Page 76 of Totally Played
“I doubt any of you could do that in tonight’s setting, but sure, how about five percent of the investment amount?”
More than half of them put down their drinks. I lean in close to Ash.
“Is that a lot?”
“My contract with DeVos was for three million.”
“That’s like…one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”
“Not a bad bonus, hey?” Red says, lifting his glass. “Of course, it will be paid out in installments over the course of the contract term.”
“Hey, Red, you hiring?” I joke.
“When you’re done playing ball, come see me.”
Ash releases my hand to wrap his arm over my shoulder.
“I’d love seeing you every day.”
“He isn’t serious,” I say, but Ash laughs.
“Yeah, he is. Red is the most serious guy I know. If you want a job after baseball, he’ll hire you.”
I have a degree in Sports Management, but really never expected I would go into coaching. That’s future Calvin’s problem to deal with. Right now, all I want to do is cuddle up with Ash in the back of this enormous limousine.
***
The drive is over way too fast, but if I thought the limo was fancy, it had nothing on this event. The front of the heritage art gallery where it’s being hosted is lit up in a stunning purple and gold design, and the abstract image moving over the stone surface is a mesmerizing pattern.
“This is nuts,” I say as I clutch Ash’s arm, and he leads me up the front stairs to two waiting doormen. Red is ahead of us and passes them a stack of black cards, our tickets, and we’re counted and ushered inside. The purple and gold theme continues inside. Large gold gates sit open, with faux dark green box hedges guiding us to the main room.
The main room has a stage set at the furthest point from us, and large black-clothed dining tables circling a glistening black dance floor in the middle. Tall centerpieces of floral arrangements with more purple and gold sit on every second table, and on the others, tall glass tubes hold lights submerged in a gold glittery liquid.
We find our seats, and Ash squeezes my thigh.
“You okay?” he asks.
“This is incredible, but…”
“But what?”
“It has to have cost a million dollars, at least to put this on, why not skip all the effort and just donate the money?”
“I used to think the same way, but in addition to the price per plate, the donors coming tonight will probably raise about ten to fifteen times what it cost to put on the event.”
“Seriously? Wow, what charity is this for again?”
“Scholarships at Georgia U. It’s put on about every three years or so, depending on how much they raise.”
“That’s amazing. So who are these big shots we need to schmooze tonight?” I ask, looking over the other arriving guests.
“I’ll let the others talk up Red Tech tonight. I just want to eat amazing food and dance with my boyfriend.”
“I really like it when you call me that,” I say, feeling the warmth swell in my chest at the sound of it.
“This is my amazing boyfriend,” he says much louder, gaining the attention of more than a few people.
“I didn’t say you need to scream it from the rooftops.” I laugh, and he shakes his head.
