Like father, like son, I suppose. I’ve been accused of being stubborn a time or two . . . okay, maybe more, as well.

If I want to get in a rebuttal, it’ll have to be at another time, because I have other problems to worry about.

“Very well,” I say sharply, adjusting my suit and rising to my feet. “Maybe we can further discuss this issue when you’re not so . . . frustrated.” Dad huffs, knowing I’m just getting the last word in, but as he turns away, I swear I see sad disappointment on his face.

I stalk from the room and head to my office. Behind me, I hear Courtney’s heels click across the floor as she hastens to follow me out the doors.

“You know,” she says breathlessly as she catches up with my long stride, “normally, I love it when Dad sticks it to you, but that was brutal. Total bloodbath.”

“You think?” I ask sourly, stopping to scowl back at the boardroom. “The old man’s gone too far . . .”

“But really, a pastor’s wife, Ross? A shareholder’s wife?” Courtney interrupts, looking at me incredulously. “What in the hell were you thinking?”

“Like I said,” I growl, “I had no idea who she was.” When I see Courtney’s doubtful expression, I add, “and I wasn’t lying. I didn’t sleep with her. The one time I didn’t fuck the woman throwing herself at me, and it’s gotten me into more trouble than if I had thrown her the bone she wanted.”

Courtney’s face screws up. “Firstly, eww. Secondly, are women really throwing themselves at you left and right?”

I lift my brows in answer but feel the need to clarify. “All the time, but don’t get the wrong idea. Sleeping with them isn’t the norm. I know they’re only after me for my last name and bank account. I’m not a saint by any means, but I’m not the playboy the media and Dad think either.”

“Okay. I believe you,” Courtney says. After a moment, she bites on her lower lip, her expression softening. “Don’t be mad at Dad, though. I may be the youngest, but even I can see he only wants what’s best for you. He’s going about it all wrong, but I don’t think he’d really let the board demote you. He’s just trying to scare you into the right direction, that’s all.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re Dad’s favorite,” I grunt. “You’re not the one shouldering half the responsibility of the company on your shoulders. I’m starting to think Abi had the right idea and we’re the fuckwits.”

I like to think Abigail, my middle sister, is the sanest one of us. When she graduated college, she was offered a high-position job at the family company, but much to Dad’s dismay, Abi firmly turned down the position and ventured out on her own.

It pissed Dad off, but Abi stood her ground. She’d had enough of him telling her what to do and relished having the freedom away from the drama of running a family business.

Courtney glares at me, balling her fists. “Hey! Speak for yourself. I like my job.”

I open my mouth to defuse the growing storm in Courtney’s eyes when I hear a familiar voice from behind us ask, “Geez, am I going to have to play sibling referee again?”

I turn to see my assistant and best friend, Kaede McWarren. After high school, we went to college together, him on a football scholarship that helped him get passing grades whether he did the work or not. After graduation, when the pros didn’t come calling, he realized that he had no concrete plans and coat-tailed it with me to the family company.

Since then, he’s saved my ass countless times since and has really found his niche, keeping me in line, offering advice, and being my partner in crime. It might be my name on the door with the fancy title, but I couldn’t do half of what I do without his help.

Courtney blushes, unclenching her fists and ducking her head before she remembers to stand tall. Interesting. “Hello, Kaede.”

“Hey, Courtney,” Kaede says. “You’re not planning to stab your brother with a letter opener or shoot him with a staple gun again, are you?”

Courtney casts a scowl my way. “Not quite . . . but we’re getting there.”

Kaede chuckles. “I showed up just in time, then.”

“And just in time for Courtney to remember she has a long task list to check off before she goes home, lest she end up with one pissed off Daddy CEO,” I say pointedly, nodding in the direction of Father’s office.

Knowing a dismissal when she hears one, Courtney gives me another look that says, ‘We’re not finished.’ “You two have fun. Nice seeing you, Kaede.”

“You too, Courtney.” Kaede watches Courtney go for a moment before turning to me. “Meeting didn’t go too well, I take it?”

I shake my head, continuing into my office.

“We have a problem,” I start as I enter the room, where the city skyline appears before me.

My office is a study in swanky luxury, with floor to ceiling windows that offer a panoramic view, a large dark oak desk positioned in the center of the room, a tufted leather chair that looks like a throne, and a personal wet bar stocked with premium liquor.

Kaede follows me in, closing the door behind him, and walks over to take one of the accented seats in front of my desk.

“Hit me,” he says as he leans back, propping his feet on my desk and crossing his hands on his belly. He looks like he could be prepping for a nap, and anyone else who dared defile my desk like that would get a tongue-lashing they wouldn’t soon forget, but Kaede and I are casual at work when it’s just the two of us. Plus, I know that this pose is his version of a ‘thinking hat’. He’s ready to tackle whatever problem I’ve got with focus and scalpel-like precision.