“I have decided that we need another women’s sports team. The Blaze is doing really well. I think we should capitalize on the love that the country seems to have for women’s sports and create another team in the Tampa area,” he says, looking from Drew to me with authority. “I have decided that there should be a WNBA team here. What do you boys think of that?” He claps his hands together to punctuate this sentence. Or to just give himself some applause for his grand decision.
Drew speaks first. “That’s wonderful, Dad. I think it’s a great idea.” I can see Drew lighting up at the thought. “Wow, a brand-new team would be an incredible opportunity for someone.”
I nod. “Yeah, Dad, love the idea.”
I watch Drew for a beat. He’s practically on the edge of his seat, his eyes dancing with excitement. He’s more like my father than I am. He’s driven and wants nothing more than to make my father proud. Salivating on every bit of business knowledge that Maxwell can give him. Putting our father on a pedestal no matter how he treats me because at the end of the day, I think he wants to be just like him.
One of us had to want that.
“Good, I’m glad you are both on board with it.” He pauses again for dramatic effect. “I have no idea who is going to run it, though, so we’ll need to figure that part out. August, you’ve done great things here at the Blaze, so maybe you could head over and take care of the new team too,” he muses.
He hasn’t decided on this yet, but I’m going to squash this before it comes something that I have to legally get out of.
“Well, Dad, I think the Blaze is still too new. We haven’t even made it through one season yet. And this is where my heart lives,” I tell him, hoping to appeal to his sense of loyalty.
“Oh, August, please I did most of the setup for this, so it’s like you would be leaving anything that you’ve actually built,” he chastises me.
“Sure, Dad,” I say, shaking my head and taking the insult on the chin.
Drew grins eagerly, his eyes becoming alive at the opportunity that’s being laid out. “Dad, I would love to have the opportunity to create something like this from the ground up. I mean, the Marlins were already built and running well when I came into the picture. I think this could be a good opportunity for me. What do you think?” Drew lobbies for the team, whichmakes me happy because there’s no way I want to leave the Blaze.
Or Hendrix for that matter.
From what I know, basketball season overlaps with soccer, and I wouldn’t be able to see her as often. And I like being able to be at every single one of her games. Even when I was sure that she hated me, I loved cheering her on. I felt a sense of pride seeing her in the net.
“Yes, Drew, I think it could be a good opportunity for you. I was just thinking that it might be good to move August around a bit.” He manages to give Drew a pat on the back for being the dutiful son and showing his ambition and kicking him at the same time. Classic Dad.
“Sure, Dad, whatever you think is best,” Drew replies, the excitement that was once there now completely gutted by his remarks.
“I agree with Drew, give him a challenge. Let me stay here and keep working with the Blaze. He’s earned that right,” I say, hoping that Dad will listen to me.
“I’ll decide who’s ready for what!” he snaps at me.
I nod. “Of course, you will because no one here is a grown adult.”
“August,” Drew warns.
“Why bother helping your brother, Drew, when he has no respect for anyone. Let alone me,” my dad says, looking at me and shaking his head. “I mean honestly, August, when are you going to grow up.”
“I did a long time ago. You just haven’t noticed yet, Dad,” I throw out.
“Then act like an adult in these situations,” he scolds me, causing me to openly roll my eyes at him. “See that right there. You don’t do that in a business meeting.”
“Well, in most cases, everyone is treated like an adult, like they have a real say in a business meeting,” I fire back.
He opens his mouth, another insult coming, I’m sure. But he never gets to deliver it. Cindy from the PR team has entered the conference room.
“The media is gathered out in the stadium and ready for your press conference,” she says proudly.
“The announcement isn’t happening in the media room?” I ask her.
“No, Mr. Cromwell felt that it was better to have the announcement somewhere that didn’t scream Blaze,” Cindy proudly replies.
“Of course he did,” I say mostly to myself, but my father hears me.
“Please don’t act like this out there,” he scolds me.
I nod, knowing that I’ll be the dutiful solider, same way that I was when we announced the Blaze. Before I knew that it meant a job for me.
