the crowds would love to know how well their favorite player is treated. Advertisers would love that, too,” I added with a smile that I think made Paul burst a blood vessel.
“ENOUGH,” Paul shouted, a roar that made even Janet recoil for a moment. “You simpering fucking crybaby, I will not listen to you bitch and moan and make little threats like that in this office. I’m going to suspend you from the team if you don’t quit acting like a toddler! You do not get to talk to us like that—you’re nothing , Kieran.”
“ We found you,” Janet hissed, moving around my side. “We’re the only ones who have ever cared about you, and here you are, treating us like this? You’re unbelievable, you piece of trash. If you ever want us to forgive you for this bullshit, you’re going to sign that contract this instant and hope we think about renewing it next time.”
“That doesn’t have to be a problem,” I said, and now it was my turn to cross my arms and give them a set look, holding my ground. This was pathetic on their part. “If it means that much to you that the story about what you’ve been doing to me doesn’t get out, we can make it all go away very easily. See, since you handed me that contract,” I said, strolling over to the blinds and looking outside briefly, “I’ve been making a few calls to the other teams around town. After all, being an employee includes a two-way street,” I said, giving them a friendly, reasonable smile that was driving them nuts, “so just like you get to decide what’s in my contract, I get to decide whether I even want to work for you anymore.”
“Do you think any team worth their spit is going to take your sorry ass onboard? Oh no, not when I’m done talking to them,” said Janet, clenching her fists.
“You’re a little late for that,” I said, pulling out my phone and scrolling through my emails. “My lawyer helped me put together a contract more like what most players in the state get, the very same that I sent you. And that’s the frame of reference I used when starting talks with some of the other team owners around town. Right now, I’m looking at four offers in my inbox—oh, make that five, if you count the one that just came in,” I said with a grin. “So the way to fix all this is easy, Paul, Janet.” I pressed a few buttons in my phone and looked back up to them. “I’ve just forwarded you the emails I got back. What I want you to do is accept one of the offers. Trade me or sell me off to one of the other teams, and this whole issue about the contract goes under the bridge.”
Janet stalked up to me, white-hot fire in her eyes. “Alright, fucker, you want to talk business? Fine. We’ll talk business with you on a level you can understand: no. Without us, you’d be out of the job, and you do not have the chips to try to make that kind of demand. You’re nothing, Kieran, do you understand that? Nothing. You’ll pay for disobeying us like this.”
“I’m the closest thing to a father you’ve ever had, boy,” Paul growled, and I met his eyes darkly. That was a line he should not have crossed. “You need to listen to the people who matter in life, and without us, you’re a nobody.”
“I should have started listening to the people who matter a long time ago,” I said in a low tone. “I’m a player and your employee. I have a right to request to work for someone else, and that’s exactly what I’m doing--my offer stands.” And without another word, I turned my back on them and stormed out the building, getting back
“ENOUGH,” Paul shouted, a roar that made even Janet recoil for a moment. “You simpering fucking crybaby, I will not listen to you bitch and moan and make little threats like that in this office. I’m going to suspend you from the team if you don’t quit acting like a toddler! You do not get to talk to us like that—you’re nothing , Kieran.”
“ We found you,” Janet hissed, moving around my side. “We’re the only ones who have ever cared about you, and here you are, treating us like this? You’re unbelievable, you piece of trash. If you ever want us to forgive you for this bullshit, you’re going to sign that contract this instant and hope we think about renewing it next time.”
“That doesn’t have to be a problem,” I said, and now it was my turn to cross my arms and give them a set look, holding my ground. This was pathetic on their part. “If it means that much to you that the story about what you’ve been doing to me doesn’t get out, we can make it all go away very easily. See, since you handed me that contract,” I said, strolling over to the blinds and looking outside briefly, “I’ve been making a few calls to the other teams around town. After all, being an employee includes a two-way street,” I said, giving them a friendly, reasonable smile that was driving them nuts, “so just like you get to decide what’s in my contract, I get to decide whether I even want to work for you anymore.”
“Do you think any team worth their spit is going to take your sorry ass onboard? Oh no, not when I’m done talking to them,” said Janet, clenching her fists.
“You’re a little late for that,” I said, pulling out my phone and scrolling through my emails. “My lawyer helped me put together a contract more like what most players in the state get, the very same that I sent you. And that’s the frame of reference I used when starting talks with some of the other team owners around town. Right now, I’m looking at four offers in my inbox—oh, make that five, if you count the one that just came in,” I said with a grin. “So the way to fix all this is easy, Paul, Janet.” I pressed a few buttons in my phone and looked back up to them. “I’ve just forwarded you the emails I got back. What I want you to do is accept one of the offers. Trade me or sell me off to one of the other teams, and this whole issue about the contract goes under the bridge.”
Janet stalked up to me, white-hot fire in her eyes. “Alright, fucker, you want to talk business? Fine. We’ll talk business with you on a level you can understand: no. Without us, you’d be out of the job, and you do not have the chips to try to make that kind of demand. You’re nothing, Kieran, do you understand that? Nothing. You’ll pay for disobeying us like this.”
“I’m the closest thing to a father you’ve ever had, boy,” Paul growled, and I met his eyes darkly. That was a line he should not have crossed. “You need to listen to the people who matter in life, and without us, you’re a nobody.”
“I should have started listening to the people who matter a long time ago,” I said in a low tone. “I’m a player and your employee. I have a right to request to work for someone else, and that’s exactly what I’m doing--my offer stands.” And without another word, I turned my back on them and stormed out the building, getting back
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