Page 11 of Prince of Wrath

“I’m so sorry. I know I should have called you sooner, but you said not to bother you before seven a.m.—especially on Pilates mornings—though I did get your coffee and breakfast order ready and at your desk. Anyway, Jose called and⁠—”

“Chloe.” I held up my hands and locked eyes with her. “Breathe. In”—we took a long inhale together—“and out.”

She blew hers out in a rush then waited for me to speak.

“I will call Jose back. Who is on the other line?”

“Marco, Ralf’s assistant.”

“Tell him that I’ll also call him back after we’ve had our morning all-hands.” I turned to my assistant, Lora, and waved her over. “Now, did you eat?”

“Yes,” Chloe answered.

“Good.” I turned to Lora, who had a guilty look on her face. “Did you eat?”

She shrugged sheepishly. “I was running late.”

“Bagels,” I said. “From Broker in West.”

She nodded and turned back to her desk to grab her purse.

“On the company card,” I called after her. “And fill up your tank while you’re out!”

I focused on Chloe again. “Which fire needs to be put out first?”

“Jose. He got a call from an agent who wants to turn him. He’s thinking about taking it because the guy promised him a ‘mil more per season.’”

My blood was already boiling. Jose had been a hard sell to begin with, and I’d not only gotten him the trade he’d wanted for over a year, but I’d gotten him more money than he’d asked for. The fact that he was willing to replace me only seven months into our contract was ridiculous.

With Chloe at my heels, I walked to my office and sat at my desk before I started dialing Jose’s number. I pulled up our contract on my laptop and waited for him to answer.

“Hey, baby doll.” His sickly sweet voice filled my ear.

“Morning, Jose.” I laid it on just as thick as he had. “What’s going on?”

“I didn’t mean to scare your receptionist, but I know how hard you work for me when I light a fire under that perfect ass of yours.”

I cringed at this sort of asshole mentality. Jose was hot, and he knew it too well. He’d slept with every woman interviewer, consultant, hairdresser, and manicurist that worked around him. He was a beauty on and off the ice.

“Your contract is locked in at $7.5 million, Jose. Another million would mean negotiations with a team who didn’t need you. You’ve been riding pine for two games in a row. Don’t think I don’t watch.”

“Ouch, doll.” He feigned a hurt ego. “There’s nothing wrong with trying. Besides, he said you’d beg for me to stay, and I would love to hear you beg.”

“You’ve had your fun and made Chloe sweat. The next time you’re bored, buy a puppy because I will drop you and let the wolves descend. You’ll have your pick of the second-rate agents who would settle for $5 mil and half the endorsements.”

“You’re such a stone-cold tenner, Sloane. I love it when you boss me around.” His sleazy side was coming out too comfortably. “Fine. Fine. You win. I’ll tell this dude to fuck off, but I want to see you in the VIPs during the next game.”

“Get off the bench and I’ll be there.”

He hollered with laughter, and I hung up.

Chloe stood in my doorway, clutching a stack of contracts. Her shoulders were hunched up to her ears, and I could see the stress building on her face.

Ben had found every single client I held or was hunting and had sent them an offer. I didn’t know if he was planning to actually take them on, but what I did know was that he wanted to throw me into chaos while he made a larger move.

I had to get ahead of whatever that move was.

I took a calming breath and a sip of the coffee that Chloe had put on my desk. I knew what I had to do, but first, I had at least four more calls to make.