You’re impossible, you know that?”
Surprised, Gareth glanced up from his phone and looked at his sister. Normally, Penny was the only person in the world who claimed he was a good guy. However, judging by her expression, she had hopped over to the rest of the world’s side.
“I’m sitting here, so I cannot be impossible,” he replied dryly. “Maybe I’m more unlikely?”
He had found a seat in the back rows, hoping to be able to work in peace for a while. Penny wasn't about to allow that, as she dropped into the chair next to him with a snort.
“When we took over the team together, it was clear: you take care of the paperwork and I would deal with the people. I only let you work with the agents because they’re waving around a lot of contracts, which is your specialty. But maybe it’s time to relieve you in that area.”
Perplexed, Gareth stared at her. Was she threatening to take away his favorite task? It took him a few seconds to figure out what the hell she was talking about…and then it clicked.
“Fuck,” he said tonelessly. “Hazel called you.”
Penny turned scarlet. “So what! From the sound of it, she had every right to do so.”
“Wow.” Unbelievable. Hazel was playing dirty! But he’d seen that in college, even though he’d liked that kind of dirty much better back then. “You’re on her side?”
“I’m always on your side, Gareth,” Penny said, exasperated. “But, seriously, you told her you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and had the right to take whatever you wanted. Because you’re a rich bastard?”
Oh, shit. “I was just quoting her!”
“What?”
“Originally, those were her words.”
“When?”
“I don’t know. Five years ago?”
His sister looked at him like he’d lost his mind. Maybe she was on to something. “You threw something in her face that she said to you five years ago?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it…was convenient?”
“Oh my God, Gareth.” She put a hand over her eyes. “You’re worse than I feared! You really can’t go on like this. If you’re not careful, you’ll overtake Dax Temple for the biggest asshole in the stadium — and you know he can’t stand not being the best ateverything. It’s bad enough that he’s discovered Leon Alvarez is giving him a run for his money.”
“I’ve already apologized to her, okay?” he replied irritably. After his mental lapse yesterday, he’d had no choice but to apologize to Hazel for his words, in the interest of fairness. But if he’d known she’d actually ratted him out…
“It’s nice that, to everyone’s surprise, you’re trying to be a decent person, but that’s not enough.”
“Yes it is,” he said harshly. “We’re back on neutral ground.”
“Oh, please. Nothing that happens between you and Hazel is neutral. Switzerland is laughing at you right now.”
“Penny, it’s okay, we’ll sort it out.” He liked negotiating with the agents. It was his favorite aspect of the job. He enjoyed twisting the words of snotty lawyers and the adrenaline rush of negotiating a contract in favor of the Hawks. Some would say he himself bore the title ofsnotty lawyer, but he could live with that as long as he was thebestsnotty lawyer. No other task as owner of the Hawks made him feel as alive as a tough negotiation and the inevitable legal victory that followed. He wasn’t going to let anyone take that away from him.
“So you’ve come to a decision about Fox?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Is Jason Devreaux officially part of our roster yet? Did I miss something?”
“No, but…”
“Then nothing’s okay, Gareth!” Angry, she punched him in the shoulder, like she did twenty years ago, whenever he’d shoveled Brussels sprouts onto her plate. She hated them, and there had been a rule in her parents’ house that everything on their plates had to be eaten. “This whole thing isn’t just getting on your nerves, you know? It’s getting on mine, Freddie’s, Lyle’s, the coach’s... So, do what you’re so famous for and pull yourselftogether. We want Jason Devreaux, and we want to keep Fox. Get a grip and find a middle ground with Hazel.”
