“No, TS There’s no one at the moment. But thanks for the offer.”
“Thanks for coming on such short notice.” He gave her another quick hug. To the outside world he was as tough as they came, but with her, he showed a softer side. He was the big brother she’d never had.
“TS, you don’t have to thank me. You call, I’m there.”
“And I really appreciate it. So, you ready to go?” Just like that, he was back in business mode.
Confused by the question, she noticed his expectant look as if she were the one keeping him waiting. “Um, you mean into your office? Yes, I’m ready any—”
“No, I mean to attend the party with me?” he said.
“Party? Um, I think you’re confusing me with one of your many girlfriends. I wasn’t aware this was a date,” Kelsey teased.
“I’m sure I told you on the phone that my schedule was tight and we’d be attending a reception hosted by the city council. It’s a combo meet and greet for the players and fund-raiser for a local charity, the Children’s Club.”
Kelsey looked down at her business suit and sighed. “If you had told me, would I be wearing a button-down jacket and matching skirt? Dang it, TS, I don’t have time to change into cocktail attire.”
“Hey, you look great to me. Besides, you always outshine any woman in the room.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, buster.” Shoot. Why hadn’t she thought to pack more than business clothes?
“Look, I’m sorry, Kels. With everything going on and the stadium’s construction, the relocation of the team, and now this viral video . . .”
“Right, the infamous Bad Boy of Baseball himself has gotten into yet another tight spot. I’ve checked out the video. He definitely isn’t doing you or the team any favors. Maybe you should just cut your losses, let him out of his contract? I mean, from the research I did on him during the plane ride, you’ve still got him on the disabled list, right? Built in reason to let him go. And all the reports say he’s lost his edge.”
“You know how I hate to disagree with you, Kelsey, but I will anyway. Maverick Jansen may currently be a thorn in my ass, but he has talent, a shit load. He’s coming off a rough end to the season and the death of his kid brother. I’m willing to ride this out, for now. I need your super powers to help him. And me. What do you say?”
TS flashed her what she was sure was the cheesiest smile in existence. She couldn’t say no to that face when we were kids, and he was making it doubly hard to do so now.
“Mr. Scott, Henry is waiting for you down in the garage. He has the car ready to go.” His secretary said.
“Thanks, Lois. Please let him know we’ll be down shortly.”
“How late are we?” Kelsey asked.
Lois answered for her boss. “Thirty minutes. The reception began at five thirty. They’ve been calling every five minutes, asking for your status.” She sent them both a stern look over her glasses.
Kelsey turned her head away to conceal her laugh with a pretend cough. Good for Lois. TS needed someone to keep him in line.
“Listen, I appreciate you giving me this opportunity, but as I said on the phone, I’m slammed with high-maintenance clients, so no promises. If it was anyone else, TS, I would have hung up the phone. So, I’ll hear you out and weigh the pros and cons and then turn you down. Probably.”
She had no room in her schedule for a self-absorbed athlete who refused to help himself.
“Kelsey, you’re killing me here. I need you on this ASAP. Send Lois your invoice for the flight and I’ll cover it for you. Oh, and your Social Security number. She’ll set you up on the payroll tonight.”
“I haven’t said I’d take the job.”
“But, you will.”
“We’ll see,” she countered.
“Kelsey, name your price. I need you for this. Despite our friendship, you’re the best public relations consultant I know—”
“I’m the only one you know.” She laughed.
“ — and how you handled the drama between the Carell sisters was brilliant. I need your expertise in handling this situation. Besides, you owe me, and I know you too well. You’d never turn down a friend in need.”
“I. Owe. You? Really?” Kelsey loved a good sparring match, and it’d been years since they’d gone a round. “If you’re referring to the infamous double date, I’d say the statute of limitations has expired on that one. Sorry.”
“Actually, I’m referring to three years ago when that Italian businessman wouldn’t take no for an answer. I think I played a very convincing and extremely jealous lover, don’t you?”
Kelsey snickered. TS had saved her from an embarrassing situation, but she’d never let him know it. He lived on information and ammunition. “If you want to convince me to help you out and take a job I’d normally never consider, you need to do better than that.”
TS did do better than that. He used his old standby move from their childhood. He gave her the look. She couldn’t say no to it. Dammit.
“All right, all right. Stop flashing me those puppy dog eyes. Jeez, I’m hoping this isn’t how you are in the boardroom—charming the pants off your adversaries. Eww, wait, sorry I put that visual out there." Shivering for effect, she watched him squirm at her teasing.
Laughing at his expression, she said, “So, dazzle me with your pitch, Mr. More-Money-Than-God.”
TS’s face morphed from boyish charm to corporate mogul in a flash as he guided her toward the elevator. “We’ll talk in the car. We’re late.”
“Now there’s the all-business, no-bull billionaire CEO I know and love. Oh, and just because I’m going to this event with you doesn’t mean I’ve agreed to anything. And my rates will be double what they usually are—if I agree.”
TS ignored her comment and continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’ve put a lot of my personal money behind this team, but I have several investors and one minority partner to answer to, so getting Maverick back on track in the public’s eye and on the pitching mound is my number one priority. And after tonight, the goal is for it to become yours as well.”
“TS, based on the video, I think it’s going to take more than a few days to contain the public outrage over Maverick’s remarks. Plus, there are the rumors that his problems are deeper than losing his pitching control. Any truth to his drinking getting out of hand?”
“Maybe. But I believe there’s no one better than you to get my star player back in the good graces of the league and the locals. More importantly, the ticket buyers,” TS said.
“Thanks for the confidence, but until I can spend more time following every lead on his past, I won’t know if it’s possible to fix his reputation. Don’t let our friendship overrule your good business sense.” Kelsey knew he wouldn’t, but this was a negotiation and she rocked at negotiations.
He continued to stare her down. Like when they argued over who was better, Superman or Batman. Superman, of course.
Before he got all fired up with the need to defend Batman’s honor, she continued. “TS, I’m concerned that he fired his agent and hasn’t taken any steps to respond on social media to the video. It’s been ten hours since this thing exploded. And there’re a dozen other questions I have that I don’t think you can answer right now. More importantly, I need to figure out if your ballplayer is worth my talents and my time. So, let’s get to this party you didn’t tell me about. I need a drink.”