I’m not backing this fool up. It’s clear from his behavior so far today that he shouldn’t be in the top spot on my legal team. Not only is he trying to strong arm one of my players, he has no idea—or a blatant disregard for—how much a probation would hurt the team and our chances at the postseason.
Leaning back in my chair, I cross an ankle over my knee. “Actually, I believe Gabrielle has a solution.” I nod my head inher direction, taking a risk that she’s figured something out on the way here. Taylor told me to let Gabby prove how valuable she is. It’s now or never.
“Yes, I do. I spoke with the district attorney on my way over.” She speaks confidently.
“How did I not know about this?” Mark’s face turns red, clearly not happy with being left out of the loop or having someone undermine his showboating.
Taylor looks at me pointedly, silently communicating what she already told me over text last week about needing to take a closer look at Mark and Ricardo. I was getting to it, but clearly not fast enough.
“You were busy dealing with things here. You told me to handle the mess, so that’s what I did.” Ah, there it is. He thought he could come in here unprepared and swing his dick around to get Chase to cower all while making his direct report come back from her earned time off and put in all the work.
I listen as Gabby fills Chase in on the charges he’s facing. Ricardo shouts, drawing everyone’s attention and interrupting her explanation of the felony for stealing a horse.
“It was a harmless prank, Gabriel. A felony for a prank. You can’t be serious.”
There he goes again, refusing to call her by her actual name. What the fuck is wrong with this guy? I won’t say man because he obviously has a problem with women in power, and anyone with that sexist mentality is no man.
How have I not seen this before? I pride myself on being attuned with my staff. It was important to me when I moved to Nashville before the start of the season last year to clean house and set us up for success. Apparently, a few stragglers flew under the radar.
Chase comes to Gabby’s defense, sparring with Ricardo while she tries to diffuse the situation and continue with the meeting. Enough is enough.
“Chase is right. Ricardo, you show Gabrielle the respect shedeserves. The respect she has earned and the same respect due to every member of this staff, or you leave now.” Ricardo tries to talk, but I hold up my hand, serving him a harsh glare. “Sit there and keep your mouth shut until this meeting is over.” I’ll deal with Ricardo and Mark and their completely unacceptable behavior later.
Gabby clears her throat and dives into her plan for rehabilitating Chase’s image. Gabby, Taylor, and Tom, Chase’s agent, go back and forth over the ideas. I’m captivated by Taylor as she speaks, catching the twitch of her smile as she holds back her laughter when she suggests Chase start a charity for animals. Her presence and support seem to relax Gabby and she speaks more assuredly to Chase and his team on all the things he needs to do in order for the district attorney to agree to the plea arrangement. Along with the charitable organization, he will pay a fine, make a donation, and host the police department at the stadium. It’s a lot of extra work for him during a season, but I have to agree it’s a good idea.
When I’m about to weigh in on the idea, Mark pipes up from his end of the table. “Your grand plan is to make a spectacle?” The condescension in his tone has my jaw ticking again. I don’t want to tear him apart in front of everyone—it’s what my father would have done, and I strive to lead differently than he does—but I will if I must.
“The point is to lean into the problem instead of running from it.” Taylor’s icy glare in Mark’s direction has me covering my smile with my hand. She’s reached her breaking point, and if anyone can cut a person down with a glare and her words, it’s Taylor Baker. “Everyone understands this was a nonviolent offense that went viral, lending toward comedic rather than serious. Instead of using Chase to make an example in a bad way, we use the stunt to raise awareness for the valuable service the horse unit brings to the police department. Instead of mocking them, we lean heavily on involvement and support of our local lawenforcement. It looks good for him, and it looks good for the organization.”
Mark purses his lips, so I jump in to back her up.
“Brilliant. I like it. We strengthen our ties to the community while also endearing ourselves to the fanbase.” I smile at my wife.
She blushes, meeting my gaze. “Exactly.”
I miss what’s said next, lost in her. She’s a masterpiece. From her long blonde hair to her brown eyes and the pink tint of her lips. Her fierce loyalty and belief in her friends. Her determination and commitment to her work. Everything about her is perfect.
Shaking thoughts of her out of my head, I hear Chase promising he will prove to be bigger than this mistake.
“That’s what we like to hear.” I stand and walk over to shake his hand.
“Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.”
Nodding to Gabby and Ben, I leave the room without another word as I hear Taylor tell Mary they should work together. We haven’t discussed her working with the communications team and what that would look like. I make a mental note to have her come by my office before she leaves the building today.
“Grant, a word,” Mark calls out from behind me.
Spinning, I level him with a menacing stare right outside my office door. “I would like a word, several actually, but at the moment, I have another commitment. I’ll find you when I’m ready.”
“Sir, we should really talk about that back there.”
Yes, we should, and his narcissistic ass isn’t going to like the plot twist of that conversation.
“It better not be hard to find you.” I look between Mark and Ricardo. “Either of you.” Ricardo opens his mouth to respond, but I don’t give either of them a chance to say anything else as I open my office door, step inside, and close it in their faces.
Before I forget, I send a text to Taylor.
ME
