LITMIR.BIZ

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always favored the home team.

      As he approached Geoff, the other man motioned he’d be another minute, so Henry detoured to the bar and ordered a beer. He wasn’t too keen on this get-to-know-you meeting, but both Steven and Geoff had outvoted him, so to speak.

      He brought his drink back to the table where Geoff was as the other man disconnected his call. Geoff stood and shook his hand.

      “Where’s Steven?”

      “His secretary called and said he’d be running late today.”

      “I can’t stay long. I’ve got things to take care of before I hit the clubs tonight. How’d you like your first day?”

      Geoff arched one eyebrow at him. “Probably as well as you did. The airline is a well-oiled machine, and I think we should be able to show a large profit during the terms of the will.”

      Henry realized that Geoff expected to win. Probably by order of his birth he should inherit the entire Everest Group but Henry wasn’t ready to back down and give up the fight. It would take signing just one phenomenal group for his segment to outperform Geoff’s airline. And Henry was damned determined to make sure he found it.

      “How’s the record label?”

      “Good. It’s in good shape and I have the right people in place.”

      “I always heard you were a team player,” Geoff said.

      “It’s served me well all my life,” Henry said.

      “Good to hear it.”

      Henry had heard that Steven and Geoff were both loners. Steven’s mother was a twin. And, according to the media, very close to her extended family.

      His mobile beeped and he glanced down to see that a text from Astrid had arrived. He skimmed it and turned his attention back to his Guinness. He and Geoff talked about sports and Henry noticed that the other man was uncomfortable with him.

      Geoff had grown up in the spotlight as part of the royal family. Henry wondered if being around a rugby man such as himself was what bothered Geoff. Though rugby was a ruffian sport, it had always been played by those of the middle and upper classes.

      “Do you see your mum much?”

      “Every Sunday for brunch,” Henry said. His mother had done her best by him. Making sure that he grew up in comfortable surroundings with the family she’d created for them. Being left by Malcolm Devonshire hadn’t put her off her dreams of family.

      “That’s good. My cousin Suzanne is a huge fan….”

      “Does she want an autograph or a chance to meet her?” Henry said. His mum was just that, his mum, but he was very aware that to other people she was a pop star. And despite the fact that she hadn’t had a hit in fifteen years, she was still very popular. And when he’d been in secondary school, all of his mates had listened to her records. Tiffany couldn’t walk down the street without being recognized.

      Geoff laughed. “She’d settle for an autograph.”

      “Send me her name and I’ll get Mum to autograph a picture for her.”

      “Thanks. If there’s ever anything I can do for you.”

      “I’ll keep it in mind.”

      Steven showed up a few minutes later. “A girl is at the front desk asking for you, Henry.”

      “A girl?”

      “Astrid something. I told them I’d let you know.”

      “Thanks. I guess that means I need to go.”

      “Do you?” Geoff asked. “Who is she?”

      “My new assistant, Astrid Taylor.”

      Steven signaled the butler and ordered a drink. Geoff rubbed the back of his neck.

      “Did she used to work for Daniel Martin?”

      “Yes, I believe she did. Why?”

      “I recall reading something in the business journal about it. She sued them because they didn’t give her adequate exit benefits. Just be careful.”

      “I always am,” Henry said. “I know a lot about building a winning team.”

      “I’ll say. Do you have time for another drink before you go meet her?” Steven said as his drink arrived.

      Henry wasn’t sure and being indecisive didn’t sit well with him. He shook his head. “I better not. We have a couple of meetings tonight. I appreciate the information Geoff. I’ll keep my eyes open.”

      Geoff laughed. “I sound like my sisters passing gossip.”

      “You have sisters?” Steven asked.

      Henry had to laugh at that. They’d been linked…well their names had since their birth, but they were virtual strangers.

      “I have two younger brothers,” Henry said.

      “I’m an only child.” Steven took a sip of his drink. “But we can talk about siblings later.”

      “I’m not sure I trust Malcolm not to throw something else at one of us,” Geoff said.

      “I agree. I’m surprised even being faced with his mortality has made him contact us,” Henry said.

      “Too right,” Geoff added.

      “I don’t give a damn about his legacy,” Steven said. “I’m in this for the money and the challenge.”

      Henry laughed at the way Steven said that. This man was someone who just said what he wanted, to hell with the consequences.

      “I see your point.”

      “Good…on that note, I think you should know that I’ve been contacted by a magazine…Fashion Quarterly—”

      “Isn’t that a woman’s magazine?” Henry asked. His mum loved the magazine and read it cover to cover each month.

      “Yes, it is. The editor-in-chief needed a favor from me and I helped her out in exchange for a promise to run some articles on us in her magazine.”

      “On us?” Geoff asked. “Everything I do has to go through the Royal Press Office.”

      “It’s on our mums, actually since it’s a woman’s mag but they will mention our business units and do a bit of a showcase on each one as well,” Steven said.

      “My mum will love that,” Henry said.

      “I’m not so sure about this,” Geoff said.

      “Just talk to her,” Steven said. “We need the publicity and this is a nice angle.”

      “I’m in. You don’t need to convince me,” Henry said, glancing at his watch. “Is there anything else we need to discuss?”

      “I like your idea of using the airlines to promote the album covers,” Geoff said. “So I’ll be calling you tomorrow or the next day to get a team together to move that idea forward.”

      “I’ll look forward to your call,” Henry said. “Steven, I’ve got a few ideas for using the Everest Mega Store to promote my newer artists. Do you have time to meet with me this week?”

      “I do. Shoot me over an e-mail with your availability and we will make it work,” Steven said. “I have to go to New York to check out our North American operation.”

      “Indeed,” Henry said. “So we’re doing this again next week?”

      “Yes. I think a weekly check-in is a good idea,” Steven said.

      Henry left his half brothers and walked slowly through the club. He didn’t worry about Malcolm because that man was a stranger to him just like Steven and Geoff, and he was the type of man who didn’t worry about the

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