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He was really glad that he had allowed Marigold to take the day off for her appointment. She didn’t need to deal with him as well.
A moment later, Trey filled the doorway. He arched an eyebrow at Darren.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yes.” Darren came around the desk and leaned against it, folding his arms. “Come on in, but keep the door open.”
Trey hesitated. Then he sauntered in.
“What, no handshake?”
“I don’t do them with people who disrespect and abuse my staff.”
“You what?” Trey blinked. “Disrespect and abuse? Who did I do that to?”
“I’ll give you three guesses.”
“Did Marigold say I abused her? She’s a fucking liar. I never touched her.”
“Did I say it was physical abuse?” Darren shot back. He had never felt so calm, even with the anger knotting in his stomach. “You did disrespect her. You asked her on a date, and the general consensus is you stick with one person. You don’t start sleeping around thinking it’s okay. If you’re going to cross a line dating someone who works for me, you’re going to respect her as a person.”
Trey snorted and folded his arms.
“You’re going to police me with how I should behave? You’re not my dad, and you’re certainly not Marigold’s dad.”
“I may not be her dad, but I certainly care about her more than you. And you crossed the line again by approaching her at the Christmas party, while escorting someone we didn’t want there, and said she was overreacting. You have no concept of feelings unless they’re your own.”
“I can do what I want. I’m a grown man.”
“So am I. Which is why I’m not going to renew our sponsorship contract with you later this year.”
Trey frowned.
“You what? Because I hurt your girl’s feelings?”
“Because you have been taking liberties since you bought shares and offered to sponsor the Vikings. You think because you’ve got shares, you get to do what you want. That’s not how it works, and how you behaved with Marigold and also disrespected one of my players by bringing his volatile ex-girlfriend around him is the last straw. I’ve already got someone else lined up to take over the space when you’re gone.” Darren shrugged. “I could have done this as a simple email or phone call, but I thought a face-to-face meeting would make it sink in a bit more.”
Trey looked stunned. Darren almost burst out laughing at the look on his face. Trey was the type of guy who never got told what to do. He thought he was in charge, and he loved to go around boasting that he was the owner of the Vikings. He didn’t, but nobody wanted to burst that bubble for him.
Darren was having fun popping it now.
“I...what...you can’t do that!”
“I spoke to the board, and they’re just as pissed as I am with your insane demands and the way you behave because of a couple of shares and a sponsorship. That doesn’t give you carte blanche to behave like you do. They are happy to buy your shares so they don’t have to deal with you.” Darren smirked. “Seems like Marigold isn’t the only woman you messed around with. Remember a Charity Newcome?”
Trey’s face paled. Of course he knew her. She was the secretary’s wife, and she was now pregnant with a baby that wasn’t her husband’s. From what Darren had heard, Trey knew but hadn’t acknowledged it. The husband and wife were separated now, and Trey had ghosted Charity. To say the secretary wasn’t happy with his involvement in the Vikings was an understatement. He was right behind Darren when he laid it out for them.
Having a hand in part of the team was something Trey relished in. He considered it a way to get points off the ladies. Now he was going to have nothing because he messed around.
“But...you...that’s not fair!” Trey was now looking outraged. “I’ve done so much for this team! You can’t throw me out now!”
“You’ve done what? Given us enough money for a new kit that has your company stamped on it. We can get other shirts. And having shares doesn’t mean shit a lot of the time, especially when you start sleeping around with other women. Guys are going to get pissed if you think it’s cool, and you’ve pissed off too many. Christmas was just the last straw, as far as we’re concerned.” Darren pushed off the desk and straightened up. “If you want to be ‘involved’ any further with the Vikings, you have to give a written apology to Marigold, and a verbal apology to Allison. She, at least, deserves to be apologized to after you brought her sister around her.”
Trey snorted.
“Fuck, no. I’m not apologizing to that little slut. She overreacted to something she knew was happening.”
Darren told himself not to get angry about that. But he did feel it building.
