Something that could derail everything.
And like I told him, if things went sideways, I’d be the one who faces the consequences.
Not him.
Just like what will happen if I don’t land Nakamura.
“I’m honestly surprised that you guys are in on this,” Dan says, as I refocus on the real problem, not whatever romantic fantasy I’m inventing in my head.
“Well, you’d know better than anyone that we’re in the market for a starting pitcher, Dan,” I shoot back, and the asshole chuckles, but then he gets down to business.
“We want to thank you for submitting your initial interest bid. I’m happy and, frankly, surprised that the it’s within the range we’ve determined as a good start for negotiations. He’snarrowed his focus now to teams that will have the opportunity to pitch him in person here in Los Angeles and make their case and offers. Obviously, we reserve the right at any point to withdraw his interest from any particular organization.”
“Obviously,” I agree, and roll my eyes while I try to keep my tone as even and professional as possible.
“Excellent. You’re up first. We have you scheduled for tomorrow, nine sharp.”
First. The sacrificial lamb. Or . . . an opportunity to set the bar so high that no one else can clear it?
It’ll have to do, though.
“Sounds good, Dan. See you tomorrow.”
“Good luck,” he says, just as I’m ending the call.
I turn to the team we have assembled.
“We have approximately eighteen hours to prep for this meeting. Let’s do it.”
Gregory and a couple of guys from the media relations department are on the presentation, assembling footage of Brooklyn then and now, the neighborhood, the people, the food, the energy, giving Nakamura a sense of exactly where he’d be signing up to play, since we don’t have the advantage the Dodgers do of hosting the negotiations in their own city.
Javy and Charlie are going through video of Nakamura’s highlight reel, pulling out the baseball information they’ll need to talk to him about, what he’d bring to the organization’s pitching staff and where we see him as he develops in the majors.
And me? All I can do at this point is wait.
The wait might kill me.
My phone buzzes in my hand and I smile at the screen.
Stew.
“Hey, boss,” I say. “Isn’t it nearly bedtime?”
The doctor was clear: he needs a lot of rest, time to let his body really recuperate.
“You watch your tone, young lady,” Stew scolds, with laughter in his voice.
“Yes, sir. How are you feeling?”
“Fine, fine, progress is good. Doctors are thrilled, but that’s not why I called.”
All business then. Okay, that must mean he’s feeling better.
“What can I do for you?”
“Checking in. I spoke to Hannah Vinch.”
“Did you?”
