by Regina Hart
She’d just settled into the chair, which was as comfortable as her sofa, when a tall, middle-aged gentleman in a double-breasted, navy pin-striped suit strode toward her. “Ms. Jones, I’m Greg Bonner. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Jaclyn stood and accepted Gregory’s outstretched hand. “Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Bonner.”
“Greg, please.” The firm’s senior partner studied her with sharp, gray eyes. His salon-styled chestnut hair grew back from his forehead.
“And I’m Jackie.”
“Denny’s waiting for us in the conference room.”
Jaclyn recognized the name of his law partner, Dennis Taylor. She fell into step beside Gregory. Her stilettos sank into the plush teal carpet that led to a wood-paneled conference room at the end of the wide hallway.
Another tall, stylish middle-aged man stepped around an impressive glass conference table to greet her.
He gave her right hand a firm shake. “I’m Denny Taylor, Ms. Jones. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure’s mine, Denny. And please call me Jackie.”
Jaclyn sat, waiting for the law partners to join her before beginning. She assumed the inscrutable expression she wore when negotiating contracts for her firm’s corporate clients. “Gentlemen, you know why I’m here.”
Gregory shifted to face her across the glass table. “This season is the Monarchs’ final opportunity to earn a profit. If it doesn’t, our client can break your contract without either party incurring a penalty.”
Jaclyn corrected the senior partner. “Earn a profit or break even.”
“That’s right.” Dennis nodded, his dark blond hair catching the light.
The lawyers’ blank expressions were unnerving. Jaclyn folded her shaking hands together. “We have several programs we’re implementing this season to increase attendance and ticket sales. We’re offering discounts on multiple ticket purchases, and hosting fan contests and theme games.” The beat of silence lingered. Jaclyn resisted the urge to chatter nervously.
Gregory picked up his platinum Cross pen and rolled it between his thumb and forefinger. “You reduced ticket prices last season. Sales didn’t increase.”
Dennis’s concerned frown was disheartening. “If you reduce the price again, you’ll have to sell even more tickets just to break even.”
Jaclyn hid her own misgivings. “We’ve planned a more aggressive marketing campaign to increase sales.”
Gregory shifted again in his maroon, straight back chair. “The Monarchs’ fan base has eroded.”
Dennis looked doubtful. “You’ll have to do more than lower ticket prices to lure your fans back. Because of low attendance during the past three seasons, the Monarchs’ games were blacked out of television more often than not. Without being able to see the games, a lot of your fans switched their loyalty to the New York Knicks. And the Knicks are winning.”
Gregory nodded. “You’ll have to win.”
Dennis’s smile was wry. “But that might not be so far-fetched now that you’ve hired Marc Guinn. He’s a winner. He’ll help revive the Monarchs’ winning tradition.”
Gregory brushed his hair back from his forehead. “And with his reputation, people will attend the games just to see him.”
Jaclyn kept her own counsel. The Empire owners’ lawyers didn’t need to know she was hoping the media’s NBA darling would pack his bags and leave. “That’s a possibility.” Her vague answer appeared to satisfy them.
Gregory rolled his pen again. “Even that bump in sales won’t be enough to get the Monarchs out of the red. Have you considered asking the mayor to support a levy? The revenue from the tax increase could save your organization.”
Jaclyn stiffened. “That’s not an option. My grandfather started the Monarchs to give something back to his community. I’m not going to dishonor his legacy by going to the community with my hand out.”
Dennis glanced at Gregory before returning his attention to Jaclyn. “What do Gerry and Bert think?”
“We’ve only briefly discussed the contract deadline, but I assume they agree with me.” Jaclyn had no reason to believe otherwise. “Why are you asking?”
Gregory sat back in his chair. His sharp gaze scanned her features. “They called a couple of days ago to discuss options for getting out of the contract and moving the team.”
Jaclyn blinked. “They never mentioned this to me.”
Gregory and Dennis exchanged looks again before Dennis spoke. “We’d assumed this was the reason you wanted to meet. But without access to your accounting records, we don’t know what kind of an offer you can expect from markets looking for NBA teams.”
Jaclyn’s heart stuttered. Gerald and Albert wanted to relocate the team? They knew she would never agree to move the Monarchs out of Brooklyn. Gregory had unknowingly confirmed her suspicions about her partners’ intent toward the Monarchs. Some of their business decisions—such as hiring an inexperienced coach to save a struggling team—had struck her as irresponsible.
Why would Gerald and Albert discuss their plans with outsiders before talking with her? When she’d invited them to this meeting, they must have known the lawyers would mention their conversation. Had they intended she learn of their plans this way?
Jaclyn swallowed her dismay. “We’re determined to turn the team around and generate more revenue.” Or at least she was. “Is it possible to get another year on the opt-out clause in our arena contract?”
Gregory’s tone was sympathetic. “I’m afraid not. Your grandfather agreed four years was a fair amount of time to allow the team to recover in the event of financial difficulties.”
But when her grandfather had passed away almost two years ago, he probably had never dreamed his beloved Monarchs would fair so poorly.
Jaclyn straightened her shoulders and rose to her feet. There was nothing left to say. For now. The law partners stood with her. “Gentlemen, thank you for your time.”
Dennis extended his hand to her. She winced at the pity in his pale blue eyes. “Good luck, Jackie. We hope you’re able to rebuild the team.”
Gregory escorted her back to the lobby. “The Monarchs have been good for the community. The franchise brought a lot of jobs in addition to excitement to Brooklyn. I hope you’re able to keep it here.”
She considered the senior partner. Her employer, Jonas & Prather Legal Associates, had negotiated with Bonner & Taylor on behalf of their clients in the past. Bonner & Taylor had always been diligent in protecting their clients’ interests but fair in their dealings. “Do you have any advice for me?”
“We care about what happens to the community. But our client’s interests have to come first.” Gregory gave her a sympathetic smile. “Make the playoffs.”
“I’ll do my best.” But it wouldn’t be easy with her partners working against her. The weight on her shoulders was steadily increasing.
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2012 by Regina Hart
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-7746-6
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