“Yeah; of course.” Aiden used to run that office and he hired Jim Bassell.
My jaw drops, and then tightens. The first, not because Dad thinks Bassell is a bonehead, he is, but because he wants me in New York.
“Need you to clean up there,” Dad continues, “He’s made a mess of things. I want you to figure out who else needs to go. My guess: three quarters of that office. We’ve had four people quit in the last three months, two of them gone to competition, one to Franklin and we’re gonna sue.”
Aiden makes a sound of agreement.
I blow out a long exhale.
I don’t wanna spend months in New York. As far as I’m concerned, the big apple is rotten with a worm in the middle. That my father wants me to be the one on clean-up would normally be a surprise since it’d be a job he’d give to Aiden, but obviously he’s not going to send Aiden when the guy is about to get married because Carly would have to go too, and she has her hands full here.
The New York office was my brother’s ‘baby’ until he moved back around half a year ago and moving here, we promoted another staff member to run it, but he left not long afterwards to start his own business and Bassell was the most senior guy left.
Obviously, Dad can’t go himself for medical reasons.
So, I’m up.
I hated living in New York when I spent a semester there, my first year of college. While I was there, I got in a fist fight that almost meant an assault charge, got mugged, got my heart stomped on by a cold-hearted cheating bitch, and just generally didn’t enjoy the lifestyle there. Bottom line, I’m an orange guy, not an apple guy. I like a view of the ocean not of a bunch of skyscrapers.
My face must relay how I’m feeling about this, so Aiden pipes up.
“Stay at my place.”
Aiden has a sweet condo with a multimillion-dollar view just a two-minute drive from the office, though with New York traffic, it’s usually fifteen or twenty minutes. Still. I’m not a fan of the idea of spending months there. Or of having to do a reorganization, which is always ugly.
“In fact, I have a girl that worked for me, but I had to let her go a while ago since we barely used it. You want her to look after the place, cook, do your shopping, re-hire her. Carly talked to her last week, I think; they stay in touch. She’s a go-getter. I’ll send you her number.”
“I probably don’t need a housekeeper,” I say.
“You’re gonna be busy with that clusterfuck up there, Auz,” my father throws in, “Having the apartment kept in order, kept in scotch and food would not hurt. You’ll be there two or three months and you do best when you’ve got order around you, son. I see you putting in a lot of late nights. I’ll authorize putting that housekeeper on CC payroll. Sweeten the pot for you. She’s good, Aid?”
“Yeah. I’d hire her again,” Aiden says.
“All right, yeah. Get me her number, Aid. Or, Dad, maybe you can just have Alice make those arrangements for me? I’ve got a full plate this week with work. Also got me a bachelor party to host.” I flash a smile, hiding my real feelings about going to New York.
“Sure,” Dad says, “I’ll have it taken care of.”
Aiden’s eyes light up as I wiggle my eyebrows but then his expression changes. He sees through my smile.
But beyond the New York thing, I am happy for my brother, looking forward to the long weekend getaway for his wedding. I could use a breather, though being Aiden’s best man won’t get me that. Dad goes on to tell us I should go straight to New York from St. Kitts.
2
Austin
Five of us make our way into Club Foxxx at the end of the night, and not because I want to – because my brother put the squeeze on our brother-in-law until he spilled the beans about where the girls are.
I didn’t realize it was happening until we pulled up.
“Why, Aid?” I ask, trying to stop my brother from going in.
“Because I need to see her, Auz,” Aiden defends.
“This is supposed to be your bachelor party.”
“I had my bachelor party. It was great.” He slaps my back.
“You’ll see her on the plane in the morning,” I volley.
“Don’t you want your last night of freedom?” Our buddy Jude puts in. “Puttin’ those shackles on early? Shame.” He shakes his head. “You might look back and wish differently.”
“Yeah, well I need to see her tonight, man, and if I didn’t feel this, maybe it’d mean I’m about to marry the wrong girl.”
Jude snickers. “Point taken. But who the fuck are you and what’ve you done with Aiden?”