The Blame Game_A Brook Brothers Novel

by Tracie Delaney

  Zane chuckled. “When haven’t you got a hot date?”

  Before Calum could respond, the door at the top of the stairs clanged shut. “That’d better be him.” He glanced over his shoulder, the smile dying on his lips. “What the fuck is she doing here?” He glowered at Indie, who was half hiding behind Jax and clinging to his arm.

  “She’s moving in,” Jax said with a nonchalant shrug as though the last few weeks had been a bad fucking dream.

  Calum leaped to his feet. “Over my dead body.”

  Jax stepped farther into the room, towing Indie behind him. “She’s moving in. And you”—he poked his finger in Calum’s chest—“are going to make her welcome.”

  Calum set his jaw. “Have you got fucking amnesia? She almost got you killed.”

  “I love her,” Jax said.

  “If she stays, I’m moving out.”

  “Your choice.”

  Calum sucked in a breath. “You’d choose this bitch over your own family?”

  He missed Jax clenching his fist. He did not miss it connecting with his jaw.

  “Jax, no.” Indie caught hold of Jax’s arm before he could launch a second attack.

  Calum staggered backward, clutching his face. “Fucking hell, Jax.”

  Jax sucked on his knuckles while Zane looked on with an amused expression. Calum glowered at him, which only stretched his amusement.

  “Call her a bitch again, and I’ll break your face. You have no right to feel outraged. What happened between Indie and me is exactly that. Between Indie and me. She’s staying. You’re welcome to stay, or you can leave. But before you make a decision you might regret, take a minute to think about what you’d be giving up. I appreciate everything you’ve done the last few weeks. You’ve really stepped up and made me proud. Don’t fuck that up.”

  As Jax took Indie by the hand and the two of them headed to the bedroom, Calum heard her whisper, “Don’t be too hard on him. He’s only looking out for you, and I don’t want—” He didn’t get to hear the rest because they disappeared inside.

  Calum stared at the closed door, his mouth agape. Then he turned to Zane.

  “Can you believe that? After everything she and her brother did, he’s willing to brush it aside like it was nothing. What the hell is wrong with him?”

  “He’s in love,” Zane said. “Wait until it happens to you.”

  “Not in this fucking lifetime,” Calum scoffed. “Especially if it makes you lose your mind like Jax has clearly lost his.”

  Zane laughed. “I know it goes against the grain, Calum, but try to be happy for him. And while you’re standing, grab me another beer.”

  Calum fetched them both refills and retook his seat. After another bottle clink—as was their tradition—Zane cleared his throat. “As entertaining as tonight has been, I didn’t come over here just for a social call.”

  Calum narrowed his eyes. “Oh yeah?”

  Zane shifted in his chair. “You remember I floated the idea a few months ago of employing a marketing guru?”

  An uncomfortable feeling stirred in Calum’s chest. “Yeah.”

  “Well, I’ve found one. She starts in two weeks.”

  Calum blinked rapidly. “You’ve what?” he said through clenched teeth.

  “I was lucky to get her. She comes with fantastic references.”

  “I don’t care about her references. I thought we were partners.”

  “We are,” Zane said.

  “Then you should have consulted me.”

  “You’ve been a little… preoccupied.”

  Calum glared at Zane. “Bullshit. You knew I didn’t agree with the idea, so you waited until you spotted the right moment to strike. With integrity that low, you’d make a fucking great politician.”

  “Don’t be a dick,” Zane said. “The company is growing, but I know we can do better. If we work on building a brand and exploit the opportunities Laurella will undoubtedly unearth, then the sky’s the limit.”

  Calum tilted his head. “Laurella?”

  “Laurella Ricci. Our new marketing director.” Zane spoke slowly as though trying to get through to a child.

  “And where did the genius Laurella come from?”

  “Spirito.”

  Calum’s eyebrows shot up. “Spirito? As in the number-one liquor company in Italy?” When Zane nodded, Calum whistled. “Okay, so if she was so successful at Spirito, what could she possibly hope to get out of Necron—career-wise, I mean?”

  “At her interview, she said she wanted a new challenge.”

  “Bullshit. She’s probably pissed off someone senior and has been encouraged to ‘look for opportunities elsewhere.’”

  Zane sighed. “You might not agree with my decision, but it’s made. We’re partners, but I still have a significant controlling share, and I exercised my rights.”

  “Charming,” Calum said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “When are you planning on coming back anyway?” Zane asked, ignoring Calum’s obvious annoyance.

  “Beginning of March. That gives Jax a few more weeks for his injuries to heal and get fully up to speed.”

  Zane got to his feet and put his bottle on the coffee table. “That’s good, because that’ll give Laurella a chance to come up with a marketing strategy, and then you and I can sit down with her and go through it.”

  “You might not need me by then,” Calum said petulantly.

  “Carry on acting like a child, and you might be right,” Zane said, giving him a playful punch on the arm. “Think of it this way: if Necron grows as fast as I think it can, we’ll be rich. You’ll be able to buy that condo in Barbados.”

  “I suppose that’s something,” Calum grumbled.

  “You still okay for next Saturday’s meet-up with the boys?” Zane said, clearly sensing a good time to change the subject by referring to their monthly get-together with their ex-college buddies.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you then if not before.”

  After Zane left, Calum rubbed his face hard and blew out a slow breath. He went into his bedroom and sat down at his desk. Opening his laptop, he went to Spirito’s website. He clicked on the “Meet the Team” page. After scrolling down, he stopped haIfway. So that’s her? Long, almost black hair, olive skin, dark, intense eyes, full lips—she was hot for sure, but the only way he’d be screwing her was professionally. Marketing and sales didn’t mix. Everyone knew that. And if Laurella Ricci thought she was going to push him out of the company he’d spent five years building, she had another think coming.

  Bring it on, sweetheart. Bring. It. On.

  THE END

  Ready for Calum Brook?

  Then read on for a sneak peak at Chapter One of Against All Odds - or preorder here, and he’ll magically appear on your Kindle device or app on October 10th 2018

  Against All Odds

  CHAPTER ONE

  Calum Brook strode into the boardroom, his eyes scanning around the large, oval mahogany table where the board members of Necron Drinks Inc. were seated. And then his gaze fell on her. Laurella Ricci. And instinctively he knew he’d been right.

  She was trouble. With a capital T.

  From the moment her dark, almost black gaze settled on his, irritation crept over his skin, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. Calum always sat to Zane’s right and yet this newcomer had settled her perfect ass into his chair. Not that he knew what her ass looked like, considering she was sitting on it, but if it matched up to the rest of her, undoubtedly perfect would be a good adjective to use.

  “Calum.” Zane got to his feet and strode across the room. The two men shook hands warmly. “It’s great to have you back. How’s Jax?”

  “Almost fully recovered, thanks,” Calum replied, referring to his older brother who’d been recuperating after his girlfriend’s crazy-as-fuck now-dead brother had tried to kill him.

  Girlfriend. Calum almost laughed aloud. Jax might have forgiven India for almo
st getting him killed, for lying to him, for setting him up and then professing to love him, but she’d have to work a hell of a lot harder to win Calum over.

  “I’m so glad.” Zane gestured to the chair on his left.

  The wrong fucking chair.

  “Take a seat. I’m sorry I haven’t stopped by for a couple weeks, but it’s been a bit busy without my right-hand man.”

  Calum stared pointedly at Laurella. “Well, I’m back now.”

  She settled her unflinching cool gaze on his as she half-stood and extended her hand.

  “Laurella Ricci,” she said, a faint trace of a Mediterranean accent giving her a soft lilt that belied her hard-nosed all-business expression. “The new Marketing Director.”

  Calum reluctantly took her hand and shook it. Her skin was cool and smooth to the touch, her handshake firm and brief. “Calum Brook. The definitely not-new Sales Director.”

  Zane touched his forehead. “Damn, I’m sorry. I forgot you two hadn’t met yet. Laurella, Calum. Calum, Laurella.” He let out a low chuckle. “Laurella’s been here, what, six weeks now?”

  Laurella nodded demurely. “This is my seventh week.”

  Calum still didn’t understand why Zane had felt it necessary to bring in a Marketing Director. Necron, the niche spirits firm Zane had started five years ago when they’d graduated from college had done very well without a marketing head so far. He hadn’t needed to poach one from Spirito, one of the largest drinks companies in the world. Every time Calum had broached the subject when they’d seen each other socially over the last few weeks, Zane had waved his concerns away with a flick of his wrist and told him not to worry. Now he was back, however, he wasn’t going to allow Zane to dodge the conversation. They were supposed to be business partners, not to mention best friends.

  “Hope you’re settling in well,” he said without feeling.

  “Very well, thank you,” she replied, equally without feeling.

  Laurella sat back down and opened a leather-bound book. She flicked on a few pages until she found a blank one. With her pen poised, she focused on Zane who’d resumed his seat at the head of the table, and then bent her dark head to make a couple of notes. Her handwriting was small, neat, perfect. Calum strained to see what she’d written, but lucked out.

  He shook hands with the remaining board members and then took a seat in the spare chair to Zane’s left—the one and only fucking time he’d be sitting on this side of the room. It pissed him off that Zane hadn’t seen fit to tell Laurella to move her butt.

  Yeah, he was an egotistical dick. He’d learned to live with it.

  “Okay, down to business,” Zane said, pulling up a PowerPoint presentation and projecting it onto the large screen at the far side of the boardroom. “Laurella, why don’t you take us through the plan.”

  “Of course.” She eased to her feet and, with a precision that was already getting on Calum’s nerves, she placed her pen next to her now-closed notebook, correcting it when it dared to roll to the side.

  She walked to the front of the boardroom. He’d been right about her ass. Round, pert, perfectly accentuated by a tight-fitting pencil skirt which skimmed her knees. Four inch black patent designer shoes completed the lower half ensemble. Hmm, wonder if she was wearing nylons or hold-ups?

  Laurella coughed, attracting his attention. Only then did Calum realize he’d been caught checking her out. He slowly slid his gaze up to her face, his own expression schooled into a flat stare. Laurella returned his impassive glare with one of her own.

  “Gentlemen, over the past six weeks, I have been slowly getting to know you all, and familiarizing myself with the firm—where its strengths lie, and it’s growth potential. I’ve come to a very swift conclusion. While you’re doing well, there is room for significant improvement. You’re thinking too small. Too focused on the domestic market. In order to take the business to the next level, you need to think globally. You’ve also been too driven by short-term incentives to sell rather than building your brand.” Her gaze fell on Calum. “I’m here to change all that.”

  Calum ground his teeth as she flat-out taunted him. Six weeks into her tenure at a firm he’d spent five fucking years pouring blood, sweat, and tears into, and already she’d made her conclusions. During those five years he’d been Zane’s right-hand man transforming a completely unknown drinks firm and turning it into one that was a preferred supplier to half the eastern seaboard’s restaurants and bars. And yet in waltzes a virtual stranger, who had the gall to tell them all how they’ve been doing it wrong.

  Fuck. Her.

  He flashed a look at Zane, expecting to see irritation or at the very least agitation on his face. Instead, Calum found Zane looking at Laurella with something akin to reverence, or at the very least, respect.

  Shit. Looked like he was going to have a tough fight on his hands persuading Zane the firm had been doing just fine without Laurella Ricci, and it would continue to do just fine after he fired her ass.

  She carried on, but Calum had stopped listening. Instead, he began drafting his pitch to Zane in his head while doodling on his notepad. The second this board meeting was over, he was going to take his friend to one side and share how he’d come up with a great cost-saving initiative—the termination of Laurella Ricci’s contract.

  After she’d held the floor for at least thirty minutes, Laurella strolled back to her seat with a confident air that said she’d nailed it. As she sat down, she flashed a triumphant look his way.

  “Great presentation, Laurella,” Zane gushed, making Calum clamp his jaw shut before he said something he wouldn’t be able to retract. “Calum, did you have any questions?”

  Calum stared down Laurella. “Not right now, but I’m sure once I’ve had a chance to absorb the copious amounts of material Laurella has collated, I’ll have plenty.”

  The gibe was direct and purposeful. He expected her to show at least a modicum of annoyance. Instead, she flashed him a brilliant white-toothed smile which looked even brighter against her olive skin.

  Bravo. She was playing the game beautifully.

  “I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, Calum. After all, we’ll be working very closely together, so it’s important we’re on the same page.”

  The same page? Sweetheart, we’re not even reading from the same fucking book.

  “Wonderful,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I look forward to it.”

  ✜

  “I still don’t get it, Zane,” Calum said as he paced around Zane’s office, hands stuffed deep into the pocket of his suit pants. “We were doing just fine. The firm has gone from strength to strength. We didn’t need anyone to head up marketing. And even if we did, you could have found a cheaper option here in the US, without the expense of the goddamn Green Card.”

  “I disagree, on both counts.” He rose from his chair, the epitome of calm to Calum’s agitation, and walked over to the coffee machine in the corner of his office. He made them both a cup.

  “I might need something stronger,” Calum muttered.

  Zane ignored him. Apart from his brothers, no one knew Calum better than Zane. They’d met at college, quickly becoming close friends, and when Zane had the idea for a niche spirits firm, he asked Calum to come on board and head up the sales department. Back then, the department had consisted of one—Calum himself. But over the past five years, he’d gradually increased the team to seventeen, and the sales were off the charts for such a relative newbie to a competitive market. The fact his best friend thought they needed something different, and from an outsider no less, really pissed him off.

  “At the risk of repeating myself, she comes with a top-class resume. We’ve seen outstanding performance over the past five years. You’ve been superb, but if we want to break into the big leagues, we need the big guns. Laurella knows how to grow a brand. Hell, she catapulted her last firm into the top 100 businesses in Italy. And that’s why I hired her. That’s why she’s worth the additional exp
ense.”

  “This isn’t Italy,” Calum said, his tone heavy on cynicism.

  “No shit.” Zane grinned. He slurped his coffee and wandered over to the window. Glancing over his shoulder, he beckoned Calum. “See that,” he said, pointing when Calum joined him.

  Calum craned his neck. The head office of one of the largest drinks firms in the US loomed over them, the large, smoked glass building dominating the neighborhood. “Can’t miss it,” he said. “Fucking monstrosity.”

  Zane chuckled. “It’s modern. It’s happening. It’s now. That’s what I want for Necron. The kind of success that will reward us all. And to do that, we need to expand the brand. Laurella has contacts all over the globe. She can enable us to make the step change needed to launch this business into the stratosphere.”

  “She sat in my fucking chair,” Calum grumbled with a sullen glance at Zane who, hearing the petulance in Calum’s tone, threw back his head and laughed.

  “Fine, I’ll tell her to sit on the other side at the next board meeting.” He clinked his mug against Calum’s. “I’ve missed you, dickhead.”

  Calum grinned, the tension that had been riding him since he walked into his office building two hours ago dissipating. “Okay, I’ll try and make it work, but she’d better take that snooty attitude she threw down back there and shove it up her ass.”

  Zane laughed once more, his loud guffaw echoing around his office. He set his coffee on his desk and rubbed his hands together. “Man, I’m going to enjoy this. Might even get a popcorn machine installed—this is going to be one hell of a show.”

  “Screw you,” Calum said as he left Zane’s office, his best friend’s chuckles following Calum down the hall. He closed his office door behind him and flopped into his chair. After firing up his computer, he spent the next couple of hours clearing out junk mail and catching himself up on what had been happening around the place during his relatively short absence.

  A light tapping at his door had him lifting his head. Jules poked her head inside his office. With a broad smile, he beckoned to his number two, and she slipped inside, closing the door behind her.