by Garnet Hart
She forced air out of her nostrils. That man was as arrogant as how she’d heard from people. He could be the most beautiful man on earth, he could have beaten her Mason Wayne on those surveys, but he would always be a pompous prickhead in her eyes.
Chapter 6
Zoey waved as Bessie ran to her school. After two weeks in the hospital, she was finally discharged. They’d relieved her leg of the hard plaster, but she still had to use crutches to walk. Worse, she had to wear a very long skirt, not only because it was difficult to wear jeans, but to hide her bandaged leg, as well.
She cringed as streaks of pain shot through her leg. She had just taken her pain reliever, but sometimes, even that could not numb away the pain.
Tomorrow, she could start with her therapy, and she hoped it could improve her condition.
She had already lost her job. Yesterday, when she reported back to work, the company offered her a resignation package instead.
She understood though. Her job, as a marketing staff, entailed traveling from one city to another to present to clients the company’s proposals. In her condition, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for her to travel long distances.
So she accepted the offer. What else could she do? If she didn’t, they’d terminate her anyway.
She glanced at her wristwatch. It was time for her to meet with Myers and his lawyer for an out of court settlement. Even after she had turned down his offer three times, he persisted.
The last time, the offer was up to a million dollars. Surely, they’d increase the amount this time. They’d offer her something she could not resist. Now that she was unemployed, the temptation had begun to eat her up, but she wasn’t meeting with them to accept their offer. She had several receipts with her that deserved reimbursement.
She took a taxi and instructed the driver to take her to the address written on the card she had shown him. With her left leg immobilized, she had considered selling her car, but the doctor told her there was still a chance that she could drive again after a month therapy. The chance was slim, but she’d rather take it rather than give up.
She arrived at the building and took the elevator to the eighth floor.
Attorney Jeremy Daniel’s office was only two doors away from the elevator. She was glad she didn’t have to walk too far.
She knocked on the door. Just a few seconds later, the handsome young lawyer opened the door.
“Good morning, Miss Graham,” he said with a wide smile. “I’m glad you’ve made it.”
“Good morning, Mister Daniels,” she replied and stepped inside.
She saw Troy standing by the window. He still looked dashing even if it looked like someone just dragged him out of bed.
She waited for him to look at her, but he kept staring at her crutches and her long, black skirt. She felt offended. “What are you looking at?” she asked sarcastically.
He instantly lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Nothing.” He shook his head. “You just look like you’re going to a funeral or something.”
She knew she was wearing a black blouse and an old fashioned black skirt. “If you haven’t done this to me, I wouldn’t be wearing this ugly skirt.”
He raised his arms. “Alright. Sorry.”
She ignored him and walked to the table where Logan had pulled back a chair for her.
“Good morning, Mister Norris,” she said and sat on the chair. “Thank you.”
“Good morning, as well,” Logan replied and took the crutches from her. “You look good today.”
She smiled. This old man knew how to treat a lady better than his nephew did.
“No good morning to me?” Troy asked, wearing a silly grin, as he sat across her. Logan sat beside him and Jeremy at the head of the table.
“You’re the only not good sight this morning, Mister Myers,” she replied.
“I would appreciate it if you call me by my first name.”
“I’d like to, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.”
“Ouch. Does Mason sound a lot better to you?”
“Of course.”
“I can fix you up on a date with him.”
She looked into his eyes to see if he was being serious. He wasn’t. That silly grin told her so. “Ha-ha. No, thanks. I can get him on a date with me if I wanted to. I don’t need your help.”
“Keep wishing.”
“You don’t think I can?”
“Honestly, no. You’re just not pretty enough for his taste.”
She flushed. She had never been insulted like this her whole life. She had to admit she wasn’t that attractive to be a supermodel, but she knew she was pretty. Not everybody would tell her so, but some guys would turn their heads to look at her everytime she walked by a crowd. And she had a beautiful body—thirty-six, twenty-four, thirty-six. She also had long, slim, flawless pair of legs, until this son of a bitch ruined it.
“You think I’m ugly?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t use that word.”
“But it’s exactly what you mean, isn’t it?”
“If that’s how you understand it.”
Logan slapped Troy’s shoulder. “What the fuck are you saying, dickhead?” he scolded. “If you have nothing nice to say to a lady, shut your fucking mouth.”
Jeremy made a sound of throat before the situation worsened. Instantly, they all kept quiet.
“You did not bring your lawyer with you?” Jeremy asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t need a lawyer. I just…” She paused and pulled the receipts from her purse. She laid them all on the table, in front of Troy. “…Came to show you these.”
Troy picked up one receipt and read it for two seconds before dropping it back on the table. “Give me your bank account number. I’ll tell my accountant to wire it to you.”
She reached for one receipt and wrote down her name and her bank account number. “When will I expect it?”
“This afternoon. She’s not available this morning.”
“Alright,” she sighed and turned around to look for her crutches. “Where the hell are my crutches?”
“You’re not leaving so soon, are you Miss Graham?” Logan asked.
“Unless you have other things to say.”
The three men glanced at each other. “You know that this meeting is scheduled for an out of court settlement, don’t you?” Jeremy asked.
“I know that,” she nodded.
“Then you might want to listen to what we have to say?”
She sighed and leaned backward on her chair. “Fine. Go ahead. But don’t expect me to change my mind.”
“Are you sure you don’t need a lawyer for this?”
“I’m sure.”
“Alright, let’s start,” Jeremy said and opened the envelope in front of him. He pulled out several pieces of papers that she was not interested to see. “I heard you lost your job.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You know about that?”
The lawyer smiled but didn’t say as to how he got the information. “And how much did the company pay you?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s personal.”
“Somewhere around ten, or fifteen thousand, I guess.”
She pursed her lips. How the hell did he know? “What’s that have to do with this?”
“Well, Miss Graham, you have a child under your care, and if you can’t find a job soon, you’ll lose her. In your present condition, I don’t think anybody will hire you.”
She pressed her lips tight. She was just planning to polish her resume after this meeting, but now this lawyer had slapped her with the reality. “I’ll start my therapy tomorrow. I should be able to walk in a couple of months.”
“That’s not certain.”
She took a deep breath and switched her gaze to Troy. “Since you’re responsible for making my life a hell, you might have a job for me?”
“If I do, that would be part of the settlement,” Troy replied.
She rolled her eyes. “You’re th
e finest son of a bitch I’ve ever met.” She turned back to Jeremy. “So what are the contents of those papers?”
Jeremy picked up the papers which are grouped into three. “We’ve prepared three agreements here. You choose one.”
“What are they?”
“The first one is a monetary offer. You might want to consider this. Right now, you’re in a difficult situation.”
“I know. So how much?”
“Two million dollars. This should be enough to compensate you for the damages the accident has caused you. You won’t earn this much money in your lifetime.”
She was quiet. Two million dollars worth a lot of money. She wouldn’t have to work her whole life if she had that much. But what about her dignity? Her pride?
“No.” She shook her head. “I have to turn that down.”
“Double it,” Troy said.
She looked at him.
“Make that four million,” he continued.
She forced herself to laugh. “That’s just your salary in one month, if I’m not mistaken. Do you think your offense is worth just one month of work, or shall we say, play?”
“So how much do you want?”
“Not money. As I said, I’ll let the court decide how much you should compensate me.”
“If you leave this for the court to decide,” Jeremy butted in, “you might not get even half a million. Troy has offered you four million. Please think about it.”
She crossed her arms and lowered her gaze. That amount was tempting. It would give her and Bessie a comfortable life. But what was stopping her?
“That’s too generous, but…” She shook her head and rose to her feet, holding onto the table for support. “I can’t take it.”
“Don’t you want to hear the two other offers?” Jeremy asked.
“No, I don’t,” she replied, searching for her walking support. “Where are my crutches? I want to leave now.”
Logan picked them up under the table and was about to hand it to her when Troy suddenly grabbed them from the old man.
“Give me those, Mister Myers,” she demanded.
“Troy,” he corrected and stood up. Holding the aluminum crutches behind him, he approached her. “You don’t leave this room until we talk.”
“We’re done talking.”
“No, we’re not. I don’t think you really understand the situation here.”
“Of course, I do. If the court found out you’re guilty, you’ll go to jail. Not only that, you’ll be suspended from football, if not terminated.”
“That’s it, but you’re missing the point.”
“What am I missing?”
He leaned closer to her, too close that she caught the smell of his perfume. It intoxicated her senses, but not enough to make her forget what he’d done to her. “Just like you, I also have people depending on me. I have parents who are both without jobs. I have a team who depends on me. My GM wants to get back what he has invested in me. If I were found guilty, I’d lose more than what I have earned my lifetime.”
“…So?”
He did not say anything. He just stared at her, as if he could not believe how frigid she was.
He nodded a long moment later. “Alright,” he said and handed her the crutches.
Her eyes followed him as he turned around. She just saw something on his face that melted her heart.
He committed a crime, but if that would cost him everything he had worked for, and still had to go to jail, wasn’t that a little too harsh? What would happen to his parents?
Suddenly, she felt sorry for him. “I don’t want money,” she said.
Troy turned to her. A gleam of hope brightened his eyes.
“What about a house worth four point five million?” Jeremy took the opportunity to speak. “That’s the second offer.”
She shook her head. “Not that either.”
Jeremy picked up the last pile. “The third one…”
Troy gestured for Jeremy to stop, and then he approached her again. “Money is all I have, Zoey. And don’t say it’s just money, because I worked my ass off for years for that money. Name your price. I’m willing to negotiate.”
“I do see your problem, Mister Myers, but you cannot expect me to sympathize with you while I see this,” she said, pointing her finger to her leg. “You have no idea how much it hurts, especially at night. It makes me want to kill you over and over again.”
He sighed. To her surprise, he fell on his knees before her.
“Alright,” he said. “I’m on my knees. I’m begging you to forgive me. I know you think of me as a pig, but believe me, I deeply regret what I’ve done to you.” He reached for her hand and pressed it on his cheek. “Slap me. Beat me up. If that makes you feel better. I deserve it.”
She froze. Her fingers trembled.
His hand behind her hand was warm, although a bit calloused. The growing stubbles of his beard tickled her palm. A jolt of current suddenly rushed through her from their point of contact.
He held her hand tighter, prompting her to meet his eyes. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, until ice water from a bucket poured over her and she looked away.
She pulled her hand off his grip. He also cleared his throat, as if he too was thrown into that momentary awkward situation with her.
“Stand up. You look like a fool that way.”
He obliged. “So now, tell me. I can give you a blank check right now.”
“You can’t afford me, Mister Myers.”
“I’m not buying you. I just want to compensate you for the damages I caused you, and at the same time, save my own ass, to be honest.”
She sighed. This man was insistent. “You really want to know what I want?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure you’re amenable to anything I ask?”
“Of course.”
“Well, then. Marry me. That’s what I want.”
He froze for a brief moment. “Done. When do you want us to get married?”
She gawked at him, unable to believe what he said. But she knew both of them weren’t being serious. He was just riding along. “Troy Myers, why don’t you waste your time somewhere else?” she said and turned away.
“Come on.” He followed her to the door. “I just accepted your proposal. What better way can I compensate you than make you my wife?”
“Shut up.” She tried to ignore him and continued to the elevator. “You’re wasting my time.”
“Not anymore. I’ll walk you home while we talk about our wedding.”
“There’s no wedding.”
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re engaged now.”
“Oh, what the fuck, Myers. Leave me alone.”
“I can’t leave my fiancée alone. I’ll drive you home.”
“No, thank you.” She entered the elevator. He followed her in. “Don’t you have other things to do? You just lost your last game. Why don’t you start practicing? You’ll need it for your next match with the Jets.”
He ignored her and stood beside her as the elevator descended. “Really, Zoey. That marriage proposal is the best offer you have given me. I’ll take it.”
“I thought you don’t like ugly women.”
“Did I say that? As far as I know, I don’t even look at women’s faces anymore.”
“As long as she’s got a pussy?”
He drew his brows together. “You sure can talk. Does your anger management session include irresistible urge for profanity?”
Her jaw dropped. “How did you know that?” she half-exclaimed. Nobody knew she had undergone anger management therapy after she was arrested for verbal abuse. “You’ve been digging out my shit, haven’t you?”
“Not me. My lawyer did.”
“My shit is my shit, okay? I’m a private person.”
“Nobody’s taking your shit from you. We just took a little peek at it. It sure wasn’t pretty.”
She grunted. As soon as the elevator opened, she stepped out.
He followed her through the lobby. A few people there all turned their heads to look at him.
“Go back upstairs,” she said. “People are looking at you.”
“So what? Let them look,” he said and followed her to the entrance. The guard opened the door for her, but when Troy was about to step out, the guard stopped him.
“I’m sorry, Sir. For your security, I’d suggest you remain inside the building.”
“I won’t be long. I’ll just escort the lady out.”
“Your coach just called me to not let you out of the building.”
She left the two men arguing. She never looked back. While waiting for a taxi, she realized her anger and her hatred toward the famous quarterback had subsided, not completely though.
He had actually knelt down before her, and she knew it wasn’t just an act. He meant it. He was really sorry for what he’d done to her.
Soon enough, she might be able to forgive him. But if she were to forgive him and change her statement to the police, she might just as well accept one of his offers—for herself and for Bessie.
Chapter 7
“My stool pigeon called,” Jeremy told Troy as they sat on the bench. He was on the practice field with his team, preparing for their upcoming game against their fiercest rival, the New York Jets. The rest of the team was in the locker room, resting.
“What did he say?” Troy asked after gulping down half the content of the water bottle.
“He said Zoey changed her statement.”
“Really?” That came to him as a surprise. “Did she accept the offer?”
Jeremy shook his head and rested his arm on top of the bench. “Not sure why she did it. I’ve been trying to contact her but she is not answering.”
“I’ll wire her the money right now, but first I have to know what’s in her new statement.”
“She claimed the accident was her fault. But don’t celebrate yet, and don’t wire her the money yet. Her sudden change of statement is suspicious. If the prosecutors found out you wired that much money in her account, they’d use that against you.”
Troy sighed. Jeremy was right. He’d only dig his grave deeper if he’d transfer that much money to Zoey’s account.