by Claire Adams
“You want a drink?” I asked, standing up and moving toward the hall.
“Yeah, that would probably be a good thing, wouldn’t it?” she smiled as she smoothed the front of her dress. She followed me back to the living room where she dropped back down into the corner of the couch and watched me as I headed back to the bar.
“Let’s toast to possibilities,” I said, pouring us each a tumbler full of whiskey. I walked across the room and handed her one before sitting down on the opposite end of the couch.
“To flipping the script,” she said, clinking her glass against mine before taking a drink and then leaning over to set her glass down on the low, wood coffee table. She swore softly, “Oh shit, what’s my family going to say about this?”
“Yeah, I wondered about that,” I nodded. “But I figured it would go one of two ways: either they’d be happy for you were dating someone worthy or they’d be pissed and see it as a betrayal. I just wasn’t sure which way it would go.”
“And how do you think it will go?”
“My gut tells me it’s going to be the latter,” I said, running hand through my hair. I pushed myself up off of the couch and paced the room as I continued, “Look, I’ve made my career on taking risks that no one else in their right mind would take, and there’s something about you that makes me want to be around you, Payton. You’re smart and lively, and you love football.”
“I’m also incredibly stubborn and have a fine-tuned bullshit meter,” she said pushing herself up off of the couch and walking toward elevator. She punched the button and stood silently with her back to me. Inside I was panicking; I’d played this moment out in my mind all evening, and every single replay had ended with Payton excitedly agreeing to keep seeing me. This did not fit my script.
“Where are you going?” I asked. “Are you leaving?”
“It would appear that way, wouldn’t it?” she said as the elevator doors slid open and she stepped inside.
“But what about us?” I called as she punched a button and then looked up at me. “Payton, I want to see you again. And again.”
“You’re a great salesman, Dax, but I don’t buy it,” she said and flipped me the bird as the doors slid shut.
Stunned, I stood staring at the doors as the enormity of what had just happened overwhelmed me. I had not planned for this. My business had been built on planning for success, so I hadn’t even thought about the possibility of her not accepting my offer.
I could feel the fury rising inside me as I began pacing the floor mutter, “Fuck! How dare she! Spoiled little girl!” Unleashing my anger, I hurled the glass I was holding at the spot where Payton had disappeared. It shattered into a million, tiny pieces as I told myself that I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Chapter Fourteen
Payton
“That son of a bitch was trying to play me, Val!” I yelled into my phone as I paced my living room floor trying to think of a way to make Dax Connor pay for being the ultimate douche-bro.
“Chill out, PG,” Val said on the other end. “Tell me exactly what happened and what you did.”
I relayed the details of the date, making sure to emphasize the way in which he’d pulled back from having sex after he’d brought me into his bedroom. Years of having been guarded around the boys I went to school with, most of whom would have, and often times did, do anything I wanted them to do to get a chance to sit in my family’s sky box at Soldier Field, and meet the Bears players had caused me to develop a healthy skepticism and keep most men at arm’s length.
“He said he wanted to date me, not have a one-nighter,” I said rolling my eyes as I walked to the kitchen and pulled a bottle of Prosecco out of the fridge and popped the cork. I poured myself a glass and went back out to the living room where I sunk down on the couch and sipped my drink.
“And what’s wrong with that?” Val laughed. “He wants to treat you with respect.”
“That’s bullshit, Val, and you know it as well as I do,” I said. “He’s got an angle; I just don’t know what it is, yet.”
“Paranoid much, girl?” Val asked, only half kidding. She knew what I’d been through, she’d comforted me on the nights when boys had ditched me after having been to the games and I was no longer of interest to them.
“No, but I seem to attract these kinds of yahoos,” I said. We were silent for a few moments and then I said, “I thought I might actually like him, Val.”
“I know, kiddo,” she replied sympathetically. “Those are the ones that suck the worst. So, the question is what are you going to do about it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, the man obviously wants something you have,” she replied. “Why not see if he has something you want and make a trade?”
“What in the hell could he possibly have that I could want?” I laughed. “I mean, aside from more money than God.”
“He could be the solution to your problem with Joanna,” Val suggested quietly.
“In more ways than one,” I replied. “If I hooked up with him and told her I was going to marry him, she’d have a stroke.”
“Mmm hmmm,” Val intoned on the other end.
“Oh my God, Val,” I whispered. “I could do what she ordered me to do and also drive her insane by doing it.”
“That’s one way to look at it,” she replied. “But I think you need to go bigger with this one. He has no idea about Joanna’s ultimatum, so you can negotiate for something you want.”
“I’m so glad you’re my friend and not my enemy,” I laughed as I considered her suggestion. “But what do I want that he can give me?”
“Experience,” Val said. “He owns a football team, PG. You can get him to put you in a position of power so you can add it to your resume once this whole thing is over. Hell, didn’t he just fire his GM? Make him appoint you the new GM for the Storm!”
“That’s insane!” I cried. “Val, I’m a 28-year-old woman with minimal experience in recruiting and managing; why on earth would Dax put me in charge of something so essential to the team’s success?”
“Maybe he wouldn’t, but it couldn’t hurt to ask, could it?” she said. “I mean, you obviously have something he wants, so…”
“So, ask and see what he says,” I echoed. Suddenly dating Dax Connor started looking a whole lot better from my perspective. I backed up and asked, “Did you talk to Joanna yet?”
“Nah, she was too busy to take my call today,” Val said. “I thought I’d stop by tomorrow and say hi. Maybe bring her some chocolate or something.”
“You know she refuses to eat any dairy; she’ll have a fit,” I said.
“I know,” Val said in a way that made it obvious she was grinning from ear to ear on the other end.
“You’re so evil,” I laughed. “Again, glad you’re my friend not my enemy.”
“I’ve got your back, PG,” she said solemnly. “Always have, always will.”
“Right back at you, Val,” I said and smiled as I confirmed our bond. “I’m going to work up a list of terms for this contract, and then I’ll go down to the office and present it to him.”
“Very professional of you,” Val laughed.
“Well, if we’re going to do this, then we should do it professionally, don’t you think?”
“Indeed,” Val affirmed.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” I asked, suddenly remembering that Val had her own challenges.
“Meh, it’s all being taken care of by his mother’s wedding planner, so I basically just have to show up and be able to fit into the dress,” she said in a disinterested tone. She sounded a bit more excited when she added, “But I found out that we’re going to tour North Africa on our honeymoon so that Richard can participate in a desert run. I, on the other hand, will spend my time at spas in Marrakech and shopping in the souks.”
“Sounds like the perfect honeymoon for you two,” I said. “Val, are you—”
“Yep, I’m sure as sure can b
e,” she said cutting me off. “But thanks for asking. I really am okay with all of this, Payton. I promise.”
“Okay, but you know you could tell me if you weren’t and I’d help you get out of it, don’t you?” I asked softly.
“Yep, I’m well aware of that,” she replied before adding, “I gotta run. Love you, girl! We’ll talk soon!”
“Love you, too, Val,” I said before she disconnected.
I got up off the couch, went into the second bedroom that served as my home office, and grabbed my laptop before heading back to the living room where I spent the next several hours drawing up the terms of an agreement that I thought Dax might want to see. I started by listing every single thing I’d ever wanted, and then winnowed the list down to the top five most important things.
“No, ask for everything,” I murmured as I turned the list into the top 10. “It never hurts to ask.”
Chapter Fifteen
Dax
It had been five days since Payton had flipped me the bird and stormed off, and while I knew this wasn’t over, I also knew I had to play it cool or else I’d push her away for good. I waited until Monday to send her a bouquet of lavender and a bottle of Cutter Highland single malt with a note that said:
P—I meant what I said. Please accept this very sincere peace offering and an invitation for a second date. —D.
She’d said nothing and when I woke up Wednesday morning, I decided to go for a long run to burn off the anxiety that was starting to build. I spent the run trying to decide if I should call her or if I should maintain my distance and wait for her to call me. There was a lot riding on this and I didn’t want to screw it up.
I’d just gotten back from an early morning run and had started making coffee when my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and smiled as I answered.
“Well, I didn’t think I’d be hearing from you so soon…or ever,” I teased.
“Ha. Yeah, well, I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I’ve got a proposal for you. The flowers and scotch were a nice touch, by the way,” Payton said in a flat voice that was nothing but business. When I remained silent, she said, “You there, Dax?”
“I’m here; I’m just thinking,” I replied as I pulled a coffee mug from the cupboard and set it on the counter. “You sound as if you’re preparing to negotiate a contract rather than start dating.”
“Why don’t we meet for breakfast and talk about it,” she said without elaborating. “How about The Third Coast at nine?”
“Fine, I’ll be there,” I said. I waited a few moments, but before I could say anything more, the line went dead and I heard the dreaded three beeps that meant a dropped call. I thought about calling her back, but nixed that idea when I looked at the clock and realized I’d have to hustle if I was going to make it down to the restaurant on time.
I poured myself a cup of coffee and carried it to the bathroom where I took a quick shower. I wrapped a towel around my waist and took a good look at myself in the mirror trying to decide whether to shave or not. For a moment, I wondered what Payton preferred and then reminded myself that this wasn’t actually going to be a date.
I picked a steel-blue Armani suit out of my closet, but skipped the tie. Better to keep it less formal, I told myself as I slid my feet into a pair of black loafers and assessed my look in the mirror.
“Damn, you look good,” I murmured before I grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys, and headed to the car. I slid into the backseat as Geo said good morning. “Morning, Geo. We’re heading to The Third Coast this morning.”
“Yes, sir,” he said.
It wasn’t long before we pulled up in front of the building on Dearborn. I told Geo that I’d be done by 10 and we’d be heading to the office afterwards as I got out of the car. Normally, I loved this cafe and it’s laid back ambience, but today I felt on edge as I entered the building and descended the few steps into the restaurant.
The place was fairly empty, which was to be expected since most of the building’s residents were 9-5 professionals who reported to the office at seven. As the hostess welcomed me, I saw Payton waving from the far corner. I smiled and walked across the room, wondering how exactly this was going to turn out.
“Good morning,” Payton said as she looked up from the menu she held. She was wearing the female equivalent of my outfit: a grey, pinstripe jacket over a French-blue, silk blouse. Her hair was loose and flowing across her shoulders, and if she was wearing makeup, I couldn’t tell. My brain whirled with the memory of how she’d felt pressed against me, and I realized I needed to quickly sit down. She flashed me a professional smile as she said, “I was just trying to decide between eggs or oatmeal.”
“I always go with eggs when I’m out for breakfast,” I said pulling out the chair and sitting down across from her. “Oatmeal seems like a waste of a chef’s effort.”
“Good point,” she nodded, placing the menu down on the table and meeting my eyes across the table.
“So, you’ve got something to propose?” I asked.
“Ah, no small talk with you,” she smiled as the server stepped up to the table and asked us if we were ready to order breakfast. Once we were finished, Payton looked at me and said, “Why don’t you explain what it is you had in mind when you asked me to date you.”
“I just thought it would be nice to date like normal people,” I said as she caught me off guard.
“Okay, if this is going to work, then you and I can’t bullshit each other,” she said bluntly. “Tell me what it is you want to achieve with this and I’ll tell you what I need.”
“Wow, you’re straightforward,” I said, marveling at her ability to cut to the chase. I wasn’t used to any women aside from Gram being this blunt with me, and I found it more than a little unnerving.
“I figure we both need something, and beating around the bush isn’t going to lead us anywhere productive,” she shrugged. “Why don’t you explain where you were headed when you fed me the line about wanting to get to know each other before we got intimate?”
“God, you are direct,” I said shaking my head. “Fine, I want to date you because it’s good for business. There, happy now?”
“Nice try, Sparky,” she said sarcastically. “Try again.”
“What is wrong with you?” I countered irritated by her dismissive tone. “I’m telling you what I was thinking, and you’re telling me I’m not telling you the truth?”
“Yep, that’s exactly what I’m telling you,” she said without smiling. “Try it again.”
“I want to date you so that I can get the attention of the media and drive up the revenue for the Storm as they work toward their first Super Bowl win,” I explained dryly. “You’re a Halas, so it’s bound to stir up attention and controversy and keep the Storm in the news. Meanwhile, I’m going to be working with a partner to build a whole new business, and use the publicity to drive up the value of the company.”
“Good to know,” she nodded as the server set our plates in front of us. When we finally had everything we needed, Payton looked up at me and said, “Now, was that really so hard?”
“You have no idea,” I muttered as I cut into my omelet and brought the fork to my mouth.
“What’s the new business?”
“I’d rather not talk about it just yet,” I said, closing down discussion of the talent management business. I was willing to be honest with her to a point.
“Look, I know you have your South Side code of honor and all that tough guy stuff,” she said, immediately putting me on the defense. “But if we’re going to make this work, we’re going to have to trust each other.”
“So, what do you need, Princess?” I asked sarcastically.
“For you to remember not to call me that,” she said tersely.
“Sorry, I forgot,” I mumbled without looking at her because I knew my dig had hit the mark just as her South Side comment had riled me.
We ate in silence long enough to make things start to feel awkward. I tried to
think of something to say to fill the void, but I couldn’t come up with anything that didn’t sound stupid in light of her South Side observation. For a moment, I hated Payton Halas Lasky for making me feel like the kid who’d battled his way out of the Back of the Yards, and wondered if I really wanted to go through with this.
“I am willing to date you in a way that will keep the media focused on you,” she said ending the silence. “But I need something in return.”
“Okay, hit me with your best shot,” I said as I scooped up the last of my eggs.
“We have to get engaged,” she said.
“What in the hell?” I blurted dropping my fork. It hit the plate and made a loud clanking noise that caused the server to quickly come check to see if everything was okay. I waved her away, “We’re fine. Thanks.”
“I need you to agree to be engaged to me,” Payton repeated.
“You’re going to have to explain that one, lady,” I said, pushing the plate away and folding my arms across my chest.
“I already told you that my mother doesn’t want to give me the job I want with the Bears,” she said looking away as if ashamed. “But I didn’t tell you why.”
“And why won’t your mother give you your dream job?” I asked. As she began to speak about her mother, Payton’s expression had shifted from confident to almost miserable. It was painful to watch the change, and I had to fight the urge to reach out and pat her hand in sympathy since I was pretty sure she’d probably smack it if I did.
“She wants me to find a man, get married, and start having kids,” she said quietly. She stared down at her lap for a moment before lifting her chin and defiantly, stating, “If I don’t do what she says, she’ll disinherit me and cut me out of the Bears for good. I told her I’d find my own job and support myself, but the more I’ve thought about it, the less I want to be cut off.”
