Love from Left Field (26 page)

“We can only hope.”

*

After one last
kiss, Miranda almost danced out of his office, but reality waited for him. His phone flashed a voicemail and missed call from Roger Martinelli. He didn’t know what to say to Roger, but he knew one thing. He had to address the issues about the team and Roger’s investors, before Miranda or her father found out. He was hanging by a thread with the team. Seamus could kick him out, reject his help. The league could strongly suggest and even bully, but bottom line, Callahan could refuse his help. Roger wasn’t going to keep an asset sitting, twiddling his thumbs, doing nothing. He would redeploy Lucas to a place where he could do the most good.

Roger would love to send him back to the Knights as president. He was a known entity and a reasonable man, not likely to rock the boat. But there was no way he could accept a position with the Knights after this. Miranda would never forgive him and the staff would never work with him, thinking he betrayed them all.

Damn, Roger had Lucas tied up neatly. He had to talk to Miranda before talking to the commissioner. Before he could leave the office, the phone rang.

Roger Martinelli.

Damn. Well, maybe the timing worked. He could tell Roger his decision and then talk to Miranda.

“Hey, Roger. I was going to call you later today.”

“Things are going better than I could have hoped for, Lucas. Nice job!”

Lucas winced at the booming voice. “Glad to hear you’re in a good mood.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? You have a solid team yet just enough dysfunction to put them in financial risk, ripe for a sale.” Roger either deliberately missed the sarcasm or was too happy to hear it.

Lucas sat down heavily in his chair. “Roger, I don’t think you understand. I had nothing to do with this.”

“Even better! No one will ever know. Now, the sale probably can’t happen until the off-season. Too much to happen but next year, you could be the president of the Knights, like your father wanted.”

“They could still turn it around,” Lucas argued even as he knew the truth. “I’m not recommending a sale yet.”

“Not the way they’re acting right now. To be honest, if they had stayed the course that you laid out, they could have done it. But Callahan is too stubborn to listen to anyone else. You know I’m right. Wouldn’t your father have wanted you to save his team?”

Roger’s tone took on a persuasive tone, appealing to one emotion Lucas couldn’t deny, the one motivation that still drove him today. To be fair, he was tired of fighting the battle and was beginning to think Roger was right. Saving the Knights might come down to one thing.

“Miranda made the changes; I just advised.” He fought against himself, but it was a losing battle.

“That’s why they want you for the job. These investors know you can save the Knights. It’s a very generous offer. Consider it?”

Lucas sighed. “Maybe I should. Damn, I hate to do this to them but a sale might be the only way to save the Knights. I’d rather take over the team as president myself than let Seamus destroy it.”

A noise made him look up. Miranda stood in the doorway looking stricken. She turned and bolted from his office.

“Shit, Roger, I have to go. I’ll call you later.” He hung up and raced out after her, catching up at the elevators.

She was pushing the button and cursing, tears in her eyes. “Damn this elevator.”

“Miranda. How much did you hear?”

She froze and turned to him. “Is it true? Were you offered the presidency of the Knights if there was a sale?”

“Yes, but it’s not like that. You have to believe me.” He reached for her but she shrank back against the wall, shaking her head.

“I trusted you. I defended you. I said you were honorable, would never betray us or use us for your own revenge. Well, I guess the joke’s on me. Stupid, naive Miranda. Maybe I’m not tough enough for this job. I believed you when you said you loved me. Was that a lie, too?”

“No, Miranda. I love you.” He gripped her upper arms, willing her to look him in the eyes. “This was all Roger’s plan, not mine.”

“You deny ever wanting to take back the team? Be in that corner office, like your father?” She paused and, when he said nothing, laughed bitterly. “So it is true.”

“Yes, it’s true. The Knights were my legacy. My father wanted me to take over, only I rejected him. He got sick and sold the team, the one thing he loved more than anything else. It killed him the let the team go. I wanted the team back for him but not like this. Never like this.”

The elevator doors opened. She pulled free and he stepped back, letting her go. “How can I believe you? I think it’s time you left, went back to Chicago or whatever hole in the ground you came from. We’ll save our team without you. Good bye, Lucas.”

She stepped into the elevator and the doors closed on his future.

M
iranda disappeared from
the office and headed home, ignoring her cell phone and alerts. Lucas tried calling, even knocking on her door, but she only held her breath, and stayed very still, as if she could hide forever. But she didn’t need to hide forever; only for today, until she was ready to face the world again.

She cried, ate ice cream, and hit every cliché of a broken heart. Finally, late that night, exhausted, eyes burning and puffy, she fell asleep with an ice pack on her eyes. She’d be damned if anyone would be able to tell that she’d been crying all day. No, she’d make damn sure she looked good, as if Lucas Wainright didn’t matter at all.

She was already at work when everyone came in, trying to avoid all conversation and focus on the work. Within fifteen minutes, Stacia was in her office, hugging her. It was the hug that did her in, destroyed her good intentions and willpower. At the touch of her arms, Miranda’s eyes stung with tears.

“We heard you and Lucas fought but no one knows what happened. What’s going on?”

Miranda gave a small laugh that had no amusement in it. “Long story. Basically, my father was right about Lucas. He was looking for a way to take over the team and get us out.”

Stacia leaned on the desk and studied her, brow furrowing. “How is that possible? I thought his advice helped the team?”

“Sure it did, helped it just enough to get some investors interested in buying the Knights and installing him as president.” Miranda drew in a shuddering breath. “I only hope we caught on to the scheme in time.”

“Lucas was planning that? I can’t believe it.”

Miranda sighed. “He didn’t plan it. This was Roger’s idea. But Lucas went along with it. I heard him talking with Roger yesterday.”

Stacia shook her head. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. Is there anything I can do?”

Miranda cocked her head, thinking for a moment. “Yes, can you see if he’s still here? I told him to leave but I can’t really fire him since he doesn’t work for me.”

“Did you want to see him?”

“Absolutely not.” The words were swift and final. “I want him gone. I’ll call Roger if I have to. I just need to know.”

Understanding dawned. “You don’t want to see him in the halls or in any meetings.”

“Exactly. And if you do see him, let me know.”

Stacia nodded. “Is there anything else? I could have Jason throw him out.”

Miranda smiled at the visual. “While I’d like that, we need to be careful how we work with the league.”

Maggie poked her head in the door. “Your father wants to see you. Can you head over there now?”

Miranda nodded and stood, giving Stacia a quick hug. “Thanks for the support. I’ll get over it.”

Stacia walked with her to the door. “If you need any girl talk or man-bashing, I’ll be there!”

After a glance up and down the hall, Miranda walked the few steps to her father’s office, avoiding looking at the closed door where Lucas had worked. There was no indication that he was in there, or if he had cleared out. She was too cowardly to find out. But later, she’d have to muster her courage and deal with her mistake.

She knocked and slipped in the door, nodding to her father. She was relieved to see it was just the two of them. Her worst fear would have been Lucas in the meeting too.

“I looked for you yesterday but Maggie said you went home sick. Are you feeling better?”

She nodded. “A headache. Nothing more. What did you need?”

“Did you handle Cole?” he asked gruffly.

“Of course, although we need to talk about that meeting.” She leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “We can’t go on like this. You need to bend, to consider other opportunities towards success. You have to let go of control.”

“Goddamn it, why is everyone saying that? I’ve let go of enough control and look where it landed me – in the hospital. Now you want to take my team from me, the last thing I have, like Wainright and everyone else. Well, I won’t stand for it.”

Miranda’s mouth gaped and she pressed her hand to her chest. “I had no idea you felt this way, Dad. Look, no one wants to take anything away. We want to help you and help make the Knights successful.”

“Just because you have a fancy degree doesn’t mean you know more than I do. I’ve been doing this a long time and I know what I’m doing. We’re following my path and that’s the end of it.”

“If we follow your plan, we’ll lose. And we’ll lose more than players. We’ll lose coaches, staff, people we need.”

“We’ll find others. If they don’t want to be here, then they should leave.” He peered at her over his reading glasses. “Are you one of them?”

She sat up straighter in her chair, hands folded primly on her lap. “As team president, I have a duty to the fans, the staff, and the shareholders. I’m advising you that we need to adjust course now or we’ll be in dire straits.”

“Advice noted and ignored. If you bring this up again, you’re fired, along with your boyfriend, Wainright.”

She paused, pain stabbing her heart. Finally, quietly, she said, “You don’t need to worry about Lucas any more. He’ll be leaving soon, if he isn’t already gone.”

Seamus put his pen down and sat back in his chair, studying her intently. “I’d say I’m sorry but, honestly, I’m glad he’s gone.” And he picked up his pen again and began writing something on a pad of paper.

“Aren’t you going to ask what happened?”

“You finally figured out that he was here to steal my team?”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times as words refused to be spoken.

Finally, she stammered, “How did you know?”

“Besides the fact that I knew he wanted the team? I know his boss, Roger. He’s been wanting me out of the league for years, since I almost got him fired eight years ago for negotiated a piss-poor deal with the player’s union. He saw his chance and sent his attack dog after me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He sighed and put the pen down again, then folded his hands on his stomach. “Honestly? I wanted to see if you had what it took to run this team. But you showed yourself to be naive and trusting, two qualities that will destroy you in business. So, knowing that, I’m not inclined to trust your advice on strategy right now.”

“Then look at the results. Ticket sales, vendor sales, wins. All up. Since you came back, they’re down.”

He froze and fixed a hard stare on her. “Are you saying that I’m destroying my team, I’m to blame for their reversal?”

She swallowed but stood her ground, too tired of peacemaking and getting nowhere. “Yes, I am.” She walked around the desk and propped a hip on the edge, laying a hand on his arm. “Daddy, I’m worried for your health. This is too much for you. You need to look out for your health and leave the team to us.”

He yanked his arm out from her hand. “I should have known. He’s corrupted you, turned you against me.”

She drew back. “You’re being paranoid. I’m on your side. I’ve been running interference since you’ve been back, making excuses for you, trying to help you. Instead, you accuse me of turning against you? I’m just trying to help.”

“Well, if you really want to help, then do what I tell you and leave me alone. And make sure everyone knows who signs their checks. Or they can find another position.” He stared meaningfully at her. “And that goes for you, too.”

Stunned, she walked around the desk and faced him. “You won’t consider any other ideas?”

“No.” His tone was final.

“Fine. Then I’m giving my notice.”

His shoulders sagged for a moment as he stared at her, probing to see if she truly meant it. She stood tall and firm, resolute in her decision, even as she quaked inside. She had given enough to this team. She couldn’t help the team or help her father. They had both defeated her. Either he would back down and accept her help or he would let her go.

After a long moment, he snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous. Get back to your office.”

“Only if you take Prosser off the trading block and back off.” She swallowed and folded her shaking hands together to hide the nerves.

“No.”

“Then I quit. Effective immediately.”

He picked up his pen and starting scratching again. “I’ll expect your letter on my desk within the hour.”

She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her, and she walked out of the office, closing the door quietly behind her. She leaned against the frame, her knees not able to hold her much longer. He had called her bluff. She never thought he would but there it was. Now she knew where she stood—well below the team.