"That was a really good workout Sean. You're right under your projected weight, endurance checks out and your agility looks good, man you're ready," Jeremy said making notes in his I-Pad.

"I feel good actually. No aches or pains. To be honest it's the best I've felt in a long time."

"Terrific! Hopefully you guys will have a great season."

"I'm predicting we will. I spoke to Lizzy and she's interested in doing the cooking segment. I gave her your number and she should be in touch."

"Cool. Is she still moving here?"

"It's a possibility." I didn't quite tell him the truth, as I've heard he can be a gossiper.

"Well I'll give my report to Coach. I'll check you out later." We shook hands and he walked away.

I wiped the sweat off my face and cleaned off the machine.

"Man, Jeremy trying to kill a brother, and Bobby trying to starve me, I mean I'm two pounds from quota," Jarreau said coming to sit next to me. "I even ate some of your chicken and veggies."

"Jarreau you're still partying, eating fast food and drinking. I told you to lay off those things. A hard head makes a soft behind."

"Do you even know what that means? That's a black thang bro."

"Actually I do, hello?"

"What does it mean? Huh without google!"

"It means that you don't listen to reason and now you're paying the piper. You insist on making the same stupid mistakes after I told you not to do it so now your ass is grass and so Jeremy and Bobby are mowing it."

"Shut up, you make me sick too." He poked out his lip.

"The truth hurts, huh big boy. I bet you will leave them chili cheese, jalapeño, bacon fries with sour cream alone for now."

"It's only two pounds. All I need is two Taco Bell cheesy quesadillas or a double whopper from Burger King."

I looked at him funny.

"Those places are natural booty cleaners, I just need to shit it out."

"TMI!" I yelled out scrunching up my nose.

"It's the truth. It's like a natural African witch doctor herb. You can't tell me that you have never had one of those powerful shits that left you dehydrated or weak. I mean it gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "you full of shit." It feels so good that your ass is thanking you because that was the best shit everrrrrrrr."

"J, your ass is nasty and why are we talking about shitting? You're disturbed in the head I tell ya."

"Man't instead of two pounds, if I double that I'll be ten under par." He stood up rubbing his stomach and repeating some stupid chant of made up words.

Ok I couldn't help myself from laughing as he pretended to sing and move around doing some kind of dance where he started to do the robot. To be honest he was looking like he was having convulsions.

We were laughing so hard that we hadn't noticed someone had walked in staring at us. We heard giggles and we both turned.

"Oh shit!" he whispered, damn near about to fall to his knees. He quickly stopped and stood at attention as if he was in the military. He startled me and then I saw who had caused his radical movement.

"Well, well, well if it ain't Mutt and Jeff," Naomi said laughing walking in. Arianna was still standing by the door frame with a smile on her face. Jarreau looked like he rather be some place else. Was he starting to sweat?

"Ah NeeNee we were just waiting on you, the Tinhorn Dictator to complete our trio," he said and Arianna quickly turned her head and laughed. I could see Naomi fuming. She liked to dish it out but hated when there was a comeback.

"Really Jarreau? In front of one of our new bosses."

"I'm not his boss, but I'm yours. My mother is the boss of all of us. We need to make that clear," Arianna said winking at Jarreau and Naomi's head looked liked it was going to explode.

If looks could kill, Jarreau would be a pile of ash. Naomi's face twisted up leaving her looking like a runaway banshee.

"My apologies, I won't make that mistake again. If you don't need me for anything else, I will go now Ms. Moretti."

"I think we are finished here, Naomi. Have a good day," she said just standing there looking straight at Jarreau. Naomi walked away pissed off swinging her hair and it brushed hard against Jarreau's face on purpose. It was weave and as he reached for it, Arianna's eyes got big. He dropped his hand as he saw the horrid expression on her face.

"Sorry, she gets me riled up."

"Vero, true, but she's good at her job."

"Not better than you," he said with admiration looking straight at her. She started to blush. He whispered something in Italian and she nodded.

"It would have been funny to see what's under the Malaysian crackpot. I wonder if she has a fro like Dwayne, from What's Happening or rockin ASAP Rocky braids?"

I shook my head and Arianna did too and laughed.

"Although I'm sure that would have been a sight, please tell me you weren't seriously going to grab her by the hair?"

He put his head down like a scolded child.

"I can't lie, I was, please forgive my behavior."

Say what? Where was my brother's balls? Was Arianna holding them? Did he just ask for forgiveness? Either I was being punk'd and Ashton Kutcher was about to jump

out or either I was in the Twilight Zone. I really couldn't tell.

"I'll talk to you later bro." He nodded at me and walked towards the exit when she touched

him on his arm and he stopped. She looked up at him and his eyes damned near swallowed her up whole. She started to softly speak to him in Italian. Although I couldn't understand what she was saying, I watched them and this cheesy smile formed on his face. Her eyes were glued to his and vice versa as if they were the only people in the room. Did they not see me sitting right here?

Maybe there was a love connection after all. Jarreau usually didn't fall for sophisticated, attractive, good pedigree and wealthy women. He liked them gangsta, hood-O-fabulous, and usually from Hoeville. He clowned around being the life of the party but there was something different about him when he was near her. Submissive! Oh yeah, she had his balls.

She touched him on his arm again. He smiled at her, nodded and walked off but not before he slightly turned his head towards me, winked and smiled showing all his teeth. What was he up too? Her eyes followed him as he walked out the door.

I took a good look at her and she was wearing a classic off the shoulder long burgundy dress that tied on the side. She looked a lot taller than the other night. Her hair was in a slick ponytail that hung down her back mid-way. Make-up was casual and she accessorized with sparkling diamond bracelets and matching earrings. She reminded me of one of those models that walk down a runway at New York Fashion Week.

I put my head down and wiped the sweat from my face. I heard footsteps, rather the sound of heels coming towards me.

"Ciao Signor Gipson," she said holding out her hand. I quickly wiped mine, stood up, smiled and shook her hand.

"Hello Miss. Moretti."

"Please call me Arianna or Ari."

"Only if you call me Sean."

"Deal." She paused for a moment. "We are now like famiglia. Sam is like an uncle to me, he has always been close to my family. He told me about Lizzy and I'm looking forward to meeting her very soon."

"I wasn't aware that he knew you, rather your family."

"Oh yes. He's very close friends with several board members too. His company does a lot of work for my family."

"Is he always so intense?"

She laughed. "Così tanto, very much so. He will grow on you," she laughed. "He's cautious. I have to admit he's always a gentleman. He's actually very humble and I never have to fear because I can always count on him."

"That's good to know."

"Lizzy will be well taken care of. Knowing she is Sam's daughter, she as well as you, will be an added addition to several families. We take care of our own."

I wasn't quite sure what that meant but with the expression on her face, I wasn't sure if that was bad or good?

"Since I'm here, I was told you were the captain of the team and I wanted to get your opinion on a few new marketing ideas. I was hoping you could meet me after practice tomorrow in the communications board room. Our merchandising team will be in attendance too. We have come up with a few new concepts for opening day and a prototype for a new logo."

"Sure I can do that."

"Thank you Sean. We appreciate your dedication and talent here."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. I shall take my leave now." She turned away but I called her name.

"Arianna?"

"Yes, is there something else?"

"He's a good guy and he really likes you."

She started to blush, which she did often when J was around.

"He's not just one of my best friends but I consider him my brother. I've known him a very long time. He's a good guy, a true friend and very trustworthy. He's a little rough around the edges but he means well. I would never want to see him hurt. If you're not interested in him, please don't lead him on."

"I normally avoid men that work for our teams and our company. I've seen the drama and I would like to avoid that if possible. With Jarreau, he's different from the guys that I'm around and I like that. He doesn't baciami il culo, kiss my backside as you would say here. He's not spellbound by my last name, the money or connections. He actually sees me as a person and not a shiny object. He's funny and easy to talk too. Yes I agree, rough around the edges but that's him. He makes me laugh as from what I hear I don't do enough of. Believe me, I'm not one of those women that go around preying on men. I would consider Jarreau and I, a new friendship. Who knows what might happen?"

"He really, really likes you. He's different when he's around you."

"Is that good or bad?" She asked with a worried look on her face.

"Not bad. He can be blunt at times, a jokester, but overall he has a giant heart and he's always there when you need him."

"I will definitely keep that in mind. I can tell he's a good friend to you."

"Yes he is and I care for him in a brotherly way. I don't want to see him hurt because he has overcome so much in his life to get this far and I wouldn't want something or someone stopping him from his full potential."

"That means a lot to hear you say that. I like the way he is. He keeps you on your toes." She laughed.

"That he does."

"Since you two are close, is he seeing anyone?"

"That answer would be "no." For as long as I have known him, he's never really had a steady girlfriend, a few close friends that didn't really last long but I can tell you he's not a cheater. You can trust him."

She nodded and looked relieved.

"He usually deals with, how can I say this..."

"A putanna (prostitute), a baldracca (whore), pompinaro (slut), troia (bitch), zoccola (sewer rat), I should not be using those barrage of embarrassing female adjectives that you Americans say to women that use other things instead of their God-given sense. Their bodies are more than just objects to be admired but if they would just use their brains instead of looking at the next payday, men could look at them differently."

"I would agree."

"When I see women exploiting themselves it unnerves me. I was raised that no matter what your social, economic, race or creed was, you were somebody. The women in my family have always taught me to love myself and be proud of who I am. We are made in God's image and He never makes mistakes. I see some of these women and they have no values. A woman can work just like a man, now the odds are usually on a man's side but who said we can't break that ceiling?"

She stepped back. "I apologize, I can get off on tangents at times. I work with young girls back home and I try to instill that in them. My father worships my mother. He once told me her inner beauty was what captured his heart. They have their spats at time, but their love for one another and their children is real. That's what I want and I won't settle for less."

"I like your honesty, Arianna."

She smiled. "One thing about me you should know, is that you guys will get my honest opinion even if we disagree. Some say I can be a bisbetico, or bitchy but I always try to be fair no matter the situation and I strive for excellence in every part of my life."

"Good to know. I think we all can be bitchy at times. This team is spoiled, me included but as long as we have similar goals, we will strive for excellence too. Let me, the coaches and others handle the team and you guys handle everything else. We will perform and make ya'll proud. I'm hoping for a smooth transition and I look forward to working with you."

She held out her hand and we shook. "No problem. Have a great day, avere un ottimo giorno Sean."

"Grazie Arianna."

I heard my phone beep with a message. I read it and quickly deleted it. I called Lizzy but it went straight to voicemail.

"Hey hun, I won't be coming home anytime soon. Coach has me running drills so save my omelette for me. If I don't answer I'm probably on the field or in the film room. I'll talk to you later. Love you." I hung up. I hated lying but I had no choice.

I quickly showered and got dressed. Jarreau was closing up his locker when I walked in.

"I'll call you later man. Arianna and I are going to have lunch," he said. He was looking all dapper. Wearing jeans, a long sleeve button downed Polo and a blazer. Oh yeah he had the fever and catching feelings for Miss. Moretti for sure. He was even wearing his expensive Clive Christian cologne and Rolex.

"Looking good my brother."

"Well you know...what can I say?" He dusted off the invisible lint on his jacket.

"Did you get a manicure?"

He turned his head to make sure no one was around. "Yea, shhh. You can't be saying that out loud."

"Sorry." I laughed.

"I'm a manly man."

"Believe me I know. Have fun."

He winked. "I will, see ya!" He walked away.

I finished up and took off. Our next practice wasn't until later so I needed to catch up on a little sleep. Putting in the directions that were given to me earlier in my text message, I put the top down and headed to Atlantic Aviation where a small private plane was waiting. I got on and a hour later I was in Vegas.

A black Range Rover with tinted windows was waiting on me. The driver opened my door where I got in and thirty minutes later, I had reached my destination. Two men were walking around outside and one opened my door.

"Mr. Gipson, we have been expecting you. Please scan your hand on the door."

I nodded. Walking up to the door I lifted up the latch and scanned my hand. This was the coolest thing ever.

The reinforced titanium doors opened and I walked in. The doors shut shortly after I walked in. I took two steps and then there was another door. I heard a beeping noise and then an infrared red light scanned me and once the beams turned green the door opened. Lights flicked on which lit the way down a long corridor and a person was standing half way down.

This scene reminded me of a horror movie, except I would be the survivor. I walked towards the figure looking all around. I had asked for this so why was I still surprised? Was I making a mistake, would things go according to plan or would it go down south in a blink of an eye? As I got closer, one part of me was asking if I was the crazy one? The other side was telling me that maybe there was a different way. I had a conscious, but now the time had come for me to make the ultimate decision. This wasn't a video game it was real life.

I stopped a few steps in front of the figure that was surely ready to do my bidding.

"Welcome Sean," Sam said as his fiendish voice boomed throughout the space.

😂