by Blue Saffire
Star
Lee Johnson
Blue Saffire
Evei Lattimore
Contents
Publisher
Word from Blue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Untitled
Other books by Blue Saffire
Coming Soon…
Star
Lee
Blue Saffire
Perceptive Illusions Publishing, Inc.
Bay Shore, New York
Copyright © 2013 and 2018 by Evei Lattimore and Blue Saffire.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
Blue Saffire/Perceptive Illusions Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 5253
Bay Shore, NY 111706
www.BlueSaffire.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Ordering Information:
Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the “Special Sales Department” at the address above.
Star/ Blue Saffire. -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-1-941924-68-6
To my Fru Fru for always encouraging me to be more and do more. There would be no me without you! Love you forever and miss you so much.
―Blue Saffire
Chapter 1
From the Start
Lee
I guess looking back now, it wasn’t a lack of mentors and advice that got me caught up. It was the right mentorship and a lack of listening that landed me in my situation. I had plenty of advice, some of which I spent too much time listening to. I almost lost what was important because I thought I was above it all.
I thought like many of you, that won’t happen to me. I’m here to tell you it will and it can. No matter how smart you are or how smart you think you are it can happen to you. I just hope it doesn’t and if it does, I hope you have the opportunity to see your way out of it.
Me, I escaped some things, but not all. I wasn’t untouchable the way I thought I was. Maybe the best way to get you to see my point would be to come clean and tell you my story—every detail, my whole truth. I brought someone here with me to help you understand my story from more than one angle, but first I think I should get this started.
My name is Lee Johnson. I play football in the NFL. Ever since I was little, I swore I would make it to the NFL and marry me a beautiful wife, have lots of kids, and my own businesses. I was determined to get everything I wanted.
I entered the game with a plan and focus. I didn’t want to be the rookie that got caught up in the game and forgot that there is life off the field. I wanted to be in control of my options.
It’s why I was determined to not just go to college. I wanted to take advantage of the education football offered me. After my four-year undergrad and landing my shot in the NFL, I decided to go back to school.
I figured a Masters in Business would help me to start my business or at least get me on the way there. I had no idea that going for my Masters would change my life forever. As I think about it now, school opened the options that kept me from getting lost in the game and the life.
I remember very clearly where it all started. It was my rookie year in the game. I landed a great contract and I was truly at the top of my game. I was playing for the team I wanted and gelling with my offense like we had been playing together for years. I looked good as a rookie quarterback. My dreams were coming true as far as my sports career was concerned. I was on track and heading towards my goal.
I felt it was a good idea not to put school on hold, since my career was going so well. I enrolled in NYU’s Business graduate program, determined to get my degree. I was pretty much coasting through the program. School had never been an issue for me. My GPA had never fallen below a 3.8 and I didn’t shy away from the more rigorous classes.
I was taking a research and strategic planning course. I’d been excited to take this class. It was what I needed to help me focus on getting my plans in order to finally decide on my business and how to move toward getting it started. I had a few ideas in mind, but nothing solid. I just had this feeling that by the end of this class I would have it all together.
There was this girl in my class, Crystal. She was very beautiful and smart. She’d been in one of my other classes the semester before. I don’t know what it was about her, but I would watch her. She was different. She was always focused. I watched her determination in class and admired it. I love a woman with brains and she had it all, brains and beauty.
Crystal, with that flawless brown cocoa colored skin, beautiful brown eyes, and that sexy short haircut—the entire package. I mean the haircut was perfect for her face, the back and left side were cut low, but the right side was long and framed her cute face. I remember I would watch her full lips as she would talk in class. Sometimes it was a little distracting. Her shapely physique was another huge distraction.
She always set up her seat in the same location, no matter the class. She would sit in the middle of the class, next to the middle of the row, taking up at least three seats when she could. Her bag and things in one seat, her laptop on the other and she would sit in the middle.
I’d fallen into the habit of sitting a few rows behind her, where I could get a nice view of her and that face. I guess now it sounds like I’d been stalking her. Nah, I just thought she was pretty. When I didn’t need my attention for class, she was a great focal point.
I remember the second session of the research class. The professor had announced that she had formed our groups for the research models. We were to be paired into twos. I sat in my seat praying that Crystal would be my partner. The professor began to call off groups, while I stared at Crystal waiting.
“Gloria Stewart and David Lowery,” the professor called. “Crystal Livingston and Lee Johnson, Kristen Harper and Fred Osborn.”
I wanted to jump out of my seat and fist pump. I felt the grin that hit the corners of my lips. This would be my chance to get to know her better.
Crystal turned around in her seat to look up at me, two rows behind her. I could see the frown on her face, as she rolled her eyes, turning back around to face the front of the room. I remained happy she�
�d be my partner.
I would finally have a reason to talk to her. Crystal wasn’t the type you just walk up to and think you’re going to throw some corny game. I knew I had to come correct.
Some of the other groups moved to sit together right away, but Crystal didn’t budge. After the look she gave me, I wasn’t going to move either. We sat through the lecture and took notes, until the professor announced we were dismissed to meet up to start planning.
I watched as Crystal packed up her things, heading for the professor’s desk. I waited, packing my own things. She had a discussion with the professor, looking up at me a few times with her face twisted with aggravation. This was nothing new to me. I had group partners underestimate me all the time as an undergrad, just based on the fact that I was a jock. After a few minutes she nodded at the professor and made her way to leave the classroom. I picked up my things and followed her out.
“Excuse me, you’re Crystal Livingston, am I correct?” I asked, as I caught up to her outside.
“Yes,” she replied dryly. “Listen, I talked to the professor. I’m trying to get a different partner. I take this seriously and I think that maybe a switch would be best.”
“Wow, Crystal you haven’t even given me a chance. I’m no slacker, I get all my assignments done and I maintain a very high GPA, but if you want to jump out of the pan into the fire…it was nice to meet you and good luck,” I replied.
I wasn’t about to beg her to be my partner. I think that had to be the rudest way anyone had tried to ditch me.
She pressed her lips together, the wheels turning in her head. “Okay wait. The professor does want me to at least try and she did say that you’re a good student,” she paused and sighed. “Okay I apologize, it’s just the last two group projects I did, I got stuck finishing both on my own. I will get an A, Lee, with or without you. I would just prefer if it were with.”
“Okay, Crystal, so let’s start over. I’m Lee, it’s nice to meet you,” I said, as I looked into her eyes. I noticed that up close her eyes look almost violet and not so much brown at all. “I will be your research partner and I think it might be a good idea if I gave you my number and you give me yours so we can stay in touch during this process.”
I tried not to show my irritation. I could understand where she was coming from. Still, I was a little pissed off at her assumption.
“Okay,” she chuckled, as she pulled out a piece of paper to write on. “Here this is my number, but I would like to get started as soon as possible. Are you free tomorrow?”
“No problem, I have practice in the morning, but I’m free in the late afternoon and tomorrow evening,” I replied, as I put her number in my phone and sent her a quick text, so she would have mine.
“Please tell me you’re not a jock,” she huffed.
“Check your phone for my number, Crystal,” I laughed ignoring her comment. “Where and when do you want to meet?”
“Ugh! The campus library. I have a class at six, so can we meet at two?”
“Sure, I will be there at two, see you tomorrow,” I said as I turned to leave.
I went to get in my Porsche, the second big-ticket item I treated myself to after signing my contract. It was a simple indulgence, a black, 911 Turbo Cabriolet, which I had customized. I made my way home to my first big-ticket item, my condo. A spacious one bedroom, one and a half bath, the perfect bachelor’s pad.
I laughed to myself as I drove. Crystal had made some big assumptions. She would see. I planned to more than handle my part of the work, it was my grade too we were talking about. I didn’t expect her to be so cold, but I guess I would be too if I got stiffed twice.
When I made it to my condo, I threw the food my chef left in the oven and took a quick shower to relax. I didn’t think I’d be going anywhere for the night. I was more focused on getting my head in the game so I could start that weekend. I finished off my dinner and made my way to bed.
Chapter 2
Bring it On
The next day practice seemed to fly by. I was on top of my drills and I had the playbook memorized, thanks to my photographic memory. The coaches were seriously considering letting me start and I wanted to show them I was ready. This was a big step for me. I wanted to do what I came to do, win. It was a great opportunity for me and I was determined to spend the rest of the week showing how truly ready I was.
After practice I looked forward to seeing Crystal. I figured maybe we would start on a better foot. I got to the library a little before two, running right into Crystal, as she made her way inside. As usual she looked great, dressed in a pair of light blue jeans, a pink button down shirt, layered over a white tank top, and a black leather jacket.
“Hey, Lee, you’re on time,” she chimed. “That’s a good sign.”
“Whatever, Crystal,” I laughed.
I wasn’t going to let her get to me.
“We have a lot of work to do. Do you have any topics in mind?” she asked, as we walked into the library.
The assignment was to come up with a business to conduct research on. Once we finished the research, we had to create a strategic business plan to target the same market. I had been thinking about it all day, but I wanted to hear her thoughts. Maybe we could come up with something we both liked.
“I was thinking we could talk about things that interest us and come up with something from there,” I responded.
“Okay that will work,” she replied, as we sat at a table in the library. “Well, I have a Cosmetology license, that’s the field I will be in when I finish this degree.”
“Cool, that’s how I made money as an undergrad. I have my barber license. I used to cut hair in my dorm.” Things were going great, we already had something in common.
“Really? Then this is great. We can do research on customer satisfaction or something,” she offered.
“Okay, my friends have a unisex shop. I know they will be willing to help. We can survey the clients there.”
“Alright, cool, then we can create a plan to start a shop in that area,” Crystal smiled, showing how into our plan she was.
“So, should we get to the research for the lit review?” I asked.
“Sure.”
“Do you want to split up or work together?”
“Oh, no, we’re working together,” she answered, as she wrinkled her nose at me.
“No problem, let’s get started,” I chuckled.
We started working, using the computers and reference resources. I shocked her, as I found study after study that we could use. I’d even created a quick map of what we needed to find. I could tell she was impressed, despite the fact that she wasn’t going to say so. We had about fifty references by five o’clock. That’s when her stomach started to talk out loud.
“Are you hungry? I know a great place not far from here. We could get something to eat,” I offered.
“No, I have class in an hour. I’m just going to run to my dorm and get something,” she replied, as she stretched. “Is it okay if we call it a night? Can you meet me here again tomorrow?”
“Sure, I have practice in the morning, but I can meet you at two. Is that alright?”
“That’s great, I’ll be out of class by two, so tomorrow. Thanks, Lee,” she said, as she packed her things to leave.
“No problem, see you tomorrow,” I called, while she grabbed her things and left.
I went home to get started on sorting out the stack of literature we had. I wanted to read through it all and get it annotated. That would cut down on a lot of the process and get us moving along.
I ate while I read, highlighting and making notes at the same time. Once I made it through everything, I rewrote my notes so I could make a copy for Crystal. Not paying attention to the time, I failed to notice it was one in the morning by the time I finished. I went to bed to get in a few hours before practice.
The next day practice was great. I was focused and I won the starting job for the weekend’s game. I was amped. I tried my best n
ot to get caught up in that rookie state of mind that some players get into. I was determined to know that I would be starting for the year. It was a lot of pressure being the rookie quarterback, but I handled it well.
Some of the guys wanted me to go out that night to celebrate, but I needed to focus on the project with Crystal. I wanted to keep my priorities straight. I could celebrate when things were truly in order. Starting that weekend was just the beginning. I had a ways to go.
Beating Crystal to the library that afternoon, I went straight to the computers to start finding more references. I had five already when my phone went off. It was a text from Crystal asking where I was. I texted her back my location in the computer area. I was sure she thought I was slacking and hadn’t arrived yet. I still didn’t think she trusted me.
“Hey, look at you,” she chimed, as she found me. “I thought you were late, but you’re at work already.”
“Yeah,” I chuckled. “Here, I annotated the references from yesterday, here are the notes.”
“Are you serious? Wow this is great. This is a lot of work, Lee,” she beamed, as she looked through the notes.
“I found a couple more so far. I figure if we get through another fifty or so we should be good to move on.”
“Cool, so move over. I feel like I need to step it up, you’re showing me up,” she laughed.