Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Without question,” Bill agrees. “And I’m with you. They can’t dictate your personal life like that. They’re taking it too far. I know that Florence has had some personal troubles with the Montgomery family lately, but not even she has the authority to do this. I’ll set up a meeting for this week.”
“Okay, great. Thank you, Bill. I’m kind of surprised that you came all the way from LA for this.”
“There’s more.” He smiles now, and I can tell that the hard part is over. “You’ve had several offers for endorsement opportunities. One is with a national insurance company, another is a sports drink, and yet another for a shoe.”
“A shoe. Someone wants to give me my own shoe?”
This can’t be real. I have to be dreaming.
“They do. There are a few other smaller ones, but the three I just mentioned would be an additional ten million per year combined.”
All I can do is stare at Bill and feel so much gratitude for the man.
“So, you’re saying that, within just a few weeks, I could be making upwards of fifty million a year?”
“That’s what I’m saying. And that’s on the low end.”
“Well, damn.”
“Congratulations, Ike. You’re officially my top-grossing client.”
Once I’m back in my truck, I sit and stare at the steering wheel for about five minutes, soaking it all in. That’s a lot of money. That’s life-changing money.
Not that it wasn’t before, but this is a whole new level of wealth that I’ve never even dreamed of.
And if I’m not careful, my father will siphon away every fucking penny from me once this becomes public.
So, my first call is to Will Montgomery.
“Hey, Ike. Megan and I were just talking about you. What’s up?”
“I know this is kind of weird, but are you busy? Like, can I come by and talk to you?”
“I’m actually not busy right now. We’re home. Come on by.”
“Thanks. I’m leaving downtown now, so it’ll be about fifteen minutes or so.”
“No rush. We’ll see you soon.”
I need advice, and Will’s the only guy I know well who’s been in this kind of position before.
I make my way through town and to Will’s house. The gate automatically opens because he’s expecting me, and when I park in the circular driveway, I see the front door open, and Will steps outside.
“Sorry for the short notice,” I say as I jog up his steps and shake his hand.
“Don’t be. You’re not interrupting anything.” He takes in my face and nods. “Let’s go to the office. Babe,” he calls out, “we’ll be in my office.”
“Okay!” I hear Meg call back. “Hi, Ike!”
“Hi, Meg,” I reply as I follow Will down a long hallway and into an office at the end of it. Will closes the door behind us, and rather than sitting behind his desk, he gestures to a chair in the corner, and he sits across from me on a facing sofa.
His trophies line the walls. Photos of Will with teammates, friends, and coaches. There’s even a photo of the entire Montgomery family, all smiles, at one of the championship games that Will played in.
Sophie, no more than fifteen, is grinning at the camera.
“I like your office,” I say at last.
“It’s where I come to think when the girls get a little too loud.”
I nod and shift in the seat.
“Okay, you’re making me nervous. What’s going on, Ike?”
“My agent is in town. My contract came in.”
He raises a brow. “And?”
I outline everything for him, and when I’m done, he whistles through his teeth. “That’s a damn good contract. Jesus, congratulations, man.”
“Thanks. There’s one thing, though, and it’s the reason Bill’s in town. There’s a clause I won’t sign.”
“For that amount of money? What is it?”
I have to stand and pace to the windows. “Florence had it written in that I’m not allowed to have any sort of relationship with you or any member of your family. A photo of Sophie and me leaked, and it pissed her off.”
“Fuck her,” he mutters, and I turn to look at him.
“Oh, yeah, fuck her sideways. I won’t sign it. I’m in too deep with Soph, and even if I wasn’t, it’s the principle of it, you know?”
He narrows his eyes. “Yeah, I get it. Your lawyers can make her take it out, and she knows it. She’s just throwing a fit in the only way she can.”
I nod and lick my lips. “That’s what Bill said, too. I made it clear that if she doubles down, I’ll leave the team and go elsewhere, but Bill doesn’t think it’ll come to that.”
“I’d be shocked if it did,” he agrees.
I take a deep breath, lick my lips again, and sit back in the chair.
“What else is on your mind?”
“It’s a lot of money,” I say at last. “I need to keep my dad’s fingers out of it. I’m not okay with sending home every dime I don’t need. I can’t keep doing it. Like you said, I need to be smart for when football is done, and I guess it’s also the principle of it. I’ve asked around. No one else does for their families what I do for mine. Most everyone does some, but not like this.”