Respect Me, Part 1 by Nia Arthurs
Jerrison
If athletes areanimals on the court or in the ring, then the people who represent them have to be even more barbaric. I learned that lesson when I started this company. There’s no room for petty emotions. Old loyalties. Concern. Guilt. The only language we speak in a field this competitive is action.
“How did you get in here?” I ask coolly.
“Don’t use that BS tone on me,” an enraged voice responds.
I continue shuffling through the documents on my desk. One thumb meets my mouth. I lick the surface and slide it through the next page.
Nathan Zedina huffs and puffs in front of me. “Do you really think you can just fire me like that?”
“I didn’t fire you, Zedina.” Fixing my glasses, I keep my tone casual. Conversational. “You’re celebrating an early retirement. And I think your severance package was quite generous given the fact that you haven’t won a boxing match in months.”
“I gave my life for this company.”
“No.” I drop the files and cut him a harsh look. “You stole money from this company.”
His face turns mottled red. “When did I ever—”
“Every time we had to clean up one of the bombs that exploded in your personal life, it cost us in PR, in branding, in lost revenue, in lack of public trust. We lost opportunities from skittish investors who associate your face with this company.”
“I’ve been with you since the beginning.”
“And yet nothing lasts forever.” I shrug. “It’s time we go our separate ways.”
He stomps toward me and slams his hands on the desk. The entire table shudders and my pencil holder teeters sideways. A moment later, all the pens scramble out of it and roll as far away from Zedina as possible.
His beard trembles and his eyes glare holes into my face. “It’s bad enough that you kick me when I’m down, Bradley. But how could you replace me with my biggest competitor?”
My lips tighten. It’s funny how entitled athletes can be. They really believe the entire world revolves around them and their ego.
I lift my chin. “Fuentes is a young, up-and-coming boxer with incredible promise.”
“And what? I’m an old, washed-up athlete past his prime? Is that what you’re saying?”
A foolish man would think that was a question and not a threat.
My eyes linger on his tan face, the wrinkles in his forehead and the ears that are turning red. A slight tap-tap-tap fills the air as I drum my fingers on the desk.
How much of Zedina’s pride should I keep intact?
On the one hand, I have things to do and fielding his adult temper tantrum will take far too much of my time. On the other, his arrogance could use some dismantling. Especially since I put effort into giving him a proper financial send-off, even after Patrick advised me to simply kick Zedina’s butt to the curb.
“That young kid doesn’t understand what boxing is.” Spittle flies from Zedina’s mouth, smattering on the table. I have to hurl my hand back before getting splashed. “He has no loyalty to the company.”
“And you do?”
“Hell yeah. I’m the most loyal person on the roster.”
“I wonder what your wife would say about you being loyal, Zedina.” It’s a shallow dig. Totally out of line. But then, he started the disrespect first when he stomped into my office without an appointment.
“Should we start throwing stones, Bradley?” His eyes narrow.
I only smile. We both know he has no power here, even if he wants to believe we’re equal. “You’re the one who asked for an explanation. I’m giving it to you.”
“If you’re talking about my personal life…” His eyes shift away.
“I don’t want to talk about your personal life, Zedina. I really don’t care who you screw on your off-time. What matters to me is a good performance in the ring and keeping your dirty laundry out of the media. Both of those you failed horribly.”
A barrel chest rises and falls with every labored breath.
But he doesn’t move.
What can he say? We both know I’m right.
“If you had that much of a problem with Fuentes, if you cared at all about your pride, you should have left all this anger in the ring. Instead, Fuentes beat you. Fair and square. He is now a member of this agency. I signed a contract with him. Legally. Fairly.”
It was easy to get Fuentes to sign with us. In fact, it shocked me a bit. He’s an up-and-coming star. Plenty of agencies were after him. When I threw my hat into the ring, I thought for sure that I’d have to duke it out with the others, so I convinced Patrick to make some pretty risky financial moves to stand out from the rest.
Fuentes didn’t play any games with the other agencies. He wanted to work with me and said so outright. We paid through the nose for his retainer fee, but it’s already proven to be a great investment. The kid has a huge social media following and the good press surged for days.
I’ve got a new ace and hundreds of thousands of new social media followers. In fact, our company’s seen such a surge in brand awareness that we’re throwing a grand ‘welcome to the family’ party for Fuentes next weekend.
“You can’t do this to me, Bradley!” Zedina snarls.
The door opens.
Guards in suits march inside.
“Sir?” My head of security—a former boxer with a horrible temper—stands at attention. I carelessly wave in Zedina’s direction while dropping my eyes to the documents waiting for approval.
The guards grab Zedina’s upper arms.
I hear my head of security growl, “Sir, you need to come with me.”
“I won’t forget this, Bradley!” Zedina shouts. “You’re going to pay for this!”
The door closes.
His shouts fade into silence.
I smile serenely and continue my work.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzes.
ASHLEY: What are you up to?
I smile when I read her text. Unlike Cindy, who was far too immature for her own good, Ashley and I have great conversations about life, politics and culture. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s always wearing those tight little pants that make me want to grab her and throw her on the bed.
The night I went back to her place, she was wearing sexy negligée. A total waste of money. I had her out of that outfit faster than she put it on.
It’s the first time in a while I’ve been so excited about a woman.
ME: Missing you.
ASHLEY: How much?
I think about it before I answer.
In a snap of inspiration, I balance my phone on the desk and step back. Throwing my arms wide, I command my phone to snap the picture. After inspecting it, a wave of sheepishness hits me. But I send it anyway because I know it’ll make Ashley smile.
She answers with blushing emojis.
I laugh to myself, imagining her dark skin glistening in the sunlight and those high cheekbones arching even further as she grins.
My phone vibrates.
Ashley sent a picture of her own. And her pose isn’t as innocent as mine.
My pants tighten.
ASHLEY: I have something for you.
Heat washes over my skin, making it near impossible to focus on anything else.
My tongue goes dry.
My heartbeat picks up.
I grab for my mug of coffee then set it back down again. The way I’m feeling, coffee will only increase the buzz.
ME: You’re killing me, Ash.
There’s a knock on the door.
I quickly slide my phone off and turn it face down.
When Patrick swaggers into the room, I breathe a sigh of relief. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He laughs. “What was that look about?”
“Nothing. I thought you were Harriet.”
“Why would Harriet come down here?” My friend plops into the couch. His smile is wide and mischievous.
I rub my chin. “She’s been acting weird lately. I wouldn’t put it past her.”
“You’re being careful, right?” Patrick’s expression turns sober. He juts his chin at the cell phone.
“Of course I am.”
“Good. Because you do not want a repeat of Cindy.”
“Hell no.” I shudder at the reminder. “Ashley is nothing like Cindy. She’s well-spoken, funny, and classy.”
“Sounds like you really like her.” Patrick spreads his arms on the back of the couch.
“I do. When I’m with her, all the crap with Harriet fades, you know? It’s like I’ve finally found someone who I can really connect with.”
“Look at you.” Patrick teases. “My man, you are in love.”
“I wouldn’t say that. But I definitely feel something for her.”
“Why don’t you invite her out tonight? A couple of the guys are getting together at that new bar in town. I’m bringing Elaine.”
“Your new girl?”
He nods. “College girls are a different breed, man. I’ve never had a woman who put it down like this chick. It makes sleeping with my wife feel like I’m lying with a plank board.”
“Sounds stiff.” I laugh.
“You have no idea.” Patrick tilts his head toward me, glee sparkling in his black eyes. “So?” He nods. “Think Ashley would be into a double date?”
My chest expands at the thought of showing Ashley off to my friends. “Yeah, man. I think she’d love that.”
“Good.” Patrick starts to get comfortable in my sofa.
I gesture to the door. “If you don’t need anything else….”
Patrick lumbers to his feet. “Fine. Fine. I didn’t come to interrupt your phone-flirting. You and your lady need privacy. I get it.” He grins. “I came to congratulate you on the Fuentes contract, but I think you and Ashley will find your own way to celebrate.” He pumps his hips wickedly. “You know what I’m saying?”
I snicker under my breath. “Get out of here, man.”
He takes a step toward the door and then spins around. “Oh, before I forget. You’re bringing Harriet to Fuentes’s welcome party, right?”
My laughter immediately dies. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Were you planning on bringing your new girlfriend?” Patrick slants me a you can’t be that dumb look. “Our investors don’t want to see you with a fine young thing that night. They want a family man.”
“I know that. I know. It’s just…” I run a hand down my face. “Harriet and I aren’t on the best of terms right now.”
“So? Buy her flowers. Cook her a meal. Fix it the way you always do. But make sure she’s at that party.” He wiggles a finger at me.
“I’ll handle it.”
Patrick leaves.
I pick up the phone and scroll past my conversation with Ashley. Right underneath those messages is my last text to Harriet.
She ignored me.
Damn.
My head starts to throb. How do I console my wife now when I really don’t want to?
I text Ashley.
ME: Sorry. I won’t be able to pick you up today.
She texts back an angry face.
ASHLEY: I wanted you to meet my friends.
ME: Can’t.
I have a wife to placate.
If such a thing is possible.
I sigh again. Moments like this, I really wish my life wasn’t so complicated.
