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“Ms. Parker, I wholeheartedly hope you accept my apology.”
Every single word Julian uttered dripped with sarcasm. She looked at him and nodded. Then, she explained what she could do to help us have the best chance of getting these contracts. I had never wanted to beat up anyone as painfully and savagely as I wished to punch Julian right there, right then. I was utterly shocked at how everyone else seemed to carry on as though nothing had happened while I was shaking with anger and embarrassment.
The meeting concluded, and I uncurled my fists, which had been white-knuckle-clenched for the past five minutes.
I had hoped to have a quick word with Serena, but I was still too angry to catch her before she and her team left. Making my way back to my office, Charlotte glanced over at me. My face must say it all, as she left me alone and continued typing on her computer. Sitting back at my desk and looking out the window, I did everything possible to rein in my anger. But nothing worked. The more I tried to find my equilibrium, the angrier I got.
What has gotten into Julian?
I knew how much of a jerk he could be at the best of times, but his behavior towards the delicious Ms Parker even went beyond his sense of decency.
What the fuck was his problem?
Picking up the phone, I called Charlotte in.
“Will you call my father and Julian into my office ASAP?”
She peered down at me, and I at once regretted my tone. Taking a gentler approach, I asked, “Can we also go through my appointments for this week so I can carve out my free time in my schedule? I have something important I need to deal with.”
I couldn’t go much longer without seeing Serena, but I didn’t need Charlotte to know she was the reason for my frustration.
“Of course, Mr. Chambers.”
She took out her PDA and began going through the week’s calendar.
“Thursday, you have the breakfast meeting with the mayor about the Inner-City Children’s Home Charity Gala you have coming up, followed by your mother’s birthday dinner. On Friday, you have a meeting at one o’clock with Wallace Maynard, followed by a presentation from the PR department. And, finally, on Saturday, you and Julian meet with Ted Summers at The Mount.”
I’d completely forgotten I had to go with my damn brother to meet with the infamous Ted Summers. He was New York’s biggest and best events planner and the head of PR. They organized the meeting as they knew it would give us the best exposure to have Mr. Summers host our next event. The downside was that he wanted to meet with either me or my father, and as I was younger and more likely, into that sort of place myself. My father delegated the task to me. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I had to have Julian go with me as Father wanted him more integrated into the company.
“Thanks, Charlotte. If you could call my father and Julian in.”
The knock at my door brought me back to the task ahead. Charlotte let my father and Julian into my office, and each sat before me. Simply seeing Julian again brought all my anger back.
“What can we help you with?”
Father’s somber tone had always mellowed me, especially when I looked into his eyes and could tell he had noticed my anger toward my brother.
“Well, first, I need to address Julian’s total lack of respect and decorum, which he showed in the meeting. The way he spoke to Ms. Parker was rude and obnoxious.”
“I’ve already had words with Julian, and I have made it clear that his behavior today is never to be repeated,” my father insisted.
Looking over at Julian, I saw him roll his eyes, reach into his jacket pocket, and retrieve his phone.
“Secondly, it would be best to rearrange my meeting with the mayor and that you, Father, should go instead. It’ll have more impact, plus the guy makes me angry.”
I knew I was expected to aid my father in building and expanding our family’s business. It was something that had been ingrained in me since infancy. Not that I’d ever had any other choice or even been asked if it was what I genuinely wanted to do. My father must have seen something in my expression that showed how frustrated I was.
“I guess you’re right. I’ll have my PA rearrange it,” Father agreed.
Walking over to my drink cabinet, he made himself a whiskey. He offered me one, but I declined.
“I’ll take one,” Julian remarked, but to my relief, my father shook his head. “I don’t think so, especially as you have a meeting in thirty minutes.”
The look on my brother’s face couldn’t have been more tedious and reluctant if he had tried, which made my following suggestion for my father even sweeter.
“I also think it would be great for Julian to accompany you to the meeting with the mayor, as I believe it would be a wonderful opportunity for him to see you weave your magic firsthand.”
My father looked at me and grinned. We looked over at Julian, who was not impressed, and grunted in response.
