Page 56 of Fair Trade

“Silence, in my office? I would never dream of such a delight,” I snark as I get up to pour myself a glass of the alcohol Luisa helpfully reminded me of. Even though my guest wasn’t invited and can currently be described as hostile at best, my manners ensure that I pour her a glass as well.

Looks like we both need it.

We’re both itching for a fight. I’m usually enthralled by her fire, willing to sit back and see how far she’ll let herself burn. But with the way my life has taken a turn, I find myself not wanting to back down as she continues to berate me.

“Those men down there have put their blood, sweat, and tears into this game. Their families deal with not having a family member for most of the year. Did you know that baseball has the longest season of all professional sports?”

I eye her over my glass as she continues to spew sports facts that have no hope of being retained.

In my defense, the way her chest heaves as she tries to prove her point makes it quite hard to pay attention.

While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this season, with Luisa ready to rip me a new one at every turn, it seems our perverse form of foreplay has abruptly come to an end.

Because it’s all coming to an end.

As in the New York Monarchs.

All because I didn’t satisfy the terms of the will that haunt me daily.

“Love, hate to interrupt, but your breath is being wasted.”

“Love? You think ’cause you own this team, you can avoid HR complaints? We promised to keep things professional from now on, and if you think—”

“It’s over, Luisa. All of it. The New York Monarchs played their first and final season as a team. And there’s nothing we can do about it. So yes, scurry off to HR, and while you’re there, let them know that a severance package is coming their way.”

Her face drops. And so does her body—into the chair in front of my desk.

Feels like she’s docile enough to allow me to slide the glass in front of her without the risk of having it boomerang back to my head.

She takes it without a fuss and throws half of it back in one go.

Rookie mistake.

But to my surprise, she doesn’t flinch. Nor does she have an exaggerated coughing fit.

The woman is a whiskey drinker. Another thing to add to the list of reasons why she intrigues me so much.

But not even the slit in her fitted skirt can get a rise out of me at a time like this.

“Explain,” she says warily.

I stand and close the doors that Luisa so unhelpfully left open.

Instead of walking back to my chair, I move to stand in front of my desk, forcing Luisa to sit back or sit face to face with my crotch.

I cross my arms and pin her with an unyielding stare as I start. “What I’m about to tell you cannot leave this office, understood?”

She nods.

“Use your words. We both know you know how to cut me with them,” I push.

“Yes, understood,” she grits out.

I smile condescendingly. “Good. I’d usually have someone sign an NDA, but if there is anyone else who has as much to lose if this goes public, it’s you.”

“Get to the point. Explain what kind of rich man’s mess I need to clean up. Go on, I know it’s coming. What is it? Found yourself in a sex scandal? No, too boring for a guy like you. Has to do with money. Maybe a little embezzling or money laundering? What’s your poison, Stonehaven?” She pushes back, and my God, now is not the time to admire the woman.

“Trust me, Luisa. If I had a poison, it would be you. Since I can’t seem to stop myself from drowning in it.” I pause as I watch her take a smaller sip this time, her eyes never leaving mine. “Very well. I’ll save you the sob story and get to the point. Myfather and I have never gotten along. A few years back, after I made my money—and became a true thorn in my father’s side, by the way—he bet he could acquire a company quicker and more efficiently than I could.”