Before Bran could tell them to get out, Raven squealed and said, “A boy.” It was all tears and hugs for him and Raven, plans and name suggestions, baby room colors, and calling their Nan. Bébhinn cried and suggested names. She loved them all so much, Bran included, and was planning to come see them soon.
That took thirty-three minutes. Forty-five minutes later, Raven finished telling her sisters about the building next door and Triskelion being hired for its interior design, what that could mean for them, and how they would need to adjust their schedules, potential vendors and artisans to be contacted...
“So, what you’re basically saying is, we’ll make bank off the O’Faolains so we can remodel the flat after Baby O Boy gets here?” River asked excitedly.
“That’s one option,” Bran interrupted. “Or... you can take option two, which, I have to say, is genius and clearly the best one because I came up with it.”
Rowan laughed. “Save me from the O arrogance factor.”
“Hear me out. I was going to enact part one of the plan already, but your naysaying sister said I had to ask first, that it wasyourchoice.” He rolled his eyes.
“You’re having a child with this caveman. You realize that, right?” River groaned but smiled at Bran.
He was so going to win them over.
“I’ll be blunt here because I want to desperately have your sister naked in my bed as soon as possible.” Bran ignoredRaven’s gasp and the side pinch. “So, here’s my idea. I hire Miss Kennedy to find you girls a lovely place to live, close to work. Timothy subcontracts out a company tocompletelygut and remodel this flat.
“Raven and I will make do at The Westin, move to The Fitzwilliam, or lease a condo until the building is ready. Then, once you girls feel you have enough ready cash to build, buy, or remodel, you’ll find a place then. I will be renting whatever you choose to live in until then.
“And before you two gasp and reject my high-handed behavior, I want you to understand that this is a thank you to both of you. I hurt your sister, and you picked up the pieces. You loved and supported her when I was too foolish to do it myself. You guys protected the most important person in my life. So, I don’t think a few months’ rent is too much to ask you to accept.”
Bran could tell River and Rowan wanted to hand him his ass on a platter, but he’d made it almost impossible. He could see them attempting to figure out a way to say no, but not look petty. There wasn’t.
“Let’s say we agree to this, Bran, and I’m not saying we are, but why remodel the flat? Why waste the money?” He couldn’t fault River’s thought process and questions. Definitely more comfortable than Rowan regarding him silently.
“That is part two of my brilliant plan, which Raven doesn’t even know about, even though she’s the one that gave me the idea.”
“Do tell,” Raven grinned, bumping his shoulder, while under the table, she slid her hand over the top of his leg, her fingers coming to rest on the inside of his thigh. He quickly looked at her innocent expression. Her actions were not. He needed to get this meeting wrapped up.
Covering her hand with one of his, he positioned her fingers just that little bit closer to where he wanted to be touched. Her fingers briefly flexed. A warning or anticipation?
“The renowned butler of The Fitzwilliam. Your sister told you about him from our first trip?”
“Yes, Dom.” He’d finally managed to pique Rowan’s interest.
“He’s a wizard at making things happen.”
Raven laughed, remembering. “Oh, he is. Remember at Jo’s dinner last night? How he handled Honey Bunny’s theatrics? Not a strand of salt and pepper hair out of place. Why are you bringing Dom into your big Plan Reveal?”
Her thumb lightly grazed the side of his increasingly un-flaccid dick. Now he was the one to flex his hand in warning. “Dom is personable but no-nonsense. He is efficient, knows everyone in town, a who’s who list mentally stored and cataloged. He knows Dublin and its surroundings like the back of his hand.” Bran paused dramatically before the big reveal.
“I want you three to give me permission to approach Dom with a business proposition in Triskelion’s name.”
Lots of wide-eye blinking. He could see the Negative Nancys formulating creative ways to say the same thing. No. “Hear me out, please. To grow, you guys need the freedom to do what you do best, which is design. Searching the world for just the right piece of art, fabric, artisan...” He swiped his hand through the air to encompass all their passions.
“You need an office manager. One who will make Triskelion Territory Designs the most prestigious, sought-after business it can be. I believe with your talents, Dom’s extraordinary organization and second sense of knowing a client’s wants beforetheyeven know, the four of you would be unstoppable.
“He’s older and single and could live in the flat once it's remodeled. The shop would not be closed while you’re working on a job somewhere, traveling for work, or when you vacation.He could not only make appointments, but once he gets to know you three better, he would know who would serve the new client best.
“I could go on about his skill set and how it would match your needs for hours, but I want to get Raven out this door and into my hotel room within the next ten minutes. So, I’ll end with this. I would offer him a moderate salary in the beginning with a small percentage of the business. As Triskelion’s profit increases, so will his salary and negotiations for a more significant percent eventually.
“I would like to present him with an offer in the next day or two. Tuesday at the latest.”
“I want to hear what River and Raven think, of course. As for me, I’m in. We’d put an office manager as a five-year goal. With Bran’s help, we are ahead of River’s projections by years. We live for the creative process. Dom, or someone like him, would allow us to immerse ourselves in the side of interior design where we thrive.”
“It’s one of the very reasons we were willing to put up living in this flat. Sacrifice now to attain future goals. However, I have one stipulation, and we haven’t heard from Raven yet. Bran should also get a percentage of Triskelion.”
“Absolutely not...”
