“No. I mean, why would you want me when they’d be coming with me?”
“Who?” Still playing stupid, I see.
“I know who you are to her,” I say. “I know what you did. So I’m not here to sign with you because I will never play for a man who wrote a check to make his daughter go away.”
He sets down his drink and still has the nerve to hold the same arrogance he did at the restaurant. “I see Penelope broke her NDA. That’s serious legal exposure. I’d think carefully about?—”
“Don’t.” I step toward him. Not threatening. Just removing the comfortable distance he’s used to operating from. “Don’t finish that sentence. Don’t call a lawyer. Don’t send her a letter.” I hold his gaze. “Because if you try to enforce that NDA, I will make sure every person in this league knows exactly who you are. Think about that story, Graham. You were probably, what? In your late forties at the time? A woman barely out of college. A child you denied and paid off to make disappear.” I give him time to really think about it. “Imagine what the media would do with that story. Imagine how New York would feel.”
His jaw tightens.
“It wouldn’t be good,” I say. “For you.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. The only sound is the hum of the hotel heater.
“You’re making a mistake,” he says finally. “The offer is genuine. Whatever you think of me personally?—”
“Personally? You have to be joking. She’s mine. They are mine. And I will never regret not playing for you.”
Something flickers behind his eyes, and I’m certain he knows how serious I am.
“This is done. Don’t test me, because if you go after her, I go after you. Stay the fuck away from my wife and my daughter.” I turn and stalk toward the door.
Once the door closes behind me, I draw in a deep breath in an attempt to calm the adrenaline coursing through me and demanding an outlet.
As soon as I’m outside the hotel and my anger has dissipated, I call Penelope.
“Done,” I say when she answers.
A rush of breath. “Are you okay? Did you hit him?”
I look up at the Langham once, still tempted to go back up there and knock him out. Then I look away from it because he doesn’t deserve any more of my attention.
“Unfortunately, no,” I say. “But I’m good. I’ll be home in twenty minutes.”
“Do you mind getting Hazel? I had to run out to do an errand.”
I frown. “Where? I’ll meet you.”
“No, I’ll be home soon.”
“Okay.” Something sounds off. “I love you.”
“I love you. See you soon.”
I put my phone in my pocket and slip into an Uber, determined to put this all behind me, but very aware I still don’t know where I’m playing next year.
Chapter
Sixty-One
Penelope
* * *
I’m desperate for a miracle, so I’m going to play every card I have. Especially since Decker just turned down the offer of a lifetime for me.
I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous though.
