Page 55 of Fair Trade

I fear I won’t be able to look any one of my players in the eye by the end of tonight, but I nod anyway, because I can’t bring myself to say that out loud.

“All right. We’ll go and leave you to brood over your kingdom alone,” Daisy teases as she pulls Luisa closer to the wall of windows behind my desk. “But first let me take a quick picture of the team from up here. You have the best view of the stadium.” Daisy pulls out her phone and snaps pictures as Luisa stands next to me, her eyes assessing.

“What’s going on, Nick?” she asks low enough for Daisy not to hear.

God, I’m going to miss the sound of my name on her lips.

But Daisy’s loud gasp pulls our attention to the field.

I don’t understand what’s happening.

Why are all the players running onto the field?

“Oh my gosh. They’re fighting!” Daisy yells.

“Did Martinez throw that first punch?” Luisa asks, dazed.

“He definitely threw the second and third one. Oh God, now everyone’s getting in on it!” Daisy shrieks.

“Where is security? How has this gotten out of hand so quickly?” I shout to no one in particular.

“Do you really think security can pull back dozens of amped-up professional athletes? Give it a minute. It’ll die down. In the meantime, I need to get my ass down there and rip Martinez a new one.” She’s gone before I can ask any other stupid questions, with Daisy hot on her heels.

I stare back at the rowdy crowd and unruly baseball players.

What the fuck just happened?

Monarchs lost.

They fucking lost.

I waited down by the dugout, hoping for a miracle. But once that final home run was hit by the opposing team, I stormed off, knocking over one of those huge Gatorade coolers on my way out.

I was on the warpath.

I called my lawyer and told him to look for any loopholes in the will. Figure out if there was any room for negotiations, anything.

I was screaming at the top of my lungs, not caring who heard or saw me.

But it was all in vain.

Because I knew.

It was all over.

And I had lost yet again.

twenty-five

I storm into myoffice, tugging off my tie as I do.

I was stupid. For a moment, I believed this team could win and I would walk away clean, having accomplished one of the proposed terms of my dead grandfather’s will and getting back what I so carelessly lost.

Fuck. I was so fucking close.

I’m granted only a moment of serenity before Luisa bursts through my office door, having no problem bulldozing in here, since it seems to be the only way she knows how to enter my workspace.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Stepping out on the team as they were handed their loss? For what? So you can drink your expensive booze and sulk in silence?”