“Like I said, find something he has an interest in.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed, and he ran a hand across the dark five o’clock shadow on his strong jaw.
“Okay, I’ll try to find a project that he can’t fuck up. A merger or something where we can’t help but make a shitload of money, but you realize that if I do that, it’s still me. He won’t learn a goddamn thing. Cole has no ambition to invest the time it takes to find deals like that or figure out which businesses are worth more in pieces, which to acquire, and which to leave on the table. It isn’t something someone learns overnight or without sincere interest!”
“Alex!” Charles retorted sharply. His son’s blatant honesty was one of his more prominent traits, and sometimes he would benefit from a little more tact in his delivery.
“What? You know I’m right, Dad. This business… it’s a gut feeling and research and seeing the big picture. It’s finesse. Cole lives in the moment. I can show him the processes and where to look, but he has to want to learn, and he has to be hungry. You may have to face it; he might not have what it takes. Why don’t you just put him in charge of procurement or something, for Christ’s sake? Let him order the fucking paper clips.” His full lips lifted in the start of a wry grin.
Charles put a hand on his youngest son’s shoulder and squeezed. He knew the expression on Alex’s face was teasing. “Thank you, Alex.”
“Can you promise me something, though?”
Charles nodded slightly. He knew his son and the way his mind worked—the two of them were so much alike. Alex always got the job done, could always be counted on, even if it meant putting his own life and needs on hold. “Sure, son.”
“If he doesn’t take it seriously this time, if he blows a bunch of money or worse, makes Avery a laughing stock, this will absolutely be the last time you will ask this of me. I’m done after this.”
Charles shook his head sadly. “That’s a reasonable request.”
Alex stood up and re-buttoned his jacket before striding over to the bar, rinsing out his glass, and setting it on the marble countertop. He sighed heavily and then moved toward the office door.
“Okay, and can you please speak with Cole first? Let him know this is it and that he will follow my instructions exactly. I will drop him on his ass before I’ll run around after him and clean up another one of his messes.”
“Alex, before you go, how are you doing after the split from Whitney?”
“Seriously? I’m golden.” He smiled, thinking of the new challenge sitting in his desk drawer. “Right as rain.”
“I’d like to see you settle down, son. Let some nice woman really know you. You deserve the kind of relationship that I share with your mother. There really is nothing to compare to being in the arms of the woman you love.”
“Sure, Dad. I’ll keep that in mind,” Alex scoffed, throwing the words over his shoulder as he left the room. “Have a good night. I’ll see you Sunday.”
Judy looked up from her desk and cast an admiring glance over Alex as he passed.
“Goodnight, Mr. Avery.”
“Goodnight, Judy. Enjoy your weekend.”
Fucking hell, Alex thought to himself as he walked quickly back to his office to pick up the file from his desk. He glanced at his watch and started to make his way out of the building, racking his brain for something he could give Cole to do that wouldn’t cause too many issues if he failed. Alex dug for his car keys and made his way toward the elevator. It opened to find Darian walking out and catching him off guard.
“What are you doing here, man? I thought we were meeting at Murphy’s at 6:30?”
“It’s damn nice to see you too, Alex! Change of plans.” Darian’s dark eyes glanced over the thick red folder in Alex’s hands. “Taking work home? You dedicated motherfucker.” He shook his head as he backed up into the elevator again and waited for Alex to join him.
Alex chuckled. “Hardly. But I’ll let you believe that.”
Yeah, whatever, Darian thought. Alex was the most workaholic son-of-a-bitch he knew, but it had paid off in spades. His focus had made a lot of people a lot of money, and Darian was one of them. He took stock tips from his friend and also purchased stock in Avery whenever Alex had a particularly profitable deal in the works. Alex never gave him the details because that would be considered insider trading, but Darian paid attention to what was going on at his best friend’s company. He kept track of Avery Enterprises in the trade magazines and watched how the stock was trending. When Alex bought stocks for his personal portfolio, he would let Darian know and he would follow his lead.
“Seriously, what’s in the folder?”
Alex frowned, not sure he wanted to tell Darian that he was investigating the lovely Dr. Hemming. He was itching to read every last report, but he’d have to wait a few hours until Darian got rid of whatever wild hair was currently up his ass.
“My father’s on my case to keep Cole busy, and I’m trying to come up with something that won’t cost us out the ass.” The tone of his voice was amused, but Darian was well aware of how serious the situation could become.
“Yeah. I know how pissed you were last time when he let that merger with Sullivan fall through. Why don’t you put whatever that is in your car and I’ll drive?”
Alex was perplexed. This was unexpected. “You didn’t turn gay on me, did you? Because I’m not really dressed for a date, and I don’t want you to be my bitch.”
“Shut up, dickhead. You’ll be kissing my ass in about 40 minutes. I’m about to give you a gift.” Laughing, Darian shook his head, silently admonishing himself for what he was about to do. Alex closed his passenger door and used his remote to relock it.
Alex slid into the passenger side of Darian’s Cadillac Escalade and stopped to watch the other man’s expression as he buckled in.
“Really. Where are we going?”
“To a karaoke bar in Schaumburg.”
Alex sat further back in his chair and burst out laughing. “Yeah, right. Sure we are.”
“No, we are, Alex.”
“Is this payback for my blowing off the racquetball? I’ll give you a thousand dollars if I don’t have to watch you sing karaoke. And, in the suburbs? Are you fucking kidding me with that shit?” He was still chuckling as he leaned an elbow on the door and brought his right hand up to his mouth. “You know I don’t drink in the suburbs.”
“You’re a snob, Alex.”
Alex considered this for a moment, the amusement clearly written all over his face. “I can live with that.” He paused for a few seconds then continued, “This isn’t the type of joint with jizz all over the walls, the waitresses have 5 inch fake nails, and you get STDs just from sitting on the bar stools, is it?” Alex was smirking as he said the words, and then his straight, white teeth flashed in a huge smile as he took his sunglasses out of his inside breast pocket and slid them over his vibrant green eyes. “Because my mommy warned me about places like that,” he mocked dryly, tongue-in-cheek.
A deep laugh burst from Darian’s chest. He couldn’t wait to see the look on his friend’s face when he saw her. Fucking priceless. “This is a very special establishment, Alex. You’re going to really love it, even if it is lacking the tasty accouterments you just described.”
The man at the end of the bar nodded in Angel’s direction. He was attractive in a slick, snarky sort of way, wearing an expensive suit and linen shirt that he left open at the neck. Angel inwardly cringed at the mass of dark hair on his chest that looked grotesque against the fake tan and glitter of gold around his throat. She had a feeling that if she went over and squeezed him, oil would literally ooze out onto the hardwood floor. There were several other men eyeing her as she stood at the bar in her stylish designer suit and Jimmy Choo’s.