24. Emma

Chapter 24

Emma

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. Anna and I exchange glances as she stands to answer it. Two sharp-dressed lawyers from the firm stride in, looking all business.

"Miss Thornton, Miss Ford," the lead lawyer, Mr Greene, greets us with a nod. "Shall we get started?"

I motion for them to take a seat around the table. "Please, go right ahead."

As they settle in, I hand over the binder. "This is what McCrae's team handed us today. We need a thorough review before we can consider moving forward."

Mr Greene begins flipping through the pages, his eyes scanning rapidly while his colleague does the same with other sections of the binder.

Anna and I sit quietly, waiting as patiently as possible while they work. Every now and then, one of them mutters something to the other, pointing out clauses and provisions that might be questionable.

Finally, Mr Greene looks up from the document. "There are a few areas that need clarification and some that raise concerns. Nothing insurmountable, but definitely points we need to address."

"Like what?" I ask, leaning forward.

"The first major point is the guarantee that one Colin McCrae can never return to the Warriors while Highland Spirits is a sponsor."

"Oh?" I ask, raising my eyebrow.

"Conflict of interest. It's why your dad never approached them before."

And there it is.

Fucking Dad. This has his bullshit written all the fuck over it. Somehow, he has orchestrated Colin into leaving so the Warriors could bag the HS deal. I'm going to kill him. Murder him with my bare hands the next time I see him. If I'm a part of this, in that Dad never really wanted me here in the first place and only used me as a bargaining chip to manoeuvre Colin out, I will never speak to him again.

Anna is staring at me, clearly seeing my blind rage. It's probably obvious by the steam that I'm convinced is coming out of my ears.

Mr Greene adjusts his glasses and adds: "There's also a clause about exclusivity, which could limit your team's other sponsorship opportunities."

"But other than that?" I grit out.

"Nothing shady. It's above board, and if I may be so bold, a fucking good contract."

"Fuck," I hiss. "Fuck!"

Mr Greene and I share a look of solidarity with our unprofessional cursing.

"So, you're saying I should take it."

"Snatch their hand off," the other lawyer, Mr Pratt, says. I can't even with his name. It just makes me want to laugh, so I try not to think about it.

"Really?"

"Really," Mr Greene says.

"Okay, thank you for coming down so quickly. I really appreciate it."

They both nod and stand up. Anna shows them out and I sink onto the couch with my head in my hands. "If Dad has screwed me over, Anna, I'm going to string him up like a pi?ata."

"Do you really think he has orchestrated this entire thing just to get a sponsor?" She is sceptical and more objective than me.

"No," I say, eventually. "Not all of it. But I'm betting he was responsible for getting Colin to leave. He knew about it and wasn't at all concerned."

"So, Lachlan could coach, and Taran could be brought in as Captain…" Anna says, trailing off when I glare at her.

"Jamie and I talk. What do you want from me?"

"Oh, Jamie and I talk," I say with an irritating and bitchy impersonation of her. "God, sorry! I have no idea why I'm taking it out on you! Forgive me. I'm horrible."

Anna lets out a loud guffaw and sits down next to me. "Look, I get this is weird for you. We are like some mashed up family right now. But Jamie cares about me and this team and he has the utmost respect for you."

"And now you're making me feel even bitchier."

"Good," she says with a smirk. "But you're forgiven because I know this news has messed with your head. You know what you have to do, right?"

"Go back to bed and pull the duvet over my head while I eat pizza and drink vino?" I ask hopefully.

"No. You have to go and talk to your dad."

"Fuck you."

"I know. But someone has to be the voice of reason."

"Fine. I'm going and going now. If I don't, I never will." I stand up and pick up my bag, slinging it over my shoulder as I quickly make my way out of the arena, only to bump into dear old Dad loitering in the car park near Minnie with a guilty look.

"Before you say anything," he says, holding his hands up. "I was only partly responsible for this."

"How do you even know what this is? You have more spies around here than fucking MI6!"

"Well, yes, I do, but Ed Greene and I go way back."

"So, he called you already? Jesus, what is this?"

"Well, I already knew about the sponsorship deal. Gregor mentioned it over dinner last night."

"Oh, for fuck's sake. Look, Dad. We need to have a blunt conversation. I can do this on my own. If it was your intention to bring me in as a chess piece to get Colin out and Highland Spirits as your sponsor, then fuck you. But if you didn't and you really want me here, then you need to butt the fuck out of my business. And yes, this is my business now. You gave it to me. You can't have it back. Are we clear about this?"

Dad takes a step back, rubbing the back of his neck. "Crystal clear," he says, sounding more like a sheepish schoolboy than the master manipulator I think he is. "I only wanted what's best for you and the team."

"You can't keep pulling strings behind my back and expect me to just go along with it."

"I know, Emma." He sighs heavily. "But listen, I really do believe in you. You have the potential to take this team to new heights."

"Nice speech, but actions speak louder than words. From now on, if you're not here to support me genuinely, then stay out of my way."

He nods solemnly. "I understand. All of this was in the works before you started here. There were delays, and I get it… I'll back off."

"Good." I take a deep breath, feeling a little relief and a lot of tension. "What happened with Colin? Was that a genuine complaint about me he had or what?"

"He had delusions that when I retired, I would leave the team to him. We go back decades, went to school together, played together, coached together, and talked about our dreams. I guess he figured he was in line."

"Well, he figured wrong," I mutter, feeling bad. "Have you two fallen out?"

He sighs. "Never mind about that. I swear to you, I'm not involved in anything else to do with the team. I had this started and wanted to see it through."

I nod. "I get that. I just wish you'd come to me instead of letting me be blindsided."

"Lesson learned," he says.

I sigh and go to him, giving him a hug. "I can do this, Dad. Have faith in me, okay?"

"I do. I would never have given you this team if I didn't."

I nod, and we step back. "I'm taking the sponsorship deal. Despite my disgust with Grant McCrae, he isn't the only one at HS that I can deal with, and I would be a damn fool to turn it down based on my personal issues."

"That's nice," he says blandly, but I can see the fire in his eyes, and I laugh.

"You can be excited about it. It's a fucking good deal. Mr Greene said so."

He grins and punches the air. "I knew it!"

We laugh, and all is forgiven because that's what family is. We fight, and we make up, and now I need to go and see my extended family and find out once and for all what Lachlan's cryptic comment was about earlier.