Chapter 2 Ares #2
“We hire a lot of people, Drustan. Is this the point of your meeting?” Xander said.
“No. I have an offer for you. You let me in on this nanotechnology you don’t have before going to Henri or anyone else.”
“Unless I’m out of the loop, you don’t manufacture screens,” Ares said. “Even if we do have this technology, it’s meant for electronic devices and wearable technology. What do you want to do with it?”
“I want to get ahead.” Drustan grinned at them like a shark enjoying a meal. “If there is an equivalent to indium tin oxide that is workable, I want in on it. I want to take it to the government.”
Ares forced himself not to react and willed Xander to keep his cool.
His brother didn’t let him down. “Drustan, I am only an inventor who got lucky once or twice. What you think we have is above my head.”
“You can’t play that modest card with me, Xander. Maybe you got the rest of the world to believe that you are only an inventor, a technology company, and maybe they were gullible enough to believe that you rescuing Mulberry Stevens was a one-time thing. I know better.”
Chills broke out across Ares’s spine.
There were few men who could hurt them. Frankly, the armour around Axis Management and the depths they went to hide Xander’s background should be impregnable, but there was always a risk.
“Drustan, maybe we have something you’d be interested in,” Ares said.
“Yes! I knew it! What is it?”
“Two conditions. One, you don’t tell anyone, including your mistress or your shareholders, about this and two, you have to agree to come on the deal with Henri.”
“Done and done. What is it?” Drustan stopped pacing, leaned forward on the table, his gaze like a hungry puppy going from Xander to Ares.
“We are working on nanotechnology,” Xander said.
“I knew it!” Drustan thumped the table with his fist.
“But it’s not as exciting as you think,” Xander continued. “We’re working on interfacing nano tracking technology with better screen optimization. That would give better endurance to track anything, in any kind of climate.”
“Planes. Satellites. Smartphones,” Drustan said.
“Exactly,” Ares came in. “Now Laurent Industries is our manufacturing partner, but we do need someone to write the programs. Maybe there’s room for a partnership.”
“You bet there is! I’ll take this to my team.
You send me the specs on this program by the end of the day and I’ll wire whatever the asking bid is to show you that I’m serious.
” Drustan's face lit up. “I’m going to take you guys out for a beer and a round of pool! You know I want to get out from my father. This is perfect!” Drustan stood.
Xander raised an eyebrow. “And you won’t speak to anyone about this? Not your father, not your shareholders. Every person you bring on the team you need signs an ironclad NDA.”
“Not even the mistress I don’t have. Yeah, I get it.” He strolled out of the room and turned back around. “Is there any chance I can meet Ida Wong?”
Ares stood, trying to cover how fast his heart was rattling out of his chest.
“You’ll meet everyone you need to have a good time,” Ares said. He clapped Drustan on the back, herding the man to the door.
“Xander, great to see you again. We were a mega success last time and this time it’s going to be even better!” Drustan fist pumps the air and throws his head back.
“I look forward to our next meeting,” Xander nodded, staring down at this desk.
Ares stayed silent until the man left the building. He saw Jillian talking to a group from their cybersecurity team and, for a moment, he regretted their choice in making their workplace more public facing.
“I shouldn’t have let you talk me into selling the bodyguards.”
“I knew you were going to say that,” Ares said.
Xander gave him a look that would make most men cower, with his ear to his phone. “You know I hate talking to the bastard.”
“I know, but he’s the only one we trust.” Ares ran his hand through his hair. River Stone had the distinction of being the only man fired from their private operative team but Ares liked the guy.
Xander gave him the finger. Ares shrugged. It was Xander’s stubbornness that led to River Stone walking away and starting Stone Security.
“River, it’s Xander. I’m calling because I need twenty-four-hour close protection on someone very important to me.” Xander grimaced. “No, I didn’t sleep with her, you potato sack. Get me your best people over here as soon as possible, thanks.”
Xander tossed his phone across the table. “I miss the Bandit Brothers for this.”
“Yeah, but we are moving in a new direction.”
It had been their vision to have private operatives who could do everything from close protection bodyguarding to retrieving hostages and following the guy they just made a business deal with, but they grew too fast and now Team Stealth-aka Bandit Brothers is retired and Team 2.
0 is too busy with work abroad to be available to them.
“I need someone from the sweepers for this.” His brother raised his eyebrows.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Xander, no” But even as he said it, he knew he was going to give in because he saw the same logic Xander did.
“If needed, I’ll have someone from my team follow Drustan as backup.
” Ares hated pulling from the team he was responsible for.
The sweepers were only supposed to be available on demand to clean up the evidence that their operatives have been on the scene.
Like moving bodies or staging a heart attack, whatever necessary to keep Axis Management’s private business from public view.
A chime buzzed on the device on the table. “Yes?”
“Mr. Montague, lunch is here,” Jillian said.
“Thank you!” Ares said.
Perfect timing. Seeing Josie would cheer him up and let him stop thinking about protecting his brother for a few minutes.
He stepped around the corner and saw a curvy woman with straight blonde hair pushing a cart.
“Hello Mr. Montague! I have salmon bowls, cookies for dessert, energy smoothies and a charcuterie board.”
“Where’s Josie?” Ares reached out to stop the cart from moving.
“She was busy with other clients and sent me. But she made everything! Well, I made the dressings, but it’s her recipe. I went through culinary school. I didn’t get to do cool stages like Josie, but I did get to work at Hill Oak, then I had my daughter. I’m Avery.” She stuck out her hand.
No Josie.
Ares blinked, trying to recover from feeling like a piece of rebar rammed through his body. “I didn’t mean to make you feel unwelcome. I was expecting Josie, that’s all. Hill Oak is one of my favourite fine dining restaurants.”
Ares shook Avery’s hand, and the woman flashed him a smile.
“She’s pretty busy with Christmas orders coming in, you know?” Avery wheeled the cart past Ares into the conference room. “Now, is there anything else you gentlemen need?”
“No, thank you. This food beats anything else in the city we could grab for lunch. Thanks.” Ares flashed her a smile. It wasn’t this woman’s fault that she wasn’t her boss.
“Great! I’ll be off!” Avery smiled, finished unpacking the cartons on the sideboard, and waved, waltzing out of the room and humming.
“You got it baaad,” Xander said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m hungry. Want to call Harper and Gardenia and tell them lunch is here? We have a lot to get through today.”
“Ares, you don’t have to be my keeper forever. I have Harper now and Logan.”
Ares turned to see his brother’s face. Xander was serious.
“I’m not complaining,” Ares said, starting to build his plate. The food smelled delicious.
“You never have. But don’t use me as your excuse to not pursue the woman.”
“Hey! Lunch smells amazing!” Harper breezed into the room, right to Xander and threw her arms around his neck.
As they locked lips, Ares brushed off those feelings of... not jealousy. Xander deserved whatever happiness he could find, and admitting his love for Harper hadn’t been easy.
Ares just wished he had that too.
But looking at Harper and Xander, he was determined to make sure it was his turn this time.