Page 42 of The Silver Fox Brother

"So you're really going to do this. Call her. Set up a meeting. Offer her the project."

"I'm considering it."

"You've already decided," he says.

"I know you. You wouldn't have brought it up if you hadn't already made up your mind."

He's not wrong.

James leans forward, elbows on his knees.

"Okay. Let's say you do this. You hire her. What's the best-case scenario?"

"She takes the job. Does brilliant work. Sterling Tower's model units are exactly what they need to be. Investors are happy. The project succeeds."

"And the worst-case scenario?"

"Rowan goes ballistic, my father is displeased as usual, my mother tries to mediate, and family events and dinner invites become even more uncomfortable than they already are–or may disappear altogether."

"That's a pretty significant downside," James says.

"It's manageable."

Fletcher laughs. "Manageable. Right. Because your family dynamic is so stable to begin with."

I don't disagree with that.

We sit in silence for a moment, the ambient noise of the club around us—low conversations from other alcoves, the clink of glass, the soft jazz playing through hidden speakers.

Finally, James picks up his glass. "For what it's worth? I think you should do it."

I look at him, surprised. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. You've spent all of these years building your own firm specifically so you wouldn't have to make decisions based on what your family thinks. Why stop now?"

Fletcher nods slowly. "He's right. If she's really the best designer for the project, then hire her. Let Rowan deal with his feelings."

"That's very evolved of you both," I say.

"We're trying to be supportive," James says.

"Even though we both think this is going to blow up spectacularly."

"Appreciate the vote of confidence."

Fletcher raises his glass.

"To Knox making questionable decisions that are probably brilliant but definitely complicated."

James raises his. "To family drama."

I raise mine. "To getting the job done."

We drink. The conversation shifts after that—Fletcher talks about some other family debacle, James complains about a difficult client, and I contribute where it makes sense. But my mind is already elsewhere, already moving forward to the next step.

Tomorrow morning, I'll tell Marcus to make the call and set up a meeting with Winter Hayes Design. By the time we settle the tab and head our separate ways at nine-thirty, the decision is made.

Whatever happens after that, I'll handle it the way I handle everything else: directly, without apology, and with complete focus on the end goal.