Tyrone hurried into the shower, flipping the levers to bring water cascading down over his head. He ignored the shivers sent down his spine from the cold water, having not bothered to give it even a few seconds to warm up. Lathering himself quickly to wash off the post work out funk, he let the idle jokes and chatter from his teammates echo past without comment.

It may not have been football season anymore, but training didn't stop- not for those that took the game seriously like he did, at least.

"Why you always rushing through your shower, T?" Brandon, the team's center, shouted from where he stood next to an open locker. "Bro, you hustle harder than all of us out there. You need to take some time to unwind!"

Laughter and agreements- and no small amount of good natured ribbing- rang out through the locker room. While not everyone on the team was close, the guys that Tyrone trained with were the best- practically brothers in arms on the battlefield that was college football...

Yet, he still hadn't told them much about his job. How did you explain to your meathead friends that you were running a million dollar organization?

"I gotta get to work, man." Tyrone sighed, shaking his head even as he rushed to rinse the soap from his body.

"Just call your boss and tell him you'll be a little late." Brandon shrugged as he grabbed his towel. "Or, hell, ask for the day off! You're always rushing off to work, stressing the hell out of yourself. You need a break, man!"

Even as several others nodded in agreement, a few even suggesting they grab dinner together, Tyrone was shaking his head in refusal. "Can't, bro. The boss is out of the country for a while."

"Then call whoever he left in charge!" Someone else added, though T wasn't able to pick out who in the crowd- it sounded like Jake, but it easily could have been Arnie or John...

Turning his head to try to clear the water from his ear, Tyrone just chuckled at the suggestion. "Can't do that either."

"Why the hell not!?" Brandon huffed as he started his own shower. "They that big of an asshole or something?"

Tyrone barked a laugh, grabbing his towel and drying off- though his motions slowed as he considered how to answer. These guys were his team. Not quite family, but close enough- and he knew all of them were good guys. Hell, every one of them was at least on good terms with Oli and the rest of the group, if not out right friendly. It's not like it would hurt anything to tell them what was going on... At least part of what was going on; he doubted they were ready to have their whole world shattered with knowledge of magic and vampires and such.

He wouldn't say he trusted the entire team. But these guys? Yeah, he could trust them. At least with the more mundane stuff.

"Because the boss put me in charge." He shrugged, already pulling on his clothes. "And I ain't one to pass the buck."

The locker room went silent at his statement, save for Brandon's sputtering as water got in his face. After a moment to clear the water from his eyes, the giant of a man- who somehow made even Tyrone feel small- glared at him.

"Dude, where the hell do you work that they put you in charge already? We know it ain't one of the food places around here, or we would have seen you at some point."

Tyrone shrugged, a small, teasing smile on his face as he dropped the bomb on them. "Well, a buddy of mine started this charity... and I'm the person he trusted to put in charge when he wasn't around."

"Oh." Brandon chuckled. "I thought it was something serious, man! So, what do ya'll do over there? Collect donated clothes and stuff like that?"

"We work in conjunction with organizations like FEMA to provide relief to people and places affected by natural disasters..."

While most of the guys just looked unimpressed, Brandon gaped at the answer. "You're not fucking with me, are you T?" Getting a shake of the head in response, the large man whistled softly. "Fuck, man. Working with FEMA ain't small shit. And you're basically the boss at this charity?"

"When the big boss isn't around... Well, even when he is around. He's the hands-off sort, ya know?"

"Any chance you're hiring then?" Brandon grinned, and some of the others chuckled at the question. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I could go for a paycheck doing some easy charity work..."

Tyrone barked a laugh at that- Brandon was a good guy, and he wouldn't mind hiring him... but the man was in for a surprise if he thought it was a 'cushy' job...

"Yeah, we're hiring... But I don't do the hiring, so don't expect any favors there..."

"And the roles we're hiring for right now are basically all heavy lifting grunt work- you know, perfect for some meatheads like you! And trust me, they won't cut you any slack just because you know me."

Tyrone sighed as he pulled up to the warehouse, thankful that they didn't have any shipments going out at the moment- that meant that, unless something unexpected came up, it should be an easy day...

That hope lasted all of a second after he walked in the door.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Biggs!" Alice, their secretary said cheerily as he walked in. "Mrs. Mary told me to remind you of your meetings today."

He froze, his mind churning as he searched for what he had forgotten... and he nearly slapped himself. His last meeting shouldn't be an issue, as it was just a local group of crafters and businesses hoping to add their own contributions going forward...

But the first meeting was likely to be a headache, as it was the representative for one of their food suppliers... A supplier that had just recently sent them a batch of contaminated vegetables, and wanted to resolve their mistake before it became both a legal and PR nightmare...

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"Oh, and you have another meeting scheduled for your 3pm slot that was just added today. Mrs. Mary said it was important, and to check your email for the relevant information."

Tyrone restrained the sigh that wanted to escape him, and tried to smile at Alice- she really was a good secretary, and a very nice person. It wasn't her fault that he had so many meetings on what should have been a slow day- really it was his fault, as he was the one that approved the schedule...

"Thanks, Alice. I guess I better head up and make sure I'm ready." Glancing at the clock, he saw he still had nearly an hour to read what she had sent and ready himself- though it shouldn't be too bad; Mrs. Mary wouldn't spring anything too serious on him with so little prep time, after all.

"No problem, Mr. Biggs!" Alice cheerfully waved as he headed off to his office.

Settling in behind his desk, Tyrone sipped at the cup of coffee he had snagged on the way as he opened his email. Eyes skimming the rather short file he had been sent by Mrs. Mary, he had to clamp his lips closed to stop himself from spraying hot coffee all over his monitor.

This 'short and simple' meeting was with the representative of a billion dollar corporation...

Choking down his coffee, Tyrone quickly read on... and understood why Mrs. Mary had implied it was both important, but also simple. The representative, a man name Thomas Fine, wasn't directly involved in the corporation's operation, but acted on behalf of one of the members of the board- a gentleman named Robert Mann... Who did actually hold a good deal of influence in the company...

But Thomas was the man he sent more for personal matters... or when he needed a delicate situation handled with care.

Not that Tyrone could see what personal matter, or delicate situation, needed to be handled that involved him.

The brief he was sent served to at least allay some of his concerns, as Mr. Fine had expressed that this was a personal meeting and introduction- and, while it wasn't a business matter, the man alluded to the possibility of business in the future.

Not that Tyrone or Mrs. Mary would worry to much about such possibilities as, without a contract, they were subject to change at a moments notice.

Still, the meeting confused him. What personal matter could they want to discuss with him? He had never interacted with either Mr. Fine or Mr. Mann, and the charity certainly wasn't on a level to be impacting them in any meaningful way- and there was simply too little overlap between the charity and their business for that to be possible, anyway...

At the knock on his office door, Tyrone stood up and smoothed his suit jacket, a small, confident smile plastered on his face as Alice led the man in.

In the second it took Mr. Fine to cross the room and shake his hand, Tyrone silently appraised him. Mr. Fine was older, likely in his forties, but still fit. His black hair was shot through with streaks of gray, giving him an appearance of dignity and wisdom that matched the clean black suit he wore.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Biggs." Thomas Fine said with an easy smile on his face as they shook hands.

"The pleasure is all mine." Tyrone replied before waving the man to a seat. "Please, have a seat." As the pair settled in across from each other, Tyrone folded his large, dark hands on the desk in front of him. "What can I do for you today, Mr. Fine?"

Thomas chuckled, sounding a bit awkward for a second as he nodded. "Well, I suppose the best way forward is to just jump to the point. I am hoping you will be willing to convey a small apology to your employer on my behalf."

Tyrone sat back, surprise written clear on his face. What had happened that this man- or, more likely, his boss- felt he owed Oliver an apology? Especially since Oliver had been gone for near on a month...

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Tyrone said slowly, shaking his head. "An apology? I wasn't aware of anything that required an apology from you or your employer..."

"I can see where this would cause some confusion." Thomas said understandingly, leaning forward in his seat. "It isn't so much a matter of any action on our part, or the company's part, but rather one of association."

"You see, my employer, Mr. Mann, organized a bit of... Well, I guess you could call it a social club for movers and shakers, and some up-and-coming individuals. Business people, philanthropists, some politicians... It's actually quite a select group, carefully curated by Mr. Mann himself."

"And that is where the apology comes in."

Seeing he had Tyrone's undivided attention, Thomas pressed forward. "You see, admittance to the group is on recommendation by an existing member and approval by Mr. Mann... Which is how a man by the name of Carl Hardeman Sr. was brought into the group."

Seeing the tightening of Tyrone's face, and the suppressed anger and worry, Thomas nodded in understanding. "I believe you can see where this is going. Mr. Hardeman said all the right things and, by all appearance, should have been a solid addition to the membership..."

"But, after hearing of his passing..." Thomas sighed softly, shaking his head. "The murder of one of our associates is no small matter, and Mr. Mann asked me to look into it."

"And, what I found..."

Tyrone stiffened at the open ended statement. While he wasn't told everything, he had an idea of what really happened to Hardeman- or, more accurately, who.

"Such blatant corruption and abuse, even by one of our associates, is a black mark on the group as a whole." Thomas sighed, seeming genuinely remorseful of the situation- and oblivious to Tyrone's relief at the statement. "That is why I am hoping you will convey our apologies to Mr. Silk; While Mr. Hardeman's actions are all his own, and we do not in any way support such behavior, we wish to express our regret in allowing such an individual among our membership."

"We hope Mr. Silk will not hold any ill will due to our error in associating with such a person."

Tyrone nodded slowly. It was a lot to take in, and he couldn't help the sliver of doubt he felt at the situation. Even if they really felt like that, would people of their level of wealth and influence really take the time to come offer an apology? Why not simply send an email, or make a phone call?

Of course, the 'eccentric millionaire' excuse he used for Oli could just as easily apply to other people... And, if Tyrone knew anything about business, it was that a 'simple meeting' was rarely simple- and almost always had more to it.

"I would be happy to convey the apology for you, though, as I'm sure you are aware, Mr. Silk is out of the country for a time- and, unfortunately, he rarely contacts us while he is away."

"I understand." Thomas nodded, his easy smile returning. Pulling a business card from his pocket, he held it out to Tyrone. "Mr. Mann also wishes to extend a dinner invitation to Mr. Silk- whenever he is available, of course."

"Of course." Tyrone nodded, taking the card.

"My card has all of my contact information, should Mr. Silk agree to dinner." Thomas said, shaking hands once more as they both stood. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Biggs."

Tyrone smiled politely as the man left his office- but inside, he couldn't help but wonder about the meeting... and the dinner invitation. It could be as simple as the 'eccentric millionaire' excuse, but he thought it more likely related to this mysterious 'social club' organized by Mr. Mann...

But, if that was the case... Why would he want to invite Oli? It wasn't like the charity was that big, or that either of them really held much influence... He just couldn't wrap his head around it- and, he knew, he likely wouldn't. Not without knowing more about this 'club', its members, and Mr Mann...

Information he wasn't likely to get. It didn't help that Mr. Fine seemed completely genuine about the whole thing.

Sighing softly, he made a note to himself about the meeting and quietly tucked away the business card. He still had two more meetings to get through today... not to mention everything else he had on his plate.

The club, and Mr. Mann, were something for Oli to figure out- if he agreed to the dinner, that is.

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