Love on the Run Read Online Free PDF Page B

secure a long-term career in this arena was not to play a game, but rather to manage those who played each of them best. I started managing my college classmates’ careers, securing promotional opportunities and endorsement deals. Some turned pro: football, basketball, a few tennis buddies, and a couple baseball stars. Before you know it I had a reputation and my own company.”
    â€œHow old were you when you formed your company?”
    â€œTwenty-three.”
    â€œWow. A bit young for such mature decisions.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure of myself when I know what I want.”
    A frozen moment. Looks exchanged. And again. The heat.
    â€œYou were lucky to know your path so early.” Aside from being successful in track, Shayna had no idea what she wanted her life to look like.
    â€œI didn’t always know,” Michael explained, finally reaching for his spoon and scooping up a bite of the decadent gelato. “During college, my goal was to become a tennis star. I’m a huge fan of all sports, but tennis is still my favorite.”
    â€œYou went to that other school, right?”
    Michael chuckled at Shayna’s reference to USC’s rival, UCLA. “You mean the better school?”
    â€œHere we go,” Shayna intoned with a roll of the eyes. “Looks like I’m going to have to school you on some things.”
    â€œYou know what they say. Don’t start none, won’t be none.” He took another bite of the dessert. “Yeah, Big O did it again.” After swallowing the substance that melted in his mouth, he agreed with Shayna. “This stuff is righteous.”
    â€œSo if you were so focused on playing, how did you go from wanting to be a tennis star to managing people like me?”
    â€œInjury in my junior year, at the same time a high-powered agent was talking to me about financial opportunities once I turned pro. He used to represent all the greats in basketball, football, baseball, you name it. The more he talked, the more I began thinking about a career doing what he did instead of what had me limping. At that time he’d already been in the business twenty years, much longer than I’d be able to reign on the court.”
    This was news to Shayna. Michael struck her as an invincible god who hadn’t a care in the world and always got what he wanted. Unlike her, for whom “life had been no crystal stair.” She’d read up on his background and didn’t remember seeing anything about an injury. “I don’t think I’ve ever read anything about your being hurt.”
    â€œThat was by the design of that high-powered agent I mentioned. He made sure that everything was kept under wraps.”
    â€œWhy?”
    Again, that one-shoulder shrug that Shayna was quickly learning was a Michael Morgan reflex action. “Why highlight a weakness?”
    Good question, one that in the coming months would serve Shayna well.
    When she looked at her watch, Shayna was shocked to see it was just past nine p.m. The time had gone by faster than a 4 x 400 relay. She was pleased with the progress they’d made, and convinced that as much as she enjoyed her privacy and was slow to take people into her inner circle, she knew that signing on with Morgan Sports Management was a good thing. Michael looked at his watch as well. It dawned on Shayna that this was Friday night, and she’d probably worn out her welcome by about, oh, three, four hours or so. Had she really been at his house for six hours? The time had flown by so quickly!
    â€œIt’s getting late,” she said, taking time to stretch before she stood. “Thanks for dinner.”
    â€œNo worries at all.” Michael stood as well, trying to ignore the feeling of discomfort at the thought of her leaving. “I’m excited about our partnership, and will contact you next week to set up a tentative PR schedule for the next three to six months.”
    They