Damn, these motherfuckers thought they had earned themselves the world. “You’re right, I did meet someone.” And I couldn’t think of a single reason to keep her a secret. I just wished I had more to tell.
“Nice,” Jenner replied. “Who is she?”
I could see right through them, my head shaking as I said, “Don’t act like you don’t know.”
