Gareth gave her an annoyed look. It was obvious that he would have preferred to keep the information secret. “It won’t affect you! We’re trying to keep everything as normal as possible. Just continue playing like you did before. No matter who gets the team, the transition will be smooth.”
“Bullshit,” Moreau whispered, and Jack had to agree. Changes in team ownership were never smooth. Especially not when they took place under such absurd circumstances.
What the hell was Darron Clark thinking? Competing for the team?
“What’s this crap?” Leon Alvarez asked, and it was probably the first time that day that nobody objected to him speaking. He said what everyone was thinking. Jack was certain of that.
“We know it’s suboptimal,” Gareth Clark said louder and glanced at Lyle, the general manager, whose lips were pressed together. “But we couldn’t talk our father out of it. He was…very specific.”
The last word came out of his mouth so bitterly that it could have contaminated entire drinking water arsenals.
Penny laughed. Loudly. “Specific,” she repeated. “I like that. Anyway, I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you better. Gareth and I will both be here for you over the next few months, so if you have any questions…”
“I have a question,” Leon said immediately, his hand shooting up.
“Oh no,” Lucy muttered.
He glared at her. “It’s fine! I won’t ask about the sex thing, but something completely harmless,” he promised impatiently before adding louder, “Did you actually slaughter a chicken in front of everyone at a gala?”
Jack choked on his own spit. What a ridiculous question! Of course Penny hadn’t…
Oh shit, was she blushing?
Stunned, he leaned forward in his chair and noticed half the team following his gesture.
“Hm,” Penny said, drawing out the word before straightening her back. “No.” She cleared her throat and added softly, “It was a rooster.”
Gareth Clark glanced at his hands and smiled. Leon’s eyes almost popped out of his head. Lucy was obviously suppressing a fit of laughter and Charkov had blanched.
Jack did none of that. He just kept staring at Penny, whose face now resembled a shy tomato. Why the hell would she admit to something like that? Why hadn’t she lied?
“But that was a long time ago,” she said finally, when the silence in the room had lasted too long.
“Five years ago!” Leon said incredulously.
“Well…yes.” She bit her lip. “I thought it was a good idea at the time. Although, these days, I rarely walk around with a cleaver.”
Jack suppressed an amused snort, but Leon stared at her as if he was afraid of being mistaken for a rooster in his sleep at night.
Penny seemed to notice because she added, “It was youthful recklessness, Mr. Alquez.”
Leon frowned. “Alvarez,” he grumbled. “I’m Leon Alvarez.”
“Ah.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Alvarez. You’re the 38 percent.”
“What?” The defense attorney blinked at her in confusion.
“Nothing.” She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m sorry. I still have to match names to the numbers. So, if that’s everything…”
“I have a question too,” Jack said, raising his hand.
He wasn’t quite sure why he did it. Maybe he was annoyed that Penny was looking at everyone but him. Maybe he honestly wanted an answer to his question. She did owe it to him. “What did you do before you came here? I mean not the last few nights…” He paused and raised one corner of his mouth. “I mean professionally.”
If it was possible, Penny turned a little redder. Finally, her gaze was on him, and as she licked her seemingly dry lips, the memory of what else she had licked automatically flashed through his mind.
Oh, crap. Maybe this was a stupid idea.
Penny blinked. “And your name?” she finally asked after a few odd, silent seconds.
