That had been the same response from everyone. And she did understand. They had to save their jobs. Seamus was not known for tolerating failure or arguments.
*
It didn’t takelong for Seamus to summon her. She gathered her courage and her reports and coolly walked into his office to see Cole already sitting there, avoiding her gaze. So she was second in her father’s eyes, the second person called. She stuffed the pain from the slight deep down and pasted on her business face. She sat in the chair, opened her folder and started to speak.
Seamus held up a hand, halting her words. “I’m not interested in any reports. I’ll read them later. I’m more concerned with our team. You took advantage of my illness to directly oppose my wishes. You traded for a player I expressly said no to. You changed how we play, another plan I rejected last year. If you weren’t my daughter, you’d be fired on the spot.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” she calmly stated. “The team has a winning record, even better than last season when we went to the playoffs and ticket sales are up. Firing me, and anyone else, can’t be supported in the media. And you’re all about appearances. No, you’d wait until the team goes on a skid then make the change. It wouldn’t matter if I were your daughter or not.”
His face twisted then smoothed as if he was reminding himself to remain calm. “You’re right. I can’t justify firing you, after saying that all that matters are wins. So, I’ll try a new tactic. I’m taking back my team and things will be done my way. Understood?”
Cole cast her a glance but nodded. Miranda studied Seamus for a long moment, hoping for some chink in his argument, a soft spot, something she could exploit. But he was too canny for that and too blinded to anything else.
“May I ask one question?” Miranda asked.
Her father narrowed his gaze but nodded.
“Why are so adamant against this plan? Many teams are using it and are very successful. We’re clearly doing well. Why change it now? Why not try it?”
“Because it’s not sustainable. Fans get bored when they have a group of mediocre players to watch. There’s no one to root for. Yes, they win but there’s no rallying player. No superstar. You can play your little games all you want, but I want my player.”
She folded her arms. “Fine. Let’s stay our course until a better option comes on the market.”
“Yes. Cole will be beating the bushes looking for him. Prosser has actually done well enough to be a good bargaining chip. He’s first on the block.” He turned his attention to papers in front of him. “We’re done here.”
She knew it was a losing battle, at least right now. But she wasn’t ready to give up the war. She got to her feet and headed for the door, Cole on her heels, when her father stopped her.
“Miranda? Stay for a moment.”
She froze and caught Cole’s look of sympathy. She nodded to him and walked back to the chairs, sitting on the edge, waiting for the axe to fall. After several minutes, her father finally looked up. She kept her face impassive and relaxed, knowing his tricks of trying to put her off balance with delaying tactics and glares.
“Lucas Wainright. I want him gone.”
Well, that was certainly blunt and not at all unexpected. “Sorry. You took a loan from the league. He’s the string that came with it. Until we prove we can make the payment, we’re stuck with him.”
He was shaking his head before she even finished. “No, we can’t get rid of him here. I meant, I want you to stop seeing him. I know you brought him to dinner to try and have us get along, some throwback to our history or some nonsense. And then with your snuggling at the game, well, I won’t stand for it.”
“You won’t stand for it?” For the first time since she had come in his office, anger boiled over. She could handle him criticizing her management and even her plans, but not her personal life. “Lucas makes me happy. He sees me for who I’m and he respects me, which is more than you do. You may control my working life, but you don’t control my personal life.”
“I do when your personal life affects your job. He wants revenge against me for his father. It’s bullshit, but he believes it.”
“What happened between you anyway? Why do you believe he wants to get even?” She cried, sick of no one telling her the truth.
“He thinks I took advantage of his father when he was sick. I bought the team fair and square. He can’t handle knowing his father never trusted him to take over and do right by the Knights.” Seamus slammed his hand on the table and winced. He rubbed his chest for a moment, then stopped when he caught her expression. “I’m fine. It’s nothing. Just the scar pulls sometimes.”
She wanted to ask, wanted more details, but knew he wouldn’t discuss his health. “Maybe you and Lucas need to talk about this.”
“We’re not girls who talk about our feelings and some shit. He needs to get over it. But I told you to watch out for him, and you let him seduce you into taking over our team.”
“He’s not taking over. As a matter of fact, he’s helped us save it. If he wanted to ruin us, wouldn’t he have advised us differently?” She stood, her hands sweating under her folder. “I’m sorry you feel this way but my personal life is my own. You don’t run it.” She turned and headed for the door, hoping to keep her dignity until she was out of his office at least.
“Just wait until he turns on you. Because he will.” Seamus called after her.
She closed the door quietly behind her and sagged against it for a moment. Lucas was leaning on Maggie’s empty desk, an inscrutable expression on his face. After a moment, he held out his hand. She took it and they walked to the elevator and out of the stadium.