by Bree Cariad
The image of thirty-six teenagers cooped up in the house made Brecker smile. “Send them for a jog in the snow.” Jonathon laughed. “I’ll check my schedule, but I don’t usually go anywhere for Thanksgiving, so I’d love to come.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wondered where they came from. Distance, Brecker, he told himself. Do not get involved in the running of a youth shelter. You do not need more on your plate.
As if he wasn’t already involved.
“Fantastic,” Jonathon said, sounding pleased. “I’ll let Aiden know you’re coming. He’s asked me three times if he should make a place setting for you.”
“How’s he doing?” Jonathon had kept him informed of Aiden’s getting over chickenpox and of the fact the other three in the house had it at the same time. He’d been frazzled during those two weeks.
“Good. Very good.” Jonathon sounded pleased. “I’m glad you found him, Brecker. He’s really coming into his own here.”
“Good. Good.” For the first time, there was a slightly uncomfortable pause, as if neither of them wanted to end the call but they didn’t know what else to say. “So, you going to the next newbie night at The Club?” he teased.
A huge snort came over the line making him laugh. “Yeah. No. I told Rolf if he ever did that to me again, I’d switch everything in his cupboards so he couldn’t find anything. However,” he said slowly, “I will be coming into town on Friday. I’ve got some things to do. If you’re open, want to have dinner?”
“What time?” Brecker put the phone on speaker and brought up his calendar. Friday was busy but after six he was clear.
“Five or six?”
“Six would work. Ever been to Fynar’s? I haven’t been, but I’ve heard it’s good.”
There was a long pause and then Jonathon said, “I’d rather steer clear of there. I tried it once. Ended up with food poisoning.”
Brecker barked a laugh. “Good to know.” His business phone buzzed. “Looks like my next appointment’s here. Why don’t you think about where you’d like to eat and let me know by Friday afternoon?”
“Thanks, Brecker,” Jonathon said in a warm tone. “See you on Friday.”
With a huge smile on his face, Brecker turned on the speaker between him and his secretary. “Yes, Siobhan?”
“Your two thirty is here. A Cair Maxim of Maxim Electric.”
“Thank you. Send him in.”
The door opened and a tall thin man in his late thirties walked in. Unlike Brecker, Cair Maxim was slovenly in both manners and clothing. As a teen, Brecker learned to judge correctly just who a person was by three things. Their bearing. How they treated others. But mostly was a gut instinct that had never steered him wrong. Maxim was not someone to trifle with. Or want to have as a customer. His type tended to be far too much trouble.
He strode by Siobhan as though she didn’t exist which annoyed Brecker. “Thank you, Siobhan,” Brecker said warmly. Since she was behind Maxim, she winked and mouthed Good luck.
“So,” Maxim said in a boorish, condescending tone. “You’re Court Brecker.”
“I am.” Brecker didn’t offer a hand to shake. Instead, he sat down behind his desk and waved to one of the seats opposite him. “Take a seat.”
As expected, Maxim bristled at being told what to do. Brecker wouldn’t have treated someone else the same way, but he hoped that Maxim chose to leave on his own. Would be easier than figuring out a pleasant way to say “I don’t want to work with you.”
Maxim walked around his office, taking in the pictures on the wall, the two walls of windows, and the understated but high class furniture. Finally he strode over and sat down. “I’ve heard about you,” he said, that rude tone raking across Brecker like sandpaper. “Your company has a top rating. You’re on the city council. From all signs, you’re an upstanding businessman.”
Brecker narrowed his eyes. From all signs? “I am.”
A small sneer crossed Maxim’s face. “Are you? I hear you cavort with sinners.”
Confused, Brecker leaned back in his seat. “I beg your pardon?”
Maxim lowered his voice and leaned forward. “Fags.”
Instantly, Brecker’s dislike for the man tripled. “That’s a hideous term. Don’t use it again. If you’re talking about the LGBT shelter, yes. I sided with the yeses. Why is that a problem?”
“If I’m going to give you my account, it makes a lot of difference.” Maxim sniffed. “I need to be sure that the man in charge of my information security is trustworthy.”
“You aren’t making any sense. Signing off on that shelter gives homeless kids a home. It gets them off the streets. It gives them an education.”
“But you’ve done more than that,” Maxim said, his eyes narrowed. “You’ve gotten people to donate food, clothing, and money to it.” He leaned forward. “You have your secretary planning a moneymaker for them. Just what are you up to?”
For a moment, Brecker was nonplussed at the inference Maxim was making. Cold trickled through his veins as he recognized the viper in front of him. He had to be part of Crelon’s inner circle. He stood up. “If you’re just here to make noise, get out of my office.”
Instead of getting up, Maxim leaned back in his seat, his sneer more pronounced. “So it’s not just conjecture. You do support them.”
Brecker pushed a small button underneath his desk then put his hands down on top and leaned forward. “Say what you have to say, Maxim. I have a busy schedule and don’t put up with narrow-minded bigots like you.”
Fury replaced the sneer, his dark eyes turned cold, and Maxim stood up. “Enjoy your time on the council, Brecker. It won’t last much longer.”
“Threats?” Brecker asked, his tone colder than Maxim’s. “Go to hell.”
Maxim walked over to the door and put his hand on the doorknob. Before he opened it, he looked back over his shoulder. “You’re either with us or against us, Brecker. If you’re with them, you’re against us.”
He couldn’t stop rolling his eyes. “What is this? High school? Go bury your nose, Maxim. I don’t want you on my premises again.”
Maxim opened the door, physically startling when he spotted two men in jeans and black button down shirts with the Brecker Security logo on them. “Escort Mr. Maxim out of here,” Brecker said coldly. “And make sure he can’t get back in again.”
Yells, hollers, and shrieks slowly died as Maxim was escorted down the stairs and out of the building.
Brecker sat down and took some deep breaths. What a jerk.
Siobhan stuck her head around the door. “You okay?”
He offered as much of a smile as he could. “Narrow minded. I think the only reason he came was to try and get me to back away from Jonathon’s center.”
Her eyes widened and she stepped inside and shut the door behind her. “You’d better not,” she said in a teasing voice as she walked up to his desk. “I’ll quit if you take me off this job.”
Unable not to, Brecker smiled and felt the tension slowly leave him. “You’d leave me for a non-profit center that can’t pay you?”
“In a heartbeat,” she said with a wide smile. “That event is going to put my name on the map.”
He laughed. “Well we can’t stop that. Anything you need from me?”
“Only for you to be there. I put it on your calendar. Make sure your tux still fits.”
“Will do. Thanks, Siobhan.”
She nodded and then her teasing smile turned to a real one. “You’re doing good, Brecker. Real good. Jonathon invited me out last week to see the shelter.” For a moment she stopped speaking and it took him a second to realize it was because she couldn’t. When she continued, her voice was hoarse. “After the fundraiser, I want to work on finding the homeless LGBT youth and helping to get them to the center. I was thinking….” She gulped and for the first time looked down at his desk rather than met his eyes.
“What is it?” he asked gently. He’d never seen her so attached to one of the many philant
hropic activities he put her on.
She cleared her throat, squared her shoulders, and looked straight at him. “I’ve been your personal assistant for years. You told me once that if I found myself overwhelmed that I only needed to say something and you would hire me an assistant.”
He sat up straight. “If you have too much on your plate, why didn’t you tell me?”
Siobhan held up her hand and he stopped speaking. “It’s not that I’m overwhelmed. I can handle everything. But you have me doing charitable work all year round. Why not make that a full time position? You could hire a person to set your schedule and answer the phone and do all the secretarial duties I do. I can train him or her and we can both work from this office. But,” she said and she leaned forward. He’d never seen such desire in her eyes. “I want to work full time on the humanitarian work you’re involved in. You’ve often discussed creating a section of Brecker Security which was just for this aspect. Let me,” she breathed out and leaned forward even more, her hands resting lightly on the edge of his desk.
For a moment, he was stunned, and then his grin began to spread so far that it practically hurt. She always jumped at any of those assignments he needed taken care of. Now he understood why. He stood up and reached out a hand. Cautiously she took it. “We’ll make it official at the beginning of the new year. What I want from you is two things. First, a detailed map of what you see your job entailing. Second, a job listing for all the things you’ll pass on to my new secretary.” He released her hand and groaned. “I don’t know how we’ll find someone to do everything you can do. But you’re right. This idea is perfect for you.”
She stood up straight.
“Set aside some time for us on Monday,” he suggested. “So we can cement this new position. Have James come in for the latter half so we can get the legalities taken care of.”
“Thanks, Brecker.”
He nodded and smiled as she practically glided out the door, closing it quietly behind her. It would be nice to have her over all his charitable work. It would keep it running smoothly and she learned so fast. As much as he disliked the thought of training a new assistant, he valued being able to keep Siobhan in the company doing something she loved.
Shaking his head to get his mind back on business, he glanced at his calendar. With Maxim gone early, he had enough time to go to the café and get something to eat.
Chapter Eight
Whistling softly under his breath, it took a few seconds before Jonathon realized someone was watching him. He looked up from his desk and took in his best friend’s cocked head. “Hey, Rolf.”
“Hey.” Rolf walked in and sat in the chair opposite him. “So you’re looking happy. In fact, not just looking but acting happy. What’s up?”
“Shouldn’t I be?” Jonathon asked with a grin. “Siobhan called me today. A third of the tickets are sold already. That’s half a million dollars. Think of the improvements we can do.” He leaned back in his chair and chuckled. “Just six months ago I was terrified because I wasn’t sure how we’d get the final okay through the council. Now look at us.”
Rolf smiled. “I get that. Brecker has done a lot for us. But there’s something more behind your good mood.”
Jonathon cocked a brow. “Something more? The kids are doing great for the most part. Their grades are improving.” He stopped speaking when Rolf barked a laugh.
“I’m not talking the shelter, Johnny. You’re happy. You. The man behind the persona. That inner guy you don’t get in touch with often because you’re so busy. Told you getting out more often would be good for you.” The satisfaction in Rolf’s tone made Jonathon laugh.
“Doing an ‘I told you so?’” Jonathon teased.
“Always. It’s so rare that I get to.” Rolf’s easy smile turned serious. “But I actually came in for a real reason. We’re going to need to get a temp cook in for the first two weeks of February.”
Jonathon grabbed his calendar and opened it up. He quickly made a notation. “Got it. I’ll make some calls.” He snorted a laugh. “I’ll see Brecker tonight and ask him if he knows anyone. Though if I don’t hold him down, he might end up sending us a five-star chef.”
He expected Rolf to laugh, but instead, his eyebrows slightly crooked up. “You’re seeing Brecker?”
“Yeah. Since I have to go into town anyway, we decided to do dinner. Why?” Jonathon asked when Rolf looked as though he was fighting a smile.
“No reason. Oh, and next time you talk to Siobhan, let her know we’re doing our candy making fun the third week of December if she wants to join in.”
Siobhan Stadtler was a wonder and Jonathon adored her. He could see why Brecker relied on her so fully. When he met her face to face, his respect for Brecker grew even more. She was a trans woman who had chosen not to go through sexual reassignment but owned herself, mind and body. To say she was a hit with the kids would be putting it mildly. By the time she left, she was Auntie Siobhan to every youth at the shelter. While he knew Brecker was behind it all, Siobhan had taken the shelter under her wing.
“I’ll tell her. Also, get me a list of anything you need from town and I’ll see if I can get it.” Jonathon pulled out a notepad and Rolf named off some of their less used supplies that were getting low.
“I’ve got a supplier willing to donate the ingredients for our candy,” Rolf said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “But you know what might be nice to get?”
Jonathon looked up and waited.
“We’ve got enough food for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and well into the new year. But it would be great to have a present drive. Get a list from the kids of what they want. We know what they need. It might be nice to give them something that’s just fun for Christmas.”
“Great idea.” Jonathon noted it down. “I’ll call Siobhan. She probably knows who to get in contact with. Also, I wanted to talk to you about Aiden.”
Rolf didn’t say anything. He waited.
“Christmas day is his birthday.”
“And the first one since those idiots kicked him out,” Rolf murmured. “That’s gonna hit hard.”
“Yes, it will. I talked with Tanner about a few ideas and the main problem we’re looking at is that if we celebrate it, he’s going to hurt and if we don’t, he’s going to hurt. However, we’ve found out that his family never separated his birthday from Christmas. It always overshadowed his birthday. Since breakfast is going to be big and so is dinner, and both will be focused on celebrating the Lord’s birthday, why don’t we have lunch celebrating his fifteenth birthday? You know his favorite foods.”
Rolf began to smile. “He has a fixation with a certain fruit.”
“And we can sit everyone down while he’s in his next meeting with Tanner to discuss what they can make him as a birthday gift.” That, Jonathon thought, would hopefully go a long way. Each of their youth understood what Aiden was going through and handmade items were usually treasured by the person receiving them.
“Sounds perfect. Heard about Vaughn lately?” Rolf asked in a gentle voice.
Jonathon winced. “Just the email I receive weekly from Zach. It sounds like it’s going to be some time before he’s brought back.” And that hurt. “I wish he was in a hospital nearby. I could at least visit him then.”
“You’d be up there daily,” Rolf said in a knowing tone. “I know you love him. So do I. But the rest of the kids need your attention too. And they definitely don’t need to be worrying about him along with everything else they’ve got going on.”
“I know. I know.” Jonathon stared at his friend wryly. “I’ve heard it all before.”
“I’ll keep telling you until it gets through your thick skull,” Rolf said with a huge smile. He stood up. “When are you heading out?”
“Now. Can you make sure Jayden is getting her homework done? I’ve found she tends to go into the study room, set out her homework, and then go off into daydream land.”
“Who’s she dreaming of?” Rolf asked in amusement.
>
Jonathon waved his hand. “Some pop star.”
With a chuckle, Rolf nodded and left the room. Jonathon grabbed his list and wallet and shut down the computer. Time to get into town.
The Chinese restaurant was one of his favorites and he waved to Brecker when he walked inside. Brecker was already seated at a booth in the far corner and he strode over and sat across from him. “Hey.”
Brecker smiled. “Hey. Get everything done?”
“Most of it. Your personal assistant is a marvel.”
Brecker laughed and before he could say anything, their waitress walked up with a pot of tea and cups. They ordered and poured tea before he spoke. “Well, you’ll be dealing with her a lot from now on.” Jonathon cocked a brow. “She’s one of my favorite people and she asked to have a new position formed for her. We don’t have a title yet, but she’ll be full time in charge of all charitable organizations from now on.” He grunted. “Which means I’ll have to suffer through the weeks and months it will take to train someone to be my assistant. This is all your fault, you know.”
For a moment, Jonathon just stared at him in confusion. “My fault?”
“Mmmhmm,” Brecker said, a small smile curving his lips. “She’s always loved doing the philanthropic side of things, but your shelter has really lit a fire underneath her. So expect all sorts of ideas to come from her in the near and distant future.”
Relieved, Jonathon nodded and smiled. “The kids adore her.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t. She comes across as some sort of sergeant at arms at times, but she’s one of the best people I know.” Brecker took another sip of tea and leaned back. “It’s been quite the week. How are things at the shelter?”
They discussed business until their food came. Then the conversation changed. It morphed and became more personal.