“What should I do then? If I don’t count on being with her, then I’ve got nothing, but if I do, I destroy people’s lives. As for Emmitt, I’ve been banking on that being my future for the last two years. If I don’t follow through with our plans, then I’m back at square one. Is that really something I want to do?”
“I don’t have all the answers, Eric. It isn’t my job to tell you what you need to do. That’s your decision. All I can do is prepare you for how bumpy the road may get along the way. Are you prepared for all of that?”
“I can live with all of it and take anything that might come.”
“Okay, I support you one hundred percent in whatever you decide to do then. No matter what, I’ll always side with you, but remember to cover all the angles before you commit to any idea, no matter how right it seems.”
“Thank you, Uncle Gary.”
Back then, I didn’t know how right he was to ask me to question everything about my plans. I would do anything for Olivia and the life I was working to build, but when I finally did get what I set out to find, the results were going to leave me crushed under the weight of something that I truly didn’t understand. I still had a lot to learn back then, and I was going to learn all of it the hard way.
Chapter 23
An Old Flame
April
It was April, and the draft was coming up for Emmitt. The people of Miami weren’t happy that he was leaving school a year early, but the National Championship Trophy kept them satisfied. They had made money off him for three years, and it was finally time for him to cash in with a big check. He had fallen just short of winning the Heisman trophy, but despite that, a lot of experts had him pegged as the first pick of the draft. True to his word, he made me his agent. I had a lot of doubts when we first met, but I was actually representing what would likely be the first pick in the draft. Then there was the fact that I had gotten to know several other team members. I had landed two more players. Marcus Wright was their star running back, and he had committed to me as his agent. He was rated as a mid to late second round pick. My other client was Derek Wild, and he played defensive end. Our hopes were almost as high for him as they were for Emmitt. Life was looking bright, and I had almost forgotten about Olivia. Okay, that’s not true, but I certainly had some good distractions.
After we were all ready to go to New York, we went out to a popular spot in Miami for one last meal before the plane ride. I had everything planned out for when we got to New York. I had reserved four hotel rooms for us at the same place, and we had set it up so we would have adjoining tables at the draft. I thought I had covered all the angles and nothing could possibly surprise me on this trip, but something unexpected awaited me when we sat down to eat.
“I’ll be your server. Do you guys know . . .” our waitress asked before stopping in midsentence. She simply stared at me.
“Hey, honey. Are you all right?” Emmitt asked while snapping his fingers.
“Chastity, what are you doing in a place like this?” I asked.
It was my old girlfriend from high school. She had tried to get in touch with me through my sister a few times right after I got home, but I wasn’t looking to date anyone back then. Seeing her again felt right in that moment, though.
“I work here. What’s wrong with this place anyway?” Chastity asked.
“Nothing. We both came from rich families. I just didn’t expect to see you working a normal job. You don’t happen to have a break coming up soon, do you?”
“I can take one.”
“Hold up. Do you want to let us in on what’s going on?” Emmitt asked.
“This is Chastity. We knew each other when we were kids. We haven’t seen each other in years.”
“How about I get you guys another waitress, and Eric and I can talk somewhere privately?”
“That’s fine with us,” Emmitt said in confusion. The only woman I had ever mentioned to him was Olivia.
After Chastity had taken her break and gotten someone to cover our table, she directed me to a back room where we sat. It was awkward to see her again, but at the same time, it wasn’t unpleasant at all. She had grown up very nicely. I hadn’t remembered her being this beautiful. Back then, I was so obsessed with the idea of Olivia that I never really saw Chastity as she was. I had struck gold with Olivia, but this girl was definitely in the same league. She was gorgeous, and as far as I remembered, she was one of the nicest people I had ever met.
“Well, say something. I haven’t seen you in almost five years. I tried to get in touch with you dozens of times, you know,” she said.
“I’m sorry. I’m just stunned by how great you look. You look even better than I remember. I’m sorry I didn’t get in touch with you before now. I was going through some things back then, and I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. By the time everything was resolved, you weren’t exactly looking for me anymore. Let’s not talk about that, though. What are you doing here?”
“I’m a little offended, Eric. First you don’t try to find me after you get home, and now you think it’s baffling that I’m a server.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just that your dad is rich. I always pegged you as the Ivy League girl with a future as a lawyer or something.”
“I was, but we can’t all be perfect. I think for a while I was just a reflection of what people told me to be, but during my first year of college, I had an epiphany. I didn’t want to be a reflection of what my parents, friends, or even my church members wanted to see. I desired a different path. I wanted to be good, but I realized that I wasn’t perfect. Fancy schools and friends weren’t what I was looking for, so I quit. When I did, my father cut me off. I’ve been doing this ever since while I figure out what I really want to do.”
“And what is that?”
“I don’t know. I’m still searching. Right now, I’m just happy here. Now, let me ask you a question. The three men you’re with are very well known. What are you doing around Emmitt Brown?”
“My sister didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“He’s my roommate. He has been since freshman year. I went to school for business, and he’s going to let me represent him in the draft. Marcus and Derrick are football players, too. In a few days, my new career will start, and so will theirs.”
“That’s impressive. I feel like we’ve wasted so much time over the last three years when we could have been getting to know each other again. Let me ask you something. You said that you were going through some things when you got back into town. What were they?”
“I met a girl in Wisconsin, and it got serious. When I came back, I missed her more than I can express. I think my heart was broken. I even considered quitting college and going back to her, but I stuck it out.”
“How did things end up with her?”
“She’s married with a child.”
“Oh, well, that’s definitely final.”
“I would say so. I’ve got to get back out there to my clients soon, but let me ask you something. I might be out of line here, but I want to know . . .”
“Yes.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask, do you?”
“I think so. I missed you after you left. I know that we’re nothing to each other now, but it took a long time to get over you. Ask me your question, but I’m pretty sure the answer is yes.”
“Chastity, I wasn’t the guy you deserved back when we were teenagers, but I am now. Do you want to give me another shot after the draft is over? I should be back in town next week.”
“I would love that. It’s great to see you, Eric.”
Before I walked away, a thought occurred to me. Couldn’t she just come with us? Sure, that seemed kind of fast, and I was still hung up on Olivia, but I needed a distraction from that fact. As far as distractions go, Chastity looked like a really good one. Plus, I did want to be better for her than I used to be. For the first time, I thought that I wanted to pursue a real rel
ationship with someone who wasn’t Olivia.
“What is it? I can see that you’re thinking about something,” Chastity said.
“I just had an idea. It’s probably stupid. Never mind,” I said and started to walk again.
“Wait a minute. What is it?”
“You can say no, and I hope you don’t think I’m weird for asking, but why don’t you come with us?”
“I don’t know, Eric.”
“I knew it was a bad idea. I just thought I would ask. I’ve never been to New York, and I remembered that you hadn’t either when we met each other. You always talked about going, so I thought I should invite you.”
“How would that even work if I did go? I mean, I’ve got a job here.”
“I don’t know. Can you take some time off?”
“Not on such short notice.”
“Then it depends. How attached are you to this job? You can come with me today. I’ll book another seat for the jet right now, or you can stay here, and I’ll see you when I get back. I’m sure we’ll go again some day.”
“I think it’s time for me to take a chance. I’ll let my boss know that I’m leaving. I’ll probably be fired on the spot, but I haven’t taken a day off since I started here, so maybe he’ll have a heart. If not, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. How often are you going to get the chance to go to New York with four celebrities?” she joked.
“Hey, I am not a celebrity. I’m pretty sure the other guys will appreciate that kind of talk, though, especially Emmitt.”
“I’ll stop talking that way then. It’s not like Emmitt Brown needs a bigger ego. He’s one client you need to get under control.”
“So you’ve heard about him?”
“I think everyone has. He’s got a reputation for two things. One is being the best player in this region. The other is for being pictured doing something controversial every week. You might have your hands full with that one.”
“Oh, believe me. I know. I can keep him under control, though. He’s not so bad once you get to know him. Trust me.”
“Are you sure it won’t be weird for me to come?”
“I’m positive.”
“Okay, then I’m going to talk to my boss. How long do we have before the plane leaves?”
“A couple of hours.”
“I’ll need to swing by my place to get some things before we go. Do we have time for that?”
“We do, but why don’t you let me get you some new things in New York?”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“I insist. You were perfect for me back in high school, and everyone knew it but me. You deserved it all, and I didn’t give you anything. I’m different now, though. Let me make up for old times.”
“Okay, if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“I really didn’t expect this today. I don’t even know how to react. It almost seems irresponsible to go with you when we just reunited. What does any of this mean?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out. Just go with it, and don’t question it too much. The best things in life are discovered that way,” I said and got out my phone.
As she went to talk to her boss, I made the arrangements for another first class seat. I normally wouldn’t have dreamed of buying someone a first class ticket on a whim, but I had saved so much money with Olivia and our dream life in mind. Now that was gone, or at least put on hold for a long time. I had the money to burn, and I was about to gain a lot more in a few days. It was time to enjoy life a little, and I hadn’t met anyone I could enjoy it with until Chastity. It was the right thing to do. I needed her then. Even now, I don’t question my decision to bring her with me.
When I got back to the table with my guys, I noticed that we had a visitor. It was William. I had learned two things about him over the last three years. One was that he was incredibly rich and intelligent. The other was that he was a snake in the grass just waiting to get his. William would often pay players to go to the university, but then he would ask to represent them later on. In other words, he was giving these guys money on the front end and getting it all back and more on the back end. It was a good way to support the university without actually having to dish anything out in the long run. I wasn’t about to let that happen on my dime, though.
“William, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I’m just talking to these young men about their futures. No offense, Eric, but we both know they need experienced representation. I can get them the deals they deserve while you’re simply a rookie,” he said in his usually frank way.
“Well, no offense to you either, but I think you need to stick to restaurants, clubs, and funding the university’s football program behind the scenes. I’ve got the know how to do this, and all you’ve got is money. When I’m done with these guys, they’re going to have more cash than they can spend.”
“You need to remember who put a roof over these boy’s heads over the last few years,” he said in a threatening tone.
“And you better remember who got your precious team two bowl wins, a conference title, and a national championship. I would say they earned every penny and more. Now, if any of these men want to leave, they can go with you freely. We have contracts, but I’ll burn them if they really want to leave. I don’t think they’re dumb enough to go with a snake like you, though.”
“Listen here, you little shit! I have enough money and power to have you killed and dumped in the deepest part of the ocean, and I’m willing to use that kind of power to get these kids whatever they want. The real question is what you even have to offer. They would be fools not to consider me.”
“Eric has a lot to offer. He’s already been a part of dozens of backdoor deals on my behalf. He’s the type of guy who will go to bat for you, even if it’s not entirely legal. At the same time, he’s the type of friend who will be at the club with you at three in the morning just to watch your back. He takes this job seriously, and that’s why I’m sticking with him. I would rather have a friend watch my back than someone who only cares about dollar signs,” Emmitt said.
I was surprised. Emmitt had shown that he was my friend before, but I had never seen this kind of display. He was turning against a man who had given us countless dollars and gifts.
“Well, stick with him then. See where that takes you,” he snickered and walked away.
“Thanks for that. I had him, though,” I said.
“I know you did, but someone’s got to watch out for you occasionally, too. God knows you do enough watching out for me in clubs. I still can’t believe you broke that guy’s camera last week,” he said and laughed.
The week before, Emmitt had been pictured in a very unsavory pose with a stripper. It was the type of thing that wasn’t illegal, but it certainly would have brought his already shaky image into question before the draft. I couldn’t allow that.
“Hey, I had to do that. Do you have any idea what it would have been like when the press got those pictures? Anyway, I’ve got a surprise for you guys. We’re going to be having another guest on our flight,” I said.
“Who is it?” Derrick asked.
“Chastity.”
“Who?” Marcus asked.
“The woman you guys just met. My old friend. Seriously, do you guys listen to anything I say?” I joked.
“So let me get this straight. We’re bringing women now?” Emmitt asked.
“I guess. I’m bringing her anyway.”
“Why? Didn’t you just meet this girl again?”
“Yeah, but why waste time? I used to be really close with her, and she’s always wanted to go to New York, so I figured why not? I know it sounds crazy, but . . .”
“It doesn’t sound crazy at all. I’m just glad you stopped talking about that girl from before. I’m on board. Let me ask you something, though. If we’re taking women, can I invite Candice?”
“The girl from last night? You just met her!”
“So what? You just
reunited with her.”
“I can get another seat on the plane. Are you serious, though?”
“No way. You know me. I don’t get attached, but see, this is why you’re my agent. You can go with the flow when I call an audible. This is going to be fun. I can tell already. Don’t think you’re going to be sitting in the room with your new girlfriend while we’re there, though. We’re going to hit New York as hard as we can and party like kings. By the time we’re done, we’ll own that town. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even get lucky enough to get them to trade up for me.”
“I wouldn’t count on that. Steve Quick has the quarterback job locked down up there. We can dream, though.”
“Yeah, right. Steve needs to get a little quicker at getting through his reads. I’m perfect for New York. Don’t try to avoid what I was saying, though. You are coming out with us once we get there, right?”
“Do you even have to ask? This is the beginning of something huge for me, too. I wouldn’t miss one moment of it for the world.”
At that moment, Chastity came out of the back and sat down by us.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“He doesn’t want to lose me. Like I said before, I’ve never taken any vacation time, so I spun a story about being completely burned out. He was a little upset about the short notice, but I’ve got time off,” she said.
“All right, you get to keep your job, we’re about to be millionaires, and we all get to enjoy the company of a very fine lady on our trip,” Emmitt said.
“Hey, watch it,” I joked.
“I only speak the truth. I say it’s time for some celebratory shots. What do you say?” Emmitt asked.
“I agree. I’ll get us a round,” Chastity said and motioned to the waitress.
“I like this girl already,” Emmitt said.
Destiny Page 21