Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
At the end of the night, Braxton shakes Adriana’s hand, then mine. “I’ll call you soon,” he says.
Then Ronan cuts in. “We’re going to make a decision in the next few days.”
“I’ll be ready,” I say, filing away the we’re. This guy definitely has his friend’s ear. Glad I made time for him too, since I feel like we’re one step closer to signing the most sought-after kicker in the NFL.
That should thrill me, but when I return to my hotel, my phone pings with a text from Zane. Instantly, I know what being thrilled really feels like.
Zane: I’m pretending you’re not in New York, ten blocks away at the Luxe.
I catch my breath. I knew he’d landed. I knew his series started tomorrow.
Maddox: How did you know I was at the Luxe?
Zane: You told me you usually stay there.
Maddox: I’m here.
Zane: And I’m over here.
But we’re not together. And I have to be okay with that.
Any day.
The offer will come any day.
When it’s finalized, maybe Zane won’t need me for much. Adriana could handle the fine details at that point. That’s her role anyway. I strike most of the deals. She executes on them when the papers are signed.
Sure, there will be other deals over the years, but soon, I’ll have the space to get over these messy feelings for my client.
A little distance will cure me.
That’s what I tell myself as I head to meet with Vance the next morning. He’s been out of town, but just returned, so we catch up at a coffee shop in Chelsea.
“And how’s my guy Zane doing?” Vance asks as he sets down his mug. “He’s in town for the Comets series and I’m seeing him tomorrow for lunch. I would love to have good news for him. I found that kid in the draft and snapped him up. Love him. Want to do big things for him.” He glances at the clock on the wall. The message isn’t lost on me. Time is ticking.
Guilt slithers through me. Over my feelings, over the deal, over the gym session. “Should come together any day.”
It fucking better.
“But will it?” Vance sits forward in his seat, his voice edged with frustration.
I’m embarrassed I can’t give him the answer he wants. “We played golf with Priyam in San Francisco. We have the dinner this week. It’s nearly a done deal,” I say. This holding pattern is wearing everyone down.
“Nearly isn’t the same as done,” he says coolly. I sit straighter. That’s the first time Vance has taken a tone with me. He presses the affable button so hard I didn’t even know he had a hard-ass one.
But I shouldn’t be surprised.
“I’m doing everything I can to close it,” I say evenly, careful I don’t sound defensive. “There’s only so much pressure I can exert on a partner. Too much and Priyam will run. Too little and he’ll wander away.”
Vance nods like he gets it. But then he tilts his head. “I know how negotiation works, Maddox.”
Oh, shit.
He’s hitting the ballbuster button. “I’ll reach out again,” I assure him.
He drinks some more coffee, then nods once more. “Good. Do that,” he says with a smile, but there’s nothing warm in his tone.
I’ve reached the end of his grace period.
After the meeting, my mind’s racing with possible reasons to lob in a call to Bespoke. When Vance leaves, I stay and flip through my texts from Zane, hunting for any little detail that’ll justify reaching out again to Priyam.
Scrolling back in the thread, past the parent convo, past the baseball tips convo, past the pic of his niece—so many conversations that made me feel like I was…gardening—I land on the photo of Zane in workout clothes and a purple bow tie.
An idea snaps into place. One look at the time and I might be able to pull this off. It’s ten-thirty, and Zane’s probably at his hotel. I send him a text and tell him my plan.
His response is speedy. I’ll have it to you in thirty.
At eleven on the dot, I’m still working at the coffee shop, tackling a contract for my Comets shortstop when Zane’s name appears at the top of my phone with the words look at this.
My pulse races, even though I know his message is very safe for work.
Man, I need to get it together.
My earbuds are in, so I click open the video. Zane fills the screen from his hotel room, wearing a fantastic tailored shirt—a stylish paisley print that’s trendy and sexy at the same time.
“Hey there, friends…If you’re like me, once upon a time you were all sorts of confused about one of these bad boys.” He holds up a purple bow tie, letting it dangle by his face.
“I mean, does it go like this?” He wraps it messily around his neck, frowning.