Chapter 2

Rob

“I have to get my mom a present before they leave,” I mutter to my friends. We’re having our monthly lunch for the past six months since I met James. We’re usually too busy for more than that. James and Mason are overseeing companies and flipping others. I’m on my way up thanks to working with them once. Unlike them though, I prefer to relax before going to bed and starting over again, so I work no more than sixty hours a week. The rest of my time is spent on working out and eating.

“Where are they going?” James asks, taking a drink from his beer.

“They’re taking a two-month long trip around Europe.” It’s a big adventure for them. My mother has wanted to visit Europe forever, but my father worked his ass off until he retired this year. Now, he and my mom are taking a much-needed vacation.

“Wow, that’s pretty nice,” Mason adds. “I would get her something for the trip. My mom likes anything I get her, but my mom thinks I can do no wrong.”

“That’s my mom, too.” As an only child, I’m their baby. Now they’re just waiting for me to find a girl and give them a horde of grandchildren. I’m not there yet, but when I find the right girl, they’re going to get more grandbabies than they can handle because I want a large family one day.

All of us are thirty and under and now all millionaires. I owe a great deal to Mason who helped me after I worked as a vice president for him at one of the companies that he flipped two years. James and I met about six months ago, and he’s excellent when it comes to work ideas and possible investment opportunities. We’ve gotten along, but he’s very closed off about his personal life. I’m only twenty-five, but I’ve earned my way up the millionaire mountain.

“Oui has very nice, expensive gifts for moms,” James adds.

“Yeah, I heard the same thing from my assistant. I’ll stop there tonight since it’s not far from my office.”

“Are you guys doing anything for the holiday?” James asks.

“No, I’m not doing shit. Maybe we should get together and have some food and watch football,” Mason throws out.

I nod, taking a drink then add, “Sounds like a plan. We can pick who’s house later. I would say my place, but that means you’d all have to drive into the city on your day off.”

“Yeah, that works for me. I’m thinking we do it at my house. My mom just started dating this guy, so I don’t know what her plans are for Christmas at this point, but if she’s around, she’d love to feed all of us,” Mason adds. “I’m glad that she’s finally getting out there.” My parents are happily married, so I can’t imagine my mom dating again, but Mason thinks it’s good, so that’s all that matters.

“I’ll bring my sister with. She’s been dying to get out and driving me nuts lately. She’s supposed to start her first day of work today.”

“That’s great. I can’t believe I never met her. Then again, we know you like to keep her protected,” I add. Some shit went down with a family friend, and their parents were killed, so he keeps her from everyone. It’s a little overboard, but that’s not my call. I might be in the same position if I was him.

“Hey gentlemen, can I get you anything else?” Nicky, the waitress asks. She’s been our server here for the past year. “

“No thanks. Just the check,” Mason says. She’s been into him, but he’s not giving an inch. We used to think it was because she wanted a big tip, but I overheard her one day after I entered the bathroom how she wanted to have his babies. Since then, Mason’s not as civil, so she doesn’t get any ideas.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” he utters. She walks away, and then he releases a deep breath.

“Damn, I can’t believe she still tries. It’s not like I’ve ever flirted with her,” Mason exclaims, running his hands through his hair.

“Maybe it’s time we changed the meetup. How about next time we order food and get some beers and watch some basketball or football?”

“I’m definitely up for that,” Mason agrees.

“My condo is close by,” I add.

“We could definitely do that.” She comes back two minutes later and leaves the check. “It’s my turn,” he adds, snatching up the bill.

“It is, but she’s eyeing your ass. I’ve got it.” I stand up and take it from him. Before he can say anything, I walk up to the register, dropping a hundred and walking away.

We all head out in the same direction to our different office buildings in the same half-mile stretch. I have the longest walk, but it’s good for me because it helps me clear my head.

The second I get inside my office building, I have twenty people ready to talk to me. And that’s why I choose to only work sixty hours. People think the world is going to fall apart if I don’t get their question answered first, or that we’re somehow going to lose clients if I work under eighty a week. Hiring a competent staff is key to running a great company. It’s something the guys taught me, and I live by.

“Is the building on fire?” I ask my assistant as I walk into my office.

“No,” Liz says, dropping her head as if scolded, but maybe she’ll learn some damn patience, and that rushing doesn’t please me at all. I’m a very relaxed guy because stress is a killer. I don’t get stressed, and if I start, I remind myself that the problems are best handled when calm.

“Then it can wait until I get my coat off.” I hang up my coat and take a seat at my desk, rolling up my sleeves so I can tackle whatever problems she has to throw at me.

“Now, that I’m settled in, what is it?”

“We have a problem with two of our IT employees.”

“Yes, and?”

“They’ve begun a relationship, and now they’ve broken up, and things have gotten contentious in their office.” The three IT managers share an office while the other six IT employees share a bullpen type set up in the open cubicle space.

“Okay. Send them in to see me in about an hour. I’d like to get my food down before I have to get annoyed. Anything else?”

“Yes, we have three new clients that would like to meet with you about marketing options.” I own a marketing firm that’s the largest in the city. We have over three hundred clients and have room to take on many more. Several of the companies are located in my building, leasing the space from me. It brings in the revenue to maintain the building plus, it makes their dealings a little more personal which works for both of us.

“Great, that’s great news.” Every new client is money in the company’s coffers.

“Yes, and your dad called to remind you that you are driving them to the airport.”

I roll my eyes because I haven’t forgotten. “Thanks. I’ll give him a callback. And please have the proposals for Newton’s Red Apples on my desk before the end of the day. I want to make sure we send them before they go on holiday break. It seems the world shuts down at Christmas time.”

“I will. And did you want to look at the marketing materials for Bennet’s clothing?” she asks.

“Oh, they’re finished?” I wasn’t expecting that until next week.

“The mock-ups are, and the department wants your final approval if possible.”

“I’d like to see what they are aiming for. Bennet’s is huge for us. Also, we need to send out the holiday gifts. Have you started the order?”

“I have. We should have it all finished by next week. Several of the admins assisted in getting everything organized. As for the Christmas party, the event space has been rented and the food ordered. All we need is the décor. The staff can do it themselves, or the company can add that to the request. We have until Wednesday to let them know.”

“I’d rather have the venue take care of the decorating. You know there’s a liability if one of my employees falls while trying to hang some damn snowflakes or anything like that,” I sputter out in annoyance. The thought of something so minor costing me and the company just irks me.

“Great. I’ll let them know.”

“Thanks, Liz.” She nods and tips her stylus at me, then she leaves my office to get on it.