Page 138 of Thrown for a Loop
“It is if you’re using Zoe as a pawn.”
The boss lets out a heavy sigh. Then he turns to me. “Look, I admit that I was going to do that.”
“Going to?” I demand. “Because I feel like a pawn already. If you thought Chase and I were some kind of package deal, you could at least be honest enough to admit it.”
He looks between us, scowling. “I had a whole plan,” he says with a grunt. “If Chase didn’t re-sign before the end of the playoffs, then I was going to offer you a contract, Zoe. And I was going to tell you the offer was only good until June 30.”
Chase looks ready to explode. “So you could make her commit before I negotiated with other teams? That’s low.”
Sharp shrugs. “It’s hardball. Zoe’s job offer does not affect my salary cap. And I know you like it here in New York, Merritt. Quality of life matters. So does playing for a winning team. You can go lose for Montreal if you really want to, and I can’t stop you. I can just put my thumb on the scale a little.”
“So youarea manipulative bastard,” I mumble under my breath.
Sharp actually chuckles. “I’m clever, and I know how to maximize value for the team. But, Coach Carson, I abandoned this plan. You earned that job, and all while my idiot son made your life miserable. So I decided not to play the asshole card.”
“What are you saying?” I demand.
He leans forward in his chair. “If you read the fine print, you’ll notice that your job offer doesnothave a decision deadline. I took that out when I gave you the offer. So if you wait until August to decide to come back, it puts me in a real bind. I’ll have to try to find some other schmo who’s willing to accept on short notice.”
“Like I did,” I say slowly.
He shrugs again. “Who knows? I might get lucky a second time. But the puck is on your stick right now, Zoe. You win. Either you and Chase decide to stay, or you don’t. It’s up to you.”
Chase and I exchange a relieved glance. He quirks an eyebrow, asking,Are we satisfied?
I nod.
“All right,” we both say at the same time.
“All rightwhat?” Sharp asks. “Are you staying?” He almost looks excited.
We both rise. “You’ll be hearing from Bess,” Chase says.
“Christ,” he mutters. “That ballbuster.”
I bite my lip to keep from laughing as we let ourselves out of the office, because Bess is waiting outside. Just as we planned.
She gives us each a cheeky grin and then lets herself into Sharp’s office. “The ballbuster is here, reporting for duty! Let’s have one more chat, Sharp. I feel like we could come to an agreement today.”
As the door closes, I hear a string of muttered curses.
Chase and I are under the comforter on the terrace, pizza box on our laps, when Bess calls two hours later. He answers, “You’re on speaker.”
“Hi, kids!” she says. “I got him up a half million. With a no-trade clause.”
I let out a little shriek, but Chase just chews on a bit of crust. “Did you accept?”
“You know it,” Bess says. “You’re signing after the game tonight. And now Zoe can, too.”
“Excellent work, as always,” he says.
“Now go take a nap so you can beat Washington. I’ll be watching on TV. And, Zoe—try to get Moreau to do a few more sessions with you? It almost hurts me to watch him.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chase hangs up and slings an arm around my shoulders. “During my darkest days, this is all I ever wanted.”
“An extra half million dollars?”
