Planification with Katy

Ronny Point of View

So far this morning I had not seen any legal documents indicating that Mrs. Nichols was going to sue me. But it was early. I kept thinking all night long about the idea that she was going to realize the opportunity that was presented to her with my ridiculous proposal. Why take a check when she could sue me for millions? Not that she was the litigious or opportunistic type, but I had crossed a line.

My grandmother would be very disappointed. That burned my guts. She had worked very hard to fill the shoes that my father had abandoned after my mother's death. Not that I blamed him. I was ten years old when she died. Noah only five. My father, who never liked business, preferred to stay home and raise me and my siblings. My grandmother supported him emotionally and financially to make that happen. But as I grew up, I could see that my father never recovered from the loss of my mother. And I realized that my grandmother hoped that she would one day take her place in the business. Since he couldn't, I decided to take the place he had left vacant. She would make sure the family business continued. He would take care of the family. While my father had been able to provide us with the attention and affection we needed as children, I was the one who would provide us with the guidance and financial security we needed as adults.

Along with the burning in my gut that my grandmother was disappointed at being sued for sexual misconduct, was the feeling of guilt for having put Mrs. Nichols in such a position. Not only was she risking a lawsuit, but she was an honest person and I had asked her to lie. She was the last person who thought she would end up in a position like this, and yet here she was.

A knock on the door interrupted my mental self-flagellation.

"Come in," I said.

Mrs. Nichols came in and my stomach turned. Was she bringing me legal documents? Was she going to quit?

"Did you have a good night? "I managed to ask.

-Yeah. "Her cheeks turned pink, as if she had blushed. Jesus, was she embarrassing her that much?

I was getting ready to apologize again and walk away from the deal, thinking I'd come up with some other solution"maybe even give up on expansion in the fall and move it to the winter and find a new distributor"when she started talking, before I could do it.

"I have decided to help you and the company.

Relief washed over me, followed by a new set of worries, mostly related to what my family would think.

"Thank you, Mrs. Nichols.

"Katy," she said. It'll be weird if you call me Mrs. Nichols when we're supposed to be engaged.

-Good. Call me Ronny.

-OK. "She looked down and intertwined her fingers.

-Something happens?

"I don't want to sound greedy, but you talked about a bonus...

-Yes of course. "What kind of bonus was given to an assistant for pretending that she was marrying you? She continued speaking shyly.

"I... uh... I have some student loans."

"Get me the payment information. I'll take care of it.

Her gray eyes widened in surprise.

"I wasn't referring to everything...

"I'll pay for it.

"You don't even know how much it is.

-It doesn't matter. How much could it be? Pass me the information.

She nodded and relief was evident on her face. I studied her for a moment. Money had never been a problem in my family, thanks to my grandmother's business skills. I could only imagine what it would feel like to have debt hanging over your head, perhaps even affecting your quality of life, and then disappear. The relief and the small smile that appeared on her face made her even prettier.

"Thank you, Mr. Hush... Ah... Ronny. "I smiled.

"We are a couple of crazy people, you and me. Can you make arrangements to travel to Italy?

"Yes, sir... Ugh... Ronny. "She turned to leave and I could swear something changed. It made me feel much more comfortable to feel like she was getting something in return for this deal. When the door closed, I realized that she had been watching the curves of her ass emerge from the door.

“Jesus, fuck.” I sat up straight in the chair and ran my hands over my face. “Don't think of her that way,” I thought in my head.

I tried hard to distract myself from her pretty face and her sexy body by diving into the numbers. An hour later, she came back in. Luckily, she had the professional face about her.

"I've booked first-class tickets to Rome and then a flight to Florence.

-Excellent.

"I spoke with Mr. LaMont." He says that he will have a car waiting for us there and that he will take care of the rest.

God, she was making this turn out easy, but there was still a lot to do. I stood up and took out my wallet. I handed him my credit card.

-What's it for? Am I supposed to pay for things with another payment method?

-No. It's so you can go buy what you need to get married? Dress, shoes, something blue... "I made a fuss with my hand". You already know. Whatever you need for this trip.

Again, her eyes widened in surprise.

-What is the budget?

"There is no budget. Whatever you need. I trust you.

She seemed a little overwhelmed and I wondered what I should say or do to help her. But then she smiled and left my office.

I took a moment to gather the sanity and strength to tell my brothers what was happening. I messaged them all and asked if they could meet me in an hour. Everyone showed up, even Noé, and we met in my office to try to avoid prying eyes and ears that might pass through the conference room.

"Where is your assistant? Noah asked. I don't know if I've ever come to your office and haven't seen her here like an iron guardian.

I smiled at the description. She was very good at her job, especially at keeping unnecessary distractions from bothering me.

"I sent her on an errand. Hamilton's eyebrow rose.

"That's not her job. "«Jesus, wait until he finds out what I have to tell them»

"Take a seat, there is something I need you to know.

-Do not tell me. “You're running away to join the circus,” Noé said, resting her boots on my desk. I smiled.

"Stranger than that, little brother.

Hamilton and Carter looked at me, intrigued. Hamilton sat on my couch while Carter stood with his arms crossed.

“The distribution deal with LaMont had a strange snag,” I began.

-Strange? Hamilton asked.

“He prefers to work with family businesses,” I continued. Carter frowned.

"We are a family business.

"Yes, but none of us are married. We are not stable. When Grandma leaves, we could sell the company and he would be left with a contract that he doesn't want. " Hamilton shook his head.

"That wouldn't happen.”

-I already know it. “We all know it,” I said, pointing to all of us. But he is not convinced.

"So how did you convince him? Carter asked. Take a breath.

"I let him host my wedding. "Three pairs of eyes looked at me and blinked. Finally, Hamilton said:

"What wedding?”

"The one I'm going to celebrate soon in Italy.”

Noah let out a loud laugh.

"Who would be willing to risk dying of boredom to marry you?

I ignored the boring part of the comment and responded to the who instead.

-Katy. "It seemed strange to call her that, but she was right, we would have to act more familiar with each other.

"Who is Katy? Noah asked.

Carter's frown was disapproving. Hamilton's was more of a curiosity.

"Mrs. Nichols," I answered Noé.

-Who? "he said again. I rolled my eyes.

"My assistant, idiot.

"Jesus, Ry," Carter said. That's a lawsuit in the making. You're supposed to expand the business, not leave us out.

"I know, but she agrees. "Noé leaned forward.

"Are you fucking your assistant?

“Shut your mouth,” I bellowed, pointing my finger at him. It's one thing for you to disrespect me, but I'm not going to allow you to disrespect her.

Noah's eyes widened and he sat with his arms raised in surrender.

-I'm sorry. I can't understand why he would do that.

"I have offered you a bonus.

"Eh, yeah, and what happens when you come back? Carter shook his head again. Are you going to continue living in marital bliss? How is that supposed to work?

"It's just for show. "I said it nonchalantly, like it was no big deal, although from the way my gut was churning I knew he was lying.

"Until he takes half of everything you have and possibly part of this company in the divorce.

"Carter should have been a lawyer," I thought.

"We won't have a license. We won't really be married.

"Only you could turn something that's supposed to be romantic and exciting and kill it," Noé joked.

"I don't see you getting married," I said. Any of you could do it and make LaMont happy. "I walked around the room". Hamilton? Sump? I know you're not getting married Noah, you can't even commit to your family.

-Hey! "Noé was offended by my comment. "Hamilton sighed.

"Do you think LaMont will leave if you don't do this?"

-I believe it. You should have seen it when I told her he was engaged. The guy lit up like a Christmas tree. He insisted on hosting the wedding. "I ran my hands over my face". It's either this or we start over, looking for a new distributor, who we all know, was our top choice. Plus, it would delay our goal of having our fall line there.

"What do you need from us? Hamilton asked.

"I just wanted to inform you. And I guess if you talk to LaMont, continue with the story.

"This is fucking crazy," Carter said.

"We could vote," said Noé. Grandma said we had to make decisions together. All those who are in favor of arranged marriage.