Page 14 of Game Plan
Personal relationships?
Wait, since when could a sponsor end a contract withherbased on who she may or may not have a personal relationship with?
She was sure she’d read this clause before, but this time it just landed a little differently with her. Given the amount of time she’d spent daydreaming about Jade, maybe that was why this clause was holding more weight today. She needed to double-check.
“What’s this Lifestyle clause about?” April asked her dad, trying to keep her voice as calm as she possibly could, while spiraling out of control on the inside.
“What?” Her dad asked, looking up at her for the first time since she entered the office.
“The lifestyle clause? Something about it being null-and-void if my personal relationships reflect badly on the brand?” April handed the paperwork to her dad and pointed to the section she was talking about.
“Oh, that’s just standard. It’s been in all of your other sponsorship contracts. They just don’t want you to associate with the wrong kind of people and be seen out in public with those people while promoting their brand. It’s nothing to worry about; you don’t hang around with the wrong kind of people. There is nothing questionable about the image and behavior that is projected about you online or in person. You’re not likely to cause offense or ruffle feathers with any target market out there. You’ve got one of the best images of any professional athlete past or present. Trust me. I should know, I’ve spent enough timeand money ensuring it’s been carefully curated over the years.” Roland didn’t look up as he handed the paperwork back to April.
April knew that being a professional,anything,meant that she herself was a brand. She was more than aware that her every move, both on and off the court, was under great scrutiny by more than just her dad. She acknowledged years ago that following this route meant all of her actions, and her words were under the microscope of the media. Now, more so than ever. What she hadn’t expected though was that the actions and words of those she associated with were equally as important to her image.
Wait, did that mean, that if her nightly pleading and begging with any higher power that may exist were to come through, and she managed to see Jade again, that it could potentially impact her chances with future sponsorships?
That gave her far more to think about than simply signing her name on the dotted line like she usually did. Either way, if this clause existed in her other sponsorship deals which she had signed, could she potentially lose them by coming out?
April didn’t know what else to do but sign the contract and leave the office to go back to her room. She had no one to talk this through with. Nobody else knew the reason for her concern over the impact or potential fallout of this clause coming into effect with her multiple sponsors.
No, that was a lie. She had someone. The only person she actuallywantedto talk this through with. She just didn’t know how to find Jade.
Chapter 13
Jade
Jade opened the door to her loft apartment and welcomed her future sister-in-law inside. Cleo would be arriving a little later, but that suited Jade fine. She had something to ask Ivy without her big sister there to offer her own opinion. Not yet anyway.
She closed the door behind Ivy, and they made their way over to the soft leather couch that sat under the stairs to her bedroom on the mezzanine.
“How’s things going at the coffee shop?” Jade asked Ivy as they both turned slightly to face each other.
“It’s going great! Did Cleo tell you Lucas is thinking about opening a new drive-through model over by the airport?” Ivy asked, face alight with excitement.
“Seriously? That’s huge!” Jade grinned. Ivy and her best friend, Lucas, shared ownership of the flagship store for his multi-franchise coffee company. They had worked together to build it from the ground up over the past decade, from a simple coffee cart to now multiple locations across the city.
“I know, right?! I mean, obviously it’ll take a lot of work and planning before he even approaches the banks, but I think it’s a great idea. I hope I’ll be as hands-on with creating that model as I was with the shops,” Ivy said, hope and excitement emanating from every cell.
“That’s great, Ivy, I hope it all works out for you both. Especially since you’re going to be busy with wedding planning at the same time.” Jade started. “You know as well as I do that Cleo’s going to have you making most of the decisions about the wedding because she’ll overthink everything and nothing will get done. I love my sister, but sometimes she needs to just relax a little and enjoy life, you know?!” Jade smirked at Ivy, who raised an eyebrow in agreement while she motioned zipping her mouth closed and locking it with a key.
Jade laughed, encouraging Ivy to do the same.
“Actually, Ivy, before Cleo arrives, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something? It’s kind of personal.” Jade picked at a thread on her torn jeans absentmindedly.
“Of course, whatever you need.” Ivy leaned over and rested her hand on top of Jade’s to help settle her.
“You saw Cleo for a long time before you spoke to her. What was it, three years?” Jade looked up. Ivy blushed slightly but smiled and nodded, encouraging Jade to continue. “How did you go that long with only her in your mind, not knowing a single thing about her other than what she looked like?”
“Well, it wasn’t that I only knew what she looked like. I don’t know how much she’s told you about that time, but what caught my eye was her reaction to a video chat she had with Sophie.” Ivy smiled with a distant look in her eye, as if she was re-living the moment again in her head. “Her whole face lit up, and it was so full of love for whoever it was she was talking to. I knew from that reaction she had to be a good person, with a huge heart, and that I wanted to find someone out there who would look at me that way. Then, over time, I realized that any other woman I looked at I was comparing to her. That’s when I realized that it washerthat I wanted to look at me like that.”
“Wow, I never heard you talk about the details. I just knew it was three years between you seeing her before you crashed into each other and finally started talking.” Jade laughed, then slowly exhaled.
“I’m guessing you may have your own mystery woman, going by that look on your face?” Ivy asked gently.
“Something like that. She’s a different kind of mystery from what Cleo was to you though.” Jade turned her body to completely face Ivy, bending her knee and tucking her foot under herself. “We met five weeks ago at a bar when I was out with Emily. Her name is April, and she’sincredible. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized I forgot to give her my number, or get hers for that matter, and I’ve not been able to get in touch with her ever since.”
“Oh Jade, that’s great that you’ve met someone who clearly had such an impact on you! I’m sorry about not being able to get in touch with her though. Have you tried checking the socials?” Ivy suggested hopefully.
