Chapter 24
Vee
The Coopers’ equipment manager started the preparation for tomorrow’s game over a week ago.
He coordinated with the Raiders’ stadium operations team for everything from game balls to our team’s practice schedule.
Our preliminary training staff were already at the practice facility, working with their counterparts in Las Vegas.
The NFL was a well-oiled machine. Not even the death of Reid Hubbard could bring it to a halt. Despite the giant void within me, the game would go on.
My hotel suite was large, too large. It was probably booked when I thought Preston might join me—back before.
Now it was after. An unexpected knock on the door came as I was back in the bedroom unpacking.
Apprehension prickled my skin as I peeked through the peephole revealing a woman close to my age with dark hair.
Securing the safety lock, I opened the door a few inches. “Hello.”
“Ms. Hubbard, I’m Virginia Athens from the Stephens Security Company. Mr. Marsh asked for me to be assigned to you this weekend.”
This was news to me. I didn’t recognize the company name and wasn’t in the mood for company, especially that of a stranger. Plus, there was a questioning voice in my head warning me that she could be a reporter. “Ms. Athens, do you have ID?”
She proceeded to show me her identification as well as a plastic badge with the company’s name.
“Can you wait just a minute?” I asked.
“Certainly.”
Closing the door, I let out an exasperated breath. My temples pounded and the muscles in my neck tightened as I found my cellphone and called Uncle Darin.
“Vee,” he said upon answering.
“What company did you hire for security?”
“Stephens. We’ve used them before. A woman named Athens has been assigned to you.”
“She’s here,” I said. “I would have appreciated this information prior to her arrival.”
His tone cooled. “I told you I arranged security.”
“Not that we had personal…what is she, a bodyguard?”
“She has executive protection training. You want the top title; you should be ready to take what comes with it. The same news outlets that sent the reporters to Lexington know that we’re here now.”
“Dad didn’t have this.”
“He did on occasion. You didn’t realize it because that’s what these people do, fade into the background. Jesus Christ, Vee, you asked about security. I arranged it. Let her do her fucking job.”
“Her fucking job.” My voice slowed. “I want to do my fucking job. Don’t assume I know details if you don’t share them with me.”
“Didn’t Reid tell you not to micromanage?”
My jaw clenched. “I’m not having this conversation right now. I have a job to do.” I tried to ignore my trembling hands as I disconnected the call.
Why did everything seem like a fight?
Gathering myself, I returned to the door and opened it wide. I gestured to Ms. Athens to come inside. “I’m sorry for the delay. Security arrangements were made without my input.”
She smiled. “I assume you verified my information?”
“I did.” I motioned to the bedroom. “I have a few more things to do here, and I’m headed to Allegiant Stadium. Um…” I shrugged. “You’re welcome to sit out here.” I looked around. “I’m new to this. How does this work?”
“I was told that you wanted to avoid the press.”
“Very much.”
“I’ll accompany you whenever you’re outside this room and until you leave Las Vegas tomorrow evening. Introduce me any way you want, an assistant, a coworker…I won’t interfere with your job. My job is to keep others away from you.”
Inhaling, I nodded, feeling unexpected relief. “Okay. We’ll make this work.” I feigned a smile. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
“My company has a car ready for you and Mr. Marsh out a side door.”
My thoughts went to my uncle. “Mr. Darin Marsh?”
“Mr. Grant Marsh.” She lowered her eyebrows. “Did I read the instructions wrong? Aren’t you riding together to the stadium.”
“Oh yeah. We are. I’ll hurry.”
Grant was already in the car waiting when Virginia and I arrived. As the door opened, he pointedly looked down at his watch.
“You could have left without me,” I offered.
“We’re fine.”
“Ms. Hubbard, I’m DeQuinta Jackson,” the driver said.
“Nice to meet you.” I settled in the back seat with Grant while Virginia took shotgun.
My phone buzzed in my bag. Pulling it out, I saw a text message from Fin. The team was officially in Las Vegas. Their buses had police escort to the IMEG Training Center. “The team is here,” I said to Grant.
He hummed. “Tilson reach out to you?”
Looking up, I met his gaze. “I have spies everywhere. I thought you knew that.”
“Fuck, Vee,” he growled under his breath. “It seems to me that the fact you’re still involved with a player when the spotlight is on the Coopers shows your lack of commitment to the team.”
My head was about to explode. “You know what shows lack of commitment?” I whispered, trying to keep our conversation from being overheard.
“Wanting to leave a day early because it’s Vegas and fun is deserved.
It’s only the sixth week of an eighteen-week season.
My commitment is to the team. I’m beginning to wonder about others. ”
“My parents have worked their asses off for the Coopers, and for what?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know the amount they’ve been paid, but I’ll have the business office get me the figures on Monday.
Everyone is well compensated. The rewards aren’t so bad either, like flying to away games, accommodations, travel expenses.
You are an important member of our family and executive team, Grant, but you’re not indispensable. ”
Turning toward the front seat, I exhaled.
My heart rate was thundering in my chest as I moved my head from side to side, trying to relieve the muscle strain.
My molars were about to explode from the pressure.
This felt like it was a coordinated attack by father and son, and I for one wasn’t going to put up with it.
While my cousin didn’t reply verbally, the way his foot crossed over his knee bobbed and his fingers tapped on the door handle let me know he wasn’t pleased.
That was good.
Neither was I.
The Raiders’ home stadium was adjacent to the famous Las Vegas strip, yet technically in Paradise, Nevada.
It was one of the newest stadiums in the NFL along with the Rams/Chargers SoFi stadium and Crystal Light.
Our capacity was seventy thousand fans. Allegiant held sixty-five thousand and was also home to the UNLV Rebels college football team.
In 2024, they hosted the Super Bowl, an accomplishment Crystal Light couldn’t claim.
Currently, we’re not in the running. For one thing, convincing the NFL that Lexington was a better location than larger markets wasn’t easy.
While the locations of future Super Bowls hadn’t been announced beyond Atlanta in 2028, one of the rules for hosting a Super Bowl was to have enough hotel rooms within an hour’s drive to accommodate thirty-five percent of the stadium’s capacity.
For us, that would mean nearly 25,000 rooms. Lexington had close to 12,000.
Neighboring cities, such as Georgetown, Richmond, Frankfort, and Winchester added significantly to that number.
Our facility was adequate. It was our supporting infrastructure that lacked.
It was a battle Dad vowed to keep fighting.
I stared up at the unique shape of Allegiant Stadium as it came into view. The structure was impressive. The domed roof allowed for natural light without the heat and rays of the desert sun. I’d been to this stadium before in a suite. Tomorrow will be my first time on the field under the dome.
DeQuinta stopped the car. She stepped out to open Grant’s door while Virginia did the same for me.
The three of us walked without speaking across the large expanse of sidewalk to an entrance.
“Ms. Hubbard and Mr. Marsh from the Coopers,” I said to a security guard.
“Yes,” he replied after checking his tablet. “Let me show you inside.” The guard explained the directions for us to reach our own respective locations. Once Grant went his own way, I let out a breath.
“Ms. Hubbard,” the Raiders’ vice president of operations said. “Welcome.”
“Call me Vee, please.”
“And I’m Chris. Now let me show you to…”
It was after six at night when Virginia and I returned to the hotel. Once we were up to my suite, I invited her inside. “I wasn’t sure how this would go but thank you. It went well.”
“I’m glad you’re satisfied. We didn’t have too much difficulty with reporters, seeing as the stadium was closed off to the public. Tomorrow will be different. I’ll get you safely to and from the suite.”
I shook my head. “I’m not staying in the suite with the rest of the family. I’ll be on the sideline of the field.”
Virginia opened her eyes wide. “I didn’t know that.”
“I’ll be perfectly fine on the sideline. Allegiant has guards and security all around. The event is secure.”
“When you leave the field?” she asked.
“I’ll find a place where you can wait for me. If that’s all right?”
“That will work. Do you plan to go out to dinner?”
“No,” I said with relief as I kicked off my shoes. “I’m in for the night. I’ll order room service and in the morning...” I looked at my watch. “I want to be to Allegiant by 9:00 a.m.”
“The game isn’t until one thirty.”
“There’s a lot that goes on before then.”
Virginia smiled and nodded. “I’ll be here at 8:45 a.m.”
“Thank you.”
After she was gone, I double-checked the door locks and looked around my suite.