Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“She was definitely not one that Noah and I looked at twice,” Leo said as he selected a Rocky Patel as usual.
“I’m going to try the H. Uppman No. 2,” I said and nodded to my older brother. “Your fault for sending me that Top 25 from Cigar Aficionado. I couldn’t sleep the other night, so I read it.”
“Did it put you to sleep?”
“No. It made me curious about Uppman.”
“Stress over the promotion?” He asked.
“Always,” I replied. “I think if I ever relax and feel like I’ve done enough then I might as well quit.”
“Buy an island and retire there?” Ethan said.
“I’m not quite that advanced.”
“You got me a thirty-one percent return last year. I’d say you’re good at what you do.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling proud that Ethan trusted me with his investments and had confidence in my skill.
“Hey, bro, you know when I get some money that’s not tied up in the farmhouse, I’ll invest it with you,” Leo chimed in, eating the last of the olives.
“It means a lot,” I said to them both.
The lamp at our table lit to signal that our cigars were ready in the lounge. We left our drinks and headed for the private room of generous club chairs and paneled walls hung with the style of equestrian and hunting dog paintings one might expect to find in an English manor. The first velvety curls of smoke rose from my cigar as I drew on it slowly, sinking back in my chair.
“I take back what I said about you picking snooty places to have a drink, Ethan,” I said with a sigh of appreciation. “This is the life.”
“Glad you finally recognize my wisdom, little brother,” he chuckled. Leo puffed on his cigar and stretched out his long legs.
“I can’t complain either. Remind me again how much a membership costs?” Leo said.
Ethan named the figure and Leo’s eyebrows shot up. He gave a low whistle.
“That was some thank-you gift,” he said.
“The Emir was very pleased with the vacation home I designed for his family,” Ethan said matter-of-factly. “This lifetime membership was an expression of gratitude. I even spoke to the senior partners at the firm about the ethics of accepting such an expensive gift. Mr. Grantham assured me that it was far worse to offend a client by refusing their generosity.”
“Is that what Grantham said about the oil shares, too?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. And I donated half of them to the firm’s charitable foundation.”
“That was nice of you,” Leo said. “But promise me you won’t donate your cigar lounge membership.
“I promise,” he said as he savored his cigar. Several of Ethan’s notable clients had gone on to request his designs for their vacation homes or for commercial properties as well. This had been very profitable for him, and getting to manage his portfolio—which was, as a result of his exclusive clients, much more lucrative and diverse than most thirty-something men could boast—was a coup for me professionally. Being entrusted with the wealth management of a multi-million-dollar investment plan right out of the gate was a major step to my advancement at the financial firm. I was able to prove my mettle without having to woo a client willing to take a risk on an untried manager.
“Does she look like Helen of Troy? Bella Hadid? I’m more of a Margot Robbie fan myself,” Ethan asked finally. “The baker?”
“She doesn’t look like anyone famous,” I said. “Trust me. You’ll meet her and the next thing you know, you’ll offer her the keys to your car or something.”
“She’s that persuasive?”
“No. She doesn’t want help. She doesn’t expect anyone to bail her out,” Leo said. “The shop has been her dream since she was like fifteen, and she worked shitty low-paying kitchen jobs for years to save up for her own place.”
“Sounds like you two had a good talk. Did you go to a group therapy session together or something?” Ethan said.
“No. She just told me.”
“It’s the Foster charm,” I said.
“Got that right,” Leo smiled and fist-bumped me. “You picked a good one this time.”
“Tell me this isn’t going to be like the two of you taking Celia LoVecchio to prom,” Ethan said.
“Most people would be glad their siblings didn’t mind sharing,” I pointed out. “Why complain?”
“It looked strange and invited comment,” Ethan said. “I got so many messages that night from people who watched the three of you stroll in together.”
“Did it embarrass your much more refined ass?” Leo teased.
“Yeah, it did. My little brothers acting a fool after I was gone.”
“To be fair, we acted like fools when you were still living at home,” I said, and we all chuckled.
“A Foster on each arm, it’s no wonder she won prom queen,” Leo said nostalgically. “Wonder whatever happened to her.”
“Celia? She’s, um,” Ethan cleared his throat, “she took holy orders.”