I huff out a humorless laugh. “It’s unbelievable.”
“Right?” Jane says, oblivious to my tone.
I nod. “Jane, it’s good to see you again.” I glance back at the rest of my father’s former colleagues. “Thank you for this wonderful offer, but I’m afraid I have to decline. Have a good day.”
I stand up, leaving the room full of bewildered faces.
“Colton,” Jane calls out once I’m halfway down the hall. I turn to find her rushing toward me with my suit coat in hand. “What are you doing?”
I let out a pent-up breath. “I won’t be part of this, Jane.”
“This is exactly what you wanted. A job in sports law was all you could talk about at Yale. And now you’ve got it.”
“Well, I don’t want it like this.”
Jane’s eyes soften. “Colton, you’re tired. You’ve been on an exhausting journey these past couple of weeks, and you just need some quality sleep. I get that. So why don’t you come backtomorrow, and I’ll ask Margaret to postpone this meeting, and we’ll all talk then.”
“No, Jane. I’m done. I’m done being my dad’s chess piece, and I’m done trying to please him. And the thing is, I don’t even know if it’s possible to please him. But I’m not going to stick around to find out. I only have this one life. I need to live it in a way I won’t regret. And I need to work where I can reach my full potential.”
“You can reach your full potential here,” Jane says with conviction.
“Maybe you can, but not me. This is my cage.” I send her a parting glance and turn, walking toward the staircase.
“Colton,” Jane says with a hint of desperation in her voice. Her footsteps pad behind me. “Don’t throw away your future for some trailer trash girl.”
Her words make me pivot so fast. I look straight at her, shaking my head, disgusted. “Dad’s gotten to you, too.”
“She’s not like you and me, Colton.” Jane closes the distance between us, handing me my suit coat.
I take it, balling it in my fist. “You’re right. She’s not like us. She’s so much more. She’s fearless. She sees the good in life even when life is cruel. She’s spent her life pinching pennies and sewing her own clothes out of other people’s discards, because that’s what she does—where others turn their back on things and people, Missy sees something worth saving. So why would it ever matter if she grew up in a trailer park? She could have been raised in a ditch and still grown up to live a fuller life than most people will ever experience. And I’m a better person because of her. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m leaving for the girl you just called trash.”
“Colton. I … I didn’t mean … I’m sorry.” Jane dips her chin, and I can see the genuine regret on her face.
“Listen, Jane, I didn’t mean for you to get mixed up in all of this. And for that, I’m sorry. I wish you the best of luck. I really do.”
She sucks her lips between her teeth and nods. “You too, Colton.”
I make my way down the stairs, across the marble entryway, and out into the parking lot. I’m just getting into my car when my pocket buzzes. Pulling out my phone, I see a number I don’t recognize cross the screen.
“Colton Downing,” I answer.
“Oh, thank goodness.” The voice on the other side breathes out in relief.
“Bill?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“And Maria,” Maria pipes in.
“Did you two make it to Dallas all right?” I ask.
“Yes, we did, Hijo, but Bill has something you need to know right away,” Maria says, without any of her usual levity.
“I’ve been trying to contact Missy, but she hasn’t answered her phone. I didn’t talk to her, Colton,” Bill says.
“What do you mean?” I feel the collar of my dress shirt tighten around my neck.
“Before the winners’ interview, I never talked to Missy about our conversation. I got so caught up with Maria’s injury that I completely forgot. Then you guys left for the airport during our interview. And by the time I remembered, you were on your flight, and I couldn’t get a hold of you until now. We just got off our plane a few minutes ago.”
