Humphrey slathered butter to his remaining corner of bread. “I still need to confirm the meeting with my people in Portland. I’ll let everybody know soon.”
“That include Pitch?” Roman queried, a glass of lemonade poised in one hand.
Vale sent his brother a look. “Come on, Ro.”
“It’s cool Vay,” Humphrey assured his youngest brother. “Of course it includes him, Ro. We don’t anyone to be excluded.”
Roman looked around the table that was filled with a shameful amount of food and all his brothers, save one. “You mean excluded like my friends were when they came around looking for me a few weeks ago?” He referred to his school friends Lorenz Reyes, Gavis Eamon and Haywood Lloyd.
Humphrey chuckled while popping the corner of bread into his mouth. “Most visitors come through the front door instead of sneaking up to the back, Ro.”
“They didn’t sneak,” Roman maintained his cool. “Guess they just assumed the back was where people like us would expect them to come-”
“Alright enough!” Liam demanded.
Athena cleared her throat. “Uh Ari, will Chad and Nate let you have the time to travel with your brothers?”
Aaron was already nodding. “I’m basically tackling only one project and working it on my own, except when Gabe graces me with his presence.”
There was laughter and magically the good vibes flowed once more. Athena seemed determined to keep the mood going and asked for more details on the project. Aaron was happy to share and remarked on the sizable folder Bennett and Wentz had saddled him with. Some of the easy laughter in the room quieted as Aaron explained what the file contained.
Humphrey groaned, helping himself to more of the penne. “Why you want to surround yourself with that all day, is beyond me Ari. Talk about a wet blanket.”
“A wet blanket you could easily be wearing if our employees got mad enough to quit.” Aaron returned.
Humphrey shrugged. “There’s always someone else to do the job, Ari.”
“And are you aware of how much time and money it takes to train new employees, son?” Liam asked. “Factor that in each time you hire someone new and pretty soon you’re spending more on training than wages.” He looked to Aaron. “You impress me, Ari. What do you plan to do once you’ve sifted through that file?”
Aaron dabbed his mouth with the big cloth napkin near his plate. “I’m hoping to have a meeting with the woman responsible for most of the material there.”
“You’re hoping?” Stone was asking once he’d pushed away his twice cleaned plate that had been heaped with pasta, meat and bread.
A sheepish grin sparked Aaron’s deep dimples. “She’s a little hard to track down and confirm a date.”
“Ah Ari,” Gabe drawled in a teasing manner, “just bat those big browns and you’ll get her to agree to anything.”
“Got a lot of experience there, do ya Grek?” Roman laughed out the query.
Gabriel winked. “You know I do, little brother. You know I do.”
Laughter roared from everyone at the table.
~~~
Athena perched on the edge of the king bed she shared with Liam and smoothed in the lotion she’d put to her elbow. “I wish Ari would sink his teeth into something more exciting than personnel,” she said.
“I want the boys to follow their passions,” Liam said from his spot on the other side of the enormous bed. He finished setting the time on his watch to match the clock on his side table. “I’m glad one of them is noble enough to take on such an important challenge.”
Athena smiled. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised our noble one turned out to be Ari.”
“All the boys will do a fine job, Thea, don’t worry.”
“I know they will,” she gave a sly smile then. “Any idea what your mirror image is up to?” she asked.
“Yes,” there was an edge to Liam’s response as the conversation turned to Roman.
“Well?” Athena probed.
“Doubt you’ll like it.”
“Now you have to tell me.”
“He’s working with Pitch on the security end.”
“Oh?” Athena set the lotion bottle to her side table. “How?” She tried to sound nonchalant.
“Not sure,” Liam finished with his watch. “I don’t really want much detail until I have their proposals in hand.”
Athena half turned to face her husband across their bed. “Surely you don’t mean to give them all free reign over the business?”
“Them all, Thea? Or Vic in particular?”
Athena huffed and snatched up the lotion bottle again. She squeezed out another dollop and applied it to her calf. “Am I not even allowed to ask questions anymore, Li? Roman is my son too, remember?”
“What is it, Thea?” Liam wore a knowing smirk. “You think the boy might get carried away with so much power?”
“He’s still a child,” Athena pointed out.
