Page 13 of Hot Damn
“I need a lawyer?”
“Not like you’re thinking.”
When we reach the kitchen, I see Mom has set the table in the breakfast nook and there is a pile of paperwork to one side. “What’s all that?”
“Your new contract with FNB.”
“New contract?”
“Sit down, Cam. Let’s not spoil dinner with work talk. We’lldeal with it after we eat.” Mom moves toward the fridge. “What do you want to drink.”
I glance at the table. At the new contract. “Water.” I want wine but I’m going to need all my wits to get through those pages. With a sigh, I slip into a chair and reach for the paperwork. “May as well get this over with. Letting it sit here while we eat is going to spoil it anyway.”
Dad smiles at me from across the table. “That’s my girl.”
“We’ll see if you still say that after I’ve read this.” I hold up the bundle. Dropping it back to the table I start to read. “I’m freelance?”
“It’s the best for you. FNB and KAW and its associated investments too,” Mom says, putting a glass of water in front of me. “If someone digs and publicizes your involvement with KAW they’ll connect you to the Rogues. I spoke to Oakley earlier and she’s getting your lawyers to draw up a contract between you and the Rogues to cover the interviews.”
“So even though I technically own the team, we’re drawing the line between ownership and journalist?”
“Exactly. And, we were talking about possibly donating your earnings from the interviews to one of the Rogues’ designated charities or one of your choosing.”
“Hmm…” I glance back at the contract. It doesn’t take me long to work my way through it in spite of it being twenty pages long. There’s nothing I see that worries me and the monetary value is more than acceptable. In fact… “Don’t you think the dollar amount is a little high?” I ask Dad.
“It was less until this one got involved.” He points at Mom. “Good thing she’s on our side. She had valid arguments as to why I should up the figure to that amount.”
“You’ll notice the clause about income received from the pieces too. Anything FNB brings in from the interviews or articles will be split between you, FNB, and a charity of your choice.”
“If I donate my earnings I’ll effectively be working for free.”
“You don’t need to work,Cam.”
I look at Dad. “I know. You made sure of that, but I still have bills to pay, and you know I haven’t touched my trust fund for anything other than the start-up money for Rogue sportswear and the Rogues franchise.”
“I do and yet, you’ve barely dented it.”
“Half a billion is more than a dent Dad.”
“It is, but not when you put it up against what you have.”
I can’t argue with him. My trust fund has been invested well over the years and while I’ve taken money out of it, there’s still well over a billion in there. And then there’s my personal accounts. The ones holding my share of the Rogue sportswear profits.
Looking at Mom, I ask, “You think I should make everyone aware I’m donating my earning from these interviews or keep it on the quiet until someone starts pointing fingers?”
“Up to you.”
“I have an idea.”
I turn to Dad. “What?”
“You probably won’t like it but I think you should leave the owners of the Rogues until last.”
“But Blake and Nat work for the team, I can’t leave the assistant coach and GM out of these interviews.”
“No, you can’t. And that’s not what I’m saying. I think you should interview them as GM and assistant coach. Don’t mention them being part of KAW.”
It takes barely a moment for his words to form a picture of what he’s suggesting. “The owners, Oak, Nat, Blake, and me.”
