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takes every last penny I have, I will get you.”

“Don’t ever make a promise you can’t keep, little man. Now get out, before I forget what a gentlewoman I am and kick your ass from here to the first floor.”

“You’re going to regret this, Lambert! Count on it!!”

“Oh, I’m countin on something alright. Now get the hell outta here. You’re stinking up my space.”

Very soon, the door was closed, leaving Dylan to survey her new empire. Chuckling, she moved to the other side of the desk, sank down into the leather

office chair, and picked up the phone, dialing the number by heart. “Hello, my love,” she purred into the speaker.

“Dylan? Where are you? I expected you home a couple of hours ago! How’d the shoot go!”

“Fine,” she replied, grinning. “Just fine.”

“Then why aren’t you here?”

“Oh,” she said, “just stopped to take care of a little business.”

“What kind of business.” The voice, rife with suspicion, came back over the phone. “Dylan, what did you do?”

Leaning back in the chair, Dylan propped her feet atop the desk. “Well, after our time in the Olympics, I realized that I still loved the game. It made me

realize all over again just what is so special about it to me. And I figured that this league, if it’s gonna have a chance in hell of recapturing that magic, has

to undergo some real changes. So….”

A pregnant silence on the other end of the line.

“I bought the Badgers.”

“You bou…you b…you bought the Badgers?!?”

“Yup. I installed myself as player-owner, with Diana Caulley as head coach. She’s paid her dues, and she deserves this chance to prove herself. I’m willing

to give that to her.”

“Oh. My. God. You fucking bought the Badgers!”

“Sure did. And, you know, I could use a really outstanding point guard who knows how the game should be played and who can set an example for all those

young kids coming up through High School and College.”

“You’re asking me to join you?”

“Well, yeah. But, Cat, it’s called ‘asking’ for a reason. I’ll not force you into anything you don’t want to do. If teaching ball to schoolkids is what fulfills you

and makes you happy, then you have my full love and support. I did this for us, and for those kids out there who need to know that there’s someone other

than the Horace Johnsons out there who just want to make a buck, no matter how. But you can do the exact same thing by teaching those kids when

they’re young and just beginning to dream of making it to this level. The choice is yours.”

Cat thought about that for a moment. She remembered the look of absolute joy on her mother’s face when she told her she’d been considering taking the

coaching spot at St. Catherine’s. The woman almost broke down and wept, for goodness’ sake!

But she couldn’t hide the fact that her time in the Olympics brought that competitive spark back so strong that it was with her still, many months after the

event had ended. She was honest enough to admit to herself that what would truly fulfill her, profession-wise at least—was another shot at playing at the

professional level. There would still be gobs of schoolgirls waiting for her wisdom once she retired from the game. She had too much to do and to learn

first, though. Another thought popped into her head. “What…what if I decided to accept an offer from another team?”

“Well, of course I’d be disappointed, Cat, but I’ve always told you to do what makes you happy. An unhappy Cat makes for an unhappy Dylan, and I really

don’t want it to be that way.”

“Well, I’d be happiest playing for you. I know that. But there’d be talk.”

“Screw the talk. I’ve been given carte blanche to clean this league up, and that’s what I intend to do. People either get their heads out of their asses and

watch the game for what it’s supposed to represent…entertainment…or they can go find another hobby. No more politics. No more bullshit. A good league,

run a good way, and we might just have something.” She fiddled with one of Horace’s pens. “So, you just think about things, Cat. Have Haley represent you

at contract signing, no matter who you decide to play for. You won’t get a penny more or a penny less than what you deserve.”

There was only a moment of silence before Cat came back on the line. “There’s really no choice for me, Dylan. Loyalty means something to me. And you’ve

always told me to follow my heart. My heart, Ms. Pallas Dylan Lambert, is with you. I’d come back to the Badgers even if you put me on the lowest rookie

salary on the books.”

Dylan laughed. “I don’t think there’s a chance in hell of that happening, love.” She looked around the office once again. “So, why don’t you throw on some

clothes and meet me up here. I think I can promise you an evening to remember.”

“I’ll be holding you to that.”

“Good. Now hurry up.”

Cat laughed. “I love you, Dylan. With all my heart.”

“And I love you, Catherine. Forever.”

The End