Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
He and two other men are laughing about something when Carol opens the door.
“Dane Foster would like five minutes,” she says, taking a step inside the office. “I thought I’d take your guests to get the jerseys and hats you mentioned.”
“Sure,” Arnold says. “Tell Dane to come on in.”
He introduces me to his friends and I recognize both of their names as big donors to the Mammoths’ team foundation. Of course I say yes when they ask for photos with me, getting Arnold in the best possible mood before I ask him for a favor.
Once we’re alone and the door is closed, his smile is more subdued. We haven’t spoken since he hired Josie to watch over me, and our conversation about that wasn’t exactly friendly. I’m not good at swallowing my pride, but for Josie, I do it anyway.
“You were right about me,” I say as I sit down in a chair across from the leather sofa he’s seated on. “My focus wasn’t where it needed to be.”
That’s as close as he’s getting to an apology from me, but it seems good enough. He nods, his expression relaxing.
“Josie seems to be a good fit. You’re in the zone. And for you to come to me like this...” He scoffs. “This is a side of you I’ve never seen, and I appreciate it, Dane. I hope there are no hard feelings.”
I nod. “Josie is actually why I came to see you.”
“You want me to let her go?”
“No,” I say more forcefully than I intended.
He gives me a knowing smile. “I heard the two of you have a very friendly relationship.”
I pause before saying, “That’s true.”
“I plan to keep her on through the end of the season, but if you’re here to ask me to make her a permanent hire, I can’t do that. I’d have all the players asking me to put their girlfriends on the payroll.”
There’s always a note of condescension in his tone, and it’s all I can do not to bite back and tell him I’m not a fucking idiot who expects him to pay my girlfriend to travel with the team full time. But that won’t get me what I want. I take a deep breath, keeping my expression neutral.
“Of course. You’ve been more than generous helping me get back on track already.”
Fuck. My ego is taking a major beating today. I don’t suck up to anyone, but that’s exactly what I’m doing right now.
This is for Josie. I imagine myself giving her the good news, and it helps me keep shoveling down this humble pie.
“Josie was in line for a promotion and it went to someone else,” I say, hoping my direct approach will work. “She deserved to get it. I’m asking you, as a favor to me, to end the contract with JG Publicity and give it to Josie instead. It won’t change anything, really. She’ll finish out the season, but then she’ll have something great to put on her résumé for all her hard work.”
Arnold arches his brows. “Her hard work getting you in line by sleeping with you?”
I tense, my right hand instinctively closing into a fist. It’s all I can do not to lunge at him and grab him by his perfectly pressed dress shirt so I can wipe that smug look off his face.
“That’s what you think of her?” I don’t even try to hide the menace from my tone.
He puts his hands up, the tone in the room tight and tense now.
“Look, whatever she’s doing to keep you out of trouble, I’m glad it’s working. But I’ve been a client of Jane Garver’s PR firm for many years, and I’m not dropping her just because her niece was passed over for a promotion.”
Why did I think he’d help Josie? Arnold’s a self-centered prick. I fucking hate that I lowered myself before him and he dismissed me like a fly buzzing around his steak.
“I guess we’re done here, then,” I say, standing up.
“Let’s get a win tonight.”
Like he’s the one out there getting rammed into the boards and punched. I want to tell him to suck my dick, but this isn’t the right time. He’d probably fire Josie immediately just to spite me, and I won’t risk that.
I’m not shaking his hand. I’ll lie my ass off and thank him for seeing me, but I’m not shaking that asshole’s hand.
“Keep up the good work, Dane. No more park benches.”
He flashes me a too-white smile and points at me. I force myself to smile back, hoping the universe has at least given him erectile dysfunction.
“We’re back,” Carol says, coming into the room with Arnold’s friends.
“I have to go,” I say quickly. “Pregame stuff to do.”
I wave at everyone and make a hasty exit.
So much for my plan to save the day for Josie, I hate this feeling of helplessness.