Everyone around the table looked down and studied the numbers. I watched to see if anyone looked unhappy, but most hadn’t even flinched, though the number was bigger than I’d predicted. When I got to my sisters, Tiffany was staring right back at me.
An evil smile spread across her face as she raised her hand. “Tom, I have a question?”
He nodded. “Okay…”
Tiffany pointed down at the page while looking straight at me. “Does this bonus include payment for personal services to the owner?”
I closed my eyes.
“Excuse me?” Tom said.
“Oh, and Larry…” She turned to the team’s lead counsel. “How does that work? Since paying for sex isn’t legal in New York state, is the contract even enforceable?”
I felt like reaching over the table and smacking her, but I wasn’t about to stoop to her level. Though I needed to say something before my lovely half-sister continued. So I stood. All eyes shifted to me.
Clasping my hands together, I took a deep breath. “I think what my sister is not-so-subtly referring to is my relationship with Christian Knox. While I prefer to keep my personal life personal, perhaps it’s best that it come out.” I looked at my sister. “Christian and I are dating.”
“Pfft,” my sister sneered. “He’s using her so he can get a fat contract renewal. I see it worked.”
Tom cleared his throat. “I wasn’t aware of Christian’s involvement with Bella, but I’ll have you know that Bella and I have not discussed any of the recommendations I’m presenting today.” He looked at the coaches. “Have any of you discussed Christian’s contract with Bella or been influenced by her in any way?”
They all shook their heads.
“With all due respect to Bella, I can see how a personal relationship between a player and an owner might look bad when it comes to undue influence on contracts. But the first time Bella and I spoke, she said this year was for listening and learning, and it was my team to run.” He nodded. “She’s kept to that word. So my recommendation does not change after learning about her relationship with Christian Knox.”
“Thank you, Tom.” I looked at Tiffany. “Can we continue?”
She rolled her eyes, so I sat down and looked at Tom, who took the hint and picked up where he’d left off.
When the meeting finally wrapped, hours later, I caught my sister as she walked out. “Tiffany, can we speak for a moment?”
She pursed her lips and folded her arms across her chest, which I took for a yes.
I closed the door behind the last person leaving the conference room, so it was just the two of us. “You know, I’ve tried hard to put myself in your place. How would I feel if I grew up in a very privileged life and found out, after my father passed, that he’d had a child out of wedlock and left that child a substantial inheritance? I’m sure I wouldn’t be happy either. I’ve tried my very best since I arrived to remember that and always take the high road. But maybe it’s time you remember something, too. I’m from the street, not the penthouse like you. I may be sitting up here with you now, but I’m still the little girl from the homeless shelter.” I stepped closer. “So if you ever speak negatively about Christian in my presence again, I will kick your ass.”
Tiffany’s mouth dropped open. “You’re so trashy.”
I offered an ear-to-ear smile and opened the conference room door. “And don’t you forget it.”
My body tingled as she stormed out. It felt good to finally say my piece. And even though I hadn’t wanted my relationship with Christian to be public, part of me was relieved people knew. Tiffany had tried to hurt me, but it had backfired. I felt unstoppable.
As I returned to my office, my cell phone rang. I thought it might be Christian, but instead Julian’s name flashed on the screen. That brought my headspace down, but as long as I was clearing the air and feeling empowered, I guessed I should have a conversation with him, too. He’d called twice in the last couple of weeks, and I’d never called him back. Julian didn’t deserve my disrespect, so I needed to be honest.
Taking a deep breath, I swiped to answer. “Hey, Julian.”
“Oh, hey. I figured I was going to voicemail again.”
“No, you got me. I just got out of a meeting, though. That’s why it took me so long to answer.”
“How’s everything going? You must be pretty busy. I called you a few weeks ago and hadn’t heard back.”
I shut the door to my office and sat down at my desk. “Things have been pretty hectic, actually. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I should’ve.”
“It’s fine. I get it. I was just sitting at my desk working on the presentation I’m giving at the AI conference, and I thought of you. We hired a new coder. He sits at a cubicle not too far from my office and has terrible allergies.”