Fuck. I was so fucking close.
I’m granted only a moment of serenity before Luisa bursts through my office door, having no problem bull dozing in here, since it seems to be the only way she knows how to enter my work space.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Stepping out on the team as they were just handed their loss. For what? So you can drink your expensive booze and sulk in silence?”
“Silence, in my office? I would never dream of such a delight,” I snark as I get up to pour myself some of the alcohol that Luisa helpfully reminded me of. Even though my guest wasn’t invitedand can currently be described as hostile at best, my manners ensure that I pour her a glass as well.
Looks like we both need it.
“Those men down there have put their absolute blood, sweat, and tears into this game. Their families deal with not having a family member for most of the year. Did you even know that baseball has the longest season of all professional sports?”
I eye her over my glass as she continues to spew sports facts that have no hope of being retained.
The way her chest heaves as she tries to prove her point makes it quite hard to pay attention, in my defense.
While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this season, with Luisa ready to rip me a new one at every turn, it seems our perverse form of foreplay has abruptly come to an end.
Because it’s all coming to an end.
As in the New York Monarchs.
All because I didn’t satisfy the terms of the living will that haunts me daily.
“Love, hate to interrupt, but your breath is being wasted, unfortunately.”
“Love? You think ’cause you own this team, you can go ahead and avoid HR complaints? Because I’ll let you know—”
“It’s over, Luisa. All of it. The New York Monarchs just played their first and final season as a team. And there’s nothing we can do about it. So yes, scurry off to HR, and while you’re there, let them know that a severance package is coming their way.”
Her face drops. And so does her body—into the chair in front of my desk.
Feels like she’s docile enough to slide the glass in front of her without having it boomerang back to my head.
She takes it without a fuss and throws half of it back in one go.
Rookie mistake.
But to my surprise, she doesn’t flinch. Nor does she have an exaggerated coughing fit.
The woman is a whiskey drinker. Another thing to add to the list of reasons why she intrigues me so much.
But not even the slit in her fitted skirt can get a rise out of me at a time like this.
“Explain,” she says warily.
I stand and close the doors that Luisa so unhelpfully left open.
Instead of walking back to my chair, I move to stand in front of my desk, forcing Luisa to sit back unless she prefers to sit with my crotch in her face.
Pity.
I cross my arms and pin her with an unyielding stare as I start. “What I’m about to tell you cannot leave this office, understood?”
She nods.
“Use your words. We both know you know how to cut me with them,” I push.
“Yes, understood,” she grits out.
