Page 6 of Nico (Members From Money Season 2, #154)

He could only thank heavens that he had brought a pencil with him. The board meeting had only gone halfway through when he felt like tearing his hair out. The CFO was up, and the man was as boring as hell. Listening to him was like watching paint dry.

He was generally a patient man, but even he had his limits, Nico thought grimly.

So, driven to almost quiet insanity, he reached for the napkin and started drawing.

Within minutes, he had tuned out the man's incessant speech on tax breaks and budget cuts.

It did not help that his voice was as dry as dust.

Unaware that he was being observed, he continued to sketch, his mind half on the task.

He had persuaded Sadie to come back to his place last night.

A smile curved his lips slightly as he recalled what they had done just before they both left the house.

He was insatiable where she was concerned and was worried that she would get tired of him.

He hated the walls she put up between them. Yes, she was open enough, but for the first time in his life, he wanted everything. With a quiet sigh, he turned the napkin around and found himself sketching the various members of the board.

His father had chosen well enough. A mix of old and experienced, young and eager men and women who had graduated top of their classes at Yale and Harvard made up the board.

One thing could be said of James Coulter, the man had vision.

Nico admired the way he had turned the million-dollar pharmaceutical company into a formidable one that was now top of the line.

Coulter Pharmaceutical was now a multi-billion-dollar diversified company that not only dealt with breakthrough medicines but was involved in different aspects of industries such as hospitals, research clinics, real estate, and a shipping company.

He also tried not to think that as the only son, one day, all of it was going to fall under his sphere.

It was daunting, if he had to admit it to himself.

He had been trained, God knows he had spent years during high school and while in college and university, working as an intern at the company. That was the Coulter way, and it had been no different for him and his sister.

The disappointment had come when he veered off the path chosen for him.

His father had raged and threatened, but he had stuck with his decision, and his mother had been supportive in her own way.

Nadine had teasingly remarked that Mother had done so because Nico was her favorite.

He had protested the validity, but suspected his sister was right.

No matter, he was grateful for her support. He had lived in constant fear that he would fail and would have to come crawling back with his tail between his legs. The idea of putting on a suit and tie and sitting in an office brought on a rash.

"Nico!"

He jolted at the sound of his father's voice and looked up with a guilty flush on his face from his drawing. He had the room's attention, and his father was glowering at him.

"Pardon?" Trying to appear as if his mind had not been miles away, he looked around and caught his sister's amused stare.

"The meeting is almost adjourned and Kenneth.

.." He gestured to the man standing with his pointer at the head of the room.

Conference Room A had a stunning view of the city's landscape and was vast enough to hold large meetings or company functions.

A long trestle table had been set up beforehand with the usual refreshments and gallons of coffee, tea, and orange juice, most of which had been consumed.

Nico had downed two cups and was contemplating a third. The plate next to the cup was empty.

Forcing his thoughts away from the meal, he looked at his father and groaned inwardly at the battle light on his angular face.

"Kenneth has been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes."

"Sorry." Nico dragged his gaze away from his father's face to the man standing there with his pointer. "Now you have it."

Kenneth cleared his throat, his gaze darting first to James before going to the son. He had no idea why he should include Nico in the discussion. The man clearly had little or no interest in what went on in the company. But he was the heir and should be treated with respect.

"The shipping line. We were just discussing the feasibility of adding another ship to the European arm."

Baffled, Nico gave the man a measured look. "And you wanted my opinion?"

Kenneth cleared his throat and was about to launch into a discussion, when James spoke. "Yes, dammit. He wanted your opinion, because you're part of the company. An integral cog in the wheel..." Nico had to fight his amusement at the term and managed to keep a straight face as his father lectured.

"I would need to see a detailed report on the performance of the current line.

And a profit and loss accounting. Cruises are popular all year round, but at the same time, we have to be careful not to spread ourselves too thin.

We're after all a pharmaceutical company and our main interest is in finding cures for various ailments. "

Apparently what he had just contributed was sensible enough and had the board nodding in approval and his sister mouthing 'Good save'.

But a look at his old man warned him that he was not mollified.

Nothing got by James Coulter, Nico thought in resignation.

Which meant he was in for a lengthy lecture.

The meeting was adjourned with the members stopping by to chat briefly and congratulate Nico on his artistic success. Some of them grabbed a plate and cups of coffee before leaving. His sister walked to the head of the table to drop a kiss on her father's cheek and whispered. "Go easy on him."

The slender beauty with the bottle green eyes and alabaster skin of their Irish ancestors, crossed to give her brother a hug, eyes twinkling as she caught a glimpse of the sketches he had been doing. "Very good likeness. Dad's going to skin you." She whispered in his ear.

"Stay." He gripped her hand in a tight hold.

"Can't." She tugged herself free. "You're on your own."

"I thought you loved me."

"I adore you. Now be a man and take your punishment."

The exchange between his children had taken the edge off his anger, but James still had a lot to say. Nico waited a beat before pushing back his chair and crossing to get more coffee. If he was in for an argument, he needed the caffeine.

Settling back in the chair, he directed a challenging gaze to the man seated at the head of the table. "Want me to apologize?" He asked mildly.

Thick brown brows shot up. "Would you mean it?"

Nico shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you dad, you know how much I hate these meetings."

"It concerns the company, one you will be inheriting on my demise."

"Hopefully not any time soon." He tried for a charming smile, but it did nothing to soften his position. "Look, I'm here, aren't I?" He gestured with his coffee cup. "Under duress, yes, but I'm here. I have things to do..."

"We ask for two days out of the bloody week and it's just a few hours. Surely you're not too busy to manage that."

"You have no idea." He muttered.

"You find time to be with that young lady that we're still to be formally introduced to. You haven't invited her over for dinner. I'm assuming the relationship is serious?"

"It is. She's not ready to formally meet the family." And that stung. No matter how much he tried to rationalize it. "And I'm not going to force her into doing what she's not ready for."

"I see." James ignored the call coming through as he stared at his son. It confounded him the way he operated. And he had to admit he was intrigued despite his frustrations. "You could not bother to wear a tie?"

"Was that a requirement?"

"Or press your shirt? What happened to the housekeeper?"

Nico shifted in the chair and avoided the man's eyes. "Mother is sending someone else over."

"How long will this one last, I wonder?"

"Hopefully, long enough to get the work done. Look dad, I'm sorry I'm not the son you bargained for. I'm who I am and have no intention of changing."

"Of course not." His father's voice was deceptively mild. "You're not who I bargained for, but the fact is I happen to be proud of you."

Nico stared at him in surprise. "You've never said that before."

"I'm saying it now." He sighed. "Your mother demands that I cut you a bit of slack."

Amusement flickered over Nico's face. "So, this is her doing?"

"Mostly. Why don't you do us both a favor?"

"If I can."

"Try and be here whenever you're required to be. Your suggestion about the cruise line was quite timely and shows that you're thinking. Even if you were not present."

"Why thank you." His grin flashed. "Now, may I be excused?"

"Of course. Invite the young woman over. Your mother is insisting on it."

"Will see what I can do." Shoving back the chair, he headed for the door, pausing just as he reached it. "I'm proud of you too, dad."

James stared at the empty doorway and shook his head. Picking up the phone, he answered the call.

*****

"Hi."

"Hi. Are you lost?"

His mood brightened as he saw the pleasure on her beautiful face.

She had dressed at his place and come straight to the gallery.

He had admired the chic black pantsuit with the dull gold silk blouse she paired it with when she was getting dressed and took time to admire how she looked just now.

Sharp, elegant, and beautiful. And she was his.

"I wanted to see you." Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips, a smile appearing at the avid look of interest they were receiving from the staff. "I'm on my way from the board meeting and just wanted to look at you."

"How was it?"

He drew her into the office and closed the door behind them. "I have no idea," he brought her up against him and pleasured himself by inhaling the scent of her perfume. "I zoned out and started sketching."