My Brother's Billionaire Best Friend - Max Monroe Page 0,66
right, honey,” Cap says. “It’s pretty obvious you’re not ready to dish the dirt, but just know, when you’re ready, when you’ve officially lit yourself on fire and are up shit creek without a goddamn paddle because you’ve fallen for your best friend’s little sister, we’ll be here. Ready to listen.”
Fallen for my best friend’s little sister? Now they’re really talking crazy.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that, you denying bastard.
I roll my eyes. “That’s mighty generous of you, but I can already guarantee that’s not going to happen.”
Are you sure? You’re already feeling things for her that are anything but friendly…or by Maybe’s definition, very friendly.
I shake off my slightly terrifying thoughts and redirect the conversation. “So, is there any other reason you girls called me, or can I get back to work and try to get out of here before I waste my entire Saturday in the office?”
“You’re really keeping it close to the vest, eh?” Thatch smirks. “Ah, well, can’t say I blame you. Cap showed me a picture of Maybe, and I’d do the same thing if I were in your shoes.”
I quirk a brow. “Do the same thing?”
“Yep.” He nods. “I’d light myself on fucking fire too. I’m certain there isn’t a single guy in New York who could resist those big, innocent brown eyes of hers.”
“Thatcher Kelly!” a female’s voice screeches in the background. “I can fluffing hear you!”
It takes exactly one second for me to know that voice belongs to his wife, Cassie.
“Ah, calm down, honey,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’m just talking in hypotheticals. You know your glorious tits are the only tits I want in my big fucking hands.”
“Tits! Tits!” a small child’s voice chimes in behind him. “I like tits!”
“Gunnar don’t repeat what Daddio says, little buddy.”
“Fluffing hell, Thatcher!” Cassie exclaims. “I swear to God, if I find out he’s walking around day care saying ‘I like tits,’ I’m going to kill you!”
The Kelly household, ladies and gentlemen.
“Ah, hell,” Thatch sighs. “I better get off here before Cass loses her shit.”
Both Cap and I grin at each other on the screen. Thatch’s zoo means that for once in this conversation, I’m not the main attraction.
I don’t wait for another opportunity to end the call and escape. This one is as good as it’s going to get.
I hit the end button, and both of their big heads give way to blackness on the screen. The breath of relief that leaves my lungs is immediate.
Thank fuck.
Before I can let their disturbingly perceptive words sink in, I glance at the clock and see my time is up. I need to head into the conference room for the meeting with the finance team.
I head out of my office, and after a quick pit stop in the break room, I step into the conference room a few minutes later with a much-needed coffee in my hands.
“Good morning, everyone,” I greet all eleven people sitting around the table. “Thanks for spending your Saturday trying to fix this issue. I appreciate the dedication.”
“No problem, Mr. Ives.” Emily nods. “Shall we get started?”
I gesture toward her and take a seat at the head of the table. “By all means, the sooner we get through this, the sooner all of you can get back to your families and actually enjoy your weekend.”
Get back to your families. I don’t know why those words make my chest ache, but I swallow it down and choose to revisit that a different time. It’s more than apparent that my idiot friends have truly fucked with my head.
Thankfully, Emily dives right in, pulling up our current accounting numbers on her laptop and projecting them onto the big screen at the foot of the table. “Okay, so, initially, I wasn’t sure where we went wrong. But, good news, after scouring the numbers for the past few hours, I think I’ve figured out the issue. If you all just give me about fifteen minutes to explain what I’ve found, I think we can get this sorted out quickly.”
“Fantastic,” I say, and she offers a grateful smile.
I’m not sure if she expected me to be on a tirade over the discrepancy, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Emily Willow over the past three years, it’s that she is thorough as fuck, and if there’s an issue, her numbers-oriented brain and eagle eyes will locate it.
I have nothing but admiration and respect for her as an employee.
She continues to lead the meeting, showing the final numbers from