Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
My hands squeeze into fists under the table as the pounding in my head gets louder and madder.
“I know what you must be thinking,” Van Morgan says with a hand up. “Why would I, Sebastian Kemp, the best player in the league, come to the Hyenas of all places?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“So, let me make my pitch.”
I cross my arms and glare at him. “You have five minutes.”
He grins. “What does a hyena signify to you?”
“A shit hockey team.”
“I was talking about the animal.”
“I don’t know. A dirty dog that eats scraps.”
“Hyenas are the most cunning of all the animals,” he says as he stares me down. “They may not be as majestic as a lion or as imposing as a gorilla, but they are tough tenacious beasts who work together toward their common goal.”
“Is this an interview for a zoo or for a hockey team?”
Lydia puts her hand on my arm and smiles nervously. “He’s kidding.”
I wasn’t.
“I have a vision for this hockey team,” Van Morgan says in a firm tone. “The Hyenas are going to go from the bottom of the pack to the top. And we’d like you to be a part of that journey.”
I take a deep breath as I stare at him.
“Your team is not a contender,” I tell him bluntly.
“Any team in the league is a contender with you on it,” he answers.
Maybe, but I can’t do it on my own. “Who else do you have?”
“Harris Sutton,” he says. “All-star defender.”
“Yeah, maybe ten years ago,” I say with a laugh. That old veteran is well past his prime. “Anyone else?”
“Nolan Barlowe.”
He grins when he sees the shock on my face. Nolan is by far the best goalie in the league. I didn’t know he signed here. I turn to Lydia in shock. She nods with a knowing smile on her face.
“Edvard Svensson.”
“What?” I whisper as chills ripple down my spine. He’s the best player in Europe, but he always refused to move to America. I don’t know how this billionaire got Svensson to come and join the Hyenas of all teams. There must have been a shit ton of zeroes on that check.
“We also got Austin Gambill in the draft,” he says with a grin. “How would you like to have the number one draft pick lined up beside you? How many goals do you think you’d score with him passing you the puck?”
A record-breaking amount.
I have goosebumps as I sit a little straighter in my chair.
“I know you’ve had problems with teams taking cheap shots at you,” Van Morgan says. “Your current team in Miami has failed to provide you with proper protection. Well, the Hyenas have already signed Tucker McKinstry to be your enforcer.”
My jaw drops. He’s the toughest fucker in the league. I’m not sure if he’s a better boxer or a better hockey player, but I want him on my side for once. A lot of those cheap shots I got over the years were from him and they did not feel good.
Players will think twice about fucking with me if they know that Tucker McKinstry will be unleashed on them if they get out of line.
“And,” Van Morgan says as my heart rate picks up, “to lead the pack, I brought in legendary coach, Finn Moss.”
I’m too stunned to speak. He’s the best coach in the history of the league. He’s retired now, well, he was retired.
“In addition to all of that,” Van Morgan continues, “we have a new state-of-the-art arena nearing completion. We have everything we need to form a new dynasty in the league. All we’re missing is The Sniper.”
My heart is beating so fast. My headache has cleared and I’m feeling lightheaded instead. This is… incredible.
It’s exactly what I want. What I need. A new start. A chance to be great. Truly, truly great.
“And this is what we’d like to offer you.”
Van Morgan slides a piece of paper across the desk. I turn it over and my throat makes a sudden whimpering sound when I see all of the zeroes.
I don’t even want to negotiate. I want to jump onto the table and scream ‘YES!!!’ at the top of my lungs.
“Just one thing,” Van Morgan says as he slides the paper back. “We do have our reservations. We must consider your reputation.”
The excitement in my chest deflates like a sad balloon.
I glance at Lydia. She looks as concerned as I feel. She might have been keeping the fun announcement from me, but she wasn’t keeping this part from me. She’s as in the dark as I am.
“Sebastian Kemp is known as a team player,” Lydia says, jumping to my defense. “He’s a hard worker, a once-in-a-generation athlete, and a goal-scoring machine.”
“No one is debating his accomplishments on the ice,” Van Morgan says. “It’s off the ice that is the problem.”