Page 66 of Secret Baby for My Brother's Best Friends

"I do."

Adam still looks unconvinced, and once the meeting is over and James has headed back to his office, I hiss. "What was that?'

"What?"

"Telling my brother that someone else should handle the project. Are you kidding me?"

"If you're sick–"

"I'm not sick!" I tell him. "You know I'm not sick and I'm fully capable of handling my work. I don't need you all to treat me like I'm made of glass. If that's what you're on, then you can fuck off with that, okay?"

All their eyebrows shoot up, and Jake raises his hand with a smile

"I just want it said for the record that I personally would never dream of taking you off the project."

"Me either," Sam says.

Adam glares at both of them.

"Okay," he says. "Let's all calm down. I was trying to be helpful."

I take a breath, easing back, letting logic lead once more. "I get that. But don't attempt to make decisions for me."

"That's kind of his thing," Jake says, earning another glare from Adam.

"Yeah, he's the oldest of eight," Sam concurs. "It makes him feel like he can tell everyone else what to do."

"Oldest of eight?" I gape. "With one mom?"

"Yup."

"Jesus." The poor woman.

Adam glares at Sam. "Are you both done?"

"Not quite," he says.

I shake my head. "Okay. I have some other work to do, so I'll leave first, and send the presentation for you to review then.”

"Okay."

"Okay."

Something simmers in the air that I don't want to evaluate, so I get up and walk out quickly, refusing to think about it anymore.

I barely get settled into my office when there's a knock on my door. James comes in with a cup of herbal tea in hand.

I smirk. "Do you also do this for your other employees?"

"Believe it or not yet. I like to take care of my people."

“Speaking of which, how's Brooke?”

"She's good. Art school is kicking her ass." My brother’s girlfriend decided to drop out in her final year of med school and pursue something she was really passionate about. Art. They’re doing long-distance now while she’s in school in San Francisco, and she pops in here and there to visit.

He purses his lips. "By the way, what do you think of Jake?"

I almost choke on my tea, but recover pretty smoothly, clearing my throat. "Um, I think he's a guy, and he's your friend."