When she left, he shrugged. “It all tastes like cat piss to me anyhow.”
“Good champagne tastes like cat piss to you?” Tanner asked incredulously. “I’ve seen you guzzle the stuff by the gallon at those fancy industry parties of yours.”
“A necessary evil,” Shawn told him. “There are a lot of things I don’t like about those parties, but you’d never say it. Have to keep up appearances.”
“Speaking of which,” I interrupted their conversation. “I wanted to talk to you all.”
“You’re talking,” Tanner said, smirking when I flipped him the bird.
I leaned forward on the table, wiping away a puddle of moisture that had rolled from my glass. “I need people I can trust at the new company.”
“Like half your father’s workforce?” Bart asked, amused. He shrugged when I gave him a questioning look. I hadn’t told them that part yet. “News travels fast.”
“It wasn’t half his workforce,” I said. “It’s not even a fraction of his people.”
They were some of his best people, having been the ones who’d worked their way up to the executive floors. But I knew losing them wouldn’t hurt him. He had hundreds more just like them stashed away. On other floors, in other buildings.
There was no such thing as an irreplaceable employee at Williams Inc. Not even me.
Shawn tipped his beer in Bart’s direction. “News may travel to you fast, but it sure has a lot of little baby news stories on its way over.”
“That may or may not be true,” Bart agreed, then looked back at me. “You were saying?”
“Right,” I said. “I need people I can trust. It’s not going to be easy going and smooth sailing all the way. I could really use your help, if you’re interested.”
Stephanie squeezed my hand underneath the table. She knew how conflicted I was asking them. They had their own careers, which they loved, and I didn’t want them to feel like they had to say yes to me.
She’d convinced me that none of us were the types of guys who were going to cave and agree to a career change if it wasn’t what we wanted. She was damn right about that.
Tanner, Bart, and Shawn all stared at me like I’d grown a rhino horn on my forehead. Tanner recovered first, giving me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry bro, it’s not the right time for me. I’m still well off in baseball. When the time comes for a change, I’ll let you know.”
I nodded, accepting his decision without an ounce of blame. “I didn’t think you were ready to leave your beloved little balls behind.”
Tanner laughed and made a crude gesture. “They’re still a lot bigger than yours, Williams.”
Bart rubbed his chin, staring off into the distance before turning back to me. “You’re offering us jobs?”
“I am.” As fucking weird as it felt to do it. I wanted them with me though, if I could get them.
Bart turned the idea over in his head for a few minutes, then nodded. “I might be interested. Can I think about it?”
“Of course,” I slid my eyes to Shawn. He hadn’t turned me down yet, and I knew he didn’t intend on staying in modeling for too long.
When he caught my eye, he nodded slowly. “I’ll think about it too. It’s an interesting proposition. From what you’ve told me, it’ll be a complete change for me. I could be ready for that.”
“Okay, think about it. Take all the time you need,” I said.
Stephanie pulled her phone out of her purse and tapped into her messages, her eyes excited as she lifted her head and looked around. It could mean only one thing. “Tiana’s here.”
“She’s waiting for me by the door,” she said, handing her phone to me. “I’m going to go get her. Watch my purse, will you?”
“Sure thing, angel.”
She smiled and bent over, giving me a quick kiss before running off to meet her friend. I must’ve had some kind of dopey expression on my face after the kiss because as soon as she was out of earshot, the guys all turned to me.
They fired off questions all at once until I held up my hands and shook my head. “One at a time. I can’t hear you.”
They exchanged a quick look, no need for words. Shawn glanced at the door where Stephanie was hugging Tiana and then, satisfied we were still going to be alone for a moment asked me, “What are you planning on doing about your relationship with Stephanie?”
“She’s your partner in the company, right?” Bart added.
Even Tanner chimed in. “Have you thought about the future at all?”
I shook my head like I was disappointed in them, smirking. “What do you think I’m gonna do about it? I’m going to marry that girl.”