The chance to go to a conference for work came up. It was all about the new standards to shipping and a lot of business talk, but I knew that it would be a good idea to go. I suggested bringing Veronica with us since it was in Los Angeles and we could have a little fun while we were there. Brent gave me a look, but I explained that she was our assistant. We’d book her a separate room even though we knew that she wouldn’t be sleeping alone. There were a couple of dinners and gatherings that we could all attend, and it would be perfect.
Brent agreed and called her in to ask if she was interested in attending with us. We could send some of the managers, but as owners, we got the first shot. Veronica agreed, mentioning friends in the city that she could meet up with on her down time and I went online to book a hotel.
I went with the Hilton in Beverly Hills. It was close to the venue, and I always liked that place, choosing three rooms, and finalizing the reservation. Dad always went to this and sometimes brought Mom, depending on where it was. The conference was at the end of the month, but the weather in Southern California was generally good, so it shouldn’t present an issue.
We had a meeting with the managers, telling them about our plans. Ted glanced at us, verifying that we were bringing Veronica along. “Yes, she’s learning a lot about the business, and it would make sense for her to be up with the changes. She’s our go-to in the case of an emergency, though she would work with all of you in the process. I just don’t want to bother you unnecessarily.” Most of the managers were married with families and leaving for a long weekend wasn’t always possible.
We had nobody apart from the casual sex partners we saw. We hoped that nobody knew about what was going on with Veronica, but she was a free woman and was passing through the office from person to person. She was perfect for a casual affair, but we had to always remind her that what happened with us was to be kept private.
“I’d just make sure that she goes to the meetings. That’s a wild one,” Mark joked as he reached for his coffee. “She’s going to cause some issues if she keeps up the way that she is.”
I glanced at Brent, and he sipped his water. “She’s a great help to us. That hasn’t seemed to get in the way of anything.” He spoke easily, and Mark chuckled.
“I’m surprised that she hasn’t tried with you boys. All of the women are frothing over you around here,” he said as Ted laughed. “I think you’re going to be the newest bachelors in the magazines next year.”
“They can long for us for all they want. This is Dad’s business, and I am going to treat it as such.” Brent left no room for argument in his voice, and I nodded as I glanced around at their faces. We went over a few other things, making a point of that at least once a month. Communication was essential even as we lied about our recreational relationship with Veronica.
Brent sat down in our office, looking at me for a moment. “Do you think she’s causing herself problems?”
I thought about the question for a moment. Veronica was sleeping with women and men, and if she chose the wrong person, it could get ugly. I was mostly bitter that I couldn’t join in with the girls that she was with per Brent, shrugging after a few moments. “If she does, it’s not on us. We replaced Cici, right?”
“We can’t blow through assistants and have them keep being gorgeous women, Bran. It’s going to be so obvious at some point what we’re doing.” He gazed at me as I smirked.
“Good luck telling her to change. She is happy being who she is.” I got off on the fact that she told me about the others, particularly the girls. Last night we’d been together at the hotel, just Veronica and I and the talk alone kept me going for longer than usual. She was a try anything kind of a girl, and the stories were fantastic. I was careful to use a condom with her every time, but the girl pushed my buttons.
“Just be careful,” he reminded me as I nodded.
“Always am,” I assured him before we settled back into the work day.
Brent
The weeks passed, and we were soon flying to California for the conference. Veronica left the day before to meet up with friends so it was just Brandon and I seated in first class that Friday morning. I thought about it, realizing that we’d never flown coach. Dad gained his wealth quickly and took good care of his family with it.
Brandon sent one last text before takeoff, shoving the phone into his pocket as he leaned back. He was out late the night before, and I’d noticed that he was going towards his old ways a little more over the last few weeks. He was still actively sleeping with Veronica; we both were, but he seemed like he was moving towards the old lifestyle. “Where were you last night?” I asked him as he closed his eyes for a moment.
“I met a new bartender at Scores. We spent the night at her place,” he replied as he settled back in the seat. “I knew that I could rest on the flight and we don’t have anything until the thing later.” There was an appetizers and drinks gathering tonight so everyone could get to know each other, but the actual conference didn’t start until the morning. “Hell, we could probably miss that.”
“We should establish ourselves, Bran. Let’s go for a while and see who else is there.” I knew that we had some big shoes to fill. Veronica was aware of it as well, even though she sounded busy.
“Yeah, sure,” he grumbled as he let out
a sigh. I knew that he was tired and I dropped the subject as we took off for the flight, thinking about the last several months. It had moved so fast even though I still missed Dad so much. Mom seemed to be easing back into life, spending time with friends and laughing a bit more. I never expected her to date, though, which was a shame. She was beautiful and had a lot of life left, but she and Dad were in love. She couldn’t replace that, and he saw that she would be set up for any kind of life she wanted years ago. I knew that she wanted to focus on Ashley and the fun things that were scheduled for the next couple of years of her school, not making her lose out on anything.
I yawned and closed my own eyes. My sister was at a party, and I didn’t sleep until she got home, well aware of the types of guys at those parties. Brandon and I were them once, and we didn’t always have a lot of compassion for the girls that we hooked up with. She came in at one as expected to find me on the couch, shaking her head with a scowl on her face. “Waiting for me?” She asked in a low tone as I rubbed my eyes. “I’m sixteen, Brent.”
“You know that he always did, right?” I asked as we shared a sad look. “I just like to know that you’re safe, Ash. I worry about you.”
“I know to stay away from the kinds of guys that you and Brandon were…are…whatever.” I gave her a sharp look, and she shrugged, a frown marring her beautiful face.
“What? You have a reputation.” I shrugged, knowing that she was right. “I don’t see Brandon waiting for me.”
I’d made her promise to be careful. I told her to call me if she needed anything and I would drop everything to help her.
We left the conversation on a positive note, and I finally collapsed into bed for a few hours of sleep.
We landed just after noon and rented a car to drive to the hotel. I think we were both still tired, but we had time after we checked in to rest if necessary. I was surprised when the rooms were three right beside each other, with doors in between. That would be convenient, reminding me to send Veronica a text to see when she would be arriving.
I selected the room on one end to get my things put away, hanging some things up and putting stuff into the drawers. This was a luxurious room, spacious with a huge bathroom that offered a bathtub meant for relaxing. It would be a nice place to rest with Veronica later, a thought that made me laugh. Would we take turns? I dropped onto the bed after piling up the pillows, closing my eyes again as I wondered how this was going to go.