“Can I have Ellie get you coffee or a bottle of water?”
“No, I’m fine.” She saved her hand. “Thank you, though.”
“Okay. Then why don’t you start by telling me a little bit about yourself?” I sat in the chair across from her and set the legal pad I’d been jotting notes on all day on my lap.
“Well.” She cleared her throat and flashed her million-dollar smile. It was even more beautiful in person than it was online. “I graduated from University of Illinois with a degree in sports management, obviously, and worked in Chicago with the Star Alliance Group for a couple years before accepting a position with Leighton Management and moving up here.”
“May I ask why you’re willing to leave Leighton Management now?”
As she thought about how to answer that question, she crossed her legs, and I had to remind myself once again not to look down.
“That’s where my life gets a little complicated,” she finally answered. Her smile faded as she bit her lip nervously. “I’m sure you know this already, but the Leighton group is run by two brothers, Jack and John. I’ve always gotten along great with both of them, until recently.” As she spoke, her eyes bored straight into mine. They were so dark and intense that I was having trouble concentrating. I had to break her stare for just a second, so I turned to the side and lifted my fist to my mouth as I fake coughed.
“Excuse me,” I said, turning back to her.
“I’m not an idiot, Mr. Shaw.” With that sentence she officially had my full attention. I had no idea where she was going next. “I know what people say about me. I’ve seen the articles from the Internet and read the comment threads. I know that people call me Double D and have said all sorts of things about who they perceive me to be because of my looks and what I do.”
Not really sure how to respond to that, I just nodded.
“But they’re wrong. About a month or so back, I had a football player get a little—aggressive—in my office. He didn’t hurt me at all, but he was very intimidating in the way he spoke to me and let me know what he thought I should do for him. That didn’t sit well with me. People can say whatever the hell they want about my looks, but I take my career seriously. I know I’m still fairly new to this business, but I’ve worked hard to get the clients I have, and I want to be a big name one day. I won’t get there by letting people push me around, so right there on the spot, I told him I was done representing him.”
My head jerked back in surprise. “Wow. Nice move.”
“Yeah, well, the Leighton brothers didn’t think so, particularly John, and he not so nicely told me to call back and apologize. I told him where he could shove that apology, and needless to say, the relationship between us has been a little strained ever since.” She sat back against the couch and crossed her arms.
I shook my head slowly. “Wow! That’s crazy. But I will say this: kudos to you for putting a stop to that right away.”
“Thanks.” A shy smile formed on her lips. “So anyway, now I’m looking for a new home. And . . . I have at least five athletes that I’m sure are coming with me, possibly eight.”
“That’s impressive, for sure. Is one of them your ‘DWI guy?’” I laughed, using my fingers to do air quotes.
She narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to the side. “I don’t get it.”
“Come on.” I chuckled again. “You were running late and you faked a phone call to get out of it. We all do it, it’s okay.”
Arching one eyebrow as high as I’d ever seen, she lifted her head up straight and ran her tongue in between her top lip and teeth. Without saying a word, she pulled her phone out of her purse and set it on the coffee table in between us. Still silent, she pushed a button and glared right at me.
After a few seconds the ringing stopped, and the sound of a man’s voice filled the room. “Yo!”
“Bobby, it’s D. Was I on the phone with you about fifteen minutes ago?” she asked, not taking her eyes off mine.
“Huh?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Yeah.”
“And what did I say to you in that call?” she asked him in a tone so cold I thought for sure it was going to start snowing in my office.
“You told me to chill until we talked to my lawyer. Why the weird questions?”
“Thanks, Bobby. I’ll call you later.” I swallowed hard as she hit the button to disconnect the call and dropped the phone back into her purse. She stood up, swung it over her shoulder, and scowled down at me.