Cousins: An Alpha Bad Boy Romance(15)

Camden keeps a close but quiet eye on the old man as he smoothes his tie and takes a seat at the conference table.

"I called the meeting to discuss the MTV event, Johnson's DUI, and to also assure all of you that things went smoothly at the club last weekend. We've got Henson right where we want him," I say.

"And where's that?" Camden asks sarcastically.

I really wished what's her name had taken care of my Elizabeth problem, because I'm so fucking wound up by it, that I'm seriously considering beating the crap out of Camden just for being a smart ass. I don't need his attitude right now.

"Ready to sign the shittiest ass deal ever and sign over the club like we agreed," I say.

The tension is practically bouncing off the walls of our small conference room. Camden's mood sucks, Cutter is potentially a loose cannon, and I'm not in the mood for anybody's shit. I hope that Camden can see that without me having to spell it out all across his face. We used to wail on each other for fun when we were kids, but we're not those boys anymore. We're grown ass men.

Camden smirks. "You mean the agreement to sign the club over to Joseph here?"

My father rises smoothly to his feet. "Is there something you want to say to me Camden King?"

I watch Cutter shift in his seat a little. He'll go ape shit if he thinks his brother is being threatened, although that doesn't bother Joseph in the least. He knows I won't let that happen. Regardless of my issues with the old man, he is my father as well as the boss. I won't let tempers get out of hand.

"I just need it to be crystal clear who and what we're doing all this work for." Camden says.

"You work for me. You have always worked for me. I AM this business, and if you don't want to work for me any longer, all you have to do is say the word. I have no interest in employing unhappy people."

I have considered the fact that there is a small possibility that Camden and Cutter are speaking directly with someone at a competing agency behind my father's back. Not many can be trusted in this game, and not everyone can get things done like we can. We rarely fail at what we do, and that's a big commodity in this game. I can see how another agency might assume that the boss's son isn't going to go anywhere, but that perhaps the King brothers could be convinced to leave Masterson & Associates. I just hope that isn't the case. I have no interest in finding out that two of my oldest (and only) high school friends would be so willing to stab me in the back. I think I'd rather live in ignorance.

"Is that right Joseph? You care about my happiness? About my brother's happiness?" Camden is leaning back in the chair with his arms crossed and legs stretched out in front of him. I feel like I'm missing something. I know Joseph gets under his skin sometimes, but now I'm starting to wonder if something else is going on between them.

Joseph squints his eyes at both brothers. "I care as much as I should care about an employee."

Cutter's fists are clenching. He's going to blow if I don't diffuse the situation.

"I'm meeting with Henson in a few hours." I interject. "I need to run if I'm going to look half decent before I get there. We'll talk about the awards show and the DUI later. You're fine with the contract details right Joseph?"

There's a moment of silence in the room as each man is considering what they are going to say or possibly do next. Joseph smoothes his tie again and turns his head to look at me. I know him. He's giving me the Masterson once over. Observing my body language. Trying to assess if there's anything I'm hiding. I know it well, because I do the same thing to men everyday. Sometimes it's so fucking clear where I get my trust issues from. I'm not hiding anything though. I just want him to get the hell out of the room before somebody blows.

"The details are fine. Of course if you can negotiate less, then do so, but make it look believable. It can't look like a shake down. We're not mafia or gangsters. We're businessmen."

I know all of this already. He's drilled the art of our brand of business negotiation into my head a hundred times, but I still nod my head to him in understanding and respect.

"Got it."

Then I walk over to the safe and get my gun. A five year old Beretta that's never failed me yet. While I'm checking the chamber for bullets, Joseph walks up behind me.

"I need to speak with you briefly about family business."

"All right."

I give Camden and Cutter a look that asks them to leave the room, and frankly I'm relieved because that means that I don't have to give Camden my "what the fuck" speech, because I don't feel like giving it, and I sure as shit don't feel like arguing with him. I already get it. What reason would a fixer like Joseph need to own several Philadelphia nightclubs? And why is it our job to make these deals happen for him? He hasn't been paying us extra.