Page 50 of Risky Match
“I’d insist on one every time if I were you. It’s much better than vying for time in a hot tub at the gym.”
“Agreed. And this one’s co-ed. The view is much better,” he smiles, tipping his glass in my direction.
“That’s nice of you. I could say the same from where I’m sitting.”
What am I doing? I need to cool things down, not heat them up more. I wonder if there’s a way to turn the temperature down on the hot tub. Maybe that would help.
“Oh, I can assure you my thoughts are anything but nice.” He grins.
I blush, hoping he’ll chalk it up to the hot water.
This conversation is supposed to be about the mission. I need to redirect it before it’s too late.
In a playful tone, I say, “Don’t get any ideas. We’re here to relax so we can play better tennis—nothing more.”
“Unfortunately,” he mumbles.
“I missed that. What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
He bites his lip, clearly frustrated. He received the message. Still, I feel a flicker of disappointment. Maybe I’d hoped he wouldn’t give up so easily.
Trying to stay focused, I say, “Oh. Okay. I’m glad we have time to chat. I need your advice.”
He doesn’t know that I spent all afternoon concocting this cover story. Hopefully, it sounds believable.
“About what?”
“I need to share a bit of background. For as long as I can remember, I’ve worked hard and driven myself to succeed at tennis. It’s the only thing in my life that I’ve earned for myself. My title brought me the rest. That’s why I value my tennis victories so highly. They weren’t given to me because of my title, my parents, or our wealth.”
“I hadn’t thought of your situation that way.”
My story so far is completely true, making it easy to tell with conviction and emotion. I’m proud of what I’ve done. Yes, my family’s position gave me advantages, such as great coaches at an early age. But I put in the hard work. Day after day I’d wake at five in the morning to practice regardless of the weather or my mood. It meant that much to me.
“Most people don’t. It’s particularly annoying when I’m accused of playing tennis for fun to get out ofrealroyal work.”
Even at mylevel of tennis, I deal with a number of issues that my critics don’t know about or understand. Like you, I’ve made sacrifices to pursue my passion. He nods as I tick off my list that includes injuries, early morning practices, strict diets, no relationships, and missed events with friends and family. Tennis is far from all fun.
Blake’s eyes widen in astonishment. He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “That’s infuriating. Do they even understand how hard it is to play at this level? I bet your royal duties are easier.”
“No kidding. I love tennis or else I wouldn’t put myself through the training. But I also push myself to help my country. That brings me to the reason I need advice. As you probably know, my parents have never allowed me to have sponsors or accept prize money from tennis tournaments.”
“No, I didn’t realize that. I thought we shared the same clothing sponsor. Isn’t that why we’re playing mixed doubles together?”
“I’m only allowed to wear their logo for this tournament. It’s the first exception the palace has made. I’m hoping there will be more now that it’s my brother’s decision going forward.”
“Is that because your parents stepped down and Xander is now king?”
“Exactly. And Xander is more likely to let me cut back on my duties and play in more tournaments. If that happens, I’ll be able to earn money for the foundation that I’d like to start. That’s why I need your advice. If this change occurs, I’m going to need a manager. Do you know of anyone?”
“Not that I can think of. I’ve been quietly keeping my ears open for a new one myself.”
“Why? Hasn’t Noah been your manager for years? From what I’ve heard, he negotiates extremely favorable contracts for you.”
His jaw clenches as he shakes his head.
“Noah’s been my manager forever. For a long time, I thought he was the best in tennis. More recently, he’s made some financial decisions that were major mistakes. He also wants me to sign up with sponsors that would be terrible choices.”
