“We’re in trouble with the bank?”
“Liquidity issues. They’re not happy with our cash ratio, but we’re still negotiating.”
She stiffens, casts her eyes to her hands. “Does anyone else on the team know?”
“I told Marcel and Justin. Colbert too. But don’t discuss it with anyone else.”
“No, of course not. Wow.”
I try to read her body language. Arms folded over her chest, drumming her fingers over her bicep. I hired Honor one year after Justin, about the same time as Marcel. I pay her a generous salary, an even more generous bonus. She has no reason to be tempted by the press.
“I guess it was a little prematu
re to brag about being one of the most successful companies in the Bay, huh?”
Her mention of that article rubs me the wrong way on too many levels, but I do my best to school my expression. We have a quick drink at the juice bar, and then we part ways. She’s meeting a group of clients; I’m heading back to the office to sign some papers.
I’m halfway there when my phone rings, Pippa’s name appearing on the screen.
“Hey, sister.”
A chorus of very loud and very exuberant “Uncle Daniel, it’s us” assaults my eardrums. Despite everything, I grin.
“Hi, Mia. Hi, Elena. What’s up, girls?”
“Are you coming to the Halloween party?” Mia asks. Despite them being identical twins, their voices differ subtly.
“Yes, I am. I’ll be the pirate.”
“A pirate isn’t scary,” Elena says, clearly not impressed by my choice.
“Shhhh, don’t be rude,” Mia admonishes. “We need to ask him first, and he has to say yes.”
“What do you need to ask me?”
“Mom said we’re not allowed,” Elena clarifies. These girls crack me up every time. They’ve learned how the world works already. Whenever their parents say no, they turn their charm onto their aunts and uncles. Blake and I are the suckers they can always count on for their shenanigans.
“We need a carriage,” Mia goes on. I almost do a double take in the middle of the street. This escalated quickly. No wonder Pippa said no.
“A carriage? With h—horses?”
“Yes, two. And we also—”
A static sound follows, and a yelp.
“Sorry,” Pippa says, sounding out of breath. “They hijacked my phone, and I had to chase around the house to find them. You didn’t say yes, did you?”
“To a horse-drawn carriage? I was too stunned to answer.”
Arriving in front of my office building, I step inside, nodding at the receptionist before heading toward my office.
Pippa chuckles. “They sure take Halloween seriously. By the way, I heard you’re bringing Caroline.”
“How exactly did you hear?” I ask once I’m inside my office.
“Called Caroline to invite her, thinking you two needed another nudge, and imagine my surprise when she told me you already invited her.”
“Let me guess, you already know everything?”