Page 45 of Scored

My salad was filled with raspberries, almonds, tofu, tomatoes, and blue cheese. “Everything is set. Jen ran point on it and has done a fantastic job.”

Aunt Rachel smiled. “She’s the one, isn’t she?”

“To take over my position when the time comes?” I nodded. “She is. Over the last few months, I’ve been evaluating my directors. They’re the best of the best. VP of stadium operations requires understanding of not one, but all of what each director and their team do. None of them need to look at the big picture, which is the way it should be. They each need to concentrate on their department. Jen’s been with me for years. She sees the forest, not just the trees.”

“But she knows the trees?”

I laughed. “She knows every leaf.”

Aunt Rachel sighed. “Vee, I think you have your answer.”

I laid down my fork. “Oh, please don’t tell me you want to retire at the end of the season.”

“No. I want to help you. If you ask me, next year you should stay in stadium operations, just like Reid was in stadium operations and take on more of a presidential role. I’ll still be CEO, but the role that currently is lacking is president of operations, stadium, and football. It should be you.”

“Have you mentioned this to Uncle Darin?”

Aunt Rachel lifted a brow. “Vee, you’re the owner of the Coopers. We aren’t going to entertain the possibility of Bre’s child until there’s proof. You hired me as CEO. Darin is a member of the executive board and VP of football operations. We don’t need his permission. I know we tabled this discussion this morning, but I think we should move on with Quinten Ledger for general manager. Royce has put off his announcement, but if Quinten learns of Royce’s departure and we haven’t discussed the position with him, he’ll start looking elsewhere.”

Leaning back, I sighed. “I read Uncle Darin’s list of possible outside candidates. I’m not in favor of David Smith from LA.”

“Any particular reason?”

LA was shit to Fin. I couldn’t say that. “They had a bad season. And they can’t blame it on injuries. That means he didn’t do his job. Either he can’t find talent or doesn’t know how to fill a roster with the right players.”

“They had a salary-cap issue.”

“They went 5–12. Second worst record in the NFL.”

She nodded. “Phil Patton from Tennessee and Leonard Ingram from Atlanta.”

“Why didn’t he list Thad Frances?”

“He’s not available. The Colts are sticking with him. They have faith that injuries were what hurt them, not his decisions.”

“I can see that. Dad stuck with Royce this whole time, and we had some not-so-good seasons.”

“Quinten?” she asked.

“Get Uncle Darin and Grant’s schedule synced with ours. We should all be present to talk to him this week.”

Aunt Rachel smiled. “I agree.”

One thought of Dad created a hundred. “Aunt Rachel, have you seen Bre lately?” I asked. “She has to be what…four months along?”

She nodded. “I saw her last week after we secured the first seed.”

“And…does she look pregnant?”

“Bre has always been slender. She was wearing a long sweater and honestly, if she hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known.”

“Is there any chance she could be lying? Or maybe she lost it.” I inhaled. “That sounds horrible. I don’t wish that. It’s that Grant told me that Dad had a vasectomy. If that’s the case and Bre is pregnant, it can’t be Dad’s.”

Aunt Rachel’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “Grant told you? How would he know?”

Oh shit.

“I believe he said Daphne told him.”