Page 12 of Aaron's Patience

“You’ve been out of it for days now, come to think of it. I haven’t seen you like this… in quite some time.” He angled his head, staring at me as if waiting for an explanation. Well, he damn sure could keep on waiting.

“I don’t have time for pow-wows in the middle of the day. We need to complete things with Oiltec and get our team together to go up there again. Then, I need to prepare my R&D guys for their international trip.” I moved to my desk to rifle through some papers. Unable to find what I was looking for, I told him, “Since you’re just sitting there, go out and ask Darcy or Marcy, whatever the hell her name is, to bring me the Downes report.”

“You mean Marsha?”

“Whatever.”

“Can’t do it.”

I lifted my head, pinning Joshua with my gaze.

“You fired Marsha last week.”

I wrinkled my brows trying to recall.

“You said she was too slow in prepping the paperwork you needed.”

I nodded, remembering. “She was. Now I need a new junior assistant.”

“That’ll be your third within the last year and a half.”

“What’s your point?”

“Just making an observation.”

“Do me a favor.”

Joshua hesitated. “What?”

“Observe how to get me my damn report.”

Much to my chagrin Joshua chuckled, before pressing his palms to the arm of the chair and standing.

“How about the report be left right where it is for now and you tell me what has you so wound up? I mean, even more than usual.”

“I’m not wound up.”

My brother made a disbelieving sound with his mouth. “Something’s getting to you and it’s not just business. I’ve seen you get wound up about business. Hell, it’s one of theonlythings that actually gets your attention. But you’ve been distracted and extra irritable ever since you came back from Chicago last week. I know it wasn’t the deal. That went smoothly and we came in under budget as far as the acquisition. It’s something else.”

I twisted my hand in my pants pocket and tightened my jaw, remaining silent.

Joshua watched me, silently observing, but I refused to flinch. Finally, he shrugged. “Whatever it is, you’ll either get over it or it’ll be revealed.”

I sighed. “Now you sound like Mother.”

“I am my mother’s son.” He grinned. “Let’s have lunch.”

“I need the re–”

Josh held up his hand. “It’s after two o’clock and we haven’t eaten lunch. The Downes report will be here when we get back. Thirty minutes away won’t fucking kill you.”

“As long as it’s close.” I stepped around my desk, pulling my arms into my suit Armani jacket.

“Those pin stripes look good on you, bro.”

“Fuck off,” I grunted. Before Joshua could respond, the cell in my pocket began ringing. Removing my phone, I glanced at the number and jerked my head back in surprise at the caller. “Thiers?” I answered after the second ring.

“H-hi, is this Aaron Townsend?”