Page 1 of Match Point

Chapter One

Sorcha Templeton exited the elevator, coffee cup in hand, and approached the reception desk at the Howler Sports Talent Agency. She sipped at the hot brew, hoping the caffeine would calm the raging headache that had plagued her since landing in the States.

The desk looked empty. She leaned over the top and saw a dark-haired man sitting in a black office chair, body twisted to the side, head down as he searched out something from behind a filing cabinet. She cleared her throat, more nervous than she cared to admit.

The man sat upright and swiveled in his seat. He had a strong chin and an angular jaw, and wore a black patch over his left eye. He gazed at her with his good eye. She could read the flash of recognition that crossed his face as he scooted his chair forward. As a top-tier tennis player, she was used to people knowing who she was. A loud thump sounded from beneath the desk. “Son of a —!” His face reddened as he rolled the chair back, holding his knee.

“Go on, you can say it.” She sympathized with his physical pain. Being a professional athlete meant living with pain on a daily basis. It was the price she paid for her craft.

“No, I can’t.” He released his injured leg and leaned back in the chair, the well-fitting suit hugging his broad shoulders. She caught a glimpse of a tattoo beneath the collar of his white dress shirt, but couldn’t see what it depicted. The flush on his face had died down the slightest bit and he raised a strong brow. “Sorry, can I help you with something?”

“I am here to see Howler.”

“Do you have an appointment?” he asked, his voice low and measured.

“Yes.” She set down her coffee cup, charm bracelet clinking on the glass surface.

He shook his head, lips curving up at the edges. “No, you don’t.”

Damn, this wasn’t going to be as easy as she hoped. Undaunted, she decided to change tactics by channeling her inner diva. Sorcha had been forced to be aggressive both on and off the court, and she’d use that to her advantage. She had no other option. Inhaling, she curled her fingers over the lip of the desktop, pushing her cleavage up for maximum impact.

His gaze fell to where she wanted it to go. Excellent.

“Do I really need one?” she asked, tilting her head and flashing him a flirtatious grin. It wasn’t difficult. He was really attractive.

Eyebrow cocked, he met her stare once more. “Yes, Miss Templeton, you do. If you wish to see Howler, you can email your request for a meeting. Here’s his card.” He handed her a business card, his lean fingers crisscrossed with pale, spidery scars.

Okay, not so excellent. She stiffened and tried to hold back her impatience with this cute but asinine man. He had no idea how desperately she needed this interview. Her entire future depended on the association. “You don’t seem to understand. I need to see Howler. If you tell him that I’m here, I guarantee you he’ll see me.”

Fingers steepled, his mouth spread into a thin-lipped smile. “I understand perfectly. You wanted to see Howler, and when I asked if you had an appointment, you lied. You don’t have an appointment, thus the answer is no.”

What an annoying man. The dull throb in her temples turned into a roar and she ground her teeth, then forced her jaw to relax. Losing her temper wouldn’t help her cause. “I’ve flown in from Dublin to see him. I’m certain when you inform him I’m here, he’ll wish to see me…I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“Leo.” He stood, forcing her to tilt her head even more to keep eye contact. Tall, lean, and fit, he carried an air of self-assurance. He also possessed a stubborn streak; one she recognized all too well.

This wasn’t the first time that someone had tried to get in her way, and she’d learned long ago never to back down from an opponent. Time to land a hard shot and pray he went for it. “Look Leo, I’m know you’re just doing your job, and if you’d like to continue to do your job, I’d recommend that you tell Howler I’m here.”

Her threat amused him, and he leaned close enough for her to see the gold flecks in his irises. “To accomplish such a feat, you’ll need an appointment through his assistant, and somehow, I don’t see that happening.”

A tingle formed in the pit of her stomach at the full impact of his stare, and awareness raced throughout her entire body. Crazy. It had to be jet lag. He was being a dick, and this was too important to back down. “Let me talk to his assistant and we’ll see.”

Heels clicked on the marble entry and he moved aside as a woman came around the desk.

“Thanks for watching the desk, Leo.”

“No problem, Belle.” So, he wasn’t the receptionist, hence the attitude.

“Have you been helped?” Belle asked, smiling at Sorcha.

Perfect timing. Someone new to talk to, and hopefully more reasonable.

Leo ran a hand over his shorn dark hair. “She’s on her way out.”

“No, I wasn’t.” She tried to ignore the infuriating man now standing beside her and addressed Belle. “I need to see Howler’s assistant.”

Belle glanced confusedly between Leo and Sorcha.

Sorcha’s stomach fell and she stifled a groan. She closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds. Holy hell. “You’re his assistant.”

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