for the money.”
Trade-offs. Yes. There are trade-offs and Hunter will have to decide if he’s willing to trade off the length of the deal for the money.
They want to meet with Hunter, so I know they’re serious. I leave the hotel and head to a diner a block away. When I’m seated alone in a booth, I order coffee and a club sandwich, then pull out my phone.
It buzzes with another incoming call.
Brad Julian from the Bears.
My heart bumps. I’m excited but…shit. They’re going to make this difficult for me. I answer the call.
Brad wants to meet. I hesitate.
Should I take the meeting? Hunter’s made it clear he’s not going to sign with them. I don’t want to waste their time, or mine for that matter. But I feel I need to hear them out. And I can’t hesitate too long. So we arrange a time.
I set down my phone on the table. Fuck. My stomach tightens.
The waitress brings my coffee and I curl my hands around the warm mug and lift it to my lips. I can meet with them. I don’t ever have to tell Hunter about it.
That’s completely unethical. I can’t do that.
I’ve got two offers on the table. I can use this to sweeten whatever deal the others are offering.
Or maybe the Bears are offering such a crappy deal it won’t be an issue.
My mind is racing, turning over options and possibilities. Should I call Hunter now? Or after I meet with them? Maybe I should meet with him later and lay out everything and see what he thinks. Yeah. That’s what I’ll do.
My stomach is in knots, but I make myself eat half the sandwich, then use the ladies’ room to freshen up for my meeting.
I’m only a few blocks away from Brad’s office at the Apex Center so I walk there.
It feels like I was just here a day ago, but it also feels like so much has happened since then.
I’m surprised that the owners of the Bears join us in the meeting, along with Brad and the assistant GM, Dale Townsend. I shake hands all around, keeping my smile pleasant but reserved. I hope my hands aren’t sweaty.
I’ve got this. I know my stuff. Hunter’s a desirable player.
“Has there been other interest in Morrissette?” Brad asks.
“Well, I’ll be honest with you. Yes, we have offers.”
He nods. “We expected that.” When he presents their offer, it’s a struggle to keep my features composed and businesslike. I listen, ask a few questions, and nod.
“This isn’t far off what we’re looking for,” I tell them. “Hunter’s interested in a longer-term deal, and I think he’d find this attractive. The money, on the other hand…”
And we negotiate. They push. I push back. They increase the money. And when we’re done, I’m ready to float out of the room and all the way back to the Village, as if I have a thousand helium balloons tied to me.
As I sit on the subway train, my phone buzzes with another call. It’s Claude. Upping their offer.
I can’t hold back my triumphant smile but keep my voice calm. “I should tell you we have other offers on the table. I’m about to meet with Hunter shortly. We’ll get back to you.”
I could cry. I almost have to hold back the tears This is so fantastic for Hunter…but what’s he going to do? Is he going to freak out on me again? I don’t want this to be a trigger for him. But it’s such a great deal.
I’m both excited and afraid to tell him, but once I’m home I call.
“Okay,” I begin. “Can you come over? Or do you want me to come there? We have lots to talk about.”
“I’ll come there. See you soon.”
I lay papers out in front of me on my desk and look everything over. There are lots of details that need to be ironed out in all the offers, but I have no worries about any of those things. I’m just worried about Hunter.
If I wasn’t in love with him, this would be so much easier. If I was just his agent, I’d present the offers to him and he’d say yay or nay and I wouldn’t be worried about how he’s going to react. I messed things up by falling in love. I need to be able to do my job.
But the fact is, I do care. I can’t stop caring. I want him to be happy. I want him to get the contract