the All-Star break.”
“What does that mean for us?” She asked.
He heaved a sigh. “It could mean a sale of the team or bankruptcy.”
She relaxed in her chair fractionally. “Well, I don’t accept those options. Let me offer you a deal.”
“I don’t need to make a deal. I’m not the one in trouble.”
“Nevertheless, I’d like you to hold off on any recommendations about a sale, pending some conditions.”
He arched an eyebrow, expression clearly one of patronizing her. “Fine, what did you have in mind?”
“Our first payment isn’t due until the All-Star break. Until then, it’s business as usual. I just want you to give me that time.”
He let out a booming laugh. “You’ve seen the same reports I have. Unless you have an investor waiting in the wings to provide an infusion of cash, or you have ticket sales you haven’t told me about, there’s no way you can make the payment. And frankly, your team’s prospects for a winning season are pretty grim, so I doubt you’ll see an uptick in attendance. A sale takes time to set up. I’d recommend looking for a buyer. You’re on borrowed time already.”
She stiffened. “Well, then we have nothing to lose. Will you work with me on this?”
“You really want to do this?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
She studied him for a long moment, hearing the doubt in his voice. His condition made sense. Her father didn’t want to change anything, even in the face of evidence that they needed to do things differently. She, better than anyone, had seen that when she tried to streamline processes and make the operations more efficient. They had saved money but he barely glanced at her improvements. Only the team mattered. That was their product and her biggest challenge.
“I’ll consider your advice and include you on all discussions. I make the final decision. You can’t stop me from making changes or not.” She leaned forward. “What else do you want? I make the payment by the All-Star break and the Knights have a winning record, with an uptick in ticket sales. Say ten percent.”
Now he laughed. “You really think you can do that? You don’t have the time to make any significant changes that will actually do anything for you.”
She responded with a stone face. “I don’t have a choice. Do we have a deal?”
He leaned back in his chair and studied her for a long moment. She resisted the urge to squirm under his perusal and instead met his gaze straight on, no wavering. There was one thing her father taught her—how to bluff and never show weakness, especially in a negotiation. And this was a life or death situation. She couldn’t risk that. She’d do whatever it took to keep the team going.
Finally, he nodded. “Fine. If you think you can do it, I agree. But I have a couple more conditions.”
She gritted her teeth again but kept the smile in place. “Name them.”
“I’m involved in all discussions about the team. If I hear of any plan that could jeopardize the financial situation, I can veto it. Two, you and I meet twice a week for a review of the status.”
“So, you want to be a babysitter? I’m perfectly capable of handling this on my own. I can call you with any updates.”
He stood and leaned over the desk. “I’m staying right here, princess. We’ll meet in person. And I’m not babysitting you. I’m watching out for our investment. Take it or leave it.”
She smiled and lowered her eyes, opting for a little pageant charm. “Fine. You have a deal. I hope you’ll work with us. I could use your advice.”
He settled back on his heels and a considering look entered his eyes, as if suspicious of her statements. “For now, we have a deal. Shake on it?” He held out his hand.
She stood and grasped it firmly, praying it wouldn’t quiver. “Deal.”
He released her and turned to leave. “I’ll have Maggie set up regular meetings for us.”
“Wait,” she called out. “I have one more
“What does that mean for us?” She asked.
He heaved a sigh. “It could mean a sale of the team or bankruptcy.”
She relaxed in her chair fractionally. “Well, I don’t accept those options. Let me offer you a deal.”
“I don’t need to make a deal. I’m not the one in trouble.”
“Nevertheless, I’d like you to hold off on any recommendations about a sale, pending some conditions.”
He arched an eyebrow, expression clearly one of patronizing her. “Fine, what did you have in mind?”
“Our first payment isn’t due until the All-Star break. Until then, it’s business as usual. I just want you to give me that time.”
He let out a booming laugh. “You’ve seen the same reports I have. Unless you have an investor waiting in the wings to provide an infusion of cash, or you have ticket sales you haven’t told me about, there’s no way you can make the payment. And frankly, your team’s prospects for a winning season are pretty grim, so I doubt you’ll see an uptick in attendance. A sale takes time to set up. I’d recommend looking for a buyer. You’re on borrowed time already.”
She stiffened. “Well, then we have nothing to lose. Will you work with me on this?”
“You really want to do this?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
She studied him for a long moment, hearing the doubt in his voice. His condition made sense. Her father didn’t want to change anything, even in the face of evidence that they needed to do things differently. She, better than anyone, had seen that when she tried to streamline processes and make the operations more efficient. They had saved money but he barely glanced at her improvements. Only the team mattered. That was their product and her biggest challenge.
“I’ll consider your advice and include you on all discussions. I make the final decision. You can’t stop me from making changes or not.” She leaned forward. “What else do you want? I make the payment by the All-Star break and the Knights have a winning record, with an uptick in ticket sales. Say ten percent.”
Now he laughed. “You really think you can do that? You don’t have the time to make any significant changes that will actually do anything for you.”
She responded with a stone face. “I don’t have a choice. Do we have a deal?”
He leaned back in his chair and studied her for a long moment. She resisted the urge to squirm under his perusal and instead met his gaze straight on, no wavering. There was one thing her father taught her—how to bluff and never show weakness, especially in a negotiation. And this was a life or death situation. She couldn’t risk that. She’d do whatever it took to keep the team going.
Finally, he nodded. “Fine. If you think you can do it, I agree. But I have a couple more conditions.”
She gritted her teeth again but kept the smile in place. “Name them.”
“I’m involved in all discussions about the team. If I hear of any plan that could jeopardize the financial situation, I can veto it. Two, you and I meet twice a week for a review of the status.”
“So, you want to be a babysitter? I’m perfectly capable of handling this on my own. I can call you with any updates.”
He stood and leaned over the desk. “I’m staying right here, princess. We’ll meet in person. And I’m not babysitting you. I’m watching out for our investment. Take it or leave it.”
She smiled and lowered her eyes, opting for a little pageant charm. “Fine. You have a deal. I hope you’ll work with us. I could use your advice.”
He settled back on his heels and a considering look entered his eyes, as if suspicious of her statements. “For now, we have a deal. Shake on it?” He held out his hand.
She stood and grasped it firmly, praying it wouldn’t quiver. “Deal.”
He released her and turned to leave. “I’ll have Maggie set up regular meetings for us.”
“Wait,” she called out. “I have one more
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