CHAPTER 17 #2
Scarlett was inclined to agree, but what with everything that had happened, she knew people were angry and wanted answers. Giving the guard a final nod, she veered left and headed upstairs and down the long hallway that led to Chard’s office.
Upon entering, she saw that she was one of the last to arrive.
Dawson sat next to Marreo, both of whom appeared nervous.
Miles was slouched in a chair next to Theo, whose face was blank while Gary paced behind them, hands behind his back.
Jaffi was there, looking as though he had just sucked on a lemon, and Chard was behind his desk, talking with a man in a fine black suit with slicked-back hair.
Chard gave Scarlett a strained expression when she came in.
“Very well. Now that we’re all here, I think we can get started,” he said as Scarlett sat next to Dawson.
“As everyone here knows, we have a bit of a situation on our hands. According to the police report, Miles and April here were driving at about seventy miles per hour when their car struck another vehicle as they were getting on the A57. Mr. Geoffrey Kingsley, the owner and driver of the other car, suffered a broken arm and several contusions along his torso. Mr. Laurens here is the team’s attorney, and he just got off the phone with Mr. Kingsley’s attorney and was informed that they will be filing a suit against the team, as well as both Wilkens and Dawson for negligence and loss of enjoyment of life. ”
“It’s been two days,” Miles said snidely. “How can he have a loss of enjoyment of life already?”
“Shut up,” Theo snapped.
“As it were, Mr. Wilkens,” Laurens said, “Mr. Kingsley is a musician and will now be out of work for several months.”
Miles sank back down in his chair.
“Now, Mr. Laurens has proposed making a settlement out of court, but there will have to be ramifications,” Chard continued. “Miles, you’ll be suspended for two weeks—no pay, no practice. The court would see to it that your license is banned for upwards of three years—”
“What? Three years?”
“—but the lawyers are working on reducing that.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Miles said, snorting. “And how’s the team going to get on without me? I’m the top player.”
“We’ll manage,” Theo bit out.
“As for Dawson, I’m afraid this sort of publicity is simply too much for the Bees to take on. We can manage one screw-up, but more than that?” Chard frowned. “Which is why I’ve decided to heed my brother’s advice and disband the women’s team after this season.”
Scarlett’s mouth dropped open. She, Dawson, and Marrero stood up at once.
“What?”
“Excuse me?”
“You can’t do that!” Dawson said. “I didn’t do anything. I was the bloody passenger, and I wasn’t even drunk.”
“How is that a viable option?” Theo asked, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re going to punish the entire women’s team because of something Miles did?”
“Hey,” Miles interjected, but he was ignored.
“Regardless, Dawson fled the scene, and the Bees have to be diligent here,” Chard said. “We can’t appear to be too lenient, and with the settlement likely to be outrageous—”
“This is outrageous,” Marrero cut in. “You’re going to cut an entire team because he”—she pointed her finger directly at the scowling Miles—“screwed up?”
Chard glanced at his brother, who stepped forward.
“The women’s team was more of a trial than anything. We wanted to see if it would be a profitable venture, and it was doing fine, I suppose. But with this latest turn of events, I don’t see how we can continue to pretend that it’s lucrative.”
“Not for nothing, but the women’s team has been outperforming the men’s team all season,” Scarlett said. “They’ve put an equal amount of ticket buyers in the seats, if not more so.”
“That hasn’t been confirmed.”
“The women’s team has more gains in followers and support across all the socials. Dawson’s jersey has been outselling Weeks’s and Majka’s combined—”
“Kit sales are not enough, Miss Simmons,” Jaffi said. “And it’s already been decided. After this season, the women’s team will disband.”
A sinking feeling of despair came over the room, and Scarlett felt like she was going to be sick.
The shock and disgust roiling within her stomach made her bring her hand to her mouth.
This was the most asinine, backward thing that had ever been conceived, and when her gaze landed on Theo, she wanted to will him to stand up and say something—anything—but then Chard spoke again.
“It’s not as though your job is in jeopardy, Miss Simmons. The team will continue to need your public relations skills, and we’ve been more than happy with your progress thus far.”
“I came to work for the Bees specifically because they were introducing a women’s team. I was excited to help build a reputation for a new team and rebrand the men’s, but if there isn’t going to be a women’s team any longer than I…” She hesitated. “I’m not sure I would be suited to continue here.”
Theo stood. “This entire decision is a joke,” he said savagely to Chard. “You’re going to lose the best PR person this organization has ever had and an entire winning team, for what?”
“If Marreo leaves, I will too,” Gary said out of nowhere, causing everyone in the room to shift in their seats and stare at him.
“Excuse me?” Chard said.
“Gary, no. That’s insanity,” Marrero said.
“No. I mean it,” Gary said. “Marrero’s managing has gotten her team into a top-three position in the women’s league. It’s idiotic to even consider eliminating them, and if this organization thinks to do so, well then, I won’t be a part of it.”
Scarlett wasn’t the only one surprised by his statement. Everyone was watching Gary with wide eyes. Chard appeared even more unsure now than he had before. He spun in his chair to face his brother.
“Jaffi, maybe eliminating the women’s team isn’t the best idea.”
His brother bent down to speak in his ear, though it was quiet enough in the room for everyone to hear.
“Need I remind you that we cannot afford these settlements?” he whispered harshly, before straightening.
“Miss Simmons, I believe you have a press conference to get ready for. As of this moment, our plans will remain as they are. We will discuss this further at a later time. Thank you.”
It was a dismissal, and while Scarlett was more than willing to stay and argue all the points as to why such a decision was ludicrous, she did have a press conference in less than twenty minutes. Still reeling, she faced Marrero and Dawson. “This isn’t over,” she said in a hushed tone.
“I cannot believe this,” Dawson said as Gary left.
“He’s a fool,” Marrero said softly as Scarlett readjusted her bag strap over her shoulder.
“I have to go, but we’ll talk afterward, okay?” she said to Dawson. “Come on, Marrero. We have damage control.”
“In a minute,” Marrero said as she went to speak with Gary.
Scarlett was halfway down the hallway when a large hand touched her shoulder. Turning, she saw Theo’s concerned face.
“I’m sorry about all this. I had no idea.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said, staring past his shoulder at Jaffi, who was speaking with the lawyer. “Chard’s brother has had it out for the women’s team since I got here. I wonder what he meant, they don’t have the funds for the settlement.”
“Yeah, me too,” Theo said, scowling. “What are you going to say at the press conference?”
“I have something written up. What about you?”
“Same.” He paused. “Were you serious back there, about not staying if the women’s team is disbanded?”
Her mouth opened, but then she shut it, unsure how to answer him. She nodded. “Yes, unfortunately. I was.”
A shadow passed over Theo’s face, and while now certainly wasn’t the time to discuss private matters, she knew her words affected him on a different level. Maybe she should tell him the truth now, about the whole texting situation, before it got too far away from her.
“Theo, I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
She inhaled and exhaled slowly. This was it. She was going to tell him the truth. “I—”
“Come on,” Marrero said as she marched up to them with Gary. “We’ve a press conference to get to, and Gary and I have a plan.”
Momentarily distracted, Scarlett tilted her head, though she could feel Theo’s eyes still on her. “What plan?”
“Follow me.”