Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(30)

I am annoyed that he is implying I need to be attached to make partner but I know it is a part of the game. It is one of the reasons I had tried dating Mike. He plays basketball here in Texas and is a friend of Ellerie’s. We have some mutual friends back home as well. He would have liked for things to go further but I just couldn’t give the relationship what it needed.

As I try to figure out my jumbled feelings and thoughts, a knock comes at the door, which is odd. Cyrus assistant Melanie is efficient she would have buzzed to inform Cyrus of another guest.

“Come in,” Cyrus’s voice cracks through the room.

“Excuse me Mr. Pierson, Miss. Hathaway,” my assistant says as she rushes in the room holding my cellphone. “I know you said hold your calls, but it is Brielle’s day care there is an emergency.”

I jump from my seat and grab the phone forgetting everything else including where I am. “Hello,” I rush into the phone when I take it off mute.

“Hi Tamara, this is Cynthia. Um, we had a bit of an incident this morning,” the coordinator of Brielle’s day care says into the phone. “The children were in the yard for morning activities and there were tons of photographers and reporters outside the playground gates. They were screaming for Brielle and calling out questions to her and the staff. Brielle is still pretty upset and the reporters are still milling around the area. I think maybe it would be best if you come to get her.”

I can hear the nerves in Cynthia’s voice. My brain is racing. This day is trying to kill me. I have to act fast.

“Oh my God, is she okay,” I ask with concern.

“She is shaken up, but physically okay.”

“Cynthia, I have to be in a meeting in the next hour. My brother has a mandatory training and therapy session scheduled today. Stacey is out of town,” I am really thinking out loud. “Listen, I can see if her father can come. He is not on the emergency contact card, but I can fax you permission to release her to him if that will work.”

“Under these circumstances you can just give me a name and he will need to have ID for us to photocopy. He can then just sign her out,” Cynthia replies.

“His name is Bradley Monroe,” I say.

I hear her suck in a breath on the other end and go completely quiet. I don’t have time for this. Cynthia is the epitome of star struck when it comes to celebrities. She still can’t pull it together when Ellerie or Stacey go to the school for anything.

“Breathe Cynthia,” I snap.

“Sorry Tamara,” she breathes.

“I’ll call Brad to see if he can get there. If he can, my assistant will call you back to confirm, if anything changes call right away. If he can’t come I will figure things out and get back to you myself,” I ramble.

“Okay,” Cynthia replies and I end the call dialing Brad right away.

I still hadn’t taken note of the fact that I am pacing my boss’s office. All I know is my baby needs to be protected. Someone needs to get to her. Please answer Brad, please answer.

“Hey Darlin’,” Brad answers the phone. “I thought you would be in your meeting by now.”

“Brad it’s Bri,” I rush. “Reporters and photographers are all over her school. Did you see the paper yet? There are so many pictures of us from yesterday. Babe, I need you to get to Bri. Her day care wants someone to pick her up and I can’t get there and back in time.”

“Shit,” Brad growls. I can hear weights clinking in the background. “Calm down, Baby. I’ll take care of it. I just found out about the pictures before you called. Sorry Tam, I should have seen this, I’ll fix it, I promise.”

“Okay, I’ll text you the address of the day care. You need to have your ID and you’ll have to sign her out. Babe, she is upset.”

“I’m already halfway to my truck, Tam,” Brad reassures me.

“Okay, I’m hanging up to text you.”

“I love you, Baby.”

“I know. Please text me as soon as she is safe.”

I cut the call and text the address right away. I stop pacing and whip around to face my assistant ready to do damage control. Reality is setting back in.

“Maryann, call the day care back and let them know Brad is on the way. Screen my calls, if the day care calls forward those to Bradley Monroe. His number is in my phone. When the papers start calling I have absolutely no comment. And Maryann, forget everything you just heard in this room,” I say sternly.

“Yes, Miss. Hathaway,” Maryann nods.

I straighten my jacket and go to take my seat again as if nothing happened. Cyrus raises a brow at me then chuckles and sits back in his seat. “You always think on your toes Tamara. It’s what makes you great at what you do. Don’t lose that. I think we are done here.”

“Thank you.”





Chapter 13


I punch the roof of my truck when I pull into a parking space in front of the day care. I can see the vultures surrounding the place. I called my security team and had them rush right over to make sure no one tried to get to Ellie. My one job is to keep my girls safe and happy.

Right now I suck at both. Tamara is pissed at me right now for more reasons than I can count. Now I’ve let them both down by not thinking about what our little shopping trip would do. Being back home and being with my girls has me feeling like myself so much that I forgot all about being a football star.