“‘RAF’S OFFICER team do learn about the Queen.’ Two words. First one is eight long, the second is six… second letter of the first word is Q,” Lucien said, tapping the end of his pen against the table. He looked up as his brother let out an exasperated huff. Wolfgang had agreed to meet him for lunch and was now apparently regretting it, if the look on his face was anything to go by. He took an angry bite of his toasted BLT and shook his head. “What?” Lucien asked. “I’m a seamster, not a genius!” Wolfgang protested. “That’s your job.” Beside them, Samuel snickered and shoved another bite of his fettuccine into his mouth, probably assuming neither brother would be tempted to drag him into their bickering if he was occupied. He would be right, and Lucien bit back the urge to stick his tongue out at the redhead. “My job, technically, is CEO, not genius,” Lucien argued primly. “Same difference when you’re the one who founded the damn thing and managed it until it became too big and then went public with it. Ten years from getting electrocuted in Oma’s dingy garage to Fortune 500,” Wolfgang muttered. Lucien grinned. “Don’t forget the fifteen before that, shocking myself constantly in the living room or our bedroom.” Wolfgang snorted and rolled his eyes, taking another bite of his sandwich instead of replying. Starting a tech company a decade ago in the mid-1990s had been a pretty large gamble. He could have been easily pushed out by countless other giants in the industry, his designs could have been stolen, or he could have been bought out. Somehow, Lucien had managed to squeak through, undetected, until his name had gathered enough reputation that Cryptid Electronics not only survived, but thrived. Probably helped that it had been just him for a long time, so he didn’t have to worry about an employee taking his schematics to the highest bidder. Lucien leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, stretching over the back of it. He took a moment to look around the cafeteria, enjoying the view of the sound. Off to one side, they could see the Bainbridge ferry terminal, and the other boasted Pike Place Market. The building that housed Cryptid Electronics was a prime piece of real estate, and one that was hotly contested whenever it went on the market. Lucien had been incredibly lucky to have the money and newfound notoriety when he put in his bid. He’d just gotten contracts with Microsoft and Apple and had been deep in negotiations with Samsung and Sony. With the two new contracts, Cryptid had outgrown their current offices and needed to expand. Especially if they managed to land the other two. A stroke of luck secured both the new space and the contracts, and Lucien had gotten busier than ever. When he’d first gotten the keys, the building itself was outdated and the carpets reeked of cigarette smoke. So, before Lucien moved his staff in, he’d taken suggestions from his employees about what they’d like in an office, then hired a contractor to almost completely gut the inside. He hadn’t cared about the price or timeline, knowing that it would be worth it in the end, and with Cryptid’s future more secure, Lucien knew he could afford it. The results were breathtaking. The cafeteria that they were currently in boasted a window wall, hardwood flooring, and minimalistic yet comfortable furniture in a mash of warm tones to keep the space from feeling too sterile. There were multiple microwaves, ice machines, and refrigerators scattered through the room to prevent a backlog or frustration. In addition, a kitchen at the back of the room offered a variety of meals that changed daily for a reasonable price. Along with the cafeteria, Lucien carved out an area for a day care, and a hallway of quiet rooms where employees could go if they needed to take a breather. He’d gotten a few odd looks from the foreman when asking for the quiet rooms, but Lucien knew mental health was important.