deal should be too sweet for him to turn down. He’d be an idiot not to take it. He knows as well as we do that he won’t see a better offer.”
I accepted the folder and paged through the few sheets inside, scanning the details of the deal I was to present as I ignored my brother’s glare. “Accommodations?” I asked without lifting my head from the notes.
“You have choices. There are plenty of smaller bed and breakfasts, inns, and hotels in the area. I suggest staying at Jasper’s prized lodge.” He said the word with a hint of disgust.
I wrinkled my nose. “The outdated one we’re planning on putting out of business?”
“Know your competition.” Fredrick tapped his nose. “I figure you can probably touch base with the old man when you get there tomorrow. I’m hoping he can meet with you this weekend sometime. Present the facts. Don’t let him say no. I’ll expect you back in the office Monday morning. We’ll go from there. Once we have an agreement, we’ll set up paperwork with the lawyers. Don’t rock any boats while you’re in town. It’s imperative we go in and make a good impression on everyone. Small towns talk, and we don’t need a taint on our reputation.”
“Don’t insult me. I’m nothing if not professional.”
For the first time since we’d all sat down, my father looked skeptical. It was Christian’s turn to look smug. Scorned, I refocused on the paperwork in front of me.
“This isn’t Edmonton, Lachlan. Remember that. Jasper has a population of five thousand. Everything you say and do will be spread through the old lady rumor mill faster than you can blink.”
“It’s not a problem.” Perturbed that Fredrick felt the need to mini-lecture me, I pushed back from the table and snatched the folder of information he’d provided. “I’ll see you Monday morning with good news.”
“You’d better. Good luck.”
I didn’t need it.
When I reached the door, I glanced back at my brother. “Come on. I’ll buy you lunch, and we can go over the Bertrand deal together.”
With a final, hopeful look at our father, Christian submitted and followed me out of the conference room.
Montgomery Developing took up a portion of the eighth floor of a high rise in downtown Edmonton. Forty-two years ago, my father had begun building his little company from the ground up. Today, it was the leading development company in all of Edmonton. Neck and neck with KB&T Developing, who was based out of Calgary and took the first place prize for development all across the province. With this condo and resort deal as a possibility, there was a good chance we’d overtake the competition.
My office was down the hall from my father’s. With a wall of windows and custom-built furniture, it still paled in comparison to the old man’s. I closed the door behind Christian and sized up my brother.
“You could work on keeping your emotions hidden. He reads every expression that crosses your face. You’re soft, and he doesn’t have faith that you have the balls to get him what he wants. That’s why he’s sending me and not you. Your heart is a liability.”
“No. He doesn’t like that I tell him the truth. You’re an ass-kisser. I’ve turned amazing deals over the years, so don’t give me your shit.”
“But you look like a pushover.” I patted his baby face, and he swatted my hand away, scowling.
Christian was thirty-one to my thirty-eight. A significant enough age gap that had made it hard for us to get to know each other well growing up. As adults, we’d grown closer, but Christian lived in my shadow, and we both knew it.
Fredrick Montgomery had wanted one son to carry on the family name and take over what he’d perceived would be an incredible company in the future. He was right. The company was more than he imagined. But mistakes happened, and Christian had been conceived unexpectedly when I was nearly seven years old. Since the day he took his first breath, my brother was never good enough.
I pitied him.
“Are we ordering in or going somewhere?” Christian asked.
“Your choice.”
“Let’s get out of here. I need air.”
“Horatio’s?”
“For lunch?”
His shock was understandable. Horatio’s had been boasted about in the Edmonton Times Weekly as the best fine dining restaurant in the province. Only elites graced those tables.
“I like it. Besides, I have to go to Jasper in the morning and subject myself to out of date lodging and sub-quality food. Indulge me.”