Page 89 of Wild Desire

When I came into the conference room flanked by my attorney, Jeremy stood up, surprise etched on his face. "What's this about?"

"We need to talk."

Jeremy shook my attorney's hand, then said to me, "I don't understand. Why do you need your attorney to talk to me?"

I sat at the head of the table, my attorney to my right. "I don't like how my career is being handled."

"Why haven't you ever said anything before?" Jeremy asked carefully as he resumed his seat.

"I was focused on training, racing."

Jeremy inclined his head. "That's what you should be focused on. I handle everything else."

"I want to be more involved in the trajectory of my career. From now on, I set my schedule?—"

Jeremy's eyes widened as he pulled up the electronic calendar on his phone that was covered in different colors for practices, trainings, meetings, interviews, and the list went on. "But I already have your schedule set."

I waved a hand at the screen. "That's not working for me anymore. There isn't room for me to breathe or just relax."

Jeremy's shoulders tensed as he leaned his elbows on the table. "We can make some adjustments?—"

"I'll be making the schedule. It will be based on my optimal training times, sleep schedule, and nutrition requirements."

"I'm looking out for your best interests, Kill. I don't understand where this is coming from."

I cringed at his use of my racing name. "You can't possibly know when the best time is for me to train. When I'm the sharpest and most focused."

"Sure, I do."

I tilted my head to the side. "How can that be when you've never talked to me about it?"

That seemed to stump him because he didn't respond.

"My calendar is so full; I don't have time to get adequate sleep. I don't have any downtime to rest, and I never see my family." My jaw ticked with frustration.

"You never cared before?—"

I let out a breath. "And that was on me, but I think there's a better way for me to live, and making these changes is going to make me a better athlete. You have me going all hours of the day, and I'm not young anymore. I have to be more aware of what my body and mind need in the moment." I moved the piece of paper with my new schedule in front of him.

"But what about publicity events?"

"Sponsors can contact me, and I'll let them know when the best time to meet with me is."

"I usually handle that so you can focus on what you do best—racing." His gaze shifted from me to my lawyer, Jason.

"I want more control, and if you don't give it to me, I'm letting you go." I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but I suspected it might.

His shoulders lowered. "I can't believe this."

"I'm sure there are plenty of up-and-comers that are willing to work like that." I threw a finger in the direction of his phone. "I'm not doing that anymore. It's not healthy, and it's not helping me win races."

He ran a hand through his gelled hair. "This is crazy."

"You can make these changes, or we can terminate our contract."

Jason leaned forward. "There's a clause that allows for a termination when the contract is no longer in Killian's best interest."

Jeremy's eyes flared with the realization that I was playing hardball. I wasn't backing down.

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