“But that’s beatification!” Remy protested. “I’m talking about job creation.”
“All I care about,” Greg retorted, “is greasing the wheels to move the development projects through so I don’t waste weeks of my life cleaning up after Hunter’s bad decisions and inability to properly apologize to Meg.”
“Agreed,” Garrett said. “Remy, you can havepartof an office in Archer’s conference facility.”
Remy looked defeated as Greg and Garrett shot down his plans. He was my favorite older brother, and I hated seeing him sad.
“We have big plans for the Rural Trust,” I said, cutting through the noise. “And we’ll need space for it.”
Greg looked at me incredulously. “You have plans?”
“Yes,” I said, thinking back to what Sadie had said. “Sadie—”
“The girl with the dildos,” Archer added unhelpfully.
I ground my teeth. “Sadie,my assistant, has ample—”
“She is ample,” Weston said with a snicker.
I stood up, my chair flipping back, and grabbed Weston by the collar. “Don’t,” I snarled.
“Geez, sorry. It was just a joke,” my brother said.
“Don’t,” I repeated. I looked at each of my brothers.
“We need the space. In addition to the straw factory, Sadie has several good ideas, including a fundraising gala, an early education/vocational training program, roundtables with farmers, and many others.”
“Who’s going to implement them?” Greg asked, taking notes.
“I am assembling a team. It will include Remy, myself, and Sadie, of course,” I said smoothly.
“Fine,” Greg said after a moment. “Go forth. Don’t waste my money.”
I leveled my gaze at him. “I’m putting my own money into it. And I have every intention of making this a poster child for successful community investment in the nation.”
Remy whooped and grabbed my shoulders. “Hell yeah!”
Now I just had to convince Sadie to help me.
* * *
She was slouchedat her desk when I returned to the office. I stood at the doorway and studied her. Was she asleep? She was not. She noticed me and started, sitting straight up and grabbing frantically for papers.
“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I walk quietly,” I said.
Because in the compound, if you were noticed, then someone was going to come after you with a belt.I swallowed.
“Never mind,” I said. “Those ideas you had about the foundation?”
“Yes?” she said, perking up.
“We need to implement them.”
“Which one?”
“All of them.”
Sadie gaped at me. “When?”
