Page 79 of He Has Charm (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
Twenty-Five
Harper
“Iquit.” Ham nods. I knew he’d appreciate me getting to the point. I look around his corner office overlooking other tall buildings in downtown Manhattan and realize that I won’t miss it. I’ll miss him, but not the city. And I certainly won’t miss Godfrey Collins.
“Your resignation is not accepted,” he says. My eyebrows fly up and my muscles tense like he’s thrown a bucket of water on me, surprising my senses.
“The Jett Agency is opening a Boston office and I’d like you to run it. I just signed a contract for the office space which is a block from the Garden over an Italian restaurant on Canal Street.” I know it. It’s the restaurant Maddox and I stopped at on our first day in Boston to pick up food.
“Of course it won’t be ready for a few weeks so you’ll have to work from home for a bit, but I figure you canhandlethat.” He winks. I let the wink settle in, take effect and I heave a breath, feeling light and then a grin splits my face all on its own.
“What about the new sign on my office door here?” I ask, unable to resist the need for negotiation. He laughs.
“You can take it with you.”
“If you weren’t on the other side of this desk, I’d throw myself at you and give you a giant hug,” I say, standing, my voice shaky. He laughs, rising, and steps around the desk with his arms open.
So I throw myself into them and admit that I didn’t really want to leave anyway. I let go of him and we step back.
“Then why were you quitting? Ready to fess up?” I laugh because heknows. He’ wise like that. Like my dad used to be, a long time ago.
“You jerk,” I say, smiling. “I want to stay in Boston. Or wherever Maddox lands, but I have a feeling he’ll stay in Boston.”
“You have the NHL meets celebrity chefs cooking show deal sealed?” I nod.
“All tied up in a big bow. All it needs is his signature.”
“Shit, that’s impressive. I’m glad I didn’t accept that resignation. I’m assuming you’re still on the clock and this is an agency deal?”
“Of course. He’s still our client. Not exactly an NHL player contract, but we’ve done promotional deals for retired pros before.”
“Yes, we have. I have no problem with expanding in that direction. You know I have a soft spot for ex pros.” He grins. He’s not only an ex pro, but he’d been ripped off by is former agent and was left with next to nothing at the end of his super star career, so Jett had to start from scratch and create a new career for himself to keep food on the table for his family. He did it and he’s dedicated himself to making sure other players don’t suffer the same fate as he did.
“You do. It’s why I love working here. Because we take care of our clients even when they’re not big stars and when they’re well past their prime, we really care.”
“Care about some more than others,” he teases.
“Yes. I care a great deal about Knight. I…”
“No need to make rash confessions to me. You’re still an agent and Knight is still a client and it’s still against the rules—”
“Fuck the rules,” I say. His eyebrows shoot up because swearing and especially disregard for the rules is so not me. I’m a stickler for rules, for dotting the I’s and crossing all those endless T’s. Heat rises to my cheeks in horror at my disrespect, but also partly in defiance. I gulp down the emotions and calm myself. “I mean—"
“I know what you mean. I was about to say that there’s always exceptions to the rule. Let’s see what we can carve out.” I nod, my eyes getting watery, making me blink. I resist going to him for another fatherly hug, but I don’t have to. He comes to me and puts his arms loosely around me, patting my back.
“One other thing,” I say, “If I’m going to stay on, I’ll need a weekend in May off to go to my brother’s graduation.” It’s a small thing, but it’s something I’m look forward to, seeing my family, financially safe and intact and me able to spend time with them without worrying.
“You got it,” Jett says.
* * *
Managing to get my shit together I spend the rest of the afternoon arranging to sublet my apartment until the lease is up and notifying my landlord that I won’t be renewing. I pack all my kitchen things and everything that’s not large furniture and arrange to have it shipped and stored in the Boston area.
I need to get back to Boston, to Maddox, to present him with the contract offer for a cooking show to air on a local sports news network. I’m a little nervous about springing the surprise, but it’s a good thing. Exactly what he needs. It’s my other proposal that I’m more worried about.
One problem at a time.
We were initially given a week to move out of the townhouse, but I negotiated us some time because Maddox needs to figure out where he’s going. So do I.
And I hope to god it’s the same place as him.
I board the plane and I’m in such a frantic state that I stumble on the threshold, the heel of my shoe getting stuck. My gut tumbles and my chest squeezes and I yell.
“No!” These are my new Christian Loubaton shoes, the ones Maddox gave me, and I can’t possibly lose them again because they’re more precious to me than anything I own. They represent my heart’s desire. They have nothing to do with my job or VIPs and everything to do with the most important things in life, giving and caring and those people who mean the most to me because they’re giving and caring and generous of heart. And not to mention hotter than the devil.
I close my eyes, take a calming breath and with the image of Maddox’s smile, the one that crinkles his eyes, I jiggle my foot a little and the heel comes loose. Intact. Halleluiah. Now I only hope that the rest of me stays in tact as I throw everything on the line for a chance at a life with Maddox.
