Chapter 19
Annalise
Did I check the company’s stats for last year?
What about their projected numbers for this year? How do they think Travis signing with them will affect those numbers?
I should take one more look at Norm’s email.
The cyclone of thoughts rushes through my mind at a breakneck speed.
Today is the Friday before the Miami Grand Prix and I have another meeting with a potential sponsor on behalf of Travis.
This time it’s with a lifestyle brand based here in Miami.
I’m so preoccupied that I don’t notice the beautiful skyline that can be seen from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the luxury hotel’s twenty-fifth floor that houses its premiere restaurant.
Instead of taking in the cerulean waters that reflect the vibrant blue sky above, I mentally review the company’s previous sponsors, the emails I’ve exchanged with Norm about the company, and the speech I’ve prepared, talking up all that Travis’ image will bring to the company should this deal go through.
I won’t mess this meeting up like I did with Luca Taylor.
“Hello, party name Waltz,” I tell the host, who then looks down the list.
“Annalise?”
I turn to a deep male voice. There are two men in business suits standing at the entrance. I recognize them both from the company’s website. Liam Waltz and his business partner and minority owner, Randy Collins.
I’m thrown off to see both of them here.
I was prepared to speak with Liam. Before I can run through everything that I know about Randy Collins, he sticks his hand out for me to shake.
“Pleasure to meet you.”
I suck in deep breaths and extend my hand to Randy Collins and then Liam Waltz.
“It’s a shame Norm couldn’t make it this weekend, but he says you are the next best person to speak to on Travis’ team,” Randy says with a confident smile.
“I like to think so,” I reply easily. “Having worked with Travis the past few years and getting an insider feel for this industry as a whole, I’m very aware of how his image would fit well into your company’s marketing strategy.”
Liam’s eyes light up.
He smells dollar signs. Which is a good thing.
“That’s good news for us considering what happened with the previous athlete we took on as a sponsor,” Randy says.
Previous athlete? I hadn’t heard anything about their brand being associated with another athlete. I want to ask but refrain.
“I suppose you heard all about that,” Liam says, glancing down at me as we follow the hostess toward a circular glass table in the corner of the restaurant. The position gives us a spectacular view of the yachts sailing in the marina. Many of which are here for the Grand Prix.
“Yes, that must’ve been a tough break,” I lie, grateful my voice comes out confident. “But I assure you that with Travis, your company’s image is safe.”
“Yeah, that’s what we thought with our last signing,” Randy scoffs.
Liam looks over at his partner, frowning. “You’ll have to excuse him. He was severely let down by Skyland and everything that happened last year.”
“Skyland Grant?” My brother’s previous teammate who turned out to be a piece of shit.
“The very one,” Randy answers, cynical. “Which is why I told Liam I didn’t want to work with any more athletes. The last thing we need is for our brand to be associated with such …” He trails off.
“We’re not all that bad.”
That posh British-accented voice sends a warm chill down my spine. All three of us at the table pivot our attention in Max’s direction.
He’s standing there in a light-colored button-down top and chocolate dress pants, and I have to make myself ignore how excellent he looks with his shirt tucked, showing off a peek of his muscled chest and slender waist.
Why the hell am I thinking about Max’s slender waist?
“Max Ferreira,” Liam says, sounding slightly starstruck.
When I look over, noting the wide-eyed way he’s looking at Max as he rises from his chair, I know I didn’t make it up. Liam is totally starstruck in Max’s presence.
“Please sit,” Liam says, eagerly.
“What?” I ask.
“No, I couldn’t interrupt.” Max waves off the offer. “I just overheard a part of your conversation and couldn’t resist chiming in. My apologies.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” Liam insists. He’s clearly not about to allow Max to get away.
Max, who looked ready to walk away a second ago, takes one glance my way and widens his grin before pulling out a chair opposite me.
“If you insist. How are you, Annalise?” He looks directly at me after shaking both Liam and Randy’s hands.
Heat washes over me and I shake it away before nodding in his direction. “Max.”
“The rumors must be true.” Despite the laughter in Liam’s voice, it’s his words that capture my interest.
“Rumors?”
Liam gestures toward Randy. “We were wondering if the rivalry between Max and Travis was true or just for show. You know, league marketing and all of that.”
Randy looks at me.
“But seeing your reaction to Max points to the fact there must be a bit of truth behind the cameras. You two don’t seem to get along.”
“You know what they say about rumors,” Max says.
“What’s that?” Randy asks.
“There’s a bit of truth and a bit of fantasy in them all.”
Randy frowns. “I’m not sure I’ve quite heard that saying.”
“Truly? I must’ve made it up in hopes that Annalise doesn’t truly hate me.” He tosses his thousand megawatt smile my way with a wink.
Liam and Randy chuckle.
“Why would I hate you, Max? You’ve been an incredible addition to the Amato Team this season,” I say easily, not bothering to question whether I believe this is true or not. “And anything that’s great for Amato is beneficial to Travis and his prospect to capture his second championship.”
Something passes through Max’s eyes but it’s too quick for me to name.
“As happy as I am to improve my teammate’s chances, I have to admit I’m much more concerned with my chances of coming out on top this season.”
“Look at that,” Liam says, excited. “It seems like Max is in it to win this season.”
Max’s eyes never leave mine. “Someone recently told me that I have the potential to win it all …” He pauses, and I swear his hazel eyes darken just the slightest amount. “I took those words to heart.”
His words steal my breath.
Or maybe it’s the look in his eyes as he repeats my own words back to me.
Possibly, it’s both.
Either way, when I open and close my mouth, nothing comes out because I’m too busy trying to regulate my heartbeat and the rush of warring emotions shooting throughout my body.
“You must have a high regard and respect for whoever told you that,” Liam says.
“I bet those guys over at Amato appreciate having you there. Must be great for them to have another Ferreira wearing the signature red,” he continues, evidently not picking up on the damn fireworks shooting off between Max and I.
I peel my eyes away and glance over at Randy. He’s looking between Max and me, but when he lowers and raises his lashes, whatever he’s thinking gets shielded by a professional gaze.
“I have an idea,” Liam suddenly says.
“What’s that?” Randy asks.
“How about we take on both Max and Travis?”
“Excuse me?”
“Take on?”
Max and I ask at the same time. I hate the way I sputter but I was not expecting for Liam to say that. This is the last thing I imagined coming up.
“Let me get this straight,” Randy interjects. “I told you that I didn’t want to work with any athletes this season, and now you’re proposing that we take on not one, but two athletes? Rivals at that?”
Liam isn’t put off by his business partner’s terse words if the grin spreading over his face says anything.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m proposing.” He leans into the table, looking between Max and me. “I tend to be a man who goes off of instinct.”
“Which got us into trouble last year,” Randy grumbles.
“Granted, I’m wrong from time to time,” Liam concedes. “I can't help but to believe the chemistry emitting between you two isn’t an accident and would spillover between Max and Travis.”
“Chemistry? There’s no chemistry,” I insist, ignoring everything else Liam’s just said.
Randy lifts an eyebrow but remains quiet.
“We happen to work for the same company,” I amend. “Technically.”
Max upends everything even more when he asks, “What are you proposing?”
I glare at him. He can’t be serious.
“A joint sponsorship of sorts,” Liam says.
I can see the gears of his mind working.
“It would be perfect, actually. Think of it, Randy,” he says, excitement raising the level of his voice.
“We’ll be the phoenix that rose from the ashes of last year’s blunder when we signed Skyland to turn it around and have both Travis Townsend and Max Ferreira featured in our ads.
And if the determination in Max’s voice is anything to take seriously, we might have double champions on our hands? Or team champions.”
Liam’s speaking a mile a minute at this point. His ideas are like a runaway train and there’s obviously no stopping him at this point.
“That’s not the deal we discussed with Norm,” I try to remind him.
“Normally, I have my agent involved in these types of meetings,” Max speaks up. “But I like what you’re offering.”
I purse my lips to stop from telling him that they actually haven’t offered anything yet. Nothing aside from Liam’s vision, anyway.
Everyone at the table can see Max’s enthusiasm for what’s on the table, though. I start to wonder where his actual agent is right now. His friend, Edwin, should be here negotiating.
“No, but you are right, Annalise. This isn’t the original deal our company proposed. But, like I said, I’m a man who trusts my instincts and I believe until papers have been signed negotiation is always on the table.”
“As long as the deal benefits all parties involved,” I say, sitting up straighter. “I will run these new terms past Travis and Norm, and we’ll have to decide whether this is the right thing for Travis’ career and image.”
I swear I see a small smile stretch Randy’s lips before that placid, professional expression covers it.