The Devil in Denim

by Melanie Scott

  “That’s disappointing,” he said, his smile flashing briefly. “But I wasn’t exactly expecting you to. What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “I thought you wanted to talk to me later.” She was stalling now, her palms suddenly clammy.

  “It sounded important so I thought we’d better do it first.”

  There wasn’t a good way to say it so she was just going to come out with it. She took a deep breath. “I saw Sutter this morning.”

  Alex came alert like a dog scenting a fox. “How?” The papers in his hand hit the desk.

  “Actually he was waiting for me when I came downstairs.”

  That didn’t make his expression ease any. Nor did it ease the sensation that she was suddenly a mouse and he was the eagle downstairs. “Waiting for you?”

  “In the lobby.”

  “I’m assuming that he wanted something; he hasn’t just taken up stalking for a hobby?”

  “No, he hasn’t. I mean, he did want something from me.”

  “Which was?”

  Her arms crossed in front of her chest. She’d mostly seen easygoing, charming Alex up until now. This wasn’t charming Alex. This was intent Alex … drifting toward angry Alex if she was any judge. The air in the room nearly crackled with it. She didn’t feel scared … but she still wasn’t keen to ramp up the tension any further. Maybe this was how he had become so successful … he’d intimidated his rivals into giving up the game with this aura of “don’t mess with me” roiling off him like steam.

  “Actually, he offered me a job.” There, she’d said it.

  “What job?”

  “CEO of the Saints.”

  Alex laughed, looking suddenly relieved.

  It should have eased her nerves. Instead it made her mad. “Why is that funny?”

  The smile wiped off his face. “I thought you were joking.”

  “Why would I be joking? Do you think that no one would want to hire me? You hired me.”

  “Not as CEO.”

  “Well, maybe that was your mistake.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You aren’t seriously considering this?”

  “Why not?”

  “For one thing, Sutter isn’t going to win his bid. I am.” His voice was flat, almost harsh.

  “You don’t know that for sure.”

  “Are you trying to hedge your bets, Maggie?”

  “I’m considering a job offer.”

  “I thought you wanted to save the Saints.”

  “I do.”

  “Sutter won’t save them, he’ll tear them down and set fire to everything you love about this team. And, trust me, you won’t like what rises from the ashes.”

  “You don’t know that. And, if I’m CEO I’d get to make a lot of those calls.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alex rolled his eyes. “With Sutter you’ll get to make exactly the calls he wants you to. Anything else and he’ll pull the plug so fast your head will spin.”

  “You don’t even know him,” Maggie snapped.

  “I’ve been studying. And I know his type. He’s arrogant.”

  “Some might say it takes one to know one.”

  “I’ve earned what I’ve got. Sutter hasn’t. He’s just playing with the toys his dad left him at this point. Who knows if he’ll break them or get bored and want to do something else?”

  “Is that what you think of me? That I haven’t earned what I have?” They were still separated by about ten feet. Suddenly it felt more like an ocean of distance.

  Alex shook his head, a finger tugging irritably at his open collar. “You’ve worked for the Saints. Sutter coasted until his dad died.”

  “That’s not true. He worked for us. He’s done other things.”

  “And every time he bailed or was fired or got bored and quit from what I can tell. I thought you didn’t like him. Why are you defending him?”

  “No, I’m trying to understand why you think it’s so ridiculous that someone else might appreciate what I have to offer.”

  “He’s appealing to your vanity. He just wants you in order to weaken my bid.”

  “Doesn’t that mean that you just want me to strengthen yours?” Say no. Say no. Say no. Tell me I’m more than that.

  “I value your skills.”

  That wasn’t no. Her stomach was starting to feel like it was full of concrete, cold and heavy. “He thinks I can be CEO.”

  “I thought we were on the same team here, Maggie. I thought you had decided you believed in what we were doing here.”

  “I want what’s best for the Saints,” she replied.

  “And you think that’s Will Sutter?”

  “No, but it might be me as CEO,” she said bluntly.

  Alex straightened his shoulders. “In that case, maybe this is the time when I remind you you signed a contract with me.” His voice was as controlled as his rigid posture. He looked like a man expecting to be obeyed.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you going to sue me if I go to work with Sutter?” Her anger spiked to a new level. She should’ve known. Should have known that when push came to shove he’d be one of those guys. The “my way or the highway” kind. The kind that did what was best for himself and the devil take everyone else.

  “I’m saying Gardner writes a very tight contract.”

  “You’d sue me?”

  “I expect loyalty from my employees,” Alex said.

  “Loyalty has to be earned.”

  “When have I been disloyal to you?” he said.

  “You don’t believe in me.”

  “I do. But unlike everyone else in your life, it seems I’m the one who tells you the truth. Maybe you can be a CEO someday but you’re not ready for that yet.”

  “How do you know? You weren’t much older than me when you started your first company.”

  “My first company was tiny, not a multimillion-dollar sporting franchise.”

  “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation,” she said. “Tell me, if you were me and someone offered you this sort of chance, you wouldn’t even stop to think about it?”

  “Not if I’d made my mind up already about what I wanted. Which you apparently haven’t.”

  “That’s not a crime.”

  “No, it’s not. But this is the big league, Maggie. Literally. I don’t have time for this and you need to choose.”

  “That simple. Damn it, Alex. I came to you. I told you what Will was offering, doesn’t that get me any points at least?”

  “Some. But it’s not enough. I need a decision.”

  “Give me some time.”

  “I don’t have time. If you’re going to work for Sutter, then you can’t be party to anything we’re doing to defend our bid. Surely you can see that?”

  “I can see that you’re being a colossal jerk.”

  He shook his head. “No, I’m being reasonable. This is business. Not personal.”

  “It sure feels personal,” Maggie said, wishing she knew how to break through that cool façade. “I knew it. I knew this was a mistake. This is why you don’t sleep with the boss.”

  Alex held up a hand, palm down. “That’s a separate issue.”

  “Is it? You want me to do what you want. You expect me to choose that automatically when we’ve only known each other a few weeks. That’s kind of ridiculous when you think about it.”

  “I thought we had something.”

  “So did I. But that’s not how I do relationships. There has to be give-and-take. You’re standing there yelling at me about loyalty and you don’t even know what my decision is. You don’t trust me enough to let me make up my own mind. So no, I don’t think we have something.”

  “You’re taking my business decisions as personal ones. Which is partly my point. You’re not ready to run something like the Saints if you can’t separate personal from business.”

  “The Saints are personal. They’re my family.”

  “Then stop acting like a spoiled rich girl
who’s always gotten what she wants and stop and think about what’s best for them. Try some loyalty to your team.”

  “You and your fucking loyalty. What the hell do you want from people?”

  “I want people who’d run into a fire with me and pull me out the other side,” he snarled.

  She froze. “What?”

  “I said I want people who would run into a fire with me.”

  “Oh and you’ve run into burning buildings with Mal and Lucas, have you?”

  “Actually, yes.” His eyes burned into hers, green spotlights.

  Fire? When? How? She struggled for a response, her anger knocked sidewise by his simple statement. “What?”

  “I’m not going to talk about it. You have a decision to make. Go make it because until you do, you can’t be here.”

  “I’m not a dog, you can’t just order me out of the room.”

  “I’m asking you to leave,” he said. “I have things to do to make sure Will Sutter doesn’t get his hands on your precious Saints, and like I said, until you make up your mind then you can’t be involved in those things. Much as I’m sure Sutter would love to know everything I’m planning, I’m not going to give you any more ammunition.”

  “You’re sure you want to do this?”

  “Do what? Get back to work?”

  “Alex, listen to me. I walk out that door and you and I are done. Regardless of what I decide. I might come back and work for you but that will be it. Understand me?” Change your mind, she thought desperately. Ask me to stay.

  He nodded. “I understand,” he said tightly. “That’s your prerogative of course.”

  “That’s all you have to say?” Her throat had gone tight, her voice sounded distant in her ears.

  “I’m not sure what else I can possibly say that’s not going to make this situation worse,” he said. “I can’t let you be involved in anything to do with the deal until I know that you’re staying with us. If you can’t accept that that’s a business decision, then I don’t see how I can change your mind.”

  “Must be nice to be a man, able to compartmentalize things so neatly.”

  His mouth twisted. “Trust me, right now, it’s not nice at all. But that’s what business is about, Maggie. Sometimes you’ve got to upset people to do the right thing.”

  “No wonder you and Dad get along so well,” she said. “You’re exactly the same.”

  “In some things, yes,” Alex said. He started to say something else, then shook his head and looked at the door, then back to her. “I’m sorry but there are people waiting for me. Call me when you know what your decision is.”

  “That’s it?”

  “That’s all there can be,” he said. He walked over to her, stared down at her with eyes that revealed nothing. “Good-bye, Maggie.”

  And then he strode past her and left her standing alone in the middle of the empty office.

  * * *

  Maggie made it back down to the street, carried on a tide of righteous indignation. Alex fucking Winters. Why the hell did he have to be such a stiff-minded, unyielding bastard? She kept reliving the fight in her head, hearing his words over and over again. Spoiled little rich girl. Someone’s got to tell you the truth. Not ready. Business not personal.

  Screw that. It was personal. It was her life. The anger coiled and fizzed in her stomach, and she focused on it. Part of her, the part she was keeping ruthlessly pushed away right now, was reeling with a sense of loss and pain. Alex.

  She’d told him it was over. Which was the right thing to do, yes, because she really couldn’t see how she could be with someone who had to have everything his way. But still … Alex.

  Alex with his arms around her. Alex kissing her with laughter in his eyes. No. Stop it. No nostalgia. It wasn’t like they’d even been together, really. This was business. She was going to make her choice and then, regardless of what that choice was, she was keeping Alex Winters firmly in the sort of box he wanted to keep her in. The “only one thing” box. Business not pleasure. There were plenty of other guys anyway, but there was only one thing she wanted to do with her life. So this had to be about that, not about him.

  Damn it.

  Pity it was too early to start drinking. Today had almost been a tequila-worthy day. Which was a pretty sad comment when it was only closing in on eleven A.M. So, no, no drinking. Just thinking. She decided to walk home. It was cold but not as bad as the past few days, and she had her coat and her boots were warm. Home the long way along the Hudson and the Highline. That might clear her head and let her think.

  She headed toward the river, feeling the cold against her face. It was comforting in a strange way, a contrast to the burning anger in her stomach. Her legs had found a rhythm by the time she reached the water and she walked without paying much attention to her surroundings, other than the minimum necessary to avoid collisions with the cyclists and joggers and other fitness enthusiasts crazy enough to brave the elements. She’d gotten as far as the Intrepid when the sound of her name made her stop.

  She twisted around, half hoping to see Alex. But no, that was foolish. He wasn’t the sort to come chasing after a woman. Not when he had his deal to do. No, the tall man loping toward her, dressed in shorts and compression tights and several layers of sweatshirts, wearing dark glasses and a fleece beanie pulled tight over his dark hair, was Ollie.

  Ollie doing incognito, but she knew his face and the way he moved too well to be fooled by stubble and glasses and a hat.

  She waved at him and smiled, bouncing on her toes as the cold bit now that she’d stopped moving. “Hey,” she said as he reached her. “What are you doing out here?”

  Ollie’s New York apartment was all the way up on the Upper West Side. He’d chosen it for its proximity to the park, which was his favorite place to jog when he was in town.

  He pulled a face. “Too soggy in my neighborhood,” he said. “I felt like a change of scenery.” He cocked his head. “I could ask you the same question. I thought all you management types would be cooped up today trying to work out what to do about Sutter?”

  “They are.” “They,” not “we.” She swallowed, glad of her own sunglasses, shielding her eyes from Ollie’s gaze.

  “So why aren’t you?” He was jogging in place too, reminding her, as always, of a greyhound, all lean body and sleek charm and long limbs.

  She paused, wondering what she wanted to tell Ollie. He was her friend but he was also a Saints player. She didn’t want them knowing about Sutter’s offer to her until she’d decided what she was going to do about it.

  “I wanted to clear my head, came down for a walk.”

  “It’s a long way for a walk,” he said.

  Busted. She was halfway back to her place.

  “So?” She shrugged and started walking again, needing to move before the wind, which was picking up, froze her in place.

  “So, I’m guessing this has to do with Sutter offering you a job,” Ollie said as he fell into step beside her.

  Maggie halted with a jerk. “What do you mean?”

  “He did, didn’t he? Offered you the Saints?”

  “How do you know that?”

  “He told me.”

  She stared up at him. “What are you doing talking to Will Sutter?”

  “Maggie, he’s talking to all of us. Making offers.”

  Crap. Of course he was. Though damn, if he’d moved on from going through agents to calling players directly, he was upping his game already. “He told you he’d made me an offer?”

  Ollie nodded. “I told him the Saints were likely to side with you, and he said he was making you an offer we’d all be happy with.”

  Double crap. How many others of the team had Will told? Triple crap. Just as well she’d come clean with Alex or he’d be hearing it thirdhand by now.

  “Will Sutter has a big mouth.”

  Ollie grinned. “Big checkbook too.”

  “How much did he offer?” she asked. She hadn’t grilled Sutter on
exactly how much he was willing to pump into the Saints. In retrospect, that was a dumb move. A mistake Alex wouldn’t have made. Mega crap. Maybe he was right. Maybe she wasn’t ready for this.

  “Triple my current package in the first year. Escalating from there.”

  There was no way the Saints could offer anything like that much. Not unless Alex and Mal and Lucas wanted to start throwing more of their own funds into the coffers. And she knew their plan was to fix the immediate problems and work on building the team, not just try to buy their way out of trouble. Which Sutter obviously knew too. “And?”

  “Well, I told him I’d think about it. How about you?”

  “The same.” She started walking again.

  “How did Winters take that?” Ollie asked.

  “It’s not his decision.”

  “You didn’t tell him?”

  “I told him.”

  “Ah. I guess that explains what you’re doing out here then. Banished, are you?”

  “He’s giving me time to make up my mind,” Maggie said. “Until then, it’s only sensible that I don’t know what’s happening from his perspective.”

  “And you’re okay with that?”

  “It’s business,” she said.

  “It’s bullshit. He should be trying to convince you to stay.”

  “I’m fine,” Maggie lied.

  “So, are you thinking about it?” Ollie asked. “Being CEO?”

  She shrugged and sidestepped a small white dog that was trotting down the path at the end of a long red leash, held by a man who was more interested in his phone conversation than his dog. “Of course I’m thinking about it.”

  “I think you should do it,” Ollie said.

  “You do?” She smiled at him, his words lifting her misery a little. Someone who believed in her. Someone who understood. Pity it was the wrong someone.

  “Sure, it’s what you’ve always wanted, right? What your dad would’ve done if he hadn’t lost his mind and sold to Winters and his pals.”

  “Yes,” Maggie admitted. “But it’s not entirely that simple. Sutter might move the team.”

  Ollie shrugged. “Teams move. It happens. Everyone survives. Look at the Bluejays. Outrage and fury, and then it all worked out.”