Fixer for the Billionaire: A Spicy Billionaire Romantic Comedy (Seattle's Anderson Family)

Chapter 14

QUENTIN

I can”t remember the last time I stayed this late at the office. Two days after Ry and Jenny”s engagement party, I”m sitting here, staring at my computer screen, hoping it holds the secrets of the universe—or at least the secrets to throwing an unforgettable bachelor-bachelorette party that won”t make my brother regret asking me to be Best Man.

Just as I”m about to deep-dive into the world of eco-friendly balloon alternatives—because who knew regular balloons are a no-go these days?—there”s a knock at my door

I”m expecting a package with the two thousand party favor samples I”ve already ordered in the last few hours. Instead, it”s my brother Alton, with our cousin Killian in tow.

They both have that mischievous look in their eyes—the kind that usually means I”m about to be roped into something I”ll regret come morning.

”Hey, bro,” Alton starts, leaning against the door frame like the eldest sibling who”s used to being in control. ”Heard you were staying late. Taking those Best Man duties seriously, huh? Thought you could use a break.”

Killian chimes in, amber eyes alight. ”How about a drink? Or maybe three?”

I sigh, glancing back at my screen, then at their expectant faces. ”No can do, boys. I”m making arrangements for the joint bachelor-bachelorette weekend. It”s a surprise. Or at least it”s supposed to be.”

Alton straightens, pushing off the doorway. ”Interesting. What kind of arrangement?”

”Well,” I push back in my chair, ”that”s what the ”surprise” part is for.”

”And you and Carmina are planning it together?” Killian asks, eyebrows raised.

I shrug. ”Apparently. But, um, I haven”t exactly spoken to Carmina since the party, and I have no idea what I”m doing. So, I”m reaching out to everyone I know in the city for ideas and recommendations.”

Silent, my brother and cousin exchange a look before bursting into laughter.

”Okay, you and Car working on a party together was one thing. But putting together an entire weekend full of rowdy groomsmen, tipsy bridesmaids, and a soon-to-be-married couple trying to let loose before their big day? This is going to be a bloodbath,” Alton says, wiping a tear from his eye.

”I can just see it now,” Killian adds, mimicking our voices. ””No, I want the chocolate fountain here.” ”But it makes more sense over there!” ”Fine, let”s just do cupcakes then.””

I snort, dusting off my hands. ”Thanks for the vote of confidence, Pricks One and Two.”

”Ah, hell. Don”t get mad, Q,” Killian says, grinning. ”We just know you two too well.”

I roll my eyes, unable to resist. ”Fine, fine. But if you guys have any actually helpful suggestions, I”m all ears.”

”I might be able to help out with that one.” Alton runs a hand through his thick chestnut hair. ”I mean, I did plan Derek”s engagement party last year. And it went well.”

”Really?” My eyebrows rise. ”I thought you just delegated that to your assistant.”

”Hey now,” Alton protests, mock offense all over his face. ”I did plenty of work for that party. And you bums had fun, admit it.”

Killian snorts, shaking his head. ”Yeah, mostly laughing at you trying to open a bottle of champagne.”

I laugh, remembering the chaos that was Alton”s attempt at being fancy. ”Okay, okay. So maybe you do have some valuable input after all.”

”Of course I do,” Alton says, crossing his arms. ”Though, I will say this: Carmina”s got much fancier tastes than I do.” His blue eyes pull downward as he frowns at me. ”I”d say I”m surprised that she”s not planning the entire thing on her own, but then she might be applying for guardianship of her two sisters, and I”m sure she”s super busy with that...”

”She what?” I sit up straighter, leaning forward. ”She”s applying for guardianship of Gabriela and Valeria?”

My eldest brother blinks at me. “Uh, possibly. Wait, have you met them yet?”

“I have.” I brush off his curious look. ”When is Carmina going through with this?”

”I don”t know. She might be waiting for the right time.” Alton”s broad shoulders rise and drop beneath his suit. ”You know her dad”s not around. He”s living out in LA. And I think her mother was having some sort of issue back in Oakland.”

My throat tightens. I reach for the water bottle on my desk since my mouth is suddenly dry. ”She hasn”t mentioned the guardianship part to me.”

”Maybe she didn”t want you to worry,” Killian throws out. ”You know Car. She”s all about that hashtag-boss-babe life. She”s probably handling everything like a pro.”

I nod, my mind mulling over this new info.

It”s no secret that Sanchez has always been a bit of a control freak, but this step feels like a lot, even for her. And with her helping Jenny plan the upcoming wedding, I can only imagine the stress she must be under.

”So,” Killian presses, his brown hair falling into his eyes as he leans in, ”you ready for that drink or what? This old man,” he motions to Alton, who scoffs, ”can only do one drink before he has to get back to his kid and domestic bliss. But McGee”s is hosting this sorority reunion event tonight—it”s like a magnet for women from all over the city. Plus, I heard they have some killer food specials tonight. I know you”re down.”

Repositioning myself in my office seat, I grin at Killian”s eagerness. McGee”s is one of my favorite local bars, known for its happy hour deals and lively atmosphere. And the prospect of a sorority night definitely sounds appealing.

I glance down at my laptop screen, at the Pinterest boards for wedding decoration ideas. I swallow hard and shake my head, the motion feeling stiff. ”Sorry, guys. I wish I could join you, but I”ve got a ton of work to finish up before I get out of here.”

Killian groans. Alton nods his understanding.

”Some other time,” Alton declares. ”Just promise us one thing—you”ll get the good chocolate fountains for the party.”

I laugh, a genuine sound that feels foreign after the day I”ve had. ”You forget who you”re talking to,” I tell him. ”Now get out of here before I change my mind and join you.”

As they exit, Alton claps me on the shoulder, and Killian gives me a playful salute. I glance at the time: 6:45.

Normally, I”d be leaving the office right about now, either heading out to prep for a date or gearing up to watch Nightmare on Elm Street parts one, two, and three with some popcorn and a beer.

Instead, I grab my phone, texting Carmina before I can talk myself out of it.

Need help with the bachelor party side of things. You around?

Almost a minute passes before she texts back.

Sure. Can you swing by in fifteen?

I type back.

Be there in fourteen

With a grunt, I set the phone down, resisting the urge to text her again. Ever since that rooftop Saturday night, Carmina is all I can think about. I said I”d give her space and time, and I meant it.

But right now? I need her to keep my head from spiraling into a million pieces.

Doesn”t exactly help that this is a first—sacrificing a night out for a night in with the one person I”ve always considered my ultimate hater.

I”m usually a mastermind at dealing with women, but with Carmina? I”m at a complete loss.

Laughing at what I”ve turned into, I shake my head and get back to browsing Pinterest.

* * *

CARMINA

It”s 6:59, and my eyesight is going blurry by the time Quentin knocks on my office door. He opens it without waiting for my response.

”Sanchez,” he declares, plopping down into the chair across from my desk with his laptop bag nestled in his large hands.

I glance at the clock. ”You made it on time.”

”Don’t look so shocked. I can tell time. Occasionally.”

”Yes, and the telling time part would have been even more awesome if you’d waited for me to answer your knock before coming in.”

”One step at a time.” One side of Quentin’s mouth curls upward. ”So... where are we at with the Vegas hotel suites?”

”Well,” I stretch my fingers before going back to my laptop, ”I’ve successfully procrastinated for another hour by scrolling through social media and answering emails, but now we need to get down to business.”

Quentin grins. “Ah, the classic pre-work ritual.”

“Exactly.” I pause and take a deep breath. “But I”ve started to think that Vegas might not be the answer.”

”What do you mean?” He pushes up the sleeves of his collared shirt.

”I mean, you, your brothers, Killian, Jenny—you all grew up here, smack-dab in the middle of Seattle. I feel like there”s something missing from the equation. Maybe we should be looking at spending the bachelor-bachelorette weekend for Ry and Jenny in a place that has more personal meaning to you all.”

Quentin nods slowly, his expression thoughtful. ”You might be onto something.”

”Of course I am,” I say with mock confidence. ”I”m always right.”

”Maybe. Seattle”s no Vegas, but it”s got its own charm and plenty of options for a wild weekend.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh God. Leave it to you to bring up strippers and getting wasted.”

“Hey, I never even mentioned strippers,” he says, holding up his hands. “But now that you mention it…”

”Always thinking ahead, huh?”

”Come on now.” Quentin raises an eyebrow. ”Don”t tell me you haven”t been thinking about the bachelorette party. Imagining all those banana hammock-wearing strippers and penis-shaped party favors.”

“I haven’t, but thanks for the visual.”

”Happy to help.” He claps his hands together. ”So, what do you say? We knock these two birds-slash-parties out with one stone?”

I think for a minute before nodding. ”Okay, let”s do it.”

For the next couple of hours, we turn into event-planning ninjas, minus the black outfits and the ability to disappear into thin air—unless you count dodging calls from pesky vendors as a ninja skill.

Emails fly out faster than gossip in a small town.

By the time the clock hits what should be ”go home and binge-watch your favorite series” o”clock, we”ve practically got everything but the kitchen sink nailed down for all three days.

In typical Seattle-fashion, it’ll be a boat party. A yacht party, rather. Sailing around the Puget Sound.

Collapsing in our chairs, Quentin throws me a look that”s equal parts exhaustion and triumph.

”By Friday”s meeting, we”ll be so organized, we”ll start wondering if we accidentally hired ourselves out for this gig. Rain Fall and Fairy Dust won”t know what hit them.”

I laugh. ”Yeah, I think Puddle and Glitter will like the options we”re bringing to the table.”

”Hear, hear.” Quentin releases a long breath before looking at me. ”I”m impressed.”

”By what?”

”The fact that we work so well together.” Quentin pauses, his expression turning serious. ”But to be honest, we”ve been working well together since your first company retreat. Remember that game of Truth or Dare? We kicked the other teams’ asses.”

“Yeah, we did. By promptly showing our own.”

“Aye, anybody who’d eaten those peppers that Derek dared us to eat would have done the same. Who could have kept their clothes on after that? Lucky for us the lake was nearby to jump in.”

I laugh. “I told you to pick Truth, not Dare. Maybe you wouldn’t have ended up with a tattoo that reads ”I love Twilight” like a nineteen-year-old girl.”

”Hey, that was supposed to be our little secret.”

I grin, my chest feeling lighter. “Well, at least it all worked out in the end. Picking Dare over Truth. Turns out we both were better at the ‘doing’ parts instead of the talking ones.”

Suddenly, Quentin’s own grin fades. He looks over at me, green eyes unblinking. ”So I vividly remember.”

I look up and into his eyes, seeing images of the two of us breathless and entangled in the swirly, sage-green depths.

Our gazes clash before I clear my throat, sitting up straight.

”Anyway…It is getting late.” I close my laptop, clearing my desk. ”We should probably head out now. I think we’ve done enough tonight.”

I stand up, still straightening the mess on my desktop when Quentin speaks.

”Sanchez…” His deep voice rumbles through the silent office. “Are you alright?”

I freeze. ”What do you mean?”

Quentin”s eyes soften. ”With everything. Your sisters. The workload. Danity”s new releases. The wedding. It”s a lot, I know.”

My mind races, trying to come up with a witty response to deflect from the situation. But Quentin might be right. He might know me too well. Might see right through my facade.

I shuffle my laptop into my bag. ”I”m managing. I feel like I have everything under control.”

”Is that really how you feel?”

Okay, if we”re going for a grade here, that pushiness just knocked Quentin down a letter. I snap my bag shut and pull it onto my shoulder, ready to head out.

”I”m fine, Quentin,” I say with finality. ”Let”s just focus on wrapping up tonight and getting home.”

Quentin looks like he wants to say something else, but decides against it.

He stands up, his tall, six-foot-plus frame towering over my five-foot-six frame. His broad shoulders tense as he grabs his own bag, throwing the strap over his shoulder.

His biceps flex under his shirt, and I look away.

Dammit.

He might have gotten that letter grade back with that move.

”Sure.” He places his hands in his slacks pockets. ”If that”s the way you want it.”

”I do.” I walk towards the door, trying to ignore the tightening in my chest. “Don”t forget. We”ve got the book stop tour on Sunday for Danity.”

He clears his throat. “Of course.”

“By the way…” I slow down. “Thanks for the help tonight.”

Quentin nods, his chiseled jaw working as he stares. ”Anytime, Sanchez. Anytime.”

Turning, I exit the office, my ”grading” list for Quentin still running through my head.

Two more days down. Nine more to decide if getting closer to Quentin Anderson is the best or worst idea I’ve ever had.