The Brothers

Luke calls Cam first, and then adds Colin to the conversation.

"This better be important Luke." Cam says as they wait for Colin to pick up the phone.

"Mmhm." Kai says co-signing. Rolling her eyes at him because she was under the impression that this trip would have no work interruptions.

"Oh trust me, it is." Luke says. "What the hell, why isn't he answering."

-------

"Liyah, baby hold on." He groans as her mouth goes to work on his shaft. Aaliyah looks at him, reaches up to take his phone and tosses it over her shoulder. Colin looks at her as if she's lost her mind.

"You did not just throw my phone."

She stops. "I did. Now lay back and let me finish. Whoever it is can wait."

"This woman is crazy." He quietly says while laying his head back on the pillow.

-------

"He probably still sleep." Cam suggests.

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll try again later."

"Alright, and Luke..."

"Yeah?"

"Let Colin handle it, because Kai might kick my ass if I take calls about work."

"Maybe I don't want a relationship or marriage now. I don't need my nuts being held in a pair of vice-grips."

"Yeah, well at least I'm able to bust one on a daily basis. Have a good day Luke." Cam says then hangs up the phone.

"Dick." Luke mumbles to himself. About 15 minutes later, his phone rings and it's Colin. "Hello."

"What's up Luke?"

"We might have a small problem."

"Hold on." Colin throws on a pair of sweatpants, a long-sleeved shirt and steps outside on the balcony. "What kind of problem?"

"Some guy, named Simon Stern, ever heard of him."

"No. What about him though?"

"I'm standing by the bar, some guy walks in scopes the place out, introduces himself, then mentions something about owning the club, then he walks out."

"Have you looked this guy up to see who he is?"

"Yeah, I have him pulled up right now. He owns his own establishment down the block, which only makes me wonder, why he'd want our space."

"Yeah, and after all these years..."

"Well, that's the thing...he's only been around here for a few months, but the guy is filthy rich and highly successful."

"Have you spoke to Cam about this."

"Not yet. I attempted to call you earlier and I had him on 3 way, but you didn't answer.

"Yeah, I was a little busy." He says looking into the room through the balcony door. "Damnit, Aaliyah's gonna kill me....I'll take a flight to come up there, see what's going on and try to see what this dudes motives are and why, and I'll brief Cam on what's happening. But I'll see you soon."

"I didn't mean to ruin the vacation..."

"Nah, you didn't ruin it. Mr. Stern did. See you later."

"Oh, and Happy Birthday old man."

"Thanks."

Before walking back in, he books a flight, and texts Cam to let him know what's up. He walks back into the hotel room to Aaliyah laid across the bed, questioning himself does he really want to leave this.

"Damn. How did I get so lucky. My God." He says slowly climbing on top of her.

"Shit, I wonder how you got lucky all the time." She says with cockiness in her voice.

"Okay, with your cocky ass."

She giggles. "I'm kidding."

"Mhhm. Sure you are." He dips down to give her kiss, and pulls away before it goes too far.

"What?"

He sighs. "Please don't be mad at me."

"I'm not promising anything."

"I gotta fly back to New York."

"No."

"I have to. I already booked the flight."

"What for, Colin?"

"Something came up. I'll only be gonna for a day. I promise."

"It's your birthday. It can't wait till tomorrow?"

"We can do something tomorrow, okay? I promise." She rolls her eyes. "Don't be like that." He goes in for a kiss and she turns away. "Aaliyah."

"What?"

"Quit actin like this. I told you I'd be back."

"You also told me no work this week."

"I know I did. But I can't help it when unexpected shit comes up, you know that."

"Whatever. What time you gotta be at the airport?"

"In a couple hours."

"Well, we better get back to your moms, so you can get dressed and I can get you to the airport." She says pushing him off of her. He doesn't say anything, he gets up and and they get ready to leave.

--------

Hours later, Colin's back at the club. He and Luke take a walk to Simon's establishment to see if he's serious, or just blowing smoke.

"I knew it wouldn't be long." Simon says as he sees Luke and Colin walk through the door. "Gentlemen, can I offer you a drink."

"We're fine." Colin says.

"Suit yourself."

"Who are you?" He asks.

"Simon...Simon Stern."

"Colin."

"I know who you are."

"Good, now that we got that out of the way, what's this I hear about you wanting to own our club."

"There's no want. I will."

"It's not for sale."

"I'm aware."

Colin narrows his eyes at him. "What exactly is your motive here? Why do you want our place?"

"Why wouldn't anyone want it? Hottest club in New York."

"That it is. But you see, we put a lot of work into it, what makes you think you can waltz in here and take. I can also guarantee you that no one would show up if we weren't the owners."

"I knew you'd say that, which is why I'm offering you a partnership."

Colin and Luke both share a laugh. "Don't you think it'd be the other way around?" Luke asks.

"I said what I said. Now if you gentlemen would excuse me, I'm a bit busy. I'll give you two a couple days to think on it."

"That guy is out of his damn mind if he thinks he can take our club." Luke says as they walk down the street.

"Chill. He's not takin anything. He can't. Last time I checked, there wasn't a for sale sign on our building."

"Yeah, I guess you have a point. Are you staying through tonight?"

"Yeah, I told Aaliyah I'd come back in the morning."

"Was she pissed?"

"Pissed isn't even the word. But it's nothing I can't handle." He smirks.

--------

Later that night, Colin showed up at the club after debating whether to go or not. He gave Luke the night off, and coincidentally, Carly had the night off as well. Colin, or any of the guys for that matter, didn't know about him and Carly, and he intended on keeping it that way for the time being.

Everything at the club was running smoothly. Colin goes down to the bar to grab a drink.

"...Collie." He hears. A name he hadn't heard in a while, since high school. He looks to his right and there stands a very familiar face."

"Liz?" She smiles and nods. "Yo!!" He gives her a hug. "I haven't seen you since high school. What the hell are you doing here."

"It's been a long week." She says pointing to her drink.

"Come on." He says grabbing her hand and leads her to he office, where its a little quieter.

"Do you work here or something?"

"I own the place. Well, me, Cam, Odell, and Luke."

"Nice to hear you guys are still close."

"Extremely close. Those are my brothers."

"Oh believe me I know. All the times little Odell barged in on us while your mom was at work.."

"Yeeeaaah. I almost took the key my mom gave him. But he was still in middle school and always wanted to come chill when he got home from school. So Liz...or is it Elizabeth now that you're all grown up."

"Colleagues call me Elizabeth, close friends, Liz."

"Liz it is."

"I said close friends."

"Hey, I probably know more about you than your close friends do, or did you forget..."

She smiles and rolls her eyes. "Oh believe me, I didn't forget. So tell me, how did you end up to be such a huge club owner."

"Well, it's not just me...but it wasn't just an overnight success. It took a lot of patience, and hard work. But we finally made it. So what about you? What has Ms. Ramirez been up to for the last 12 or so years?" He says leaning against the desk.

Before she can answer, her phone goes off. "I gotta go, my friends are looking for me...is this the last I'm going to see or hear from you, or can I have your number."

"Whaaaat? You asking for MY number. My how times have changed. It took me months to get your number."

"Just shut up and give me your number."
She says handing him her phone.

"Still a feisty little thing too I see." He says while entering his number in her phone. "There you go."

"See you around...Collie bear."

He smiles. "Likewise." He says then watches as she leaves the office. "Oh boy."