I am more than just a little late. I’m jumping out of my car as fast as I can, and I see Eddie bolting in my direction. “I ought to kick your ass.” He snarls and closes my door for me. The two of us begin to speed walk through the parking lot towards the front of the building where a group of impatient people are waiting to get inside. “Do you realize how long these people have been waiting? Seriously, James, you’re so irresponsible. I can’t believe you are a fucking hour late! An hour! All because you were boning Éclair again. You know that woman is our competition, right? Or have you forgotten that little fact? Well?”

“Would you just shut up? Seriously, man. I am sorry I’m late but damn!” I shove him, so he’s not walking so close to me.

“You’re the face of the company,” Eddie reminds me, “People are buying you. You can’t act like a selfish asshole when we put your face on everything. People are buying that stupid pretty face of yours.”

I laugh, “You think I’m pretty?”

“It’s not funny!” Eddie snaps, “I’m serious, James. You can’t keep blowing stuff off like this. We’ve sunk a lot of money into this gym. If the company is going to expand it’s Healthy Living line, we have got to make this work. This is just going to be the first of many if it works out, and I don’t know about you, but I rather not have this become a giant money pit. I can’t believe you just-”

“Okay, pause,” I say and stop walking. We wind up standing in the middle of the parking lot staring each other down. “I’m sorry. You need to take a breath, though. I’m here. People are still here. The reporters are still here. This is something we can settle easily. Got it? What’s done is done. I’m going to walk up to that little podium, give my speech, and cut the damn ribbon so people can go inside. Then you are going to shut your damn mouth. Got it?”

“Don’t fucking talk to me like that!” Eddie hisses.

“I’ll talk to you however I damn well please,” I say, feeling angrier than I probably should. I’m mostly angry at Éclair for screwing me over, but I guess I’m just going to take it out on Eddie, “I’m your boss. I own your ass, remember? Honestly, you’re lucky you even have a job.”

“Excuse me?” he looks like he wants to punch me, but I know he won’t.

I poke my finger in his chest, “I know you’re in debt. That’s why you’re freaking out over this shit. I’m not going to let the company take a fall, Eddie. You’re going to be fine.”

Eddie looks furious, “How did you know I was in debt?”

“Your skanky sister. That’s how.” I say, and he stiffens. Eddie’s biological father was apparently notorious for getting married women pregnant; he just found out about a few half-siblings about a year after our dad died. They’re all a bunch of losers who are always taking his money. Apparently of all the children, his biological father created, Eddie is the only one who turned out to be even half-descent. By the look on Eddie’s face, I can tell he had no idea I had spoken with any of them at all.

“Why are you even talking to them?” he snarls. “They’re not your family.”

“No, but you are.” I say, “And I’m not going to let you sink down any further, man. The company is fine. You just got to stop giving out loans to all of those idiots. You’re too prideful to take any money from me, but you’re more than happy to write a check to bail one of those morons out of jail. You got to cut back on your family charity, or you’re going to wind up losing your shares and everything else.”

He grumbles slightly, but the sad look on his face tells me that he is admitting defeat, “I don’t know what to do, James.”

I pat his shoulder, “You’ve looked after me pretty much my whole life. I got your back, Eddie. I know taking financial advice from your little brother is a low blow, but maybe try listening to me for once.”

“Fine.” He says under his breath.

“Good.” I say, “We’ll talk afterward about what we can do, all right?”

“Fine.” He says again, “Don’t forget, you’re meeting Tiffany after this.”

“Right,” I say, having completely forgotten he wanted to introduce me to his girlfriend today. He’s been dating this Tiffany chick for a couple of months now, and he seems to really like her as far as I can tell. I’m glad we got the whole debt thing out in the open; I’ve meant to talk to him about it for some time now.

Looks like it’s time to get the show on the road.