Page 57 of Fair Trade (New York Monarchs #2)

fifty-two

Damien stood Daisy up for Christmas.

But after the explosive ending to our bachelor and bachelorette parties, we all seemed to act as if nothing had happened.

She’s blended in so seamlessly into my family that a part of me feels like she’s always been here with us.

Watching her and Nick go head-to-head in the kitchen, making my little cousins the judge of a blind taste test for the best Dominican dish, was the highlight of my day.

It was such a sweet holiday, my first with my husband and one that I will forever cherish.

But now we’re in the new year, and I have less than two weeks until the trade deadline is up, and my reputation is on the line.

I’m trying to keep my cards close to the vest, because I don’t want a leak deterring my plans for landing Julian Vega. He’s on everyone’s radar, and one wrong move could have me fumbling the biggest deal of the season.

Which is why I’ve purposely left Richard in the dark. I wouldn’t put it past him to try and sabotage this deal for me, and that thought alone tells me everything I already know. Richard can’t be trusted.

Nick was grumpy when I left him in bed this morning, sleepily mumbling “bad wife” as I kissed him goodbye.

But I wanted to get to work early and prepare for what I hoped would be the final meeting with Vega and his team.

I plan on giving them a tour of the facilities and field while they’re here.

And I may have strongly suggested that Martinez and Torres, his former teammates and current Monarchs titans, be in the gym at the same time in hopes that a little reunion with his former mates might be the cherry on top to his eye-watering contract offer.

I’m done placing note pads on the conference table when I hear the door slam open behind me and whirl.

“What the hell, Nick? You scared the shit out of me.”

But something isn’t right. Nick has never set foot inside the executive offices without a freshly dry-cleaned suit. Now he stands before me in a white t-shirt that looks heavenly against his brown skin and a pair of workout pants and sneakers.

I should probably be more focused on the thunderous look on his face.

He quietly rounds the long oval table until he stands in front of me. His shoulders are laden with tension.

“Wife,” he growls as he pulls something out of his pocket and brings it up to my face. “Care to explain why these are currently in my hand and not on your ring finger?” My shiny engagement ring and wedding band sparkle in the light from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I go to grab them, but he pulls them out of reach, waiting for an explanation.

“Calm down, caveman. I was so jittery this morning, running through my plan of action today, that I spilled coffee all over my sleeves. I had to take off my rings to rinse them and change my shirt. I must have forgotten to put them back on. Now hand them over.”

He stares down at my open hand and flips it. Slowly, he slides my wedding band on, followed by my engagement ring. “You almost gave me a heart attack when I found them by the kitchen sink.” He kisses my knuckles below the rings.

“Aw, thought I’d finally come to my senses?”

“Don’t make me bend you over this table, Angel. Teach you a lesson and make you forget your nerves about your meeting. Two birds and whatnot.”

I put my hand on his chest, and he allows me to push him back easily enough. “Don’t even think about it, Lucifer.”

“You know I love it when you call me that.”

I roll my eyes and run a hand down my soft pink blouse. “I’d prefer not to look freshly fucked when I try to land this deal, thank you very much.” I turn around and straighten the notepads and pens, trying to make sure nothing is out of place.

He sighs dramatically. “Fine, I’ll be on my best behavior if I must.” He wraps his arms around me from behind. “Have I told you lately how proud I am of you? Of how much you’ve managed to accomplish in such a short time while many in your same industry try and fail to knock you down?”

I bite down on a smile. “I swear, if you make me cry…”

He places a quick kiss on my cheek. “Wouldn’t dream of it. But later tonight, I might be open to—”

“Knock, knock. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important. Or is this a personal meeting between husband and wife? Never quite sure what I might stumble into with you two.” Richard’s laugh is as fake as the knock-off Rolex on his wrist.

Nick stiffens behind me, most likely ready to strangle the man. He might need to get in line, because Richard’s grace period with me has finally run out. “What are you doing here?”

His smile is condescending. “Now, kid, that is no way to talk to your work colleague, is it?” He chuckles.

“Hey, Dick. Can I call you Dick?” Nick starts.

“Only my golfing buddies call me—”

“Doesn’t matter, but do me a favor.” I can feel Nick’s chest vibrating behind me as he speaks.

“When speaking to my wife, you can drop the word ‘kid.’ I’ll even give you some options to make it easier.

You can call her Mrs. álvarez-Stonehaven or boss.

If not, you can call yourself fired,” he thunders behind me.

Richard’s cheeks turn bright red as he sets his sights on me.

“He can’t be serious. I know he’s new to this world, but this is unacceptable.

” He looks between the two of us. “I’m afraid you’ve left me no choice.

I’ve already thought about bringing up my concerns about you to the board, boss .

And I’m sure they’ll consider a vote of no confidence once I tell them you two are running around with no respect for this office.

You’ve paraded your ‘girl power’ long enough.

Now it’s time to step aside and let the grown-ups get to work and whip this team into shape. ”

It feels like a punch to the gut.

My breath stalls, my lungs forgetting how to function for a few seconds before allowing me to suck in a deep breath.

I spent so much time making excuses for Richard. Letting things slide when I usually wouldn’t. Convincing myself that if I made myself seem small and nonthreatening, he would leave me be and learn that I was here to stay.

But now I see that all that really did was make him comfortable enough to believe that he could mess with me.

It was my mistake to allow his behavior to go unchecked.

But it was his to fucking push me this far.

I place my hands on the conference table and lean over slightly, bringing me closer to him. “Tell me, Richard. What is it you’re afraid of?”

He looks around the room, calling upon an invisible entity to appear and back him up. “Afraid? I have no idea what you’re talking about, so you’re going to have to enlighten me.”

I look him up and down, dissecting the man before me as if he’s the dirt under my shoe. “Is it having all your scouting options being passed over time and time again, only to be outshone by people less experienced than you in this industry?”

He scoffs. “Excuse—”

I shake my head. “No, maybe it’s that you only propose players who are the offspring of those golfing buddies you mentioned, and you’re worried I’m going to find out about all the other candidate files you’ve seemed to have lost or buried over the past year.

” I tsk, eyeing him up and down. “No, I’m sure it has more to do with your ego.

That’s what it all boils down to with men like you, unfortunately. ”

“I don’t know what… who told you about that? I mean, wrongly accused me. Because if it was Mark or James, you can’t believe a word they say. They—”

I straighten to my full height, my eyes pinning him to the spot. “No one told me anything. It was a lingering suspicion I’ve dismissed before, but something I’m sure the board would love to hear about.”

“That’s not—you can’t prove—”

“It’s a shame, really. We could have created something really great here with the Monarchs. But your prejudice about my age and gender far superseded any desire to actually work with me toward those goals.”

“Oh, please. It was some light teasing at most. Can your generation not handle that?” I raise a knowing brow, and he notices his misstep. “Again, it’s how I talk. No need to be so sensitive about it.”

I reach back, and my hand latches on to Nick’s thigh, holding him in place and preventing him from leaping over this table and showing Richard how sensitive he can make him feel in a split second.

I don’t need my guard dog.

Especially since I’m about to do what I should have done long ago.

“Ah, yes. Why don’t you use those amazing speaking skills when you drop your staff badge off at the security desk before you exit the building?”

“And why exactly would I do that?” he sputters.

I allow him to drown in the tense silence long enough to see the sweat bead around his hairline.

I thought he’d get the picture by now. But it looks like I’m going to have to spell it out for him.

“I expect your resignation on my desk by end of day. If not, I’m afraid I’ll have to bring this all the way up to the commissioner’s office.

Luckily, Mr. Stonehaven was here as a witness, so the Monarchs’ owner is already apprised of the situation.

Now if that’ll be all…” I plaster on the sweetest smile as I nod to the door. “Get fucked.”

He takes a step back, and I swear I hear Nick faintly moaning behind me.

Richard doesn’t spare us another moment. He darts out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

I release a tense breath and turn to find Nick’s smoldering gaze on me.

Uh-oh. I know that look.

“Stonehaven.”

“That was so fucking hot.”

“Glad you thought so. Looks like I’m in the market for a new AGM.”

“Do you have any idea how often I’ve thought about fucking you on this very table during a presentation?

I’m sure I have a competence kink or something, because you running the show, getting shit done?

God, it does things to me.” His grin turns more feral.

“Can you repeat that last bit you said one more time?”

I laugh as I wipe my face with my hands. “I said get fucked. I can’t believe—”

He hums. “Ah, yes. My pleasure.”