“Damn it, Ethan, taking risks is how our great-grandfather started this company in the first place.”
“True. Joshua Hart started the business,” Ethan said tightly. “And each generation has kept our reputation a sterling one. We’re one of the top five chocolate companies in the world. Why in the hell would I want to take risks now?”
“To be number one,” Gabriel snapped. Clearly frustrated, he shoved a hand through his black hair. “Times change, Ethan. Tastes change. We can keep making the same great chocolate and we can add to our lists. Bring in new tastes and textures. Attract different customers, younger customers who’ll stick with us for decades.”
Ethan looked at his brother and felt twin tugs of affection and irritation. It had always been like this between them. Ethan had been looking out for his younger brother most of their lives. Gabriel was the wild one. The one who wanted to try new things, see new places. He was a risk taker and Ethan had rescued him from more than one escapade over the years. And that was fine, Ethan supposed, until it came to business. There, Ethan wasn’t going to buck traditions that had built his family company into a worldwide giant.
“You want to start your own company,” Ethan said softly, “and sell oregano chocolate or whatever, help yourself. Heart Chocolates will remain at the top of its game by giving our customers exactly what they want and expect from us.”
“Very safe,” Gabriel muttered, shaking his head. “And boring.”
Ethan snorted. “Success is boring? We do what works, Gabe. We always have.”
Gabe slapped both hands down on Ethan’s desk and leaned in. “I’m a part of this company, Ethan. We’re brothers. This is our family business. Dad left it to both of us. And I want a say in how it runs.”
“You get a say,” Ethan said, as irritation simmered even hotter, becoming a ball of anger in the pit of his stomach.
“And you get the final vote.”
“Damn straight I do. The company was left to both of us, but I’m in charge.” Ethan met his brother’s gaze and tried to ease the hot knot of fury that settled inside him. He understood what was driving Gabriel. His younger brother wanted to make his mark on the family company. But that didn’t mean Ethan was going to gamble everything they’d built on his brother’s risky ideas.
Yes. They could introduce new flavors, new types of chocolates with strange fillings and flavors that bucked every traditional norm. But their current customers wouldn’t be interested—they knew what they wanted and counted on Heart Chocolates to provide it.
“Never let me forget that, do you?” Gabriel pushed off the desk, then stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“Look, Gabe, I get what you’re trying to do, but it’s my responsibility to protect the reputation we’ve spent generations building.”
“You think I’m trying to wreck it?” Gabe stared at him, astonished.
“No. You’re just not considering all the angles of this idea.” Ethan’s patience was so strained now he felt as if he were holding on to the last remaining threads of a rope from which he was dangling over the edge of a cliff. So he tried a different tactic. “Introducing a new line of chocolates, hoping to reel in new customers, would require a huge publicity campaign well beyond what we already have in place.”
“Pam says the campaign could be run within the plan that we’re already using.”
One of Ethan’s eyebrows lifted. “Pam, huh? Who’s she?”
Gabriel took a deep breath and looked as though he regretted letting that name slip. “Pam Cassini,” he said. “She’s smart as hell. She’s setting up her own PR firm and she’s got some great ideas.”
“And you’re sleeping with her,” Ethan added for him. Did this explain Gabriel’s latest attempt to change things up? Was his new girlfriend behind it all?
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
Before he could answer, Ethan heard a brisk knock on the door, then it swung open and his assistant, Sadie Matthews, poked her head inside. Her big blue eyes shifted from him to Gabe and back again before she asked, “War over?”