Page 66 of Love From Left Field (Knights of Passion)

Roger would love to send him back to the Knights as president. He was a known entity and a reasonable man, not likely to rock the boat. But there was no way he could accept a position with the Knights after this. Miranda would never forgive him and the staff would never work with him, thinking he betrayed them all.

Damn, Roger had Lucas tied up neatly. He had to talk to Miranda before talking to the commissioner. Before he could leave the office, the phone rang.

Roger Martinelli.

Damn. Well, maybe the timing worked. He could tell Roger his decision and then talk to Miranda.

“Hey, Roger. I was going to call you later today.”

“Things are going better than I could have hoped for, Lucas. Nice job!”

Lucas winced at the booming voice. “Glad to hear you’re in a good mood.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? You have a solid team yet just enough dysfunction to put them in financial risk, ripe for a sale.” Roger either deliberately missed the sarcasm or was too happy to hear it.

Lucas sat down heavily in his chair. “Roger, I don’t think you understand. I had nothing to do with this.”

“Even better! No one will ever know. Now, the sale probably can’t happen until the off-season. Too much to happen but next year, you could be the president of the Knights, like your father wanted.”

“They could still turn it around,” Lucas argued even as he knew the truth. “I’m not recommending a sale yet.”

“Not the way they’re acting right now. To be honest, if they had stayed the course that you laid out, they could have done it. But Callahan is too stubborn to listen to anyone else. You know I’m right. Wouldn’t your father have wanted you to save his team?”

Roger’s tone took on a persuasive tone, appealing to one emotion Lucas couldn’t deny, the one motivation that still drove him today. To be fair, he was tired of fighting the battle and was beginning to think Roger was right. Saving the Knights might come down to one thing.

“Miranda made the changes; I just advised.” He fought against himself, but it was a losing battle.

“That’s why they want you for the job. These investors know you can save the Knights. It’s a very generous offer. Consider it?”

Lucas sighed. “Maybe I should. Damn, I hate to do this to them but a sale might be the only way to save the Knights. I’d rather take over the team as president myself than let Seamus destroy it.”

A noise made him look up. Miranda stood in the doorway looking stricken. She turned and bolted from his office.

“Shit, Roger, I have to go. I’ll call you later.” He hung up and raced out after her, catching up at the elevators.

She was pushing the button and cursing, tears in her eyes. “Damn this elevator.”

“Miranda. How much did you hear?”

She froze and turned to him. “Is it true? Were you offered the presidency of the Knights if there was a sale?”

“Yes, but it’s not like that. You have to believe me.” He reached for her but she shrank back against the wall, shaking her head.

“I trusted you. I defended you. I said you were honorable, would never betray us or use us for your own revenge. Well, I guess the joke’s on me. Stupid, naive Miranda. Maybe I’m not tough enough for this job. I believed you when you said you loved me. Was that a lie, too?”

“No, Miranda. I love you.” He gripped her upper arms, willing her to look him in the eyes. “This was all Roger’s plan, not mine.”

“You deny ever wanting to take back the team? Be in that corner office, like your father?” She paused and, when he said nothing, laughed bitterly. “So it is true.”

“Yes, it’s true. The Knights were my legacy. My father wanted me to take over, only I rejected him. He got sick and sold the team, the one thing he loved more than anything else. It killed him the let the team go. I wanted the team back for him but not like this. Never like this.”

The elevator doors opened. She pulled free and he stepped back, letting her go. “How can I believe you? I think it’s time you left, went back to Chicago or whatever hole in the ground you came from. We’ll save our team without you. Good bye, Lucas.”

She stepped into the elevator and the doors closed on his future.

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