-HINDLEY-
“Hindley, will you come into my office?” Mr. Stedwick’s voice rang over the intercom on my phone.
Instinctively I knew something was wrong. He never called me directly.
“Yes, sir.”
Oh, shit, maybe he knew about Rory and me.
“Let’s go, kiddo.” I raised my head and saw Michael standing in my door.
“What’s going on?”
He shrugged. “Beats me.”
“He called you in too?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, shit.”
Michael and I walked silently to Mr. Stedwick’s office.
“He’s expecting you,” Donna, his assistant said, pointing to the open door.
Michael ushered me in.
“Oh, welcome,” Mr. Stedwick said. “Please, have a seat.” He pointed to the chairs in front of his desk.
I slipped into one of the winged-back chairs as quietly as I could, trying to hide my fear.
“First, Hindley,” he said, “I want to congratulate you on the job you did down in Miami. It seems like you impressed Mr. Sullivan so much that he would like to sign with our firm.”
“Really?” I asked.
I’d only met with Humberto Sullivan once last week during the team’s training camp. He’d been extremely standoffish during our brief time together, and I felt there was no way I’d impressed him enough to even see me again, let alone sign.
“How did that happen?” I asked. “He seemed disinterested in our offer.”
“What can I say?” Mr. Stedwick shrugged. “Apparently, he was interested in what you had to offer.”
Mr. Stedwick’s insinuation wasn’t lost on me. My stomach twisted in knots. Did he believe Humberto signed with our firm because of my sexual prowess? I laughed silently, knowing I had none.
“Well,” he continued, “it seems as if you have a knack for nabbing new talent, and now another opportunity has arisen.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I was actually succeeding in my new job. “Who is it?” I asked anxiously.
“Axel Pretorius.”
All the blood drained from my face and I searched for the trash bin, afraid I might vomit.
Mr. Stedwick leaned back in his chair, oblivious of my reaction. “His manager heard about you securing the Sonora Water deal. He was especially impressed that you’d negotiated a commercial. Axel is very interested in capturing that type of national exposure. And because you obviously know the industry inside and out, you’re a natural fit for him.”
I swallowed down my anxiety, grasping at any reason not to take on Axel. “But won’t that be a conflict of interest? I mean, we’re already representing an extreme skateboarder. Splitting my time between the two seems like it could rob them both of the exposure they need individually.”
“Perhaps, but not in this case. I’m giving Rory over to Luis so you can handle Axel full-time.”
I blinked several times, my body going rigid. Rory not my client?
“But he signed with me,” I squeaked out.
Michael glanced at me.
I ignored him.
“Actually,” Mr. Stedwick said, “Rory signed with our firm, not you personally.”
Well, shit. Was this right? It had to be, I’d drafted the damn contract. There was no way Rory would be okay with this situation. I had to figure a way out.
“Sir, with all due respect, I think Rory may not agree to this. He’s been very skittish around attorneys and I think he finally feels comfortable with me now.”
I bit back a laugh. Oh, yeah, he feels comfortable with me all right.
Mr. Stedwick’s eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line.
“Besides,” I continued, knowing I sounded desperate, “I have a really good working relationship with Sonora Water.”
He stared out the window and I hoped he was giving my ideas thought.
“Perhaps Luis or Michael could take on Axel,” I said.
Michael’s brows furrowed and I knew he wasn’t onboard with my idea but I didn’t care. I couldn’t lose Rory, especially not to Axel Pretorius.
Mr. Stedwick turned and stared at me, his forearms resting on his massive desk. “I’m afraid that’s impossible, Hindley.”
“Why?”
“It seems Axel’s team has become,” he hesitated, as if searching to find the most appropriate word, “partial to you.”
I stared in confusion. “What does partial mean?”
“They’ve asked for you specifically.”
Oh, no. There was no way I was going to get out of this.
“I’ve already talked to Michael,” Mr. Stedwick continued, “and Luis can clear his schedule to take on Mr. Gregor full-time.”
I stared at Michael but his gaze remained on Mr. Stedwick. He’d known exactly what this meeting was about all the time, he’d lied to my face earlier.
I turned my attention back to Mr. Stedwick. He was my only chance now. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, sir, but I’m not all together sure that’s a good idea.”
Mr. Stedwick’s eyes widened and he tilted his head. “How so?”
This was my chance. I had to think of some viable reason, and fast.
“Umm,” I stumbled, “Rory and Axel are on the same tour. It seems silly to have Luis travel to the same places I’ll be. I feel confident that I can handle both Mr. Gregor and Mr. Pretorius. At least through the X Games.”
Yes! That sounded plausible.
Mr. Stedwick stared just above my head and I prayed he was considering the option.
“It will save the firm money,” I said, trying to throw in more reason. “You’ll only have to pay for my travel.” It sounded weak, even to me, but I had to try.
He remained quiet and then an idea hit me.
“If I leave Rory now, his team may feel abandoned, especially considering the pending deals I’ve been negotiating.”
“What deals?” he and Michael asked at the same time.
Yeah, what deals?
I cleared my throat and steadied my voice. “I’ve been, um, looking at other avenues, including the clothing industry.”
That wasn’t a complete lie. I could sew. And I’d had the idea before. I knew people who knew people in the clothing industry. Of course, designing sexy lingerie and exotic dance outfits was a far cry and about a zillion miles away from the extreme sports industry, but still, it was a start.
“Really?” Mr. Stedwick leaned forward. “That’s impressive.”
I fought the urge to sag back and sigh. Thank God, I had him. Now, I had to set the hook.
“The clothing market is very lucrative,” I said. “If I’m able to break into that industry, as I feel I can, it would be possible to secure not only Rory’s own brand, but Axel’s as well.”
“That’s true.” Mr. Stedwick nodded. “Michael, you didn’t tell me any of this.”
It was obvious from Mr. Stedwick’s tone, he wasn’t pleased with Michael. I didn’t want to get my boss in trouble, but it was his own fault for not warning me about this meeting. Had it been his idea to pull me off of Rory’s contract?
Michael stared at me, a brow lifted. “I didn’t realize Hindley had been so industrious, sir.”
I returned his glare, raising my brows, even though I knew it was a sign of insubordination.
“Well, Hindley,” Mr. Stedwick said, “I don’t have to tell you how pleased I am with all your hard work. I am concerned however that you’re taking on too much. Axel and Humberto added onto Rory Gregor may burn you out before you even get a good start in this division.”
I shook my head to the point of dizziness, biting back a smile. “I don’t think so, sir. I mean, taking care of Rory and Axel together will be like catering to one client. They’re in the same industry.”
He remained silent and I felt the need to further justify why I could do this.
“And Humberto’s season doesn’t start until August so that gives me plenty of time to come up with a game plan for him.”
Mr. Stedwick’s eyes narrowed. He still wasn’t one hundred percent on board. Shit. What else could I offer?
“Why don’t we give it until the X Games?” I said. “Rory’s commercial will air and we’ll have a clear winner in one of them. After that, we can decide who on our team best fits the needs of our clients.” That sounded fair.
“When are the X Games?” Mr. Stedwick stared between us.
“Six weeks, sir,” Michael answered, a little too quickly.
How the hell did he know that?
“All right, Hindley.” Mr. Stedwick pounded his desk. “I’ll give you six weeks. But if anything falls through the cracks, Mr. Gregor gets reassigned.”
“Yes, sir. I understand completely.” I nearly saluted him I was so happy.
“That will be all,” he said in a clipped tone.
I pushed out of my chair and walked toward the door, thankful to get out with Rory still as my client.
“You need to meet with Mr. Pretorius as soon as possible,” Mr. Stedwick said behind me. “His manager was insistent on sometime this week.”
Oh, shit. I’d hoped to spend time with Rory somehow.
I turned to face Mr. Stedwick. “They have another competition this weekend in Calgary. Why don’t I fly in a day early and meet with his team, then spend the weekend trying to make contacts with more industry leaders? For Axel and for Rory,” I added.
“That sounds good.” He nodded once. “But I’d still like Michael or Luis to accompany you.”
“Why?” The word was out of my mouth before I could stop it.
“Two heads are always better than one,” Michael said behind me.
My gut clenched and everything in me went on high alert. He knew something. Maybe not everything but he had an inkling. I tamped down my fear and anxiety and steadied my voice. “That sounds like a good plan, sir.”
“I look forward to hearing the progress notes when you return from Canada.” Mr. Stedwick nodded to the door, dismissing us, and that was fine by me.
As I reached his door I glanced over my shoulder. “Sir, I’d like to take Thursday off. I have some personal things I need to take care of before we leave for Canada.” What I wanted was very personal, and I bit my cheek to hide the smile threatening to emerge.
“Why are you asking me, Ms. Hagen? I’m not your immediate boss?”
Yeah, why was I? Because right now I was afraid of Michael and what he might know.
“I didn’t want you to think I was slacking off, taking time off now that I have three clients.”
Mr. Stedwick rose from his chair and walked around his desk, leaning on the chair I’d just vacated. “Hindley, I think we both know it behooves you to stay in my good graces.”
What was he talking about?
“Let’s say,” he tapped the edge of the chair, “I’d hate to see anything happen to your career, or your stepfather’s.”
Shit.
And there it was. A warning. Not a warning, a threat. If I fucked this up, not only would my ass be on the line, but so would Paul’s.
“What are you saying, sir?”
He tilted his head, eyes mocking.
Every hair on my body stood at attention. I did not want to cross this man if I wanted a future working anywhere. Aston Stedwick was rich and powerful and had the potential to destroy not only me, but Paul and his company as well. If Mr. Stedwick pulled his investment, I knew others would too.
I glanced over at Michael who stood expressionless. He understood Mr. Stedwick’s power as well, and he would never intervene on my behalf.
“I’m saying that having you here at my law firm is an asset,” he said. “Don’t make it a liability.” Without another word, he turned and sauntered back to his desk.
I quietly slipped from his office, knowing I’d been warned. And if I didn’t follow his directive, I could destroy everyone I loved.