Page 39 of Downforce

“Can’t have that.” She digs into her bowl, devouring the salty, starchy noodles covered in an amazing broth. I know the conversation isn’t over, though. That was just Jen’s opening. She hasn’t gotten as far as a woman in a predominantly male dominated field by taking no for an answer the first time she asks.

We keep the conversation light, talking about the upcoming Grand Prix, which Jen will be able to attend on Sunday with the tickets I got her.

“You’re going to be busy over the next few days, huh?” she asks, spooning some of the matcha ice cream we’ve ordered into her mouth.

I nod as the spoonful of ice cream I’ve eaten slowly melts on my tongue before I swallow.

“Fine, then I guess I have to make my pitch now.”

I sigh. “I thought this was a casual dinner between friends.”

Jen hums. “It is, and it’s a potential job opportunity for you.” She points with her pale pink painted nail.

“I have a job.”

Frowning, she lifts a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Are you really happy working as your brother’s assistant?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask, sounding more defensive than I intended.

She shrugs, unperturbed. “Because you didn’t go to law school to be an assistant.” She quickly holds up her hands. “You know I don’t mean that as an insult. We need assistants. Hell, I would’ve never made it onto my plane without mine.

“This reservation would’ve never been made, and my clients would be with someone else. My point is, you can use all of those great executive function skills you have and your stellar legal and negotiating skills along with your love of sports to be a fantastic agent.”

My brain immediately conjures up all of the reasons I would make a terrible sports’ agent with her firm.

“You’re laying it on thick tonight,” I say instead.

“And you’re avoiding something.”

I shake my head. “Have you forgotten that I don’t even like baseball?”

Her frown deepens. “Baseball isn’t your favorite sport, no,” she admits. “But you’d still be a great negotiator on behalf of your clients.” She folds her arms and leans into the table. “I still remember the way you went to bat for our client, Stephens, while you were still an intern.”

That incident took place the second summer I interned with the firm and was ultimately what led to me receiving an offer for a full-time position once I completed my degree.

“That was a long time ago.”

“Which means you’ve only gotten better with age.”

I chuckle before sobering up.

“I can’t leave Travis in the lurch like that. He’s in his first year of marriage and fatherhood, and at the top of a new season to defend his championship title. It’d be shitty of me to quit right now.”

Using my brother’s needs is taking the coward’s way out, but Jen knows how loyal I am when it comes to family. She backs off.

Mildly.

“Give it some thought,” she says, because no great negotiator ever ends on a ‘no’ as the last word.

“I’ll do that,” I lie.

“Who knows,” she says, as we separate from our hug just outside of the restaurant, “I could be persuaded to expand my agency beyond baseball.”

“To what sport?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Motorsports?” She winks.

I roll my eyes, not to dismiss her words, but to suppress the excitement that sparks inside of the pit of my stomach.