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“Are you with us now, Del?” He grinned at Harlin, what he’d been asked to call the older man. “You seemed to have spaced out there a little. Merce stomped off when she couldn’t get your attention. But then she’s usually upset about one thing or another of late.”
“She’s brilliant, in the event you weren’t aware of that.” Harlin nodded as he moved around with him. “This place, it’s the right fit for what we need. I’m thinking we can use you and your company for a lot of the projects we have going right now.”
“Did Merce tell you she has two older brothers?” Del nodded, not sure where that had come from. “Let me get to that. I can see on your face that you’re slightly confused at my statement. But her brothers, Harley and Brock, are quite a few years older than she is. Ten and twelve years, as a matter of fact. You should, if you meet them, tell them how brilliant their little sister is. Harley, he still thinks she’s ten or so and needs to have someone check her checking account now and again. He doesn’t anymore. She put her foot through his ass when he tried it, but it’s not to say they don’t treat her as a child.”
“I’m betting that’s not all that she did to them.” Harlin laughed and said it wasn’t. “I like her boldness. However, I do worry about her. She got a couple of calls yesterday at my house that I think upset her. My mom was the most worried. She also took to liking her very much. We didn’t ask, but I’m not sure it was good news.”
“She didn’t mention it. I’ll see what I can find out. We have a good relationship, she and I. However, she’s much closer to my dad. I’m to understand she is going to kidnap him a few hours a day when she can. I’m not going to mention it to her brothers. They’ll think she’s not old enough to handle him. Not that he’s a handful, but they think someone in their eighties needs constant care.”
“My grandfather is the same age. If they were to say something like that to him, he’d shove his boot up their asses too.” They were laughing as they came around to find Merce again. She looked upset again, and a part of Del wanted to slay the dragon for her. When her dad asked her what was wrong, she blew up.
“Harley said I need to make sure I’m not spending the night with any random man I come across. If that wasn’t bad enough, he asked me if I had thought about getting on birth control if I was going to be promiscuous. Mother fucker. After I hung up on him, Brock called me to ask if I needed him to find me a good doctor to get me on some kind of birth control. Like I’m a fucking idiot. I tell you, Dad, if they were here right now, I’d show them a thing or two.” Del was so shocked when Harlin laughed that he could only stare at the man. “You think this is funny, Dad? They’re treating me like I’m a whore or something. I didn’t sleep with Del. I stayed there because it was better than me driving home exhausted. And even if I did want to fuck him, it’s none of their damned business.”
“No, it’s not. I’m not laughing at you, honey, but I was thinking about what had gotten into their head to think to say something like that to you. And what you said back to them.”
Harlin was still laughing as he told her he’d call them and give them a piece of his mind. He was still laughing when Del saw the man picking up his phone in his office. Del looked at Merce.
“Are you pissed?” Del asked her why she thought he’d be pissed. “I don’t know. Basically, they called you a bastard for leading me astray.”
“Would you mind very much if I were to talk to them?” He smiled at her. “I’m not sure there would be a great deal of talking. I tend to get someone’s attention first with my fists. Then after that, they get it in their head that I’m not a pushover.”
“You’d hit them for me?” Del said he was sure she could take care of herself. “I can, but it’s nice to know you’re not going to be letting them get by with this shit either. Sometimes I don’t like them at all. I love them dearly, but I don’t have to like them.”
“No, you don’t. But if you tell me where they are right now, I’ll go over and straighten them out. I might even take my mom with me. She’d surely defend your honor a good deal better than I might.” Merce asked him if he was serious. “I am if you want me to be. Mom really likes you, and it would bother her to no end to find out that someone said those things to you. But if I were you, when my mom goes there, I’d go with her. She can be very vocal when she’s pissed off at someone.”
“If you’re serious, I’m going to call her right now. Tell her exactly what they said to me.” Del told her to go for it. “Thanks. I’m going to.”
When she walked away, pulling out her phone, Del was left in the plant alone. Walking around, getting another feel for the place
, he noticed little things he’d not before. It made him smile to know that this company took care of their employees as he did, even though they were in a large factory.
There were pictures of families in their workstations. Someone had hung up a copy of a report card, and it had hearts all around it. Baby pictures, too, along with family vacations. Taking a closer look, he could see Merce in a few. Harlin as well. They did take working for a family to the highest marks.
“Your mom is going with me. She said for you to come along as well. Do you mind?” He didn’t and told her that. “Great. Maybe she can knock some sense into their heads. I haven’t been able to. Dad is talking to them now, and I doubt it will make a difference.”
Looking forward to this more than he thought he should have, Harlin said he’d come along too. He wanted to see someone else take action. As soon as they were inside the building, Merce was greeted with hugs and questions on how she was doing. If nothing else, the staff at her brothers’ firm seemed to like her.
The brothers were partners in a real estate office. Lowery Brothers—he thought it a silly name—had trophies all over the room about their sales meeting huge goals, as well as letters from families that had used them to purchase a home. He wondered if any of them knew how they treated their sister.
“Yes, I’d like to speak to Harley and Brock Lowery, please.” His mom smiled at the woman who sat at the front desk. “Tell them it’s Katherine Archer. That should get them moving.”
Few people knew their mother as Katherine Archer. He was sure that about half the county thought she was just Katie Archer, mother to six boys and a good soul. But his mother was so much more than that. Katherine Archer was a multi-billionaire. A tycoon. One who could turn a dime into a million in very little time. Her name opened doors and slammed them shut when she wanted. His mom didn’t use her power much, but when she did, people sat up and took notice.
His parents had not always been wealthy. Mom and dad both had invested well and often. Mom had the touch, Del had always thought. When she saw something that piqued her interest, she would research it then invest. Heavily. Sometimes even buying the company to have a good idea where it was going. Del had too been able to know when to buy and sell as well. It helped his company ventures very nicely.
Apparently, the brothers Lowery had heard of her as well. Not only were they shown into a lovely room, but they were offered drinks, snacks, as well as asked if the air conditioning was the right temperature. The staff was falling all over themselves, trying to make sure this woman was as happy as she could be. So, in turn, they were as well.
“Dad? Merce? I didn’t know you were in here. I’ll have you moved to one of the offices.” Mom told the man to sit down and shut up. He did. So did his brother when he walked into the room, wondering why his dad and sister were there. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Archer. I didn’t know they were in here when we had our staff make sure you were comfortable.”
“So had it been only them and not my son and I, you’d have not cared if they were comfortable?” Both men looked at their dad when Mom spoke to them. “Don’t look at him for support, you dimwitted morons. They’re with me. I’m here to talk to you about how you’ve been treating Ms. Lowery here.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.” Blue tie brother looked at Merce. “Have you been spreading stories again, Merce? You know it’s not right to do that. Do we have to have a talk—?”
“Oh, for the love of shit. Do you forever talk to her that way? Or is it every woman? No wonder you’re still single men.” Mom looked at Del. “Darling, I’d like you to take notes on this. Not to treat every woman like a bimbo. Tell your brothers that as well.”
“We’d never do that to anyone.” Del asked them if they only did it to their sister. “You don’t know what it’s been for us to be responsible for her. She’s only a child.”
“I don’t know if you’ve not noticed this or not, but she’s far from a child. She’s a grown woman. The last time I looked, anyone over the age of twenty-one is old enough to no longer have anyone responsible for them.” Mom turned and looked at Harlin. “When was the last time you had to have a talk to your daughter about her behavior, Harlin? I’m betting it’s been a while.”
