Play Action Pass
Gina Ardito
Published by Gina Ardito, 2020.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
PLAY ACTION PASS
First edition. September 16, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Gina Ardito.
Written by Gina Ardito.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
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About the Author
DEDICATION
For all the parents who've sat on the field in blazing heat, driving rain, and blustery temperatures to cheer on your personal sports legend.
Chapter 1
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Jordan Fawcett stared at his boss standing a few feet from the other side of his desk and silently willed her to break into a grin that would let him in on the joke.
Susan Harwich didn’t flinch. She kept her expression solemn, folded her arms over her chest, and replied, “I’m afraid not. The selling agent’s adamant. According to the Loughlin Building’s current owner, right of first refusal for the place has to go to the Delgado Foundation. Rumor has it they’re looking for a new site for their downtown school, and I guess someone on the board over there thinks their property might be perfect. The good news is, if we get Cameron Delgado to bite, they’ll pay us double our standard commission. If not, we still get the listing. But we can’t entertain any other offers or even show it to anyone else until Delgado turns it down. And I want you to convince her to buy it. Not pass, not think about it. Sign-on-the-dotted-line-buy-it.”
He studied the glossy photo paperclipped to the top of the manila folder, and his stomach fumbled. “You know I wanted to lease that space.”
“Yes, but Delgado can afford to buy it outright. Susan’s Rule Number One in the corporate real estate business: A sale from a wealthy, established client is always better than a lease offer from a brand new business venture with no track record. No offense.”
“None taken.” Only because he didn’t have a choice.
Jordan ran a finger over the image of the two-story red brick façade, which contained decoratively arched windows framed by stacked bricks duplicating that same shape into the building itself in three-dimension. Very late nineteenth century architecture, he surmised, with a gothic flair. Fancy and old-world charming at the same time.
A narrow alley on the right, covered by a red-and-black striped awning, led to a leafy courtyard in the rear. On the cover of the folder, details written in fine point marker, a Susan habit, listed such perks as eleven-thousand-square-feet of interior space; tall ceilings with exposures on the north, south, and west; two dozen available parking spaces; and a corner location. Not that he needed the details. He’d practically memorized them from the moment the listing came into the office.
He could see Cam wanting this site, if she was, indeed, on the lookout for a new property. It had the right look, the right location, the right feel to it. Which were all the reasons he’d wanted it for him and Marcus.
“Double commission, Jordan,” Susan prompted when he didn’t speak again.
The asking price was mid-seven figures. Normally, for double commission, he’d sell an igloo to the devil. But there wasn’t enough money in the world to get him involved with Cameron Delgado again. His days of reaching for the stars were long gone. Now, all he wanted was the rehab center he and Marcus planned to open. If he wasn’t going to get the building they wanted for their first location, he could live with that. But he couldn’t stand by and watch—no, help—Cam swoop in to steal it out from under him—all because she had the business-slash-financial clout and connections he didn’t have the good fortune to be born with.
He picked up the folder and thrust it toward Susan. “I’ve already got a full roster with the condos down by Hudson Yards. Tell Michaela to handle this. Or you do it. Use that old ‘It’s tough to be a woman in a man’s field’ shtick you played on Tanya Lowell two months ago.” No way in hell Cam would fall for it, but that could only work in his favor.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Susan retorted with an exaggerated eye roll. “Susan’s Rule Number Two: never use the same shtick twice.”
“Then try another.”
“I plan to,” she said with a smirk. “That’s why I’m assigning this sale to you.”
He shook his head and waved the folder to get her to take it. She didn’t budge. With an air of defeat, he sighed. “Don’t ask me to do this, Susan.”
“I’m sorry, but you’re our best shot. No one here knows her like you do. You dated her. You played on her father’s old football team. Either one of those facts on its own would make you perfect to handle this deal. Having both on your resume means you’re the one person working here who has insight into Duke Delgado’s daughter and the foundation—an ‘in’ the rest of us will never have. Therefore, you’re the one who’s going to make this happen.”
Picking up his staple remover, he gave her a caustic laugh. “Now I know you’re kidding. I dated Cameron years ago, and we didn’t exactly part on the best of terms.” While he listed off his reasons not to get involved with this deal, he squeezed the remover between his fingers like a stress ball. “As for the football team, I allowed myself to be traded off the Vanguard, and she saw my move as the ultimate betrayal. After that happened, I was dead to her—literally. Hell, she didn’t even bother to send a note when I broke my back. A total stranger would have a better ‘in’ than I would.”
“Then you’ll have to apologize to soften her up.” She wagged a finger. “And don’t even think about sabotaging this deal so you can lease the site for yourself. If I hear one whisper that you didn’t give this opportunity a
