Page 63 of Love From Left Field (Knights of Passion)

“It was working,” Cole stated through gritted teeth, while everyone else looked away, trying to avoid the train wreck. “Until you came back and messed it up.”

Seamus’s gaze narrowed and he glowered at Cole, who stood his ground. “Be careful. I’m still the owner of this team and I sign your checks.”

Cole subsided and settled back in his seat, the threat effective.

“Maybe you should remain the owner and let the staff do what they’re best at, like other owners.” Lucas said quietly.

Before things got any further out of hand, Miranda smoothly stepped in. “Dad, I think we were on the right track. Any changes take time. Why can’t we go back to what we were doing, try it for another month. We were winning and ticket sales were up. If it doesn’t work, then we’re at the trading deadline and can make some deals.”

“And now we’re losing. Your plan failed. We should stick to what’s worked in the past. It may not have been the best but we did get to the playoffs last year,” Seamus stated firmly.

“We just need more time. Maybe you’re too tied to the past, unable to see the future and change with it.” Lucas stated.

The whole room took a collective gasp but Lucas stood defiant.

The conversation was spiraling out of control. Things were being said that couldn’t be undone. Her head pounded and her stomach roiled from the stress. She clenched her fist and took a deep breath.

Cole unexpectedly stood. “I agree with Lucas. You hired me to manage your team, to bring wins here. I did that. I brought us to the playoffs last year and we had the best start this year. If you keep interfering in how I do my job, maybe I can’t do it here anymore.”

“That can be arranged. You’re in your last year of your contract.”

“Then get rid of me now and be done with it.” A glimmer of fear shone in his eyes but he met Seamus’s stare evenly.

“Don’t tempt me,” Seamus growled.

“Maybe we should table this discussion before things are said that can’t be unsaid,” Lucas interjected, holding a hand up and using a soothing tone, as if realizing too late that the discussion had gone off course into dangerous ground.

“You.” Seamus growled, his words dripping with poison. “You’re the reason my staff has turned on me. My daughter fell for your charms and you created this divide. Maybe it’s time for you to leave.”

Miranda stood, hands on the table, and leaned between the two men, interrupting their staring contest. “We need to stop now. Gentlemen, give us the room please.”

Most exited rapidly, not even looking at them. Cole lingered a few seconds longer, as if he wanted to add something but wasn’t sure what to say.

Miranda gave him a look. “Cole, I’ll stop by after this meeting and we’ll talk.”

Cole nodded and left the room. Lucas pulled out a chair and sat down. Seamus looked ready to explode. Miranda laid a hand on his arm but she looked at Lucas. “Lucas, can we talk later? Please?”

She wasn’t sure he would listen to her. He certainly seemed like he was going to ignore her, locked in a deadly staring contest with her father, both seeking alpha dog position. Seamus had finally pushed Lucas too far and she feared she’d lose both.

She sucked in a deep cleansing breath and let it out. “Please.”

That broke the contest and he glanced at her, his expression thunderous. But he nodded, a quick jerk of the head, and slowly walked out of the room.

“I don’t need you to fight my battles with Wainright.”

Miranda sat next to her father and leaned forward until he was forced to meet her gaze. “I’m not fighting your battles. I’m stopping a pointless argument. We’ve been over this ground a dozen times. You won’t win. He’s going nowhere. Is that why you won’t try anything new? Because Lucas suggested it? I’m here to tell you that I did the research and I made the decision to follow this. And I stand by it.”

“Then you can join Hammonds and Wainright in the unemployment line.” The sentence was stated flatly, combined with a dead calm stare that showed he meant it. “This is my team. They’re run the way I want it run.”

“And what if you have another heart attack or something worse? Dad, you won’t have the team past this season if you don’t start thinking about things differently. You worked hard in your shipping company, looking at new processes, efficiencies that allowed you to make a profit. Why won’t you do that here?”

“Because it’s my team. I control the Knights. Not you. Not Hammonds. And certainly not Wainright. I may not able to control my life or my goddamn heart but I will damn well control my own team.” He fairly roared the last and she fell back in her seat, stunned.

“So this is all about control?” She stood up with a sigh. “I can’t help you with that. But I can tell you this. You’re going to lose it all if you keep going the way you are. And then you’ll be in control of nothing.”

She walked out the door, closing it quietly behind her. Who to deal with first? Cole or Lucas?

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