I opened the laptop for Penny. "What I need you to do is very important." She perked up. "You need to find me plastic straws."
Her shoulders slumped slightly. "Sure thing, boss."
"Price is no object," I continued. "My coffee was ruined today. I cannot have a repeat of this tomorrow."
Mace knocked on my doorframe. Parker and Hunter stood slightly behind him. Hunter looked annoyed, while Parker looked wary.
"Go away," I said.
"We need to talk about the Thalian Biotech acquisition."
"It's not on the calendar."
"Hunter's leaving tonight for Manhattan, and he wants an update."
I sighed and stood up.
Mace looked expectantly at Penny. "Aren't you going to bring your assistant?"
My brothers really needed to remember who ran things around here. "She's the chauffeur."
"Maybe she could offer another opinion."
"She's not qualified."
"Sometimes people who are far removed from the situation can come up with interesting solutions."
I herded them across the hall to Mace's office and closed the door. I looked at my brothers suspiciously. "What is this meeting really about?"
Hunter cleared his throat. Parker looked between our older brothers.
Honestly. They were like penguins, choosing which one to sacrifice over the edge of the ice shelf to draw out the sea lion. Parker seemed to have been selected for this purpose. My younger brother swallowed and stood up straighter.
"The Holbrooks are trying to move in on our territory. We need to win Thalian Biotech, not just to add to our research portfolio but to make sure the Holbrooks can't compete in our market sphere."
I stared at him unblinking through his insipid speech. He began to wither under my gaze.
Hunter blew out a breath. "Are you in the game or not?"
"You can’t obsess over straws…" Mace began.
I blinked.
Mace flinched.
My smile was downright feral. "I have everything under control, I assure you."
9
Penny
After the meeting, I took Garrett back to the Svensson estate. When I drove into the roundabout, I parked the car and turned it off.
"What are you doing?" Garrett asked as he opened the door.
"I'm giving you your car back."
"No. Just bring it tomorrow morning when you pick me up. Seven a.m. Don't be late."
