4. Chapter Four #2
I spent every day asking myself what any of it was for?
Why did I leave here in the first place if I was always destined for nothingness?
To be cast aside as nothing more than a misunderstanding.
A platform for abuse and whatever else these Alphas and Betas like to dish out.
I left here a broken mess, damn, I’m still trying to get over it.
They’re mourning their reputation and the ability to maintain a functional team. A corporation. While I’m mourning my entire life. You’d think he’d lead with that. But no.
They’re all the fucking same.
Self-serving fuckwits.
It’s beyond disappointing for the remaining players, though.
They didn’t deserve this, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re being poached as we speak.
The Cardinals are talented, there’s not a single doubt in my mind about that.
They didn’t deserve a career filled with uncertainty, that’s for sure.
And there’s not a damn thing I could do about it and it pains me.
But in Clive's words, what’s done is done.
And I had nowhere else to go, but back here.
Back to my career. The one I should have never left in the first place, if I’m being completely honest with myself.
But then, I wouldn’t have met Veronica, and she’s the light of my life in every way.
Her and Bronte are the sole reason I’ve survived these past five months.
“Please, Clive, get to the point. I’m very much aware of the club’s current situation. But I don’t know why you’d think it has anything to do with me.”
He clears his throat, a sudden sound of surprise in his tone, which is laughable.
Just because I am an Omega doesn’t mean I am going to be meek or show any sort of kindness to these corporate assholes, especially with the way they treated me.
I know their type. And they’re certainly not mine.
Clive Roberts encouraged the current procession of events.
He didn’t even try to fight for me, so who am I to interrupt the natural sequence of things?
“The board and I would like to discuss an offer with you. An option for you to take back your position not only as the head coach but as a majority owner of the team.”
Well, I didn’t see that coming.
Not wanting to sound overly curious, I probe cautiously for more information, because if you give people like him an inch, they’ll take a fucking mile, and he doesn’t deserve a single one of my steps.
“That so…” I trail off, feigning nonchalance while eagerly waiting for the catch.
Because there always is one. I have read through my fair share of contracts.
I read in fine print. As black and white as these assholes like to portray themselves as, there isn’t a single shade of gray on the planet that could perfectly match them. There will always be discretions.
“We have come to the price of one and a half billion dollars, a discount in light of the unfortunate circumstances…” Clive’s voice keeps making sound, but he lost me at the price.
One and a half billion fucking dollars.
One and a half billion dollars to purchase back a team that was already mine, until the dirty technicality they couldn’t wait to shove in my face.
The Cardinals might not be my birthright as I once thought it was, that’s null and void now that I’m no longer Patrick’s daughter, but it was still left to me by the man that raised me.
He named me. That should have been enough.
But because I am not a Gilmore, as he didn’t hesitate once to tell me, I lost it. All of it.
I need to breathe, because if I don’t breathe, I’m going to spiral. And if I spiral, I cannot be held accountable for what I might say to this prick.
“—if you accepted, you would be able to walk straight back in like nothing ever happened. We would have…”
I hold up a hand, as if to stop him from spewing his bullshit to me. Realizing he can’t see the action through the phone, I finally interject.
“I’m going to have to stop you right there, Clive. I do not have a billion dollars.”
“A billion and a half.”
“Right. Well, whatever the figure. I don’t have it.
In truth, I don’t even have half of that to purchase the team.
As far as I am concerned, the only way I’ll ever step back into the role as head coach, and then inevitably as majority owner will be if you reinstate me.
I will not buy something that is already mine.
You know it. The rest of the board knows it, too.
I made myself pretty clear the day I left.
You know what is written in that Will. Technicality or no technicality. ”
“Miss. Gilmore,” Clive begins, refraining from using my first name as an effort to pull rank over this conversation.
He won’t. But I don’t miss the frustration in his tone.
In fact, I like it. He deserves to have his feathers ruffled.
He could sing like a damn hummingbird for all I give a damn because I will not change my mind on this.
I don’t let him speak any further. It's not like he gave me that respect when it was my time to defend myself. To them, I was just another Omega. My fight wasn’t worth their time.
Funny how the tables turn. That now, it is them, more specifically, him practically begging me for their time.
“No. The Cardinals had their chance to do what was right. You had the chance to do what was right. As for the fall out? That’s not my problem.
You chose to stand by and listen while the news illegitimized me.
Now, when you need me the most, you come crawling back with your tail between your legs because you made a mistake.
Don’t lie to yourself, Roberts. You chose to see me as nothing more than my designation in those months I spent fighting for my position.
A position I earned. You saw the ratings sky-rocket.
You saw what good I did for you, and your wallet until the media decided to move on and pick on someone else.
Smart business people don’t beg, Clive. Remember that. ”
“Miss. Gilmore,” he says again, this time with a little more anger. But again, I don’t give him a moment to speak. I am so beyond done with this conversation.
“I am speaking. Behind that expensive suit of yours, is a coward. And I suppose there’s nothing more to it. You reap what you sow. We’re done here.”
I don’t bother with fake pleasantries before I pull the phone away from my ear, and hang up on the man. If you can even call him that.
Screw him and anyone else for thinking they could fuck me over this way.
I meant what I said. I won’t allow another Alpha to tear me down. This is me keeping that promise to myself. I get to decide what happens next in my story. Not them. Not anyone. Not anymore. And I sure as hell won’t be their fucking victim ever again.
Any of them.