Page 21 of Room Service

Mason’s expression went serious again as he leaned forward, elbows braced on the arms of the chair and hands linked together over his lap.

“Tell me what there is and I’ll see what I can help you with.”

I gave him a suspicious look. He waved my expression away, looking amused. “Dad taught all of us about the business, not just you, you know.” He waited for my reaction, but I didn’t give him one so he just carried on talking. “I can be of some help. Or if you want, I could leave it all in your capable hands, big bro.” He gave me a strange look. “Though I was kinda surprised to hear you were in the area, Trent. I didn’t believe it, which is why I rushed to get here just to see it for myself.”

“Forget that. Focus on work for now. You might as well make yourself useful while you’re here.”

I showed him the same list the secretary had given me. We divided some duties between us, everyone with their shit to take care of, just as our dad taught us.

Though I’d acted all skeptical about his offer considering what he liked to do with his free time, I wouldn’t doubt his capabilities. Our dad had been a hard man after all, especially when it came to the business. But he taught us, even the other four—Emily too, though she was the least interested—how to be proper businessmen, at least.

“But first,” I told him before he could get his ass out of the chair, “I need help with some of the paperwork right now, or I’ll be lost in it for the rest of the day, and I have other stuff I want to get done today.”

He arched an eyebrow at the papers I already had in front of me, and the thick pile of folders to the side that I’d yet to get to.

“Just how much is there, anyway?” he asked, part curious and partly horrified.

I shrugged. “It must have all been waiting for a week, at least. Maybe he wasn’t feeling well before the heart attack, or he would have done it all himself.”

“Yeah,” he said with a frown as we shared a worried glance. “I’ve never heard of him taking a day off work for anything short of a broken arm. And even then he still shows up.”

I didn’t answer. I was trying not to think too hard or too much about what was going on with our dad, or I’d worry myself to death. Mason didn’t say anything either and we got down to business.

Now, I thought to myself, once Mason was looking over some of the paperwork, if only I could get Jessi out of my mind.

But I knew it would be a futile effort even to try, and I was annoyed at myself for it.