Prologue
Lennon
“Take a seat Lennon,” Hollis said, sitting back in his office chair. In front of him, a mountain of files proved just how busy Hollis Adice had become since he’d been promoted following the retirement of the company founders. Hollis also continued to manage Lennon and the other six PAs that worked directly with the eight Starling brothers. On top of that, Hollis was on the board and had a casting vote, which sounded like an absolute nightmare to Lennon when the brothers could all be so disagreeable, unless they were standing up for each other.
“I’m adding to your stress, aren’t I?” he muttered, taking the seat and working to not fidget. His face heated when Hollis gave him a sympathetic look, and he wondered if he should have brought cake to help smooth things over.
Hollis templed his fingers under his chin, worry clouding his eyes. “A little, yes. Although I’m more concerned for you. Since the change in circumstances, you’ve been upset on more than one occasion over Kodi’s behavior. That isn’t normal for you. The company doesn’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose you. Since the switch with Wilder and Ziggy, I’m out of options regarding who to offer as an alternative for you. I could move you out of our department and find you another PA role in the company—”
“No, I don’t want that. Please don’t move me out of the department,” Lennon begged, his panic forcing him to jump in before Hollis even finished his sentence. This wasn’t about the prestige of working directly with the brothers, it was about losing what the last four years had given him. Friends who were more like family, and job satisfaction that was rarer than hens teeth, if he listened to his school friends. No one they worked with ever suggested bringing in baked goods like the founder, Lane, had done. To set up a rota for daily treats to keep motivation high, not that it was really needed when they were all happy to go the extra mile when the company rewarded them generously for their time. And though Lane had retired, he continued to bring them goodies and come in to see them.
He might be miserable with Kodi’s outbursts, but he did not want to leave. The work challenged him, and he loved it. Then there was Emmy. He would miss his daily hour with Frey’s adopted daughter, who they all helped with daily so Frey could continue to work. Starling Enterprises was an amazing place to work—if it wasn’t for Kodi.
Hollis rested his chin on his folded hands, his elbows coming to rest on his desk. “I don’t want to move you, but I don’t enjoy seeing you so unhappy.”
“I’ll find a way to deal with Kodi’s outbursts.” He crossed his fingers in his lap, praying that it would be possible to do that, because up to now, he’d not found a solution.
Lines appeared on Hollis’s forehead and his eyes narrowed. “Please don’t tell me if it’s anything untoward, okay? I’m traumatized enough by Frey and Wilder,” he chuckled, but didn’t lose the serious tone.
“I’ll try my best.” He gave Hollis an impish grin and got a headshake in return. “I’m never gonna be as bad as Frey. I mean, he did suggest going to a sex club.”
Hollis visibly shuddered, and his cheeks lost the rosy color. “Please, I do not need the reminder!”
Lennon chewed his bottom lip between his teeth to stop the giggles escaping. They had all seen more than they’d liked that night. Jupiter Starling had been there and had not been at all perturbed by them seeing him getting a blow job from a guy kneeling on the ground in front of him. Wilder could not talk about anything else for weeks after.
“Let’s get back to Kodi.” Hollis reached for his mouse and shook it, his gaze on his computer screen. “What I’ll do is put a catch-up meeting in the calendar for next month, to check in with you. I won’t intervene if it doesn’t affect your work.”
Lennon nodded with enthusiasm, except something his brother Jonny had said in passing sprung to mind. Lennon contemplated asking a personal question when Hollis was engaged to Taylin, Kodi’s brother.
“Can I ask a personal question?” They all had a great relationship with Hollis, and his promotion hadn’t really changed that, but Lennon didn’t want to overstep.
Behind his glasses, Hollis’s eyes widened before he nodded with a cautiousness of someone who wasn’t sure they wanted to agree.
“Has Taylin ever mentioned anything about Kodi being diagnosed with some form of attention deficit disorder? It’s just it could explain why he behaves the way he does. Because I don’t think he’s always purposefully being a tool, or not all the time.” Kodi could be damn sweet when he wanted to.
Hollis spluttered over the last bit and reached for the glass of water sat on his desk, his cheeks brightening with color. He took a few sips, placing it back down to wipe at his dewy eyes.
“Erm… I really don’t know. Taylin talks about his brothers often, but if Kodi has had such a diagnosis then he’s never mentioned it.”
“It was just a thought.” Lennon worked to keep his discomfort under control. He could see he’d made Hollis uncomfortable, and he wished he’d kept his thoughts to himself.
“Would you like me to ask him?” From the look on his face, Hollis appeared to be just as surprised at himself for making the offer as Lennon was at hearing it.
“If I knew what was going on with Kodi, maybe it would help?” He shrugged, feeling awkward. “Maybe I should speak to Lane? It’s not like he can’t see my comments in our group chat. In fact, that’s what I’ll do. That way I’m not going to cause a potential issue between you and Taylin.”
“Are you sure?” Hollis asked, sounding relieved.
“Yes, I’ll do that. Thanks for this Hollis, I appreciate it.” He stood up and grinned at his desk. “I’ll leave now as I can see you’re busy.”
“Aren’t we all,” Hollis muttered. “I’ll ping you the calendar invite, and remember my door is always open if you’re struggling.”
This was why Hollis was such a good boss, he genuinely cared. “Thank you.”
Lennon slipped out the door, and as if the universe had designed it, Lane was coming down the corridor. The man exuded charm and sass. He was dressed casually for him, in black jeans and mint green cashmere sweater. His silver hair was swept back from his attractive face.
His eyes lit up with pleasure when he saw Lennon, and he waved the box he was holding at him. “You timed that perfectly, I have a new batch of peanut butter cookies, and I did as you suggested and added the melted dark chocolate to the batter mix. They are scrummy.”
“Sounds delicious,” Lennon replied, his mouth watering. He checked the time and, seeing he had fifteen minutes before his next meeting, decided there was no time like the present to ask his question. His belly did a little flip-flop as he smiled at Lane. “Do you have five minutes?”
Lane slipped his arm through Lennon’s, guiding him towards Lennon’s office.
“Of course.” Lane’s fresh fragrance was combined with cookie dough, which wasn’t surprising given how often he liked to bake.
They stepped into Lennon’s office, and he closed the door as Lane perched his bottom on the edge of Lennon’s desk. His leg swinging, Lane placed the cookie box down and peeled off the lid, filling the room with the scent of chocolate and peanuts.
The divine smell caused Lennon’s tummy to grumble, and he didn’t think twice, reaching into the box to snag a cookie. He took a big bite and groaned in approval. The cookie was just this side of gooey and sticky, with the chocolate stopping the peanut butter being dry in the mouth, like it could be.
“So good,” he mumbled around a mouthful.
Lane’s eyes sparkled with joy as he picked one up and nibbled on it. “They are! I had to hide the box so Laken and Kodi didn’t eat them.”
At the mention of Kodi, Lennon knew he was never going to get a better opportunity to ask his question.
“Would it be okay to ask a personal question?” It felt like Groundhog Day after talking to Hollis.
“Of course, sweet boy.”
“Kodi… does… does he have a… problem with his temper?” Lennon asked, his gaze dropping to the cookie he was holding. That didn’t quite come out the way he wanted, and he chanced a look at Lane.
He didn’t look pissed. If anything, the smile gracing his lips and reaching his eyes, suggested the exact opposite. “I wondered how long it would be before you asked about his short fuse.”
Short fuse? At times it was nonexistent.
“I’ve been struggling a little.” Understatement, but then Lane read their group chat, so he wasn’t saying anything he hadn’t voiced in the chat.
Lane patted his arm. “It takes a special person to recognize that someone has an issue that isn’t them just being a jerk.”
Lennon had, on an occasion or twelve, thought Kodi was a jerk when he was directing his temper at Lennon for no reason he could see.
“Kodi doesn’t talk about this, so I would ask for your discretion.” At his nod, Lane continued. “As this is affecting you, I feel honesty is best. Kodi was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, ADD, in his pre-teens. We tried medication, but he didn’t like the way it made him feel. He worked with a therapist for a few years and managed to find ways to cope. To keep himself focused when he needed to. It comes at a cost.
“He has impulse control issues, and the more pressure he is under, the more likely he is to have outbursts. Kind of like a dam when they have to syphon off water to relieve the pressure and stop the protective wall from crumbling. Kodi’s outbursts are how he has learned to function when he gets overwhelmed. Our retirement has added to that pressure. I’m sorry it’s affecting you. I’ll have—”
Oh bugger, now Lennon felt like crap for whining, though it confirmed what Jonny had said.
“No, please don’t say anything to him.” He didn’t want Kodi to feel awkward over this when Lennon considered how he’d feel. “It’s probably best if he doesn’t know that you’ve told me. I’ll find a way to manage the situation.”
It explained a lot. Now all he needed to do was come up with a way to help Kodi release his emotions in a way that benefited them both.
Easy!