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“She’s a nice girl, Lucas, and I think she could do with a bit of help.”
“Don’t you think I should be steering clear of women right now?”
“Yes. The wrong kind. But this isn’t a date, Lucas. This is business. Good business. If it hadn’t been for that agency’s wonderful encouragement, Shelly and I would not have had our happily-ever-after.”
Lucas felt his heart squeeze. And that didn’t happen often. At times, he may challenge his grandfather but he loved the old man more than his own life. It gave him immeasurable satisfaction to see Toni happy after his stroke and certainly the fact he moved on after four failed marriages was an accomplishment in and of himself.
His old man was right. It wasn’t a date. It was a personal appointment with a client. Heck, CEO of world-renowned companies often went to celebrities to launch their products or personally show them how to use the latest gadget. It was the least he could do. And he would never forget who saved his life—practically saved his life, when his father lost everything and was forced to live out of their old minivan before they even found out about the famous Toni Romero being their own flesh and blood. Who knew where he would be if they didn’t have that saving grace. Sure, he’d help out Maxine. She was pretty much one of the few women he could probably trust. She didn’t seem to have any tricks up her sleeve.
“Okay. I’ll have my secretary hook us up with an appointment.”
“Good. That’s all I ask, Lucas.”
Lucas wasn’t sure but it looked as if his grandfather had a smug grin on his face. But he let it go and rolled his eyes playfully.
“I’m heading to the chopper now. Can I get you anything before I leave?” Lucas added.
“Just stay out of trouble, Lucas. I beg of you.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Hey, don’t you go getting this one knocked up, either!” Zack teased his brother as the helicopter landed safely on top of the Romero skyscraper in the downtown core. It seemed like a perfect summer day. The sky was cloudless and deep blue. The wind was blowing a mild beginning-of-summer breeze. The temperature outside might have been mild but there was nothing mild about the way Lucas was feeling at the moment. The rotors settled down and the motor quieted.
“You’re not freaking funny, Zack!” Lucas shot back.
“Hey, lighten up, bro. You can’t take everything so seriously.”
Zack was always the prankster and the one to come out with the most hilarious things but this time Lucas was too much on fire to be cooled by even his brother’s sense of humor.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind, Zack,” Lucas sighed heavily. He placed on his Ray Bans and prepared to exit the Romero1, the name given to the blue and orange helicopter, one of the first gifts the boys gave to themselves after they’d reached their first major business milestone on their own.
Their first billion dollars in worldwide sales for their software programs and successful stock options.
It was also the time they set up their own wing at the Romero Foundation unique from the other sectors their grandfather managed. They were a strong part of the Romero empire yet had their own independent successful ventures.
“Yeah, I know,” Zack replied grabbing his shades from the dashboard. He placed on his sunglasses and unstrapped his seatbelt after powering off the equipment.
As soon as they entered the building, Zack hit the elevator button to head to the executive floors of the corporation while Lucas pressed the main floor button to get to one of his BMWs parked on the premise and left there for days like today when he flew into the city but needed his own vehicle to get around. “I should be back by late afternoon so you can have admin prepare the report for me in time for our meeting,” Lucas added, swiping the screen of his iPad while he made arrangements. It was a good thing they were in a private elevator so they wouldn’t have to deal with any onlookers or undercover reporters. His grandfather was right. It was better to be out of the office for a while, given the latest hoopla in the media.
“Have fun, but not too much!” Zack playfully slapped Lucas on the back before exiting the elevator on the 43rd floor.
