Chapter 41

: Brandon

“T hank you for meeting with me today.” I shake Justice Williams’s hand. “I appreciate how quickly you were able to make this happen.”

Justice sits down and smiles. “I’m going to have to start paying Callaghan Entay a commission for new clients. First Xavier Henry and now you.”

I smile tightly. “I’m not sure you want me for a client. I’m not sure anyone does.”

“Your reputation certainly precedes you, that’s for sure. I like a good challenge though.”

I fiddle with the glass of water in front of me. We’re meeting for lunch at Davio’s Italian Steakhouse outside Foxborough. I asked Callaghan if his agent would be willing to talk with me about a possible idea.

It’s most likely a stupid idea, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work.

Justice waits patiently for me to start. I’m not normally ever at a loss for words. This time, I want to be careful about what I say. I don’t want to blurt something out simply for shock value.

There’s going to be enough shock if this plan can come to fruition.

“Full disclosure, up to this point, my agent-manager has always been my father. There was never a legally binding contract. However, I have officially terminated him. I’d like to go in a different direction.”

“I would hope so. It didn’t seem like you had much of a direction at all. You’ve had a lot of missed opportunities, and I don’t just mean shots on goal.”

I give Justice a tight smile. “That is the truth. I also had very little guidance, support, or career management. It mostly consisted of criticism and beratement after a public display of my outgoing personality.”

Justice laughs. “Is that what we’re calling it?”

I shrug. “For now. I’m working with a therapist, and that, along with ... someone else ... have helped me understand how my behavior may have been a stumbling block in my career.”

“Someone else?” He raises his eyebrows

I’m not ready to even soft launch the possibility of Andi and me to the public, especially when I haven’t heard from her today. Just because I gave my career up for her doesn’t mean she owes me anything.

That’s not true. I didn’t give my career up for her. I wasn’t in the right place, and the work I did on myself helped me realize that. Plus, what Seamus O’Marra did was 100 percent wrong, and I will never regret calling him on it the way I did.

“Okay, well, here’s what I’m thinking.” I slide the manilla folder across the table. Justice flips it open and scans the outline on the single piece of paper inside. He closes it and folds his hands on top.

His gaze is downright penetrating. I squirm in my seat. Finally, he clears his throat. “This is an interesting proposal.”

“You can see why I need your help.”

Justice pulls out his phone and scrolls through before holding the phone to his ear. “Hey Raul, it’s Justice. You remember that thing we were talking about during golf last week? Yeah, well, I think I know how to make it happen. When are you free?” Justice maintains eye contact with me as he agrees to a meeting place and time before disconnecting.

“What’s your schedule look like for the rest of the week?”

I laugh. “I’m pretty open.”

“Good. Raul’s in LA for some event, so we’re heading out there.” He doesn’t look up as he says this, furiously typing in his phone. “My assistant, Heaven, will text you the itinerary as soon as she has it. We’ll fly out tonight.”

“This quickly?”

“It’s the beginning of September, which means we only have seven months until the draft. Combine is in five. That’s not a lot of time to line up everything we need to get in place. We’re already behind schedule.”

“So you’ll take me as a client?” This is all happening so fast. My head is spinning.

Justice holds up the folder. “For this project only. If this project does not come to fruition, then we’ll have to renegotiate. Where did this idea come from?”

I tap the side of my head. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“Do you think you can do it?”

I nod. “Physically, yes. Conduct-wise, pretty sure?” I’m going to be honest with him. “I’m not going to create drama for the sake of drama, but I am who I am. I don’t have a great internal filter.”

“That’s what I’m counting on. This is gold, Brandon. Pure gold. And I’m so excited to see what we can do. Now let’s get packed for LA.”

As we stand to leave, Justice asks, “Why? Why this?”

“It’s what I’ve always wanted, in reality.”

“It’s a huge risk.”

I nod. “I know it is. But if I stayed where I was, it would cost someone else what they’ve always dreamed of. I can’t do that to her. If this works, we both get what we’ve always wanted.”

“And you get her?”

“That’s the plan.”