“Why? He’s brought money in to stop the team going bankrupt, and he’s making sure everyone gets paid what they deserve. Why do you have a problem with him?”
“It’s going to be settling us back first. And then he’ll be changing everything, bringing in his buddies from outside.” Kenneth shook his head. “Money talks, and that’s the only language he knows.”
Elena found herself getting angry at that comment. Did they think all Jason thought about was money? It was just stupid, narrow-minded thinking. She leaned towards him, not caring that he could likely see down her cleavage at this point.
“Maybe if you got your head out of your ass and stopped seeing him as a walking check, you might realize he’s not as bad as you’re all believing him to be. And maybe you could do something useful like tell whoever smashed his car to pieces that they should be writing a check in compensation to Jason for the damages.”
Kenneth scoffed. “As if I’m going to know who vandalized his car. He deserved it, anyway, for having such a flashy vehicle.”
“Then tell them to write a check and donate it to the club. What happened is a crime, no matter who drives the car. And you and your idiot friends can stop behaving like toddlers having a tantrum because someone you don’t know has decided to buy a team that’s about to go under.”
“We’d never go under. The community would help us.” Kenneth was now brazenly looking at her cleavage. “You’ll understand that when you’ve lived here long enough.”
“I’m getting an impression on some of the community already, and it’s not a good one.” Elena straightened up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got better things to do than stand around listening to you get upset over something pathetic.”
She walked away before Kenneth could respond, heading over to the table Jason had reserved. He was sitting with his back to the wall, watching her in curiosity.
“What was that about?”
“Just telling Kenneth to wind his neck in, essentially.” Elena sat down, putting her bag at her feet before taking off her coat. “Eating with you isn’t going to impress anyone, I’m sure. It’s not impressed him.”
“He looked impressed by you,” Jason grunted. “I thought he was going to dive headfirst down your top.”
“He’s young and cocky. Not my type at all.”
“That’s a relief. It’s nice to know you have limits.”
Elena laughed, putting her coat on the back of her chair. “Was that meant to be a compliment?”
“Did it not sound like one?”
“Maybe.” Elena picked up the menu. “Kenneth and his friends are too young for me, in age and attitude. I prefer my potential partners to be more grown up than that.”
Jason chuckled. “I would have thought any woman would want to get into bed with an athlete. The ladies I know would be delighted at the thought of having a sports star running after them.”
Elena shook her head. “Not me. I’ve met too many of them, and they’re either in solid relationships or flirt too much. It’s a little boring after a while.”
“I didn’t think that was possible.”
“It is when I’m trying to work and they’re more interested in knowing what position I like best.” Elena shook her head.
Jason cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. Then Elena realized what she had said. Groaning, she buried her head in her hands.
“God, I’m sorry. I forgot who I was talking to.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve put my foot in it plenty of times.” Jason swallowed as he picked up the menu. “It runs in the family, according to Mom. My dad was the same.”
“He spoke before he was supposed to?”
“The filter between his brain and mouth needed a service, but he never got around to doing it.”
That sounded like someone Elena knew. Jessica definitely needed the filter between her brain and mouth to be fixed, then maybe she wouldn’t do the stupid things she had been doing lately.
Then again, even if it was fixed, Jessica would still do it.
“Where are your parents now?” Elena asked. “What do they think about you buying the Wolves?”
“Mom thinks I’m taking on too much, that I shouldn’t have done it.” Jason shrugged. “I often wonder if she’s right, but I didn’t get through life by staying away from risks. I’ve had several businesses, and they’ve done really well. I can do it this time. It would make my dad proud to bring the team up to its former glory.”