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“Gabriel, are you coming to pizza night?” Tony, one of my managers, pops his head in.
“I am.”
“Great.” He disappears.
Leah has organised team lunches and evenings out as I try to engage more with the teams. Not that I didn’t before, but this is different somehow.
“Morning, Gabriel. Can I get you a coffee?”
Leah laughed the first time it happened.
“You’re creating a community. The staff room no longer goes silent when you enter. Have you noticed?”
I have, and now I’m being asked how my weekend was, not just my thoughts on the latest market trends. Apparently, my engagement is good for staff morale.
I started Frazer Investment as a boutique hedge fund. We’ve grown from twenty-two to over one hundred and fifty employees in eight years. But as Leah pointed out, one evening, over dinner. I’ve left her and Amanda to deal with the staff while I’ve been caught up in growing the business. I’m not blind to the fact that the professional environment and our success have attracted men like Callahan and his millions to my firm.
Leah has and continues to have an immense impact on this company and on me.
A bunch of flowers walks past my eye line, making its way across the office floor. I jump up. What the hell is he doing here?
I watch the sneaky rat enter Leah’s office.
Before I can stop myself, I’m across the room. Fortunately, those around me are paying little or no attention. To them, my presence is normal.
Leah’s door is closed when I arrive, so I knock and enter, not waiting to be invited in.
Leah is standing by her desk, her hip resting against it, holding the largest bunch of flowers I’ve ever seen.
“Gabriel,” my brother’s voice chips in, breaking my stare.
“Caleb,” I say shortly. “Why are you here disturbing my staff?”
I know I sound petty and childish, but I can’t help it. Not after the other night. I know Leah said there is nothing between her and Caleb.
“Caleb brought me some flowers,” Leah says, placing them down on her desk. She tilts her head.
I turn to my brother, who is sprawled in a chair opposite. “Why are you buying my girl—Leah flowers?”
Leah’s eyes flit to the door at my near slip-up. I promised we would keep our personal life out of the office. Only my family need to think we’re in a relationship.
“Because I’m a sap,” he says, winking at Leah. He laughs when I let out a growl. “Seriously? Okay.” He holds up his hands in surrender. “A group of children were selling them for charity outside. I couldn’t simply walk past. What woman doesn’t like flowers?” Mr Smooth says. “I was on my way here, so I bought two bunches. One for Amanda and one for Leah.”
I turn around to see Amanda returning to her desk, sporting an enormous grin. An identical bunch of flowers are in her hands. Only hers are now in a vase. My hands unfurl, and I refrain from grabbing my twin by the collar and yanking him out of the office. That’s not who I am, and since when have his actions bothered me? It’s not the first time he’s bought Leah or Amanda flowers. That’s part of his persona.
I turn on my heels and head to the door. “Stop distracting my staff members.”
I know I sound petty. Leah’s rigid posture and pinched expression reveal her true feelings. I pause at the door, unable to help myself. “You wanted me to remind you to pick up a large bag of green lentils,” I say, enjoying the flush that spreads up her neck.
“Thank you,” she splutters.
“Lentils?” Caleb asks, sounding baffled.
“Yes. I make a killer lentil bolognese,” Leah says, recovering quickly, her attention returning to my brother, but there is a slight tilt to her lips.
I must admit, I’m impressed, if not a little annoyed. But with no further reason to stay, I leave my brother and my communications officer alone.
I enter my office and drop myself onto my chair, running a hand down my face. What the hell? I’m not the person who storms into someone else’s office and interferes in their meetings. Regardless of the meeting’s lack of authenticity.
