Page 309 of Ruthless Court

“I know.”

“Eventually he realized I could help.”

Her laugh has no humor in it.

“Not play. Help.”

Stats.

Film.

Schedules.

Notes.

Players.

All the invisible things she understands better than anyone I know.

“I became his little protégé. His secretary. His extra brain.”

“Hannah—”

“He loved me.”

She says it quickly.

“I know he did.”

There’s the complication.

Love doesn’t erase damage.

“He just could never give up the dream.”

Her eyes turn toward the lights again.

“If he couldn’t build it through me, he would build it around me.”

The gym.

The program.

The boys.

“And eventually he decided I would help him run it.”

I remember what she told me.

MBA.

Business side.

Her future already designed.

“He never asked?”

She shakes her head.