“Well, I am.”
“I see that.”
She shuffled papers on her desk. “Are you looking for Coach Applewhite?” she asked. “He left my office a while ago.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m looking for the new ownership.”
“Well you found her.”
I didn’t expect to find a woman so beautiful in the old man’s office. “I did.”
I took a step toward her.
“Let me guess. You're here because you want to talk to me about money.” She sighed.
I grinned. There was something about this woman that made me forget I had stormed up here ready for a fight.
“How did you know?”
Her eyes met mine. “I’m Vanessa McCade. You are here because of my grandfather. Or at least because of what my grandfather did. I've heard from a lot of your teammates today.”
She seemed frustrated or sad. I couldn't tell. “Right. Your grandfather. I’m sorry about that.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t wait for her to offer a seat, I pulled up a chair and sat in front of her desk.
“I’m sorry," she whispered. “I should have just held a team meeting and let everyone stone me.”
“What?” My body took up the entire seat.
She shook her head, letting her loose blond curls fall around her face. “I’m sorry. That was overly dramatic. I know everyone’s frustrated.”
“Yeah, they’re frustrated and scared as shit their contracts are going to be torn up.”
Her eyes widened. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“No one around here knows that.”
“I don’t know what else to say except I’m so sorry. I really am. I don't know what you make. I don't know what's in your contract. I really don't know what money there is. I haven’t met with payroll or accounting yet.”
Her blue eyes drifted upward and my cock was suddenly as hard as a rock. It strained against my shorts. There was no way I was standing up any time soon. One look from this beautiful girl and I was hard as shit. What in the hell was happening? She was beautiful. Sexy. Soft and graceful.
“When will you know?” I asked. “All the guys have been here. They need answers. My best friend was here.”
“Your best friend?” I saw her blink back a tear.
I nodded. “Yes. Isaac Price. He told me you two met. Thought I should come up here myself. I need my own answers.”
“You two are the team’s best wide receivers and you are best friends?”
I laughed. “At least you know what positions we play. That’s something. But, yeah, we go way back. We played on a Pee Wee together. Then in high school. Isaac left for the Navy half-way through college, but I got him into open practice here after he left the Seals. You could say we are practically brothers.”
“Seals?”
I nodded. “Yeah. He was a Navy Seal.”
“Brothers,” she mouthed.
“Something wrong with that?”
She shook her head. “No. Nothing at all.”
Six
Vanessa
This couldn’t be happening again. I stared at the shirtless football player in front of me, hoping my mouth didn't drop open in disbelief. He was gorgeous. His muscles were chiseled and cut in ways I'd never seen. Little beads of sweat rolled from his collarbone along his pecks. I swallowed hard, imagining what the planes of his chest felt like.
I didn’t want him to know that he had this kind of effect on me. He was clearly cocky. I could see it in his eyes. They were a light green, almost the color of jade.
“So, what are you going to do?” Dylan James asked.
“Excuse me?” I blinked.
“How are you going to handle this mess? The team isn’t happy. No one is happy around here.”
“You aren’t the first person to tell me that today. I've heard it over and over again.”
I was exhausted. It was only lunch time and I’d heard nothing but complaints. Not a single compliment. I knew the sympathy comments were only out of obligation. The staff was unhappy. Management was unhappy. And the team was angry. They were like an army ready to fight, and pick up any weapons they could find and hurl them at this office. I didn't feel like I had any allies or anyone who cared what I was going through. The only thing that mattered to them was money. They had made that perfectly clear.
Dylan smiled. “Darlin’, I think you need to come up with a plan fast or you’re going to have a rebellion on your hands.”
I should have cared that he called me darlin’. I should've said something to put him in his place. I was the one in charge, not him. But instead the word made my spine tingle and my thighs warm.
“I’ll figure it out,” I explained.
He leaned back in his chair, adjusting his large frame to the seat. “So, what did you do before you owned an AFA team?” he prodded.
I pressed my lips together. I didn’t know what answer to give him. Whatever I said was going to make me sound like a spoiled rich girl. I was the one who grew up in a million-dollar estate on the Texas hillside. It didn't matter to him that my grandparents raised me, and their life had been lonely for me. I never knew my mother. My father died when I was five. It wasn’t a happy story, regardless of how much money I had.
He didn’t need to know about my irresponsible brother. He didn’t care that I was carrying the family on my shoulders right now.
“I’ve always been interested in the family business,” I lied.
“Really?” he smirked. “So, your grandfather groomed you for this position?”
His questions got under my skin, leaving me feeling rattled and uneasy. But it may have had more to do with his intense stare. The way his eyes made me feel. The heat I could almost feel radiating from his smooth chest. Whatever it was, I was completely shaken.
“My grandfather made sure I was always around the business,” I explained “I don’t want you or any of the other players to worry. You're in good hands. I promise. I take the Warriors very seriously, Dylan. I know this is your career, and I’m going to make sure we have a winning season.”
I don’t know where the sudden movie-esque speech came from. It felt foreign on my lips. As if some other girl had spoken the words, not me, the artist. Not the girl who was forced into a life of football when she would have rather been at an art museum or in a studio creating something beautiful.
“I’m not worried, darlin’. I'm going to be fine wherever I go. But I have loved this team since I was a kid, and I'd hate to see it fall apart. I have Warrior blood. It runs through my veins.”
He rose from his seat and my eyes followed the chiseled lines of his body. God, he was unbelievable. In a dangerous way.
“Me too,” I replied softly. At least that was the truth.
I had to shake the haze.
“Thank you for stopping by, Dylan. I appreciate your input. I’ll have an update for the team soon. I have several meetings this afternoon and the rest of the week. It’s going to take a little time, that’s all.” I didn’t know who I was trying to convince.
He flashed a smile showing his beautiful white teeth. And winked. That tingle between my legs sparked as he walked away.
“Good to know.” He slapped the doorframe as he walked out of my office. “I look forward to hearing from you, Vanessa.”
Seven
Vanessa
I stared at the empty doorway. What just happened?
I wasn’t ready for the emotions that spilled through me from every direction. I was excited. Thrilled a man like Dylan James had flirted with me. At least, it seemed like flirting. I chewed my lip, questioning my judgement. Dylan had done something else though—he reminded me I wasn’t cut out for this. There were a hundred men in the locker room who agreed with him.
No one had faith in me. They didn’t think I was capable of leading the team. And, damn it, I wasn’t.
My headed dropped to the cool surface of the desk. What was I going to do?
&nbs
p; I jumped when I heard Candy clear her throat. She gleefully held up a white paper bag. “I have lunch,” she announced.
I pushed back from the desk and plastered on a smile. “Thank you. I'm starving.”
“No problem.” She placed the paper bag in front of me. I tore into it, hungry for food and a distraction. It was easier to eat than to think about how angry everyone was.
“I passed Dylan James in the lobby. Did you have a meeting?”
I could feel the pink on my cheeks. "Yes. He stopped by to discuss a few things.”
I saw the smile on her lips. It was either wishful thinking, or she knew things about him. I couldn’t tell which.
“Sorry I wasn’t here to show him in.”
I spoke through a mouthful of chicken salad. “It’s fine. He let himself in.”
“Watch out for that one.” She giggled. “He’s a sweet talker.”
“Oh?” I wanted her to tell me every piece of dirt she knew about the wide receiver.
She nodded. “He’ll say whatever he has to, to get a girl he wants. Just be careful. He’s only in it for the fun.”
I blinked. “But you’re ok with that? Right?”
“Oh yeah. I love fun. He’s great for that, but he’s not exactly boyfriend material.”
I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation. It was completely inappropriate as her boss.
“I don’t think that will be an issue. I’m not having personal relationships with team members,” I stated it as if that could erase the way I reacted to Dylan and Isaac.
She shrugged. “That’s your business. But, you only have 15 minutes until Steve Drucker arrives. He's the PR director."
I shoved chicken salad in my mouth, wishing it was already the end of the day. I didn't know if I could take another round of hearing how awful the Warriors were and how unfairly everyone had been treated.
“Where’s Charlie? I thought she was my grandfather’s go-to.” She’s had cleaned up more than one mess for this team. No one could believe how she had turned Luke Canton’s career around. She was a miracle worker. I needed one of those right now.
“Charlie Maine is a freelancer. Want me to call her and see if we can get her in the office this week?”
“No, it’s all right. I’ll meet with Steve first and go from there.”
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Let me know when he’s here,” I replied. It wasn’t Candy’s fault I was having a shitty day.
“I sure will.” She smiled. "And if you have any more meetings with half naked members of the team you can let me know." She winked as she left the room.
I barely had time to collect my thoughts before the PR meeting.
The door opened and in walked a short man with a receding hairline and wearing a suit that looked as if he had pulled it from his dad's closet. I pressed the napkin to my lips to stifle a giggle.
“Ms. McCade, I'm Steve Drucker, the Warriors PR Director.” He shoved his hand across the desk. “Sorry about your grandfather. He’ll be missed around here.”
I took his hand. He had the kind of handshake that crushed my fingers until they were numb. I tried not to grimace.
“Thank you. I’ve heard a lot about my grandfather today. Nice to meet you, Steve. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on the direction of the franchise. I should go ahead and warn you, I'm only gathering information today." It seemed like a good disclaimer to have at this point. “I’ve had a lot thrown at me, and its only lunch.” I tried a softer approach with him, just clinging to the idea that maybe this guy could be my ally in the company.
He shook his head. “We have to do more than that.” He was frantic. His face was red, and his forehead was dotted with perspiration. "We have to act immediately. There’s really no time."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. I wasn't in the mood to make any kind of decisions. It felt as if every time I took a breath, more of the floor moved out from under me. I couldn’t catch my footing.
"Our numbers are in the nightmare range," he explained. "I've never seen them this low." He shoved a piece of paper in front of me scattered with charts and graphs. I tried to read the fine print at the bottom of each bar graph.
I looked at him. "What does this mean? Why don't you explain it to me?"
"Ms. McCade, the Warriors are the least popular team in the league. We need to act fast and do something that brings them back into the fans’ hearts."
"I don't understand." I shook my head. It didn't make sense. The Warriors meant Texas football. People loved Texas football. They grew up either a Warriors or Wranglers fan. There was no way our numbers could be this terrible. He had to be exaggerating.
His cheeks puffed as he tried to settle his breath. "Ever since your grandfather died, we’ve lost massive amounts of ticket sales. The team is angry. Now that he’s gone, there are stories that have leaked to the press. People know that management isn’t spending money. The players are ready to jump ship. And that doesn’t make any of the fans happy. No player wants to come here and practically all of them want to leave.”
I stared at him in complete disbelief. The ground shifted again. “Well, do you know a way to fix it? Should we bring Charlie Maine in? I knew my grandfather trusted her and she did such a good job with—”
He cut me off. “No, we don’t need Charlie.” He looked annoyed. “I have a plan.”
I felt uneasy. There was nothing reassuring about Steve. At least with Charlie, there was some successful team history. She was tough as nails, but her methods worked.
“What is the plan you propose?” I asked, skeptical he could fix this with a marketing strategy.
“It’s a radical idea, but I’m counting on it to work.”
“Ok. What is it? I’m listening. If there is a way to fix the nightmare, then let's do it. I don't want any of the players to leave. We need them. The season starts in two weeks. We can’t have opening night with an empty bench.”
Steve looked at me, forming a thin line with his lips. I could tell he was used to living at a frantic pace. Everything he did was quick and fast. All his movements were erratic. Maybe that was the life of a PR director, I didn't know. He made me feel anything but calm. I wondered if working for the Warriors did this to him.
“I think there is a way to show the fans that the team loves the new ownership. The players are excited about the new changes. It’s a way that will bring ownership and the team together in an unbelievable way. It’s going to give us great press. Positive stories. Headlines that could last us the entire season.”
"What is it? I'd love to hear this fantastic idea of yours." At this point I would take any ideas. I didn't have a single one. I had no plan how to rebuild the team my grandfather had run into the ground with his greed. He had reaped all the rewards and benefits while he worked them into exhaustion and hatred.
I waited for Steve to give me the magical answer.
“Ms. McCade, you need to get engaged.”
I had been able to prevent it all morning, but the ground gave way as if there were a gaping hole under the desk. I staggered, grabbing the edge.
“What are you talking about? Engaged? I’m not even seeing anyone.”
“Yes. Engaged. I checked into your personal life before this meeting. You’re going to need to up your profile activity on social media by the way. You haven’t posted anything in months.”
I stared at him. “This has something to do with how many vacation pictures I post?”
Steve chuckled. “No, sorry—off track. You need to get engaged to one of the Warriors.”
I felt my heart beat in my chest, pounding wildly. My palms became sweaty. I didn't know if I had enough space in my ribcage to take a full breath. My chest was closing in on me.
“Are you crazy? That’s your plan? You want me to marry one of the football players? That’s not even possible. I can’t do that. It’s unprofessional. Unethical. No way.”
He presented another graph. I didn't bother to loo
k at it. Nothing made sense right now. I just had to keep myself from falling through the floor, and sinking deeper into this universe of nonsense he had created.
“If you look at the numbers here,” he explained. “You'll see that fans react well to interpersonal relationships with the team. And I don’t think interpersonal relationships get any stronger than engagement. You are a young beautiful woman who has just inherited the team. A team that has sent out a clear message of hatred toward ownership. But if one of these guys will agree to be your fiancé, at least through the end of the season, then it will look as if he represents the entire team and that the team is united. They don't hate ownership, they love ownership. Love ownership so much that one of their own is going to marry her."
“This is the most insane thing I have ever heard.”
“Just listen, Vanessa. This one man will represent the entire team. You’ll be like their queen bee. And he is the figurehead who says to the world the whole team would marry you if they could.”
“There’s no way. I have only met a few of them today. And on top of that, I don't want to get married. My grandfather just died. It wouldn’t be appropriate.” I waved my hands in the air, I knew I was acting as erratic as Steve, but it felt like the world was spinning out of control. “I'm not getting married. It's not going to happen.”
“We can spin this several ways. Think about all the support you need in your time of grief. Falling for someone during that time would make sense to the fans.”
I shook my head. “I’m not getting married.”
“Listen, you don't have to actually marry anyone. You only have to be engaged for the season. We need the publicity. And there's nothing better for publicity than a love story,” he assured me.
“Your love story will change the entire perception of the team. You can turn everything around for the Warriors. It’s your job to protect this corporation. Isn't that what you want?”
My eyes flashed to his. “Of course that's what I want. I don't want the team to fall apart. But what you are suggesting is a lie. You want us to trick the fans and mislead them. I can't do that.”
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