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I learned my work ethic from her. Though apparently, I forgot it at home today. I clear my throat. “It won’t happen again.”
She closes her notebook and sets it aside. “What’s on your mind, Gage?”
“Nothing. Let’s get back to Swiberg Telecom, shall we?”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Oh my God. Is it a girl?”
An image of Violet flashes in front of me, all haughty lips and big hazel eyes as she tilts her face up to mine, challenging me.
Always challenging me.
I frown. “No. Definitely not a girl.”
“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” She sighs. “A mother can hope. Whenever you introduce me to one of your girlfriends, they’re gone by the end of the month. I want you to have a personal life, that’s all.”
I smile, affectionately. “Youdon’t have a personal life.”
She waves her hand. “I had one once. I don’t need another one.”
I sigh. My mom says lines like that all the time. I know she thinks my dad was her one great love, but I hope when I take over the company in a few years she lets herself relax and enjoy life a bit more.
She gets up to make herself a cup of tea from the ornate tea set that’s sat in the corner of her office for as long as I can remember. “If not romance, what’s on your mind? It’s not like you to be so unfocused.”
“They’re selling the Colorado Coyotes,” I say. “That asshole Scott Chaney wants to buy them.”
She stills. She knows exactly what that means.
“I’m thinking of buying them instead.” I don’t realize how serious I am about it until the words are out of my mouth. But once I say it, I know it’s true. I’ve been turning this over in my head ever since last night, trying to figure out a way to make this deal work.
It’s been kind of exhilarating if I’m honest. I’ve never bought something to try andimproveit. Make it last.
My brain feels like a kid in candy land.
My mom sets down the teapot and turns to face me. “No.”
I scoff. “What? Just like that? Mom, I’ve run the numbers and within three seasons we could increase their value exponentially—”
“Sports teams are too risky,” she interrupts. “And even if they weren’t, that’s not what wedo.”
I tap my foot impatiently. “There’s a lot of things we didn’t do until you took over. Maybe it’s time for some change again.”
She grimaces and finishes making herself her cup of tea. I know she’s giving herself time to think.
I wait.
She settles back in her chair. “I know why you want this, Gage. And that’s exactly why I won’t let you do it. You’re too personally invested. You already live at work. You barely make time to see your friends. I can’t remember the last time you took a vacation.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Pot. Kettle. Etc.”
She sets down her tea, frustrated. “I worked this hard so that you wouldn’t need to, Gage. I’m proud of everything you do here, of course. But you’re in your thirties. You’re supposed to beliving.Not sleeping in your office figuring out how to save abaseball teamof all things.”
It’s the last thing I expected her to say. But every negotiation needs a starting point.
I can work with this.
I lean forward, hands clasped loosely between my legs. “Okay. What if I promise I won’t let the Coyotes take over my life? In fact, I promise to have better work-life boundaries in general. I’ll only work forty hours a week total, tops.”
She gives me a look like she doesn’t believe me at all.
