Jett
From the moment I entered the Lawson complex the following morning in a custom power suit and tie, everyone was blatantly staring.
I didn’t really blame them. I hadn’t set foot in our offices since my accident.
But I’d woken up this morning ready to get to work with my crew in person.
Yes, I could handle most things from my home office, but I needed to meet with my senior people, and it was way past time I got back to leading my team from our headquarters. It was a talented group of people who deserved better leadership than I’d been giving them.
I was done hiding, and using the accident as an excuse not to face the world and my brothers…one brother in particular.
I wasn’t exactly angry at Carter anymore, but I wasn’t ready to bury the hatchet, either.
Carter drank too much, went through women like a person with a bad cold goes through tissues, and he didn’t give a damn about the consequences of his actions.
He was reckless and had fallen into the superficial world that some of the powerfully rich in the world sunk into.
I didn’t think he was playing the game anymore; he was living in it.
My eldest brother, Mason, did most of the traveling for the company, and also headed a difficult branch of technology. Mason was relentless in his attempt to dominate the world.
I had one brother who was too damn serious, and another who couldn’t seem to think about anybody but himself.
I stepped into one of the many elevators available, and used my security code to get access to the executive suites.
Maybe I’d done fine at home. My work had always gotten done by the deadline. But I was the owner of one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, and we were still growing. I had an incredible team, and we were always better together.
My self-made isolation wasn’t normal for me. I liked being with people, and I loved the work I did. I loved the comradery I felt at Lawson, and I fucking belonged here.
I’d spent just about every waking moment here before my accident, and I’d never regretted it. I’d thrived on it.
I had Ruby to thank for bring me out of a bad place, and I was going to show her my appreciation by becoming the man I used to be.
No fear.
No hiding.
No thinking of myself as less than because I had some scars.
I used to be a cocky bastard. Maybe I’d learned a little humility, but being a hermit inside my condo just didn’t feel right anymore.
“Good morning, Mr. Lawson,” Shirley said from her desk as I entered.
“Good morning,” I answered with a smile. “I want to see the files on the Brenner project as soon as you can get them to me.”
“Yes, sir,” she answered. “Would you like me to get you some coffee?”
A couple of years ago, I would have sent her running to the local coffee shop to bring me something strong and black. Now, it seemed pretty ridiculous to waste her valuable skills and make her the coffee woman.
“I’ll grab some in the breakroom. I’d rather have the files.”
“I can certainly do both, Mr. Lawson.”
I shook my head. “No need,” I answered and then headed toward the room that was usually set up with bagels and mediocre donuts along with regular coffee.
I filled a larger cup, snatched a sad-looking donut and strode to my office.
It hadn’t changed.
Shirley kept everything neatly organized, and the space had been professionally decorated.
But as I sat down at my desk, I noticed that there wasn’t a single personal thing in sight.
My employees loved to fill up their walls and other spaces with pictures of their families: the people who made their lives worthwhile.
In mine, there was nothing. And I had a hell of a lot bigger space than any of my employees.
I made a note to myself that I wanted to personalize my space.
“Here you are, Mr. Lawson,” Shirley said as she put a large file on the desk in front of me. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Can you set up a meeting this afternoon with the entire tech team for me?”
“Of course,” she answered immediately. “And can I say that it’s good to have you back in the office again, sir.”
I looked up at her and grinned. “You can say it. But do you mean it?”
“I don’t understand.” She sounded confused, which didn’t happen often with my executive assistant. Shirley was pretty well-known for her calm demeanor even when shit was hitting the fan.
“Am I a good boss? I’m not asking for compliments here, Shirley, but things changed after my accident. I was wondering if there are things I can do to improve the working conditions here.”
She looked relieved. “Not a thing.”
“I was kind of a dick. Making you run around to fetch my coffee, and go out of your way if I wanted something different for lunch.”
“That’s part of my job, Mr. Lawson. I’m here to make your life easier so you can focus on what’s important. I never minded doing those things because you were always appreciative. Every member of your staff respects you. And that’s unusual when it comes to large corporations.”
“In that case, can you possibly get me a coffee? The brew in the breakroom tastes like shit.” I held out my coffee cup and winked at her. “And I think we should have Ruby provide the morning pastries. Although I might never get anybody out of the breakroom if I do.”
She took the almost full coffee cup from me and dumped it out at the sink across the room as she said, “I wondered how long it was going to take for you to figure out how bad it was. I bring my own every morning.”
“I think we’re all coffee snobs,” I observed. “We have too many excellent options here.”
Shirley tossed the empty cup in the trash. “And I’m always willing to explore those options for you,” she said matter-of-factly. “I usually get my second cup while I’m there in the coffee shop getting yours.”
“Then I guess it works out well for both of us,” I answered.
“It does,” she said with a smile. “Would you like me to arrange for Ruby to deliver pastries?”
“Naw. I can talk to her when I get home.”
“She’s still staying with you?”
I nodded. “She’s actually agreed to take me on permanently.”
“You’re getting married?” she asked with surprise.
“We’re not quite there yet,” I said thoughtfully.
“She seemed like a lovely woman when I met her,” Shirley said sincerely.
“She is,” I shared.
“I didn’t know she was a pastry chef.”
“She’s not just a pastry chef. She’s the pastry chef. Ruby is providing pastries for Indulgent Brews.”
“They’re the best in the city, in my opinion,” she answered.
“In a lot of peoples’ opinions,” I corrected. “Ruby isn’t formally trained, but her stuff is incredible. Most of her skills come from experience and creativity. She’s like a pastry guru.”
“Then I’d definitely like to call her,” Shirley said jokingly. “Your services here have been sliding, and are getting worse every week.”
“I’ll talk her into doing some stuff up for us. I never thought about it, but if everybody is in agreement, I could contract her to work with us and get rid of the bad donut guy.”
Shirley raised a brow. “You do realize that even if she doesn’t have a shop, word will get around, and everybody will be clamoring for her sweets.”
I raised an eyebrow back at her. I hadn’t realized that my assistant was so knowledgeable about launching new products. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but I think it’s an excellent plan.”
“Agreed,” she stated. “Bring on the pastries. If they’re good, they’ll sell themselves.”
“Thanks, Shirley.”
I opened the file as soon as my assistant left the room, only to be interrupted by a voice I was hoping I wouldn’t hear today.
“You’re here. What are you doing here?”
I looked up again and watched my brother, Carter, seat himself in a chair close to my desk.
On the surface, he looked like any other businessman. Dressed in a custom suit, and without a single hair out of place, he appeared as though he was perfectly capable of taking on the entire world.
But I could see the brother I knew underneath the façade, and Carter wasn’t faring well.
“To answer your question, I believe I own a third of this business. I’m back in the offices to finally move on with my life.”
“Can you do that?” Carter said in a cutting tone. “Because if I remember right, that wasn’t going all that well. You’ve been pretty much holed up at home since the accident.”
“I’m recovered,” I snapped. “And I don’t need you to remind me how difficult that was.”
The bastard had added to my problems instead of helping me with them.
“I heard you’re seeing somebody,” Carter said.
“It’s none of your business what I do.”
Carter stood. “Don’t do this to yourself, bro. I checked her out. She’s nobody. A homeless woman off the streets. She’ll take your money and run.”
I stood up. I was furious, and I was done listening to Carter’s bullshit. None of what he’d said had hit home except his statement about Ruby being nobody.
Maybe he didn’t know her, but Ruby was a way better person than Carter would ever be.
I’d talked to my eldest brother, Mason, a few times over the last few weeks, and I assumed he’d told Carter about Ruby.
I couldn’t blame Mason since I hadn’t said that he needed to keep the information quiet, and I wasn’t about to say that.
I was proud of Ruby, and I pretty much didn’t care who knew it.
“Leave,” I said through gritted teeth. “Get the fuck out of my office before I kick your ass.”
“No offense, bro, but I just don’t see that happening,” he shot back at me.
Bastard! Does he think I can’t take him out because I have a bum leg?
My temper suddenly snapped, and I moved forward to teach my brother the lesson I should have given him a long time ago.