A smile spreads across Bishop’s face, and he stands to his full height. “With all my heart, sir.”
“You both know about the fraternization policy.”
“Uh, if I may, Commissioner.” Luca steps from behind me and situates himself between the commissioner and me. “Willowhasn’t been involved directly in Bishop’s contracts. She’s voiced that she doesn’t want to see him traded, but beyond that, this is an area she’s been hands-off. Strictly speaking, if there are checks and balances put into place, there is no reason this relationship couldn’t be completely aboveboard. There’s an owner in the NHL that fell in love with a player on her team. We could look at how they’ve structured and see if something similar could be used here. We’ve also spoken to many of the other owners across the league, and they’ve shared they won’t put up a fight if you rule in the favor of these two.”
“You what?” Vaughn shouts, veins bulging along his receding salt and pepper hairline. “This is preposterous. You can’t possibly be considering letting these two carry on this affair. It will set a precedent for not only this team but the league.”
“Again, I can only speak for the league,” the commissioner says, “but I’m inclined to look at the checks and balances Mr. Donati has proposed, and assuming they don’t interfere with our policies, whatever these two do behind closed doors is their business.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Vaughn throws his stubby hands up before turning his ire on me. “Your father would be ashamed of what you’ve done with this team.”
I smirk. He just doesn’t know when to shut up. “That’s a pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think?”
“Nail him, Willow,” Carson mutters.
Vaughn swallows hard but still wears the mask of a man who believes he’s gotten away with murder. “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”
“While we’re airing grievances, I’d like to formally announce the removal of Vaughn Logan as my President of Baseball Operations.”
“You can’t fire me!” Vaughn bellows, his face turning a bright cherry red. “I’ll sue you for wrongful termination.”
The commissioner’s eyes go wide, and for a moment, he gapes at the mouth before schooling his features. “You’re well within your rights, Ms. York, but if I may ask, on what grounds are you releasing him from his duties?”
A smile stretches across my face. “He’s the one who orchestrated the cheating with the umpires, not my father.”
“HA!” Vaughn rolls his eyes. “You really think I would do that? I’m the one who has kept this team together from the day he took over the team. Why would I ruin everything I’ve built?”
Vaughn’s voice fills the space, but his lips don’t move.
I couldn’t have planned it better myself.
Carson steps forward, his phone in his hand playing the recording he took of Vaughn admitting everything to me.
“That’s not me,” Vaughn scoffs, trying to backpedal. “They probably had that doctored up to get rid of me.”
“Would you like me to pull the footage from the executive corridor this morning?”
“There aren’t any cameras up there.” His eyes dart from Graham to the Commissioner to Luca, looking for anyone to back up his claim.
None of them do.
“Are you sure?” I press. There absolutely aren't any cameras, but with the way sweat pours off Vaughn’s forehead, it’s clear he doesn’t know that for sure.
“Is this true, Vaughn?” Commissioner Falco asks, cold betrayal written across his face.
Vaughn doesn’t reply. Instead, he turns to me, the chords of his neck pulsing and desperate fear in his eyes. “Come on, Willow. You know I wouldn’t put this team in jeopardy.”
“You’re right. Not this team.” I look up at Bishop and over to Carson. “This team is stronger than the sum of its parts, which doesn’t include you. The team that came before them, on theother hand, has your sticky fingers all over it, and I plan to wipe them clean.”
Vaughn’s voice shakes as he bellows, “This was supposed to be my team, not yours!”
I give him a smug smile and shrug. “My father didn’t see it that way.”
“Rethink this, Willow.” His voice softens as he tries to rewrite history as if it will save him. “I have helped you every step of the way since you’ve taken over. You’ve been nothing without me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Vaughn. I wanted your help navigating a world I thought I knew nothing about. I gave you too much rope. It turns out it’s just what you needed to hang yourself. All along you’ve seen me as my mother’s daughter, a pampered princess, but you forgot one crucial thing. While I might have been Adriana York’s plaything, I am also Richard York’s protégé. It took me far too long to realize he raised me to love this game—this team—and it was never about his legacy. He strived to instill in me the importance of the family within these hallowed halls. For the Yorks—the ones that matter anyway—it’s never been about the money.”
“You’ll run this team into the ground,” Vaughn snarls and starts around the desk toward me.