“You’re on time for a meeting,” Ella said to him when he walked into her office Wednesday morning.
“I’m early,” he said, his voice happier than it normally would be when he got up as early as he had. He looked at her clock on the wall and saw there were ten minutes before the meeting would start. Not only that, Brody, Aiden, and Mason weren’t even here yet and they were always early.
“So I see. What do we owe this occasion to?”
He lifted the box that was in his hand higher. “I come bearing gifts.”
“What’s in there?” she asked, walking forward, angling her chin and almost trying to get up on her tiptoes, even in her heels, as he lifted the box a little higher.
He turned his hips quickly, then stepped back. “You need to wait. Just like Christmastime. Every time you see a box of something you’ve got to get your sneaky little hands on it and try to peek.”
“That was your idea,” she said.
“Just the first time. Then you realized how easy it was and how much fun it was to try to pull one over on Mom so you did it every year.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Get out of here before I remind you of all the things you’ve done and haven’t gotten caught at.”
He laughed. “You’ll never tell on me because you love me too much.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” she said, but she was smirking like their mother always did so he knew he was safe for the moment.
Ella and he had gotten close in college. Or closer. She didn’t want anyone watching out for her and was ticked off when he said he was going wherever she did. His brothers and parents backed him and she was out of luck. She’d always been outnumbered and even if he felt sorry for her—since he’d felt outnumbered at times too—he wouldn’t give in back then.
When it came down to it, she ended up watching out for him though, so he kind of owed her.
He made his way to the conference room and was just pulling out his folder with copies of proposals for everyone to see when Brody walked in with Aiden. “Color me amazed,” Brody said. “You’re here on time.”
“He’s early,” Aiden said. “Not on time. What, did some woman kick you out early so you couldn’t sleep in like normal?”
“No,” Cade said. “No woman and I don’t sleep in.”
Brody snorted. “I’ve called you some mornings after I’ve closed the bar at two and you’re still in bed sleeping at noon. Don’t give me that.”
“That’s because I’ve worked later than two those times.”
“Bar hopping?” Brody asked.
Here we go again, Cade thought. No one ever gave him the benefit of the doubt that he was working and not partying. He should be used to it, but he was just sick of it.
“You guys never give me credit for the work that I do. I’ve got to listen to the bands before I book them. I’ve got to see the type of crowds they draw. I’ve got to see how they act before I even consider contacting their agent or getting them booked here. We’ve got a reputation to uphold and I’m responsible for who comes in on that end.”
“I guess. Or that’s your excuse to pick some chick up and you’re sticking with it.”
He shook his head; no use getting into it with them. They always ganged up on him.
Mason turned the corner to walk into the conference room. “Crap, I’m late. I’m never late. I must be late if Cade is here.”
“Very funny,” Cade said to Mason. “I’m early.”
“It’s not a woman,” Aiden said. “Brody already asked.”
“Were you puking then?” Mason asked. “Jessica was this morning and all I can say is it’s like living at home again and listening to you puke every time you climbed into, or out of, a moving vehicle.”
“I don’t puke anymore,” Cade argued. “Or not as often.” He had no choice but to add that when his three brothers all lifted their eyebrows at him at once. Yep, ganged up on.
“That’s because you’re medicated now,” Ella said walking into the room.
She always seemed to hear every conversation even when she wasn’t around. It annoyed them forever.
“Now that Ella is here, we should start,” Cade said. “Imagine that, Ella. I just took the words out of your mouth and used you instead. Damn, that felt good.”
She shook her head and took a seat. “We’ll let you have your moment today, Cade. But don’t get used it. Or better yet, we won’t get used to it.” She looked around the room. “In case you guys haven’t figured it out, Cade is excited over something. That is the only other reason he is ever on time.”
“I’m guessing it’s what’s in the box he’s got on the table. The one he is protecting like it’s the last box of Dramamine on the face of this earth,” Brody said.
“That doesn’t work for him,” Mason said. “He needs the strong stuff. That’s why he’s got his doctor’s office on speed dial.”
“Are you all done busting my ass this morning?” Cade asked.
He knew he had it coming. He’d played enough pranks on everyone in this room. Some worse than others. If not that, then he ran his mouth more than he should and half the time his siblings gave him a pass when others wouldn’t.
“I guess,” Aiden said. “I’ve got work to do anyway, so I’d like to get things started.”
“Fine,” Cade said. “I want to go first.” He opened up the box and started to put some of the samples that Alex had given him on the table without saying a word. When Mason went to grab the beer glass, he swatted his hand away. “Wait until I’m done with everything. So impatient, just like Ella at times.”
They all sat there with their lips tight while he took his time placing everything in the order he wanted it. “Now that I’ve got your attention. I met with a new printing company on Monday.”
“That Mom asked you to,” Ella jumped in to add. He should have figured she’d get a dig in, and of course he knew he had it coming.
“Fine. A place that Mom asked me to check out. Not sure if you guys remember Marshall Printing, but they’ve turned their business around from when Dad used them years ago. Their daughter, Alex, is running the joint now and this is what she presented me with.”
“Can we touch now?” Brody asked. “Or are you going to snap at one of us again? It’s been a while since I’ve decked you. I wouldn’t mind having an excuse again.”
“Screw that,” Aiden said. “I want to see Mason deck him.”
Mason turned his head and shot a few daggers at Aiden. Mason never got mad. They didn’t know he had it in him. They didn’t know he could fight like he did either until they all saw him take down a robber on video months ago. Now they all knew and Cade was watching what he said to Mason more than ever.
It used to be Brody that threw the punches. But several months ago, Aiden rammed Cade into a wall when he accidentally insulted Nic. Ella always had fast hands to punch or swat him, but Mason kept to himself except for the one time he had Cade up by the shirt collar for slipping and making a joke about Jessica. Now he was thinking Mason might be the most lethal if it ever came down to it.
“Just ignore them,” Ella said, “and continue on.”
Everyone stopped talking because Ella told them to and when Ella said something they all listened, just like when their mother told them to.
“Yes, you can pick up what you want as long as you continue to listen to what I’ve got to say.” Hands were reaching like castaways on a deserted island with a plate of fried chicken placed in front of them. “It’s the old logo. They had that from when Dad used them.”
“The red is right,” Brody said, looking at the T-shirt with the bar embroidered on it.
“It is. That’s a plus. And the fact they have such a large range of items is a huge bonus,” Cade said.
“I like the throwback logo,” Ella said with her hands on the same coffee cup he’d admired. “What is everyone’s thought on having a few items with it? Maybe let Mom and Dad decide. They might like that and feel a part of the decision making process.”
Cade ground his teeth. “That was my idea, but since you said it too, I’m assuming I’ve got your vote.”
“You’ve got mine,” Aiden said.
“Mine too,” both Mason and Brody said.
“That was easy,” Cade said. “Okay. Moving on. Check out the T-shirts. What do you think of having them for each location rather than standard ones for staff?”
“I like it,” Ella said. “But we currently have a lot of stock and the cost to replace them might not be worth it. At least not immediately.”
“I thought of that too,” Cade said. “How about we just order some for the managers right now, get a feel for how it goes over and then replace the old ones as needed?”
“Sounds good to me,” Mason said.
“So what is all of this going to cost?” Ella asked. “And is it wise to put all our eggs in one basket?”
Cade pulled out a bunch of sheets of paper and slid them across for everyone. “Here are the numbers for that, but I’m sure Ella is going to run more for us. And I’ve thought about the pros and cons of having one vendor. That is also on the list.”
Twenty minutes later, Cade was done talking and just sitting there while his brothers had their turn around the room and then left, leaving Ella standing there stealing the coffee cup before he could claim it himself. Little stinker.
“So what did you think of Alex?” Ella asked him.
“Why?” he asked.
“Just wondering. It seems to me you’re extremely interested in working with her.”
He wasn’t sure he liked the look that Ella was sending him, but decided to let it go for now.
“She’s nice. A hard worker. She’s turning her parents’ business around. I’d like to work with her. If things go well, I think she could benefit from Fierce and my contacts.”
“So you’re looking to recommend her already?” Ella asked.
“If it works out I will. Why all the questions?”
“No reason,” she said. But Ella always had a reason for everything.