Page 82 of Beauty
“And do you think you provide good advice?”
“I do my best,” Liv admits.
My brother looks at me, the lines on his face easing a little. “Here’s the thing: none of our decision-making is done in a vacuum. Conclusions made regarding money and team dynamics are all influenced by the coaches, the chemistry of the players, and the amount of money in the cap. Sometimes one person sees it differently from another. It’s why it’s called a team.”
Beside me, Gavin smirks. “He’s not wrong.”
Liv sighs into her wineglass. “No, I don’t suppose he is.”
“But I don’t know hockey,” I admit.
“So learn.” Beckett says it like it’s so easy. “You don’t think Liv grew up thinking she’d be running a baseball team, do you?”
I eye my sister-in-law. I guess I’ve never thought about it.
She lets out a breathy laugh. “No. When I stepped into that elevator all those years ago, it was for a position with thecorporation’sPR department.Notthe team’s.”
The two of them share a look. A memory maybe. I have no idea what happened on that elevator, but whatever it was, it feels big.
Beckett takes his wife’s hand, his green eyes—the same color as mine—warm as he presses his lips to her knuckles. Then he turns to me. “Now she’s one of the most respected owners in the league. And not just because she’s my wife.”
Liv rolls her eyes, though there’s nothing but adoration in her expression. “I love the game. I love our team. But yes, before I found myself handling PR for the Revs, I didn’t even like baseball. But I learned all I could as quickly as I could because I wanted to succeed. Maybe I’m the CEO today because I’m Mrs. Beckett Langfield, but either way, I want people to respect me and I want to be helpful. The only way to do that was to learn the game.”
“Right. And to insert yourself in those discussions,” Beckett adds.
“But you had years,” I say to Liv.
Gavin hums, sitting back in his chair. “So start small. Focus on the players whose contracts are coming to an end. You’ve got their files. Study them. Their positions and stats. Then compare them with others in the league. Now that we’re past the trade deadline, we’re focusing on what changes we’ll make next year. You’ve got time.”
Beckett brings his whiskey glass to his lips. “Isn’t Harrison’s contract up this year?”
At the sound of his name, my muscles lock up. Shit. I can only pray my expression hasn’t given away my reaction.
Gavin nods. “Yup. Brooks too?—”
“Sienna can’t be involved in that decision. It’s a conflict of interest,” Liv chimes in.
I laugh. “It’s a conflict of interest for every person with the power to make big decisions, wouldn’t you say? So if I can’t, then who can?”
The Langfields could give two shits about being accused of nepotism, but even so, this is one more reason to steer clear of Noah. The last thing I need is to be accused of favoritism.
Beckett grunts. “That’s why we brought in Ezra. He’ll make the final decision when Brooks’s or Aiden’s contracts are up for renegotiation.”
“Or mine,” Gavin adds.
Beckett nods. “Or his.”
“Wow, that’s—” I blow out a breath. “He has the power to fire you?”
Gavin dips his chin. “If I’m not doing my job.”
“And then I’d fire him,” Beckett growls.
The four of us burst into laughter. Beckett is fiercely protective of his family.
“Except that would negate the whole reason we brought him on,” Gavin points out. “I’m not planning to make the kind of epic mistakes that would lead to being fired from a team I actually own.”
A lump forms in my throat. And now I’m CEO of that team. This conversation makes my situation feel so much more real. I’ve never put much thought into the business side of the teams my family owns, yet it’s clear that Langfield Corp means just as much to my brothers as my company meant to me. And I want to make them proud.
