Page 94 of Her Game Plan

I turn back to my screen, popping my knuckles and wishing I had a stash of Nerds Clusters to dig into. Unfortunately, I threw them away after I opened my top drawer and almost started crying.

When I reach the bottom row of the spreadsheet, I turn to face Nelson again. “All I’ve heard about is Callan. That’s not what I’m seeing here.”

Nelson shrugs. “He is expensive.”

“Make it make sense. Because I hear you, but that’s not the story I’m seeing in front of me.”

He doesn’t dodge the question, meeting my eyes instead. “We can’t build a roster with Callan and $60 million misallocated on the defense.”

Misallocated.

Fucking. Hugo.

“And skills-wise”—I turn and press play on the video I was watching again—“is Callan too slow? Or is he not getting enough time in the pocket?” Because as much as I don’t want to trade Callan, as much as it would break my heart for him to leave this city and this team, I will accept the hard call if it’s the right one.

I just don’t think it is.

On the screen, Callan scrambles, escaping two separate rush attempts before he throws it to Pitt downfield. First down.

Nelson doesn’t respond.

Slowly, I face him again. “Is he the problem?”

“That’s what Hugo thinks. It’s his call.” Nelson sounds tired as he says it. As if this isn’t the first time someone has had this conversation with him.

“We’ll see about that.” I click my pen twice before smacking it down next to my keyboard. “Thanks for your help, Nelson. Expect a meeting to hit your calendar for tomorrow morning, first thing. I want everyone there.”

As Nelson leaves, I shoot off a text, asking my assistant to get the meeting on everyone’s calendars.

Then I pick up my phone and call Chris.

“Oh, brother dearest,” I chirp when he answers. “You’re being tapped back in to the Stallions.”

There’s a long pause. “Are you drunk, Char? Because you know if you do that, Dad’s going to give me this company, right?”

“Maybe,” I confess. “But this needs to be done. And because of my relationship with Callan, it can’t be me. So, I need you.”

And then I outline my plan.

Chapter 37

Charlotte

Chris is sitting at the head of the boardroom table when Hugo and Nelson walk in the next morning, all white-male confidence and manspreading. I’ve spoon-fed my twin every single thing he needs to say during this meeting, because, as much as it pisses me off, I know it can’t be me.

If I talk about saving Callan’s job, it’s going to be seen as preferential treatment from the woman he’s dating. Definitely not the look we’re going for.

“Chris, what are you doing back?” Hugo asks, his gaze flicking between my brother and me.

“I’m back in charge of the Stallions,” Chris says with a smile that I know, from years of being tickled senseless, means he’s about to do something you won’t like.

Hugo, it seems, doesn’t know that. “About time. I told your father a woman had no place at the head of a football team. The amount of time I’ve had to spend trying to educate her on what we’re doing here, and she still doesn’t seem to grasp salary cap constraints.”

I can’t hold back the snort that escapes me, and Chris shoots me a look. Educating me, huh? Is that what he calls his mansplaining? I understand the concepts, I just happen to disagree with his interpretation of them.

Chris folds his hands in front of him. “I’m glad you brought up salary caps. Charlotte mentioned you are all working under the assumption that we can’t win next year with our quarterback at his current number?”

Hugo nods. “Correct.”