It has to be better.
“I can’t believe the balls on him,” Hollis mumbles in amazement. He’s sitting on my couch staring at the walls, still stunned. “I knew he was a cutthroat, but his own daughter. His agency’s client!”
“Funny how your amazement is stronger that he’d screw his agency than his daughter,” I point out, leaning back in my chair. “Very telling.”
“It is what it is.”
“And what he is, is an asshole.” I take a sip of my beer, shaking my head sadly. “But I knew that when I came to work for him, and he’s still my dad. I still love him. I just don’t love working for him.”
“You’re seriously going to go through with this? You’re really going to quit?”
I look at him impatiently. “He fired Demarcus today without telling me. Without consulting me. That alone is enough to make me pack my bags, but what he did to Trey today… how could he mess with him like that hours before a game? He had to know what that would do to his head.”
“He was trying to rattle him.”
“Yeah, but why? He’s half his client too.”
“But Larkin is all his.”
My head falls back against my chair as realization hits me. “The goddam Dolphins. Larkin is on their team.”
“Bingo. And if Trey is rattled tonight and has a bad game while Andre Larkin shines, Brad comes out looking like the genius who signed the right guy.”
“Un-fucking-believable,” I groan. “All because of me. All because I pulled a paycheck out of his hands and he can’t stand it.”
“A paycheck you scouted and worked your ass off for,” Hollis reminds me.
“It doesn’t matter. Not to him. He’s harder on me than on anyone else because I’m his daughter, and he’s going to be harder on my clients than anyone else for the same reason. I can’t stay here. And neither can Trey.”
Hollis nods his head thoughtfully, taking a pull off his brown bottle. He licks his lips clean, releasing a long, tired breath. “Well, if you’re going, I’m going.”
I stare at him in shock. “Hollis, no. You can’t.”
“I can’t stay,” he chuckles. “Not with things the way they are, and not without you. Do you think I like anyone else here?”
“You live for our UPS guy.”
“There are other, hotter delivery men in Los Angeles. I’ll get my fix. Don’t worry about me.” He points a finger at my face. “You, though. There’s only one you, and I’m going with you.”
I nervously run my finger through the condensation on my beer. My skin feels feverish against the cool of the bottle. “And your clients?” I ask quietly.
He throws his head back with a laugh. “Oh my God, you are your father’s daughter, aren’t you?”
“What?!” I demand. “It’s a legit question.”
He chuckles, wiping at his eyes. “Yes, Sloane, I will bring my money makers with me.”
“That’s not how I phrased it.”
“Oh yeah, you were very tactful.”
I throw my cap at him. “Shut up.”
Hollis continues to chuckle as we finish drinking. By the time we’re done we’re both somber faced and ready, just in time for the call to come in.
“Sloane,” Rhonda pipes in over the intercom. “Mr. Ashford is ready for you in his office.”
“Thank you, Rhonda.” I sigh, running my hands through my hair anxiously. “I guess it’s show time. Did you talk to Kurtis?”
“I told you three times. Yes. He sent the e-mail and I forwarded it to your dad. Kurtis was very detailed about what he saw in the locker room.”
“Okay,” I mutter to myself, trying to stay calm. “Okay.”
Hollis stands between me and the door as I go to leave. He looks down at me with worry in his eyes but a stern set to his jaw.
“I meant it,” he tells me seriously. “I’m going with you. If this is for real, tell me now, because I’ll start calling clients while you’re in there.”
I nod my head. No hesitation. “This is real. I already talked to Berny Dawe. It’s in motion. I’m jumping ship and joining with the enemy.”
“Who, in this case, might turn out to be the hero.”
“It wouldn’t be hard to look like one standing next to Brad. It doesn’t matter anyway. I told Trey I’d get him out from under this agency, that I’d find a way to be his agent without being his agent anymore, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m going to get us both out.”
Hollis grins faintly, leaning down to kiss my temple. “You’re going to get us all out.”
My heels echo in the empty hall as I make my way down to my dad’s office. It’s miles away but I feel like I reach it too soon. I feel like I’m not ready.
My heart is hammering fast as my dad leads me into his office. It’s Sunday, the agency is almost deserted, but still he closes the door behind me.