Fast Break (Brooklyn Monarchs 1)

Gerald shrugged. “Carville mentioned it to me.”

“But you didn’t mention it to me.” She turned back to the investor. “How do you think voters will respond to the levy?”

Carville’s gaze sharpened. His tone was more cautious. “Our initial telephone poll results are mixed. But we’ve got some strong direct marketing and media campaigns that will help educate voters on why the levy is a good idea for the city.”

Jaclyn lifted her pen, rolling it between her index finger and thumb. Her grandfather hadn’t liked the idea of asking a tax-burdened community to pay for his franchise and neither did she. “What will you do if the voters reject the levy?”

Carville shook his head. “I don’t think they will.”

Jaclyn noted Carville’s squared jaw and stubborn chin. The founder of Abbottson Investments had gotten his success through determination, hard work and positive thinking. In this case, Jaclyn didn’t like his thinking.

She continued to roll her pen. “Even if they pass the tax levy in May, it will take at least a year after you break ground to build the arena. Unless we’re able to get an extension on the Empire contract, the Monarchs will be without a home next season.”

Carville looked from Gerald to Jaclyn. “If we’re able to meet agreeable terms, I’m sure we’d work something out for next season. Maybe the Knicks would let us play some games at Madison Square Garden. Or we could play at a couple of nearby arenas.”

Jaclyn would bounce her team between arenas when pigs flew. “That would be too disruptive to the team and our fans.

Carville looked concerned. “It wouldn’t be for more than one season.”

Jaclyn sighed. “Carville, I don’t want to move the Monarchs out of Brooklyn, and I haven’t heard anything in this meeting that would change my mind. Even if we have to move out of the Empire Arena, I want to keep the franchise in Brooklyn.”

Carville shifted his surprised expression to Gerald. “I thought you both wanted to move to Vegas.”

Jaclyn arched a brow at Gerald. “You were misled.”

Carville leaned back in the thick, black-cushioned chair. “I want to bring an NBA team to Las Vegas. Is there a possibility that you’d change your mind about moving the Monarchs?”

Gerald answered. “Anything is possible.”

Jaclyn ignored her partner. “Not even the slightest possibility.”

Car ville got to his feet. “Then I’m sorry I wasted your time, Jackie.”

Jaclyn stood with him, extending her hand. “It wasn’t a waste of time. It was a pleasure meeting you, Carville.”

The executive gave her a silver screen idol smile. “The pleasure was mine. Good luck finding a new home for your team.”

“Thank you.” Jaclyn watched Gerald escort the real estate investor from the conference room.

How was her traitorous partner spinning this setback?

Once they’d disappeared across the threshold, she retrieved her cell phone from her skirt pocket and punched in the speed-dial code for Violet. Her friend and former teammate picked up on the third ring.

Jaclyn sat down again. “Vi, are you still looking for a business challenge?”

“Yes. Why?”

“I may have one for you. When can we get together to talk about it?”

“What’s wrong with them?” DeMarcus studied the way Jamal defended Warrick. The Monarchs were more than an hour into their worst practice of the season.

Oscar Clemente shrugged. “Too tight.”

“Because of Tuesday’s loss in Boston?” Last night’s flight back to Brooklyn after the Celtics game had been tense.

“No.”

After five months—September to February— DeMarcus should have known better than to ask his assistant coach a yes or no question.