Master of Fortune (3 page)

Astrid spent the rest of the day trying to stay focused on her job. But Henry seemed to need her in his office a lot as he got acclimated. And she found herself entranced just the tiniest bit.

He was smart and funny. Yet even innocent flirtations in the office were dangerous. Hadn’t she learned that the hard way?

She walked down to the legal office and left the paperwork that Henry had signed with the proper legal secretary.

Henry’s office was empty when she returned to her desk; she’d poked her head in his office to see if he needed anything. She’d listened to a few songs that Steph Cordo had sang…and that she’d heard on the morning talk radio.

She downloaded the song on iTunes and added them to her playlist. One thing she’d learned working with Daniel was to be very familiar with the artists and groups that label was pursuing. So Steph was the first of many new artists she’d be listening to. It would help give her a feel for what Henry liked, too.

Henry entered the office a few minutes later with three other men, none of whom she knew. He directed the men into his office.

“Hold my calls,” Henry said.

“Certainly, sir. May I speak to you for a moment?” she asked.

“What’s up?”

“These men aren’t on your calendar…. Do you not want me to make your appointments?”

“Oh, of course I do. I’m just not used to having an assistant,” Henry said.

She nodded. “Do you need anything for the next thirty minutes?”

“That’s pretty specific,” Henry said.

“Sorry about that. I’d like to go for lunch. My sister just rang and said she could meet me,” Astrid clarified.

“Go on then. I’ll be in this meeting for at least that long.”

“Do you want me to bring you back something?”

“No. I’m meeting my…half brothers. That still sounds strange to me when I say it.”

“I’d heard you all were getting together lately.”

“Heard where?”

“Um…well, I read about it in
Hello!
” Astrid refused to be apologetic about it.
Hello!
and other celebrity magazines were a resource for people in their industry. Daniel used to have her keep clippings of their artists so they could track their popularity.

“Gossip rags?”

She arched one eyebrow at him. “Where else would I hear about your meeting them? We don’t exactly run in the same circles.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know the feeling. They aren’t my crowd either.”

“No, celebrities and footballers are more your speed,” she said. “I guess that’s how you have your finger on the pulse of what’s next.”

“Maybe. I think it’s more a feel for what the public is hungry for.”

He had a point. “I think you’re a very savvy man.”

“I am,” he said. “Before you head to lunch, will you call Marcus Wills for me? I’m supposed to have drinks with him, but I don’t think I’ll have time between meeting with the other Devonshire heirs.”

“Not a problem. Do you have his number handy? I haven’t merged your contents file with mine yet,” she said.

“I’ll IM it to you.”

“Great. I’ll take care of it.”

He nodded and walked away, and she couldn’t help but admire his butt. He stopped in the doorway and glanced back over his shoulder. She blushed when he gave her a knowing smile.

“I guess you still work out even though you don’t play anymore,” she said.

“Didn’t
Hello!
magazine have the scoop on my gym membership?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No, they didn’t. I’m hoping to make a little on the side by selling them the exclusive story.”

He threw his head back and laughed. And Astrid couldn’t help chuckling along with him. He
was
fun and after the heartache she’d endured for the past year of her life she needed that.

“You’ll do, Astrid.”

She winked at him. “I know I will.”

Henry went into his office, and Astrid made the call he’d asked her to before leaving to meet her sister, Bethann.

Bethann was sitting in the sun on one of the benches that lined the walkway along the Thames—the exact spot Astrid had met Daniel earlier. This part of London was newer and lined with glass-and-steel buildings, but across the river was the old Tower of London. Her sister looked up as she approached and waved.

Astrid hugged her sister as soon as she was close enough.

“How is the new job going?” Bethann asked.

“It’s good. I think working for Henry is going to be just what I need. He’s focused on signing new acts.”

Bethann handed her a sandwich. “Be careful. The last job nearly ruined you.”

She shook her head. It didn’t matter that they were both grown woman; Bethann still thought of her as her baby sister who needed looking after.

“I am very aware of that. I just meant…never mind.”

Bethann reached over and put her arm around Astrid’s shoulders. “I love you, sweetie. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

“I won’t be,” Astrid said. She’d made up her mind when Daniel had fired her that she wouldn’t be used again. Not by any man. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy working for Henry.

Malcolm had played fast and loose with all of their mothers. The paparazzi had photographed him leaving all of their residences, and Henry knew from things his mother had said that seeing Malcolm with his other lovers had slowly crushed her.

Tiffany had gone through a total confidence change in the six months leading up to his birth. No longer the brassy Irish singer who had melted men’s hearts, she’d turned distrustful of compliments and started to doubt her own abilities as a singer.

The paps still dogged her even after she’d broken things off with Malcolm. But in later years she’d found happiness with Gordon—a kind of love, she told Henry when he’d asked her about it, that she’d never found with Malcolm. She’d said that her love with Malcolm had burned hot and fast but that Gordon was a slow burn. Henry hadn’t understood that as a teenage boy, but as a man he was starting to.

He was very aware the paparazzi were probably having a field day seeing the three brothers together now, which was why they’d chosen to meet at The Athenaeum Club instead of a pub. He’d learned as a youngster that ignoring them and going about his life was the only way to be happy.

And happiness was one of his chief concerns. He saw Geoff sitting on a high stool at a table in the back of the establishment and nodded to acknowledge him.

Henry was stopped several times by fans from his playing days as he walked through the pub. Henry exchanged a few words with every one of them. Shook their hands and signed napkins and scraps of paper. His stepfather had always said that players should remember without the fans they’d be back on their local pitch playing for fun instead of money.

And his fans had made him very wealthy.

Geoff was on the phone, seated at the back of the club. So Henry took his time. Everyone always wanted to know whom he favored in the 6 Nations game—a tournament held between the first nations to play each other in rugby. Originally it had been England vs. Scotland, but over time had grown to include Ireland, Wales, France and Italy, as well. And it went without saying that Henry 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 future. He’d take care of what he needed to.

And right now that involved finding out a little more about Astrid and her past employer.

He spotted her standing at the coat check. She was talking on her mobile and turned around as he came down the stairs. She waved at him and smiled.

He smiled back, thinking that talking to his assistant was going to be very enjoyable.