Page 37 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
Stu continued, “Chet keeps trying to convince Bunty you’re still his client. He’s trying to fuck things up with your sponsors. You might need a restraining order.”
“Given the threatening texts he’s sent me, maybe. What if we can’t do this with the Knights? I mean, they didn’t want me, anyway. Why give me a pack contract?” My shoulders slumped as feelings of worthlessness coursed through me.
Dean squeezed my hand, sending love through the bond.
“According to Bunty, they wanted you. But the demands were ridiculous, so he turned them down. The second, third, and fourth, too.” Stu leaned forward on his desk, entwining his fingers.
My mind reeled as I took this in. “What? They never said they’d only take me if I won the Hurricanes the title?”
“He said it, sort of. It was a joke in the sense that it would be much easier to justify your salary demands if you won the championship. In actuality, he was trying to get you to go down in your asking,” Stu told me.
“I don’t remember what I was asking, but I’m pretty sure it was standard. Shouldn’t Chet have told me if it was too much?” My eyebrows knitted.
“Chet’s been lying to you.” Stu’s look grew grim. “He was the one that told you that the Knights never meant it seriously and only signed you because it made the news?”
“Yeah, and why I’m being paid less than I was on the Hurricanes.” My chest clenched.
“Are you saying Grif could have been a Knight years earlier, but Chet was making extreme salary demands Grif never asked for?” Jonas squeezed my shoulder.
Stu nodded. “Precisely. That’s also why you don’t have many sponsors. He asks too much or for strange things, giving you a reputation of being hard to work with.”
“Fuck. I could have what?” My heart split in half. Those last two years had been so hard.
Dean sent more love through the bond. “You’re a Knight now. And you have a championship ring.”
But I couldn’t get that timeback.
“So, the team wanted me. And there was no hesitation. They didn’t take me only because I went public with why I was winning?” It grew hard to breathe. Chetrobbedme of time I could have been with my pack.
Jonas took my hand. “We’re right here.”
“It surprised the shit out of Bunty when you did that because he’d forgotten he said it. He loved the PR spin on it. You’re a solid player. It came down to cost,” he explained. Teams had player budgets and got fined if they went over.
“Then why was there so much pressure on him at the beginning of the season, to beFinals Grifevery game?” Dean frowned at Stu.
“Hockey is a business.” Stu shrugged. “They want a return on their investment. There’s always been some hesitation because you’re a beta enforcer. That’s pure designation bias, considering you get the job done. Everything’s fine now. Bunty’s happy with you.”
“I’m glad. But why would Chet do that?” I raked my hair with my hand. “I don’t understand.” It seemed counterproductive.
Stu exhaled heavily. “That boy’s not right. Like when he fucked up a trade for a client, and the client dropped him, then sued for damages. When asked, Chet saidI felt like it.It’s no secret that his dad does a lot of cleaning up for him. Chet started his own agency because he got kicked out of the one he worked for and the other big firms didn’t want him. Not that it worked out. It’s now just himself. He doesn’t even have an office anymore. He works out of the home his wife owns.”
Chet had awife?Also, he’d told me he was branching out on his own because it was best for his clients. Not because he’d gotten fired.
“That’s insane,” Dean breathed. “I’m glad you got out.”
“Me, too.” This sounded wild.
Stu pushed a tablet across the desk to me. “This is the contract that you signed with the Knights thatBuntysent me. Which differs from the one you gave me.”
“Oh fuck,” Dean breathed, as we looked at it. Especially the amount I was supposed to be paid.
“I don’t understand. The team is paying me one amount, but I think I’m getting another? Wouldn’t I notice?” I frowned as I looked at the very generous figure.
“How are you getting paid?” Stu asked.
“The same way as always, through the account Chet had me set up years ago. I got a good account because of his family’s connection… oh shit. He must have done something.” All I could do was stare at the figure.
They were paying me how much? Now, the pressure at the beginning of the season made a lot more sense.
