26. Emma

Chapter 26

Emma

G ripping the steering wheel of Minnie the Mini, I head in the direction of Highland Spirits. The contract is burning a hole in my bag, and I want this to be a done deal before I mention it to anyone. I know Keir is worried about me and whatever is bothering me, but I'm not saying anything until I know this is in place. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. Especially mine. Grant McCrae is a first-class cock, so who knows, this could all be a big fat joke for all I know, and I'll go down there now, and he'll rip it in half in front of me.

Hence, my eagerness to get there as soon as the speed limit and traffic will allow.

When I arrive at Highland Spirits, I park Minnie and take a few deep breaths. "Okay, Em," I mutter to myself. "Just get in, get this sorted, then you can relax." I walk inside with as much confidence as I can muster.

The receptionist gives me a scathing glare but says nothing as I march past her, head held high. She has seen enough of me to know to just let me through. I stab the button for the lift and wait impatiently as it takes me up to Grant McCrae's floor.

Striding past Gillian, I knock loudly on Grant's door, my hand gripping the strap of my bag, sweaty and sticky.

When Grant calls out, "Come in," I push the door open and just go with it and, pull the contract out and slap it on the desk in front of him. "I will sign this contract. I can assure you Colin McCrae will never set foot in the Warriors camp again while I am the owner, and I have no problem with your exclusivity clause if you give me an extra fifty kay. These lads work their arses off, and I won't shortchange them."

He blinks, but his surprise is quickly replaced by a sly grin. "Emma Thornton, always straight to the point. I admire that," he says, leaning back in his leather chair. "But fifty kay extra is quite a demand."

I don't lower my gaze, if anything, I harden it, trying to ignore the way my heart hammers in my chest. "It's not a demand, it's a necessity. You want exclusivity? We need the funds to ensure our lads can perform at their best."

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You drive a hard bargain."

"And you know I don't waste time with pleasantries," I retort.

Grant studies me for a moment before he chuckles and leans forward again. "Okay, Emma. You've got yourself a deal." He scribbles something on the contract and slides it across the desk towards me.

I pick up the pen, flipping through the pages and when I see his amendments, I smile inwardly and sign at the designated spots.

"Pleasure doing business with you," I say.

Grant smirks and holds his hand out for me to shake. I glare at it with a slow smile and turn on my heel to leave his office with my pride and my sticky hands intact.

"Don't forget who your friends are in this business, Emma," he calls after me.

"Oh, I won't, Grant!" I reply, not turning back to look at him.

He chuckles, but I do, too. I've just bagged myself the sponsorship of the century, and fuck him, Colin and everyone else who thought I couldn't do this. Fuck them all.

Back outside, my badassery drops, and I exhale deeply. Walking slowly back to Minnie, a little lightheaded, I remember I have barely eaten anything today. It has been one stress after another, and I just haven't taken the time.

Driving away from Highland Spirits, I hope not to see this place again for a while. As a treat, I stop at McDonald's on the way back to the arena and grab a burger and Diet Coke, plus a large fries. Sitting in my car, reflecting on everything that has happened since I packed up my life in London and moved back home to Inverness, I shake my head. A lifetime's worth of adventures in less than a month. Life's funny like that, though. It chucks lemons at your head, and you either dodge them and make lemonade or get whacked in the face with a hard citrus fruit that will leave bruises. But a lot of it is down to what fate has in store, I'm convinced.

Feeling tons better after the burger-y goodness, I crumple up the wrappers and stick them in the brown bag to dump later. Right now, I want to get home and have that talk with Anna and make sure she will be fine on her own if I leave. If she has even the slightest hesitation, I won't go. She deserves better than that, and I owe her everything. She is my ride-or-die, and I won't screw her over for a bunch of guys, even if they are the three fittest men on the planet.