“Thanks, buddy.”
“I’m not going to agree with you for the sake of it.”
Oliver let out a heavy sigh, one that sounded as though he genuinely didn’t know what to do for the best. “Sorry. I’m a bit stressed with it all to be honest.”
I opened my laptop as the others filed in. “It’ll all be fine,” I said. “You’ll do the right thing. You always do. Try not to worry.”
“What’ll be fine?” Sebastian flopped into the chair to my left.
“None of your business,” I said as Patricia bustled around, plugging in the projector and making sure we all had something to drink.
I waited for the room to settle down, then began.
Two hours later, after we’d all presented updates on our particular divisions of the business, I closed my laptop. “Okay, any other business.”
I went around the table, finally ending on Elliot. I stared at him, unblinking. “Now I know you have AOB, Elliot. Care to share?”
Garen’s eyes cut to mine, his expression telling me he’d sensed the undertone in my voice. I gave a half shrug.
Elliot cleared his throat and sat up straight with the edge of his linked hands resting on the cherry wood table.
“Athena’s home,” he began.
“When?” Upton asked. “I thought she planned on traveling for a year.”
Elliot waved dismissively. “Things change. Anyway, she’s come home with a renewed sense of purpose, and I want to encourage that. You’re aware how difficult it’s been for her to find her niche, her place in the world. She wants to get a job and find her own place, and we all know that won’t be easy, especially in Manhattan, and without experience. Plus, I don’t want my sister living in some fleapit. Actually, strike that. I won’t have my sister living in squalor.”
I knew what was coming before he even spoke. My heart sank, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
“I’ve offered her the vacant position in the IT team. She may not have practical experience, but she’s fully qualified. I have every confidence that Aaron and the team can train her up.”
He looked at each of us in turn, ending with me.
“Anyone in disagreement with that decision?”
Murmurings of assent and plenty of nods and smiles were sent in Elliot’s direction. I remained stony-faced. Yes, I had a fucking problem. Not because I wanted to block Athena’s desire to stand on her own two feet—it was about goddamn time—but because I didn’t want her to fulfil that desire here. At my company. For fuck’s sake, how the hell could I continue to ignore my true feelings if the damned woman worked in my building, in a position that would bring her into regular contact with me?
The room fell silent, and that was when I realized everyone was waiting for me to speak.
“Since when did we start making senior hires ahead of agreement with the board?” I said, my voice holding an edge, the tone icily calm.
“It’s not a senior hire as you well know. Come on, Ryker. Don’t be a dick. Athena needs a chance, and as her brother, I’ve given her the opportunity to prove herself. She insisted she’d only take the position if I promised to treat her like any other employee.”
“Big of her,” I muttered, silently berating myself for behaving like an idiot, but unable to stop.
Elliot gave me a glare. “What’s your fucking problem?”
Oliver fidgeted in his seat, readying himself for the brewing testosterone-fueled argument. Out of all of us, he was the one who made the greatest effort to avoid conflict.
I took it down a notch. No point blowing up. That would only set off Elliot’s radar.
“I don’t have a problem,” I lied. “All I’m saying is that before you offered her the job, you should have run it past the board. That was the procedure we agreed to, and one that we’ve all followed—until now.”
“Okay,” Elliot said, his jaw tightening the way it always did when he was about to dig his heels in the ground. “We’ll take a vote, shall we? All those in favor of Athena taking a fucking junior position in the IT department, raise your hands.”
Everyone held up their hands. I was the last to react, showing my palm to the room.
“Motion carried,” Elliot said, his sharp glare in my direction telling me this wouldn’t be the last I’d hear of it. “Patricia, minute that, would you, in case this gigantic asshole decides to have a brain malfunction.”
Garen snorted a laugh.
I shot him a glare,