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"Sure, I'll drop you off."
After saying good-bye to Pippa, Alice and I leave. The moment I drive away, Alice asks, "Do you have time to sit down with me for a few hours sometime? I wanted to pick your brain on some operations stuff."
"Sure, what about?"
"When I opened the second restaurant I didn't anticipate how much more complex it would be. I know that certain things can be streamlined. The way I currently run everything is eating away at my profitability."
"Do you have money issues?"
"No, but I don't like throwing money away. Just want to pick your brain, but you're living up to the Bennett name in terms of hours sitting on your butt in your office. Do you have time?"
I wear my workaholic badge proudly. I was a wild child until college, much like Victoria. The summer before my senior year, I interned at Bennett Enterprises. After the first week on the job, I had a troubling realization: if I wanted anyone to take me seriously, I had to act the part. People regarded me like Sebastian and Logan's little prankster brother, and me cracking jokes the entire time didn't help.
So I put on a suit, joked less while at the office, and worked hard. Slowly, I climbed inside the company until I took over as head of operations. I'd like to think it was all my hard work, but the truth is, my last name being Bennett contributed. Which is why I work my ass off. When you're handed chances, you do your best to prove you're worthy of them.
"You share my last name," I tease Alice. "That means I'm obligated to make time for you and drive you around."
"Well, don't I feel special."
"How about this for feeling special? I'm also obligated to kick anyone's butt who crosses you."
Alice holds up one finger as I stop at a red light.
"Those are big brother duties. Last I checked you're younger, so you're off the hook. You can just annoy me."
"Of course I'll make time for you, Alice," I assure her. The last thing I want is for my sister to worry about her business. "We can sit down and talk about this sometime next week. This one is crazy."
"All joking aside, it's a good thing Victoria's helping you decorate. It's a big time suck otherwise."
"Agreed. I'm going to her house Thursday evening to go over some brochures."
"Ooh, you'll meet her siblings. They're adorable."
"I already met Chloe. By the way, how can a twenty-nine-year-old have a four-year-old sister?"
"Chloe and Lucas were adopted. Victoria told me once that her parents wanted more children, but after her, they didn't have any luck until twelve years later when they had Sienna. Afterward, they felt they were too old to have more kids, but Mrs. Hensley was a maternity nurse. One of her patients wanted to give up her son after he was born, and the Hensleys adopted Lucas. A few years later, the same woman gave birth to a little girl and put her up for adoption too. The Hensleys took her in as well."
"Victoria's parents sound like great people. Any tips about going to their house? Victoria seemed nervous about it. I think she's afraid the kids being loud will bother me. I told her I don't mind at all, but…."
As I come to a stop in front of Alice's building, I turn around to face her just in time to catch her smile.
"Bring them some ice cream. They'll love it. Ben & Jerry's, chocolate cherry and coconut flavor. And thank you for driving me home."
She climbs out of my car and through the car window, she flashes me a smile that resembles Pippa's “I have plans for you” smile a tad too much.
Chapter Four
Victoria
My goal on Thursday evening is to make the most out of Christopher's time and keep the encounter 100 percent professional. No allowing his smoldering gaze to affect me. No bonding over inappropriate stories. Fifteen minutes before his arrival, I'm coaxing the kids into watching a movie while I spend time with Christopher in my office. Sienna and Chloe are sitting on the couch already, focusing on the TV, but Lucas isn't convinced.
"I want to meet him too," Lucas says, pouting. Ever since Chloe told him about her encounter with Christopher, he's been pestering me about an introduction too. Sienna gives me a sympathetic look.
"He's a client," I say to Lucas gently. "No meeting the clients, remember?"
"But Chloe already met him," Lucas insists.
"By accident," I repeat for the hundredth time. Separating my personal life from the professional one isn't an easy task when my office is at home, but I do my best trying to set boundaries. "He's an ogre, anyway. You don't want to meet him."
