The Job Offer (27 page)

"That's excellent, Coach Baranski. 
Who is it?  Is it Mikhail Chenko?"

"
Ni.
"

"Oleg Alexander?"

"
Ni
.  He is Jake Takeda. 
Now that he is retired from skating, he is coaching.  Already, he has several
skaters from his school winning in the junior level and is coaching Yuka Mori. 
He wants a caliper female skater in the senior level.  He wants you."

The news shocked Kerri.  She had not
seen Jake since the world championship three years before just before he
retired from skating in competition.  Over the years, since that day in Turin
and up to that last world championship before he retired, she would run into
him occasionally, usually in the halls or at a mixer at one of the
competitions.  He never spoke to her again, but she often thought that he was
looking at her.  She never saw him do it, but she felt that same burning
sensation whenever he was near.  In the beginning, he was usually in the
company of Izumi then later with a beautiful Japanese woman whom Kerri learned
was his wife.  Why he would want to coach her was a mystery.

"You say he wants to coach me?  I'm
not even sure that he even likes me."

"What does like have to do with
anything?  You need a strong coach who understands the world class system.  He
knows that you will still need time for your knee to heal, and he knows an
excellent orthopedist that lives close to his training facility.  There are
only a few issues.  But with you, they would be non-issues.  His training
facility is in Matsumoto, Japan, and you need to live on the premises.  He
assures me that you would be very comfortable there."

"It would mean a year in Japan?  I
would be living in a dorm for almost a year, Coach.  I would much prefer to get
an apartment."

"
Ni
.  He said because you
had no family there that you would need to live with him at his family home
outside of Matsumoto."

"I can't live with him!"  It
would be difficult enough working so close to the man.  She did not know if she
even wanted to try working with him.  There was no possible way that she would
live with him and his wife.

"You will if you want to compete in
the Olympics next winter.  Those are his stipulations.  The truth,
Dytyna
,
is there are no coaches who want to risk a season working with you when there
is no guarantee that you can come back.  Your injury ends careers.  You will
work with Jake, Kerri.  You will do what he says.  It is to his benefit as well
as yours to see you healthy again and competing.  I'm told that his parents and
grandmother also live at the house, so it would be more than just you and his
family."

Kerri's heart sank.  She had been
looking forward to working with Coach Baranski for her come back.  Knowing that
all of the other top coaches did not want to work with her did not,
unfortunately, come as a surprise.  She knew what they would be dealing with
only too well.  She sighed in resignation.  There was no other choice, not if
she wanted to make it back.  She would work with Jake Takeda if she wanted to
return to the sport.  Going back to her conversation with her old coach, Kerri
asked, "How big is his house, anyway?"

"I'm not sure, but I imagine it is
large."  Kerri could hear the relief in her voice come through the phone. 
"The man comes from old money and did his part to add millions.  You'll
go,
Dytyna
, if you want the Olympics next year.  When will you be ready
to leave?"

"A month, maybe two, I
suppose."  Kerri's heart sank.  She wanted to go back to Connecticut to
train.  A year in Japan working with Jake Takeda was not what she wanted, not
at all.  Although, she had liked Japan very much the several times that she was
there, she could not get over her worry at how it would work out between her
and Jake.  "Did he send a contract?"

"Yes.  I'll send it to you
tomorrow.  Do you want to call him and confirm or should I?"

"I'll call.  Give me his number if
you have it."  Coach Baranski read the telephone number to her from the
contract.

"Don't worry,
Dytyna
.  If
you really want to come back for next season, this is the only way.  Too many
coaches are worried that you won't be able to with your injury.  But I know
you, Kerri.  You are stubborn and strong.  You need someone stronger and more
stubborn than you to make a comeback.  Jake will get you to the Olympics.  You
will see.  He and I had a long talk about you before he made the offer.  He's
the coach you want.  I wish I was, Kerri, but I am too close to you now, and
I'm afraid I won't get you what you want.  Let me know how it goes when you get
to Japan.  I must go now. 
Do podachennia
, Kerri."

"
Do podachennia
,
Coach."  Kerri said goodbye in Ukrainian just as she had done with Coach
Baranski since she was taught the words as a child and disconnected the call. 
Checking the clock app on her phone, she saw that it was still too early to
call Japan and decided to wait a few more hours.  The number that Coach
Baranski gave her was Jake Takeda's business phone number.

After eating dinner and watching a few
hours of mindless television, Kerri decided to make the call to Japan knowing
that it would be early afternoon there.  The phone was picked up by a woman who
answered in Japanese then switched to English laced with a Japanese accent when
Kerri addressed her in English.  When Kerri explained who she was and why she
was calling, the woman transferred the call to another number.

"Kerri, how are you?  How is the
knee?"  Another woman answered warmly.  This woman spoke in a British
accent.  "I'm sorry, my dear.  You must be confused.  Jake is in Canada right
now for the London competition this week, but he told me that you would be
calling.  I'm Evelyn Takeda."

"You're Jake's mother?"

"That's right, dear.  I'm sure that
you have questions.  Jake can be a little short on details as I'm sure he was
when he talked to Petra."

"Actually, Mrs. Takeda, I do have
some questions."

"Call me Evelyn.  Now what can I
help you with?"

What followed was a half hour long
conversation where the missing details were filled in.  The training facility,
located on the large family estate, was owned and operated by Jake, his mother,
and one of his sisters.  The facility trained beginning skaters up to world
class amateurs, and most of the athletes lived locally either with their own
families or with foster families.  But because of Kerri's age, nationality, and
lack of family in Japan, it was decided that she would stay at their home. 
Kerri would be using one of the guest rooms during her stay.  An orthopedist
and physical therapist would be working with her in between her time with Jake
and his mother to get herself back into world class shape.  Then Jake would
take over the majority of her coaching preparing her for her return to
competition.

Kerri found talking to Evelyn Takeda
very easy to do, almost as if they had known each other for years even though
they had never met.  The difference between her and Jake was night and day. 
When she finally disconnected the call, she smiled her first real smile in
months.  She would go to Japan, and she would win the gold at next year's Olympics.

* 
*  *  *  *

Jake Takeda ended the phone call from
Japan and walked over to the hotel window to look out onto the London, Ontario
skyline.  Kerri Sullivan had accepted the contract and would be coming to Japan
after the world championships in March.  His heart gave a little jump and his
nostrils flared in remembrance of her.  He took a deep breath and lifted his
cup of tea to his suddenly dry throat.  He had a little over two months to get
ready before she was in his life, before he would begin helping her heal and
get ready for competition.  A lot would be determined about their future once
his orthopedist cleared her for jumping and that could be months away yet. 
Without that ability, she would never make it back into any competition let alone
the world tour and the Olympics.

The Olympics!  He knew well the allure
of the Games having been there three times.  Wanting that gold medal was like a
drug to an athlete.  He knew.  He had three Olympic gold medals to show for
it.  It was equally addictive for a coach.  To take one of his skaters to the
Games and watch her or him win a medal would be a crowning achievement.  Kerri
would be with him when he returned next winter.

For years he had watched her skate,
growing into her potential.  She won several world and national championships
in her career and had a silver medal from the last Olympics.  For most skaters,
that would be enough, but not her.  Her coach, Petra Baranski, told him what
Kerri was going through and what she wanted when he saw Petra at the Oslo
competition two weeks ago.  Jake knew that this was his chance.  He did not
know if another one with Kerri would come, and he wasn't going to let this one
go by.  He was the kind of man who reached for what he wanted and was not the
kind who let things just happen hoping it would work out in his favor.  He
wanted Kerri.  Plain and simple, he wanted her.

Stepping away from his window, he
crossed the hotel suite and sat down on the white leather contemporary
sectional sofa located in the sitting room area of his suite.  He leaned back
and pulled his legs up onto the chaise sectional and set his cup of tea on the
side table.  Picking up his cell phone again from the table he pressed the
button that would connect him to the person he most wanted to talk to now.  The
phone rang and was answered by one of the servants in his home.  He spoke in
rapid Japanese to the woman and waited.  It did not take long before the female
voice he most wanted to hear came on the line.  Grinning broadly as she spoke, Jake
leaned back on the chaise and listened, his heart lifting with each of her
words.  All too soon the conversation ended and he switched his phone off. 
Then he went to prepare for bed with a big smile on his face.

Author Eleanor Webb has always loved
reading contemporary and historical romances and writing stories that are
filled with passion, adventure, and suspense.  From an early age she created
characters and stories that have engaged her readers and taken them on an
adventure into the lives of her characters.  After years of working in the
corporate world and earning two master's degrees, Eleanor decided to return to
her roots and pursue her passion for writing and storytelling to reach a new
crop of readers.  Her first digitally published book is
The Job Offer.
 
She resides in St. Cloud, MN with her husband and best friend, her two sons,
and family dog.  Eleanor would love to hear from her readers and can be reached
at
https://www.facebook.com/eleanor.webb.982?fref=ts
,
or email her directly at
mailto:emailto:[email protected]
.