Epilogue
Hunter awoke the next morning, finding Fionn sprawled over him, still asleep.
Gently caressing his mate’s silky, smooth back, his thoughts turned to how much fun he had last night at the party Kieran threw in his honor.
Shit, I can’t remember the last party I went to.
Closing his eyes, he wondered how he allowed his life to become so dull, losing his ‘joie de vivre’ as his mother called it.
His mind went back to the day she died, remembering some of her last words: “I’m so sorry, sweetie, that I wasn’t stronger…
that instead of carrying my burdens, I handed them over to you…
but please don’t grieve for me because I’ll be with your father and we’ll be watching over all of you…
just promise me you’ll find your joie de vivre again… life is too short not to enjoy it.”
After his mother’s death, all Hunter could do was grieve; the promise she extracted from him forgotten until last night.
Feeling his brothers’ joy at his return was as intoxicating as the laughter, teasing and jokes that rolled on into the early morning hours.
Dancing with his mate under the mirror ball Kieran had hung up—while Robin sang their love song—finally let him put his grief behind him, freeing Hunter so he could now look forward to a wonderful life with Fionn.
~/~/~/~/~
It was several days after the party when Hunter, along with Fionn and Mason, walked into a conference room for a meeting with Maximus that Penn had arranged.
Dire Enterprises was interested in acquiring all the businesses Fionn inherited from his father.
Why Mason had been asked to join them was a mystery, which deepened when he opened the conference room’s door and saw Steel, Slate, and his cousin Carson sitting at the conference table with Maximus.
Nodding to everyone, he pulled out a chair for his mate, taking a seat next to him, and when everyone was settled, looked at Maximus, waiting for him to begin.
“Fionn, with your permission, Penn has forwarded all the information about the companies you wish to sell,” Maximus said, “and after going over the corporate documents, we’re interested in purchasing them all.”
“Why?” asked Fionn.
Smiling at the young dragon, Maximus said, “One of the main goals of Dire Enterprises is to provide good paying jobs for shifters. We achieve it by either investing in leading edge technology or by acquiring existing businesses. What makes your companies especially appealing is their location in France, one of the countries Dire Enterprises is not heavily invested in.”
“If you buy them, what happens to the people who are working at them?” asked Fionn. “Would you fire them…because I don’t like that idea at all.”
“Absolutely not,” replied Maximus. “It was a point my sons and I discussed, but Penn assured us your father employed only shifters; he didn’t trust humans.”
Squeezing Fionn’s thigh, Hunter asked, “What kinds of shifters? Are they all dragons?”
“No dragons. But according to Penn, there are a number of different species…some wolves, big cats…we won’t know exactly until we look at the employment records,” Maximus replied.
Placing his hand over Hunter’s, Fionn squeezed it, drawing his mate’s attention to him, seeking help since he had no idea what was coming next. “Mate?”
Hunter gave Fionn a brief nod before looking over at Maximus, “My mate is interested in selling to Dire Enterprises but I assume you first want to do a due diligence to make sure everything represented in the documents checks out.”
“Yes,” Maximus said, sliding over a copy of a document to Hunter and Fionn. “Penn prepared a Binding Heads of Agreement that gives Dire Enterprises thirty days to conduct our due diligence.”
Taking his copy, Hunter read it finding it simple, clear, and fair—everything an agreement should be—and many times wasn’t. He’d seen his share of one-sided agreements from his extensive experience as a financial advisor to investors.
Frowning, Fionn reviewed the agreement, not really understanding what it all meant. Glancing at his mate, he leaned over, whispering, “Mate, can I talk to you alone?”
“Sure,” Hunter replied. Helping Fionn up, he turned to the others and said, “We’ll be back in a few minutes…I need to consult with my mate.”
“Do you want me to come, too?” asked Mason.
“Fionn?” asked Hunter.
“Uh, sure.”
Rising, Mason joined his brother and Fionn in the hallway outside the conference room. “What’s up?”
“This,” Fionn said, waving the document Maximus gave him. “I don’t understand it…are they buying my companies or not?”
“Yes, but only if everything about them is truthfully represented. If it is, then they can’t back out…they’re legally bound to go through with the deal,” Hunter said.
“But what if they find problems?” asked Fionn. “Then they don’t have to buy the companies?”
“Technically, no, they don’t, but usually what happens is if there’s a problem…depending on what it is…they’ll give us time to fix it, like if some repairs are needed. Or they may decide to go ahead with the purchase anyway and handle it themselves, but offer less,” Hunter replied.
“So this is a good thing?” asked Fionn.
“Yeah, it is,” Hunter said. “Anyone who’s interested in buying your companies will insist on doing a due diligence just to make sure everything is on the up-and-up.”
“Fionn,” Mason said, “the fact Dire Enterprises is offering to do a binding agreement shows they’re very committed to purchasing your companies. Most of the time, at least in my experience, buyers just do an agreement that lets them wiggle out of the deal for any reason.”
“Mase is right, pet,” Hunter said. “And while a non-binding agreement benefits the person who’s shopping, it’s not very good for the one selling.”
“So you think I should sign this?” asked Fionn.
“Yes, and if there are any issues, Dire Enterprises will find them, so even if you don’t come to terms, you’ll benefit from knowing what might be stumbling blocks you’ll have to address before you sell the companies to other buyers,” Hunter explained.
Mason chimed in, “The other thing is, you know Dire Enterprises has the funds to make the purchase so you don’t have to worry about the deal falling through for lack of financing. That makes them the best kind of buyer there is.”
Looking down at the agreement, Fionn nodded, understanding it better. Then smiling at Hunter, he said, “Okay, let’s do it.”
After they returned to the conference room and sat down, Maximus asked, “Have you come to a decision?”
“You got yourself a deal,” Fionn smiled, picking up a pen and signing his name, before sliding the agreement over to Maximus.
After adding his signature to the Agreement, Maximus said, “I’m eager to move forward on the due diligence, Carson will be handling it, but I’d appreciate it if you guys can go with him to France…
just in case Fionn is needed to give approval for anything, like access to bank statements and stuff like that. ”
“France?” Fionn asked, his voice breaking. The last time he was there was the night his father died.
“That’s not a bad idea, pet,” Hunter said. “You can deal with other issues concerning your inheritance…like moving your father’s hoard and deciding what you want to do with the chateau.”
His mate did have a point and Fionn had already decided to sell the chateau, so maybe that could happen on this trip; then he’d never have to go back again. “Okay, when do we leave? Don’t forget the appointments with the galleries.”
“Those are on Monday, so how about Wednesday?” asked Hunter.
“Okay,” Fionn said.
“Perfect,” smiled Maximus. “We’ll make all the arrangements. According to Penn, your father’s right-hand man, Remy Marchant, will be able to help Carson access most of the information needed for the due diligence. Is it all right with you if Carson contacts him right away to get a head start?”
Seeing a small nod from his mate, Fionn said, “Of course. Anything else?”
“No, not about this,” Maximus said, indicating the signed Agreement, “But I do want to speak to Hunter and Mason about Beowulf Trust.”
Fionn’s gaze shifted to his mate. “Do you want me to leave?”
Shaking his head, Hunter murmured, “Stay, pet. You are part of Beowulf Trust, too.”
“Hunter…Mason…” said Maximus, “I…we are very impressed with your proposal and want to proceed with Beowulf Trust. However, instead of having your company handle all of Dire Enterprises’ investments worldwide, we’d like to begin on a smaller scale…if that’s acceptable to you.”
Stunned, Hunter stared at Maximus—their year of hard work had paid off. It was the biggest gamble he’d ever taken and, if he was honest with himself, never gave it much of a chance.
“That’s a good thing, right?” asked Fionn.
Jolted out of his trance, Hunter smiled at his mate, “Yeah, it is.” Then, turning to Mason, he saw his brother grinning—they’d done it! Turning to Maximus, he said, “Sir, that’ll be just fine.”
~/~/~/~/~
Receiving a text from Steel that the chopper was five minutes out, Hunter folded the rest of his clothes and packed them in his bag.
It had been a whirlwind few days—Fionn’s drawings were now going to be handled by two galleries in San Francisco, Mason would be taking the lead in handling the Dire Enterprises’ investments and Jackson had extended the cousins’ invitation to stay until Hunter and Fionn returned from France.
Looking around the room for his mate, he found Fionn kneeling in their closet.
“Pet, what are you doing?” Hunter asked, closing his bag.
“Just a minute,” Fionn replied, his voice muffled.
Digging through his small trunk, he looked for the surprise he wanted to give his mate.
“Finally!” he muttered as his fingers closed around it.
Quickly slipping the cock ring into his pocket, he slammed the lid shut.
Then, grabbing some clothes, he headed over to the suitcase he’d borrowed from Kieran.
After it was packed, he said, “Okay mate, I’m ready. ”
Grabbing both bags, Hunter said, “Good, then let’s go. Everyone’s waiting.”
~/~/~/~/~
Stepping around Cody and Colton, who seemed to fill the room, Carson carried an armful of underwear to his open suitcase lying on the bed.
When Maximus first approached him with the assignment, he was flabbergasted he’d even been considered for it.
Then, when Slate explained why they thought he was the best person for the job, Carson quickly accepted.
“We’re going to miss you, bro,” Colton said.
“Ooh La! France!” Cody smirked. “Don’t forget to have some fun with all the gorgeous men. According to Kieran, French men are the sexiest.”
“There’s a Meat Locker in Paris,” Colton chimed in. “You should go there at least once. Ian and I enjoyed the one in Edinburgh. Steel can arrange for you to get in without waiting.”
“Guys, I’m going to be way too busy for that,” Carson snorted. “Remember this isn’t a vacation.”
“Yeah, but you won’t be working weekends,” Cody said, grabbing his brother’s arm. “Hey, the whole purpose of you leaving is to find your mate…if you don’t go out once in a while and meet new people, then why the hell leave in the first place?”
Carson sighed. His brother was right. “Okay, I promise to go to the Meat Locker at least once.” Then, hearing the helicopter, Carson quickly packed the rest of his clothes, stuffing his last suitcase so full he had to sit on it to close it.
Looking around his room, he realized it would be the last time he was with his brothers for quite a while.
Blinking back his tears, Carson slipped his phone into his pocket.
Cody reached out, pulling Carson into a hug. “Listen to me, bro. You take care of yourself down there and come back. I’ll miss you so call a lot, you hear?”
“That goes for me too,” Colton echoed.
The triplets stood in silence. This was different from other separations in the past; Carson wasn’t planning to return anytime soon.
Murmurs of “love you, bro” and “you, too” were softly uttered as the Cocky C’s came together for a long, last hug.
Then, as each of his brothers grabbed one of his suitcases, Carson headed downstairs—eager to begin a new chapter in his life.