Rather than listening to his brother’s escapades, Will preferred hearing the news. He cleared his throat and gained his brothers’ attention. “What did you find out about the data she’d been collecting?”
“It was data on the Creative Design Director, the one you handpicked,” said Marcus, reminding Will of a choice he would never live down. “What were you thinking?”
“Me?” Will gasped. “You were at the impromptu board meeting where they said whoever styled the winner of the pageant I voted for would get the CDD position.”
“Which you still got wrong,” Marcus reminded him—something he reminded Will of every time they got together. This included the moment before Titus had attended his very first meeting. “Zoe was perfect for the job.”
“And now she’s perfect for Will.” Donovan chuckled.
“Can we get back to this meeting?” Will asked, resisting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose to ward off an oncoming headache.
“Let’s try more like, go to the meeting.”
Tonight’s plans were inevitably going to be put off. Will sent Zoe a text, pushed himself away from his desk and decided to dial Zoe’s cell to let her know he would be running late.
Zoe’s voice filled the screen before her face. “Are you trying to find out if I’m naked or not?”
Donovan and Marcus playfully leaped over the table. Will stood back against the window behind his desk. He held on to the phone while warding off his brothers with one hand. “Sorry, Zoe, I’m not alone now.”
“Zoe,” Marcus yelled out.
“When are you saving Ravens Cosmetics?” Donovan asked.
“Who needs saving?” Zoe bantered back. “I’m the one running around here from coast to coast. Need I remind you that one or both of you told me that Creative Design Director position was mine?”
“Sorry,” both men sang.
“But it was Will’s fault,” Donovan blurted out.
Zoe’s easy smile proved why Will loved her so much. She didn’t hold a grudge and had wished Titus well on his first day. Zoe made it clear she didn’t want to hear too much about how great Titus was or wasn’t doing, but she supported the company because she genuinely wanted what was best.
“I was calling,” Will said, shrugging away from his brothers’ grasps, “to let you know I am going to be late. The board has called some emergency meeting.”
“Everyone’s here,” Marcus called out.
“Including the young ones,” Donovan finished.
“Sounds ominous,” Zoe said, breaking eye contact with Will. He wondered for a moment if this was something she wished, but pushed the thought away. “Well, try to stay positive. I’ll see you in a little bit.”
The three brothers headed off toward the corner office of Ravens Cosmetics. This reminded Will of walking through a stadium ready to hit the field for a match. In soccer he’d prepared himself by working out and doing a lot of strength training and conditioning. Will readied himself for a match by studying his opponents. This meeting was far worse. His opponents were family members out for blood.
The glass walls of the conference room gave a clear view of the board: the Ravens. His blood. Will straightened his red tie with tiny magnolia flowers sprinkled on it. The tie was a gift from Zoe so he wouldn’t forget about her. Not a chance. Will resisted smirking. He didn’t want the anti-cousins, all facing him when he walked in, to get any sense of his emotions.
Instead of the stoic faces Will expected to see, most of the anti-cousins sat with knowing smirks. Katie, Dixon, Charles, Oscar, Mari, Thea and Brandon looked like the cats who’d devoured the canaries. This didn’t worry Will. What bothered him, as he, Donovan and Marcus took their seats, was seeing Cora and J.J., Uncle Charles’s wayward son. School should have already started and they needed to be in their dorms. Cora avoided eye contact with Will, and J.J. drummed his fingers on the glass cover of the black oak table. The beat stopped once the three brothers sat down on the same side as both sets of twins. Seven against seven.
“So, what brings all of us here today?” Will asked.