Fast Break by Regina Hart Read Free Book Online

over.”
    Gerald shook his head. “We’re just asking you not to win. Not this season.”
    â€œWhen I accepted your offer, I wasn’t handing over my integrity.” DeMarcus stood. “I quit.”
    Gerald raised his chin to maintain eye contact with DeMarcus. “You can’t quit. We have a contract.”
    â€œMy lawyers will shred your contract.”
    Gerald popped out of his chair. “That contract is airtight.”
    â€œYou misrepresented your intent.” DeMarcus laughed without humor. “You don’t want to go public with that when you’re looking for a new market. You won’t come across as trustworthy.”
    â€œHow will you come across once the media reports that you couldn’t keep the coaching job for even a week?”
    DeMarcus remembered the reason he’d wanted to coach the Monarchs. “My integrity is more important than what the media thinks.”
    â€œDammit. We just need one more losing season. You can win next year.”
    DeMarcus pinched the bridge of his nose. “You don’t have any idea what it takes to be a champion. A champion doesn’t take a season off. Ever.”
    â€œI thought you wanted to coach.”
    â€œYou don’t want a coach. You want a stooge. I’m not anyone’s stooge.” He ignored the partner’s demands and turned to leave.
    DeMarcus strode into the main office area. The two administrative assistants regarded him with open curiosity. Two doors to the right, Troy stepped from his office. DeMarcus exchanged a long look with him before marching down the hall.
    â€œMarc.”
    DeMarcus couldn’t hear Troy’s footsteps on the plush, wall-to-wall silver carpet behind him, but the other man’s voice sounded close. He didn’t stop until he came to the elevators.
    â€œThe rumors are true?”
    DeMarcus looked over his shoulder at Troy. “Yes.”
    The elevators arrived. Troy stepped on with him. “Are you really going to quit?”
    â€œI already have.” DeMarcus ignored the sudden silence surrounding him and watched the elevator’s liquid crystal display count down the floors. He didn’t know why the media executive was following him around the arena to his office. He didn’t care.
    DeMarcus strode to his desk and punched the keys to log back on to the system.
    Troy finally spoke. “You should talk to Jackie.”
    â€œWe talked yesterday.” He should have listened to her. She’d told him Gerald and Albert weren’t trustworthy.
    DeMarcus selected the word-processing program and typed a short, curt resignation letter. Two more mouse clicks and he sent the document to the printer.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter if you don’t have Gerry or Bert’s support as long as Jackie’s on your side.”
    â€œShe’s not.” DeMarcus went through the process of shutting down programs that were running on his computer.
    â€œWhat makes you think that?”
    â€œShe asked for my resignation.”
    â€œWhat? When?” Troy seemed as baffled as DeMarcus was angry.
    â€œYesterday.” DeMarcus switched to his Microsoft Outlook program. He checked his Calendar schedule and scanned his e-mails. He forwarded his messages to other coaches to handle and canceled meetings he’d scheduled for the day. He didn’t bother with explanations. He didn’t have the time or the patience to make them.
    â€œYou should call her. Tell her what Gerry told you.”
    â€œShe already knows.” DeMarcus stood. “I can’t dig this team out of the league’s basement without management’s support, and I don’t have that. Two of your three partners don’t want me to win, and the third one doesn’t think I can.”
    DeMarcus gathered the few belongings he’d brought to what used to be his office. He shoved his stopwatch into the front pocket of his dark gray warm-up pants. He placed