That's business

~Creeps back in after over a year of not posting~

Enjoy!

Scott smiled as he watched his brother head into the last segment of the seminar. John had been nervous on the car ride over. For someone who talked to countless people around the world everyday Scott didn't understand his brother's weariness for presenting to large crowds. John was a natural at every conference he presented, you'd never be able to tell he had to be coerced into every single one.

Scott took a glance around the auditorium, all the academics here were hanging onto his brother's every word. Scott smiled with pride.

John was presenting his new HoloLens glasses. HoloLens has been around for years of course, but John had always been critical of the current models available. Mainly the fact that they were often uncomfortably chunky, and that the refraction of the screen could be seen on the surface of the glasses. For someone who was always trying to find ways to work discreetly, his brother was determined to develop a better pair.

The sleek, thin glasses his brother had developed now perfectly resembled a normal pair of glasses, and the screens were masked with camouflage technology. The eye tracking dependence had also been removed. It was now controlled with a neural link held discreetly where the rims ran past the temple. And that's not even mentioning the highly sophisticated operating system hidden underneath.

This project has been his brother's baby for the past 2 years. Every free moment, and god knows they don't get a lot of them, his brother had been tinkering away into ridiculous hours of the night, much to Scott's exasperation. He wasn't sure how he felt about the fact that John now had an even more discreet method of working past a healthy balance.

The crowd erupted in another round of applause as John finished his presentation. The questions started firing and Scott made his way to the back of the stage. It was bustling with people whispering enthusiastically. The conference was being held in New York and a number of John's professors, advisors and mentors from college and NASA had been invited.

Scott knew John had a lot of connections from his time before IR. Someone like his brother didn't come around very often. Lots of people had natural talent, lots of people worked hard. John had both of those qualities to an extreme level. Scott wasn't surprised his brother had acquired so many people who supported him through his journey.

"Scott?"

He turned to see a vaguely familiar man holding out a hand to him. Scott immediately extended his own as the man introduced himself.

"Samuel Harding, I'm a head researcher at NASA. I was one of your brothers' supervisors during his time with us. I also worked closely with your father." The mans eyes turned sad and Scott did his best not to react. "He would've been so proud. I'm sorry for your loss."

Scott uncomfortably nodded in recognition. "Thank-you for coming. John always spoke highly of you."

Harding chuckled. "That boy was always destined for greatness. Far beyond what I could teach him. I'm glad he's found something that challenges him. You boys really are something special."

Scott nodded his thanks and excused himself. There were a lot of people here to support John and Scott didn't trust a single one of them. He didn't like being a pessimist, but he'd experienced it first-hand too many times. As soon as you start becoming successful, everyone wants to be a part of your life. Everyone wants something,

Scott learned that a young age just from being Jeff Tracy, the billionaire's, eldest son. Then from being commander of international rescue. The worst of all though was when their father disappeared, just over 2 years ago now. The fake sympathy was tiresome.

Scott was sure there were a lot of people here John trusted and out of all of his brothers he would label John as the least naive when it came to stuff like this. That didn't mean Scott was going to be any less vigilant.

John finally slipped around the back curtain, the ghost of a smile on his face even as Scott watched him visibly exhale. He hurried over to clap his brother on the back.

"Way to capture the crowd Johnny." Scott beamed.

John smiled, removing the sleek glasses that were the result of so many hours of work. Including the hastily repaired rim leg that Gordon had managed to snap off a couple of nights earlier. Scott was still fanning the flames of that particular incident. John had been less than happy.

"Excuse me, Mr. Tracy?" A man approached, trailed by a woman with a sharp look and a briefcase. Scott and John exchanged a brief glance trying to work out which Tracy the man was referring to. They didn't have to wonder for long before the man was close enough to extend his hand in John's direction.

"How can I help you?" John asked as he shook the outstretched hand. Scott eyed the grasp as his brother shifted almost unnoticeably. From his vantage point Scott could see the grip was the type that was much firmer than necessary. A businessman then, they were particularly prone to those kind of mind games.

The man glanced briefly in his direction. "Do you mind if Mr. Tracy and I have a word in private?"

Scott had already decided he wasn't going anywhere but the look John sent knowingly in his direction cemented that decision.

"Anything you need to say to me, you can say in front of my brother." John replied before Scott had the chance to give a reply that would have been much less polite.

"Scott Tracy." Scott interjected, offering his own hand to the man with a hint of a challenge in his eyes.

Scott saw the moment the man looked at him properly, taking in the thousand-dollar suit, the perfectly polished shoes and the hardened eyes that had gotten him so far in the business world. John pulled off the cool, calm, and collected persona effortlessly, but Scott knew his confident, no-bullshit attitude was a more intimidating look.

The arrogance the man had sauntered over with evaporated as he shook the extended hand and Scott made sure his own grip was as crushing as the one he'd witnessed from before.

"Mr. Tracy, of course." The man finally found his tongue. "How nice to finally meet you."

Scott turned up the charm. "And you would be?"

The man had failed to introduce himself so far, but Scott was already dissecting the information he'd gathered. The man clearly knew who he was but not well enough to recognise him even when he'd been by Johns side. He couldn't be all too connected in the business world, but he definitely gave off the corporate air by travelling with who Scott assumed was a lawyer.

"Right. Harold Denburgh." He nodded his head. "Head of Spectre Technologies. I had dealings with your father back in the day you know. Great man."

He said it like he was gaining an advantage by mentioning their father, but Scott was already tired of hearing people talk about him in the past tense today.

"What can we do for you, Mr. Denburgh?" John cut-in, clearly sensing Scott's souring mood.

"I want to make you an offer." Denburgh said simply, spreading his arms in an open manner and grinning as if he'd just offered the world.

"Regarding what?"

"Well, the glasses of course."

John glanced down at the revolutionary piece of technology he had folded in his palm.

"I'm sorry but they're not for sale." John replied, equally as simply. "We don't plan on releasing them commercially at this moment in time."

It was true. They weren't here today representing Tracy Industries. This was John's project and today was purely an exhibition. Even if they did decide to release them commercially down the line, it would be a severely stripped back version. The ones John had right now would be a data privacy nightmare.

They would also be released under Tracy Industries.

"Hold your bargaining until after I give you my offer." Denburgh laughed obnoxiously. "I think you'll find it very generous."

He gestured to his lawyer who produced a small piece of paper from her briefcase, handing it to Denburgh without saying a word.

John cut-in before the man could go any further. "Really, they're not for sale. This is only a prototype anyway, it's not suitable for commercial use."

Scott could see on Denburgh's face that he was quickly realising John wasn't just playing hard to get and was instead firmly closing the door on the opportunity.

"Come on boy." He smiled slyly. "You and I both know those are far more than a prototype."

Scott knew he wasn't wrong. They might be a prototype in John's eyes, his brother was constantly developing and redeveloping, never fully happy with the result. But Scott knew the current version of the glasses were an extremely sophisticated piece of engineering and technology.

"You heard my brother." Scott was tired of the back and forth. "They're not for sale."

"Everything's for sale if you have the money." Denburgh replied, his tone implying that they were all in on a joke. Scott bristled. He hated people who flaunted their wealth, who thought they could get away with anything because of it.

The businessman grabbed at his brothers wrist suddenly and Scott moved to interfere but he merely pressed a folded piece of paper into John's palm and backed off with his hands raised.

"Just take a look at the offer and call me when you reconsider."

The pair backed off quickly and Scott was sure it was to do with the fact that he was now glaring daggers in Denburgh's direction.

"Well, that was interesting." John broke the silence; he slipped the piece of paper into his satchel without even bothering to look.

Scott was still tense from the weird encounter, and he had to force himself to relax again. He really didn't think he could deal with any more people today.

He sighed, forcing himself to let the conversation go.

"Want to get out of here?" Scott asked and then felt bad when he realised this was his brothers' big event and he'd probably want to stay to catch up with people. He was about to retract his statement when John smiled and replied.

"Absolutely." John grabbed his coat from the hook by the stage. "I think all the socialising I've gone through this weekend will last me another year at least."

Scott laughed, realising if he was running low on social batteries, his brother must be running on empty. It's true it had been a long weekend leading up to the talk today. He and John had met old associates for almost every meal. Friday lunch with his collage advisors, Saturday breakfast with the Lady Penelope, dinner with his NASA buddies and more.

It had all been great, but it was Sunday late afternoon now and Scott thought it was about time they had a break.

"Grab a drink at the Hundreds?"

It was the bar they always favoured when they visited New York. Their dad used to take them there and it was a cemented tradition by now.

"Please." John agreed.

Scott waited for his brother to make his goodbye's before they made their way out into the crisp January streets.

Tbc.