“You know what this deal means to TF,” Justin said. “We need this to close.”
“Somehow they seem to know that too. They’ve substantially upped their profit participation without giving us anything in return.”
“Can you make the numbers work?”
“I’m not sure. We’re damned if we do close and damned if we don’t. I think more damned if we don’t give them what they want.”
“You know I’m with you whatever you decide. We’ll make it work. Go worst-case scenario on both possibilities, and then whatever your gut and the numbers tell you to do, go for it.”
Leo nodded. “My thinking as well. Where the hell are you? That isn’t your office, and it’s definitely not your penthouse.”
“Business.”
“You left Devon in charge?”
“Not in charge, just taking care of things.”
Leo lifted an eyebrow. “You think that’s a good idea? We’ll come back and the entire office will be stripper poles and red velvet. You can’t leave him alone with the company for more than twenty-four hours.”
They all underestimated their little brother. But Devon’s group at Travati Financial continued to clear big dollars every quarter.
“You saw his quarterly,” Justin said. “He nearly beat my numbers.”
Leo tilted his head in acknowledgement and let Justin’s words go unremarked upon. Leo and Devon had been competitive with each other since birth. “Really, where the hell are you, and when will you be back?”
“Hudson, Kansas, and I don’t know when. Could be twenty-four hours, could be ten days. Depends on when I get what I want.”
“Kansas?” Leo squinted. “What the hell is in Kansas? We don’t have any interests in Kansas, do we?”
Justin hesitated. He wasn’t ready yet to disclose his son to his three brothers. Why? Perhaps because he’d only known about Max for two days and had yet to meet him. Or perhaps because his three brothers would have a load of opinions and he didn’t want to hear any of them until he’d already finalized plans for Max’s future. When the time was right, he’d let all three Travati brothers know that there was a new Travati. But that time wasn’t now.
“Don’t worry about where I am. I’m doing business, I’m reachable, and I’m here until I can leave. Just get those damn businessmen in that sandbox to close the deal. I don’t like walking around with my cock swinging in the wind, and until this deal is closed, that’s exactly how I feel.”
“Tell me about it, brother. Best to keep your cock in your pants unless, of course, there’s a beautiful woman involved.”
Even then, when a beautiful woman was involved, Justin knew now, best to keep your cock in your pants.
*
“The Kesslers are coming this afternoon for their tasting menu.”
Nina looked up from the stainless steel counter where she was reviewing her menu for the evening’s dinner service. “Okay …” Nina’s gaze raked over Aubrey. “I wasn’t sure if the tasting was still happening, I mean with—”
Aubrey shot her a warning look as prep cooks bustled around, getting ready for the service that evening.
“Everything is still happening.” Aubrey straightened her spine. “Just like it always does.”
“Good to know.” Nina nodded toward Aubrey’s office. They walked into the room, and Nina shut the door behind them. “Want to tell me what’s going on with Mr. Travati?”
That was the last thing Aubrey wanted to do. She sat at her desk and turned on her computer. “No.” Aubrey sighed. “But I suppose I have to.”
Nina leaned against the office door, dressed in her chef’s coat and checkered pants, a purple bandana holding back her thick hair. Nope, her little sister wasn’t letting her off easy, and she supposed once her father sorted out exactly who was in the Rockwater Suite, he’d have questions too. Aubrey tore her gaze from her computer and met Nina’s inquisitive stare. “He wants Max.”
A sharp inhale. “Well, he can’t have Max. We’ll get an attorney, we’ll take it to court, we’ll—”
“He has a right to know his son.”
“What right?” Nina’s eyes narrowed and anger lined her lips. “He abandoned both of you. When you came back from New York, you were heartbroken. If he wanted to know Max, what took him so long?”
Aubrey took a deep breath and lowered her eyes. The truth was almost too painful to share with Nina. “I never told Justin about Max.”
“What?” Nina stepped forward as though she hadn’t heard Aubrey’s words. “But you told us—”