And I was going to make damn sure my brothers stuck with that rule.
CHAPTER 19
LUKE
“Fuck!”
I almost never cussed, but this day was getting old. I was trying to crunch numbers and look through our old contracts with a client to figure out why in the world they were trying to sue us. If I couldn't come to a conclusion on their finances, there was a chance the company was looking at a lawsuit. They claimed the price we quoted them was not only unfair but way above market pricing. My response was “probably” because we charge a premium price for a premium service. So then, their rebuttal was that they didn’t get a premium product and were looking to sue for the return of all their money.
Plus heartache.
I needed a drink.
“Hey, Luke?”
“What?” I asked.
“Whoa. Did your office explode?” Liam asked as he walked in.
“If you don’t automate and make our paperwork system electronic in the next four fucking months, I quit.”
“Yikes. What’s got you riled up?” he asked.
“Don’t worry,” I said gritting my teeth. “I’ll fix it.”
“You sound like you could use a drink. Want to cut out early and grab one with me?”
That caught my attention.
I locked my office, resolving myself to a drink with my brother. I needed a break from the drama of the company anyway. Between the lawsuit and everything kicking up with Sam, it was getting to me. My feels for her were growing. My want to reach out to her and talk with her mounted every single day. I knew she needed space sometimes and I knew she wanted to be in control of her circumstance, but she had all of us to help her. She had me to help her.
And I wanted to help.
I also didn’t want the company being sued for its livelihood.
“I talked to Samantha again today,” Liam said.
“How’s she doing?” I asked.
“Good. Tired. Getting settled back at home.”
“I’m really glad she decided to come back. I don’t know why she stayed as long as she did,” I said.
Liam shrugged. “I guess she was hoping that just this once, her parents would actually be parents who gave a shit about what their daughter was going through. I feel bad for her. Can you imagine mom and dad doing anything like that to us if they were still here?” Liam asked.
“No. Not at all. I really miss them sometimes,” I told him.
“Me too,” Liam agreed.
“Have any of the other guys talked with her?” I asked as we walked in.
“No one else has said anything and she didn’t tell me if she’d talked with any of you. Have you tried calling her?”
“I try to keep a balance between wanting to talk to her every second and giving her the space she needs.”
“Trust me, I think we’re all trying to find that balance,” he said.
We sat at the bar and ordered a round of beers. Liam kept talking my ear off about idiotic clients, but the last thing I wanted to do was talk about work. I wanted to talk to Sam. I wanted to hear her voice and make sure she was really ok. I wanted to let her know that I was there if she needed anything at