Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 13
At eight o'clock on the dot, Duo was knocking on Dorothy Catalonia's office door. When it slid open, he found the lovely young woman sitting at her desk with a warm smile. "Good morning, Duo. Please have a seat," she greeted while lowering the paperwork in her hands.
Taking the seat before her desk, the running back nodded his braided head, "Good morning, Dorothy. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me. I know how busy you are with getting things ready for the regular season."
With a nonchalant wave of her hand, she reassured him, "I always have time for my team, you know that. And considering how upset you sounded over the phone last night, not to mention the fact that you're right on time for this meeting, I get the impression that whatever it is you need to discuss is quite urgent."
Raising an eyebrow, Dorothy smirked, "I just certainly hope that you're not trying to get out of your living arrangements. After receiving some very fierce hugs from your coaching staff, I was advised that things have improved between you and Heero."
Duo chuckled deeply, "No, that's not my reason for meeting with you. Actually, Heero and I are getting along a lot better now." His smile fading, he stated, "Actually, it's something that he brought up to me last night has me pretty damn confused. I was hoping that maybe you could shed some light on the subject for me."
The team owner straightened a bit and folded her hands over her desk with no little amount of interest in her pale blue eyes. "Well, it would depend on the subject matter how much help I can be. But, I will certainly do my best," she answered.
Leaning forward, the braided young man told her, "It was revealed to Heero by Zechs himself that you had sent him a letter advising that he will be removed as Head Coach if we do not win at least a Division Championship this season."
Dorothy's eyes widened and her skin paled a couple shades. That shock soon faded into tightly-leashed rage as her eyes narrowed heatedly. "Really?" she asked. "That is quite interesting to hear, since I have absolutely no intention of such a thing. Zechs has been nothing but a loyal asset to my family's organization."
Even though he truly expected to hear those words from her, Duo couldn't help but sigh deeply in relief. Smiling, he commented, "That's why I wanted to bring this up. I knew that something wasn't right about the whole thing." His brow creasing in his own confusion, he tilted his braided head as he wondered aloud, "Then who did send that letter?"
Folding her arms, the young woman sighed deeply, "My father's administration must be acting without my authority. Not one of them was thrilled with the idea of working under a female owner.
"They must have sent the letter knowing that Zechs, not being the type to make waves, would just keep quiet about the whole thing. That way, they could remove him and have a replacement before I even knew what happened. By then, a new contract would have been drawn and signed before I could overturn their decision."
Dorothy's eyes narrowed once more as she gritted, "I'll have to remedy that little problem." Using the speaker button on her phone, she typed in a number and waited as he secretary greeted with a pleasant, 'Yes, Miss Catalonia?'
Keeping a smile in her voice, the team owner said, "Grace, it's about time that we did some spring cleaning around here. Would you please advise the maintenance staff to access the administrative offices with their master keys? Give them the order to pack up any and all personal belongings they find. I then want the boxes left out in the hallway and the access codes to the locks changed immediately.
"I'll give you the details of the letter that I would like drafted to go along with the boxes that the administrators will find when they arrive later this morning. Contact security and have them waiting by your station to show them the door in the event of a scene." Blinking his violet eyes in shock at what was unfolding, a sly grin tugged Duo's lips as he folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in his seat.
There was not the slightest pause or shock in the receptionist' s voice as she replied, "Yes, ma'am. I'll contact the maintenance and security teams now. I'll keep the line open after for your next call involving that letter you want me to type up."
Nodding firmly, Dorothy grinned, "Thank you, Grace. I will be down there shortly." She reached over to her phone to disconnect the call. "There," she smirked in satisfaction. "They'll receive the same treatment that they've shown Zechs. No personal meetings to explain my decision. Only a letter."
Slowly sitting back up, Duo lowered his arms and laughed, "That was the coolest fucking thing that I ever saw!" The team owner laughed along with him and shook her head in amusement. Running his hands together, the running back smiled, "Man, I just wish that I could be around to see their faces when they get in!"
A slight frown of realization marred the owner's face as she sighed, "I just wish that Zechs confronted me about that letter. He wouldn't have had to spend these last few months thinking that I was looking for a reason to get rid of him. He should have known better of me." Biting her lip, Dorothy tilted her head and grinned sadly, "It would appear that you and I both have a knack for being misunderstood."
"Well, we birds of a feather gotta stick together," Duo shrugged. "Once you weed out the assholes, I'm sure that Zechs and the team will have a better idea of who you are." Rising from his seat, he nodded firmly, "Seeing how busy your morning is starting, I better get going. Thanks again for meeting with me, Dorothy."
The young woman smiled warmly and extended her hand. "Thank you, Duo," she replied sincerely. "I appreciate the fact that you were willing to give me a chance. Few people have been willing to do the same."
Giving her a wink, the running back replied quietly with a smirk, "Just returning the favor, doll." A bit surprised at those words, Dorothy's eyes shone as she chuckled deeply and nodded. Turning on his heels, Duo headed from the room with a wide grin of relief on his face.
* * * * * *
Panting heavily, Alex smiled as his teammates ran up to him in the end-zone after he ran in a touchdown. From the sidelines, Treize watched alongside his fellow coaches and the team physical trainer with a smirk.
"That boy is certainly coming a long way from how he started off this training season," his offensive coach commented. "I don't think he's ever performed this well before in his whole career."
With a firm nod as he watched Alex being pat on the back by his teammates, Treize replied, "He's hungry for this now. I don't think there is another player out there that wants to prove himself more and it's starting to show."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the personal trainer grin slyly to himself. Doctor O would be one of the few to know the real reason for Alex's success, being the one who administered the drugs to the young man every week.
Running to the sidelines, a thrilled Alex smirked to Treize before heading over to his teammates for the next play. "With Alex filling in Maxwell's spot as well as he is already, this is sure to be a wonderful season for our team," the head coach chuckled deeply. Around him, his coaching staff nodded in agreement.
The offensive team regrouped and huddled close once they caught their breaths. One of the wide tight ends nudged Alex on the shoulder with a grinned, "Nice work, there, man. You've been doing a hell of a job finding those gaps to break through."
Snorting, the blonde running back replied smugly, "Of course. It's about damned time people started seeing what I can do." With a cocky quirk to his mouth, Alex commented, "I should have held out for more money before signing on. This organization is getting a bargain with what they're getting me for this season."
Just within earshot of that statement, Treize's eyes narrowed.
At the end of their long practice, the team headed out of the shower room cleaned and changed into fresh clothes. Alex was one of the last to step out into the hallway, lugging his duffle bag over his shoulder with a smirk still in place. Saying good night to his teammates, the blonde young man moved down the long corridor for the parking lot.
Behind him, Treize called, "May I have a word with you before you leave, Alex?" The running back looked over his shoulder the tall man grinned, "No need to worry about any of your evening plans. This won't take long at all."
Shrugging, Alex replied, "Sure." Silently falling into step behind his head coach, he stepped into his office. As the door slid closed behind him, he began, "So what did you need to ta-" gagging at the end of his thought when a hand clamped down tightly around his throat, his eyes widened as he was slammed up against the door.
Ragged gasps that could not gain a full breath pulled from the white-faced athlete. Terror filled his eyes as they looked up to the enraged face watching him. Leaning in with narrowed eyes, Treize hissed quietly, "You're getting a little too cocky for your own good. A word of advice. Do not bite the hand that feeds you. Without the drugs that I've been supplying to you, you'd be nothing, you little shit.
"That 'bargain' that you claim we made by signing you on is only true because I made it so. Otherwise, you would have been an over-paid second-stringer. I can still make that the case, if you get out of line the way you did with that comment of yours earlier today," the coach gritted, ignoring the wheezing gasps from the young man in his grasp.
Tightening his grip more, Treize growled deeply, "Do I make myself perfectly clear?" He released his hold only enough for the struggling football player to take a harsh gasp of air to answer.
Alex coughed and panted raggedly before managing to nod and reply in a strained voice, "Y-yes, sir." Instantly, the head coach removed his hand and the running back hunched forward to struggle to get his breath back.
Lightly patting his player's back, Treize smirked, "Good talk, Alex. Now, get home and get some rest for tomorrow." Nearly tripping over himself in his rush to escape the office when the door slid open again, the running back dashed off down the hall.
Folding his arms as he watched the young man run off from his doorway, Treize sighed deeply, "It's so hard to find good help these days."
* * * * * *
Later that evening...
Noin's eyes widened in surprise after opening the front door to the Marques home. "M-Miss Catalonia," she sputtered. Quickly stepping aside, she urged kindly, "Please, come in. Would you like something to drink?"
Smiling, the Wolverine team owner entered and answered politely, "Thank you, Noin, but no need to trouble yourself. And you know to simply call me Dorothy." As she headed towards the living room, she said, "I do apologize for showing up unannounced, but what I need to discuss with you and Zechs should not be handled any other way than in person."
Roughly swallowing, Noin wrung her hands together. "Oh," she blinked. "Well, Zechs is just tucking the boys in now, but he should be down any minute." As soon as she spoke the words her husband started his descent down the stairs behind her. Turning to meet his eyes when he neared, she forced a grin and announced, "We have a visitor, dear."
Instantly freezing in place once he entered the doorway, Zechs's own eyes widened. "Dorothy," he managed to choke out. A nervous laugh escaped him as he gestured to the couches in the living room, "Please, make yourself comfortable."
Her smile growing at the young couple's hospitality, Dorothy shook her head, "No need, Zechs. What I have to say will not take very long, as I do not wish to interrupt your evening more than I already have."
It was the head coach's turn to swallow roughly and he nodded stiffly, "A-all right."
Folding her hands behind her back, the blonde young woman stated, "It came to my attention this morning that you had received a letter from my father's organization regarding your standings as head coach of my team."
At her choice of words, Zechs's brow creased in confusion. The realization hit him hard and quickly as he gasped, "You mean you didn't send that letter? But... but I thought... I mean they even forged your signature..."
"Which is why they are no more," Dorothy put simply. "Before you had your team on the field for today's training session, every last administrator was fired. I wanted to tell you in person that regardless of our standings at the end of this coming season, you will have a job as head coach for as long as you wish to stay with us. I apologize for the grief that the letter you received must have been causing you both these last few months."
Both Zechs and Noin let go of the breaths that they had been holding in a pair of huffs. Their shoulder's sagging in relief, the couple looked to each other with barely contained elation. Small tears filled the coach's eyes as he breathed to his boss, "Thank you, Dorothy. I really don't know what to say."
Raising an eyebrow, the owner smirked, "Just promise me that the next time a problem arises you will come directly to me to discuss it." She gazed to the short-haired mother and smirked, "Or your wife." When the pair seemed at a loss to what she meant, Dorothy explained, "I have one more seat in the new administration that I have been busy rebuilding. The position is yours, Noin, if you would like it."
"Me!?" Noin exclaimed, a hand on her own chest. "Well, I would love to try. I've been anxious to do something to help with supporting my family, but do you really think that it would be a fit for me? I mean the job itself and the hours while trying to take care of the boys..."
Dorothy grinned, "You're a perfect fit. A lot of what you would be responsible for is looking after the player's needs. Those young men love you. I've seen how you all interact. They would have someone that they know and trust to be their voice at the administrative meetings. I will have it that you can work from home. The weekly meetings can be held as a conference over your computer, so you would not have to miss any time with your children."
Her own eyes filling with tears, Noin whispered brokenly, "I would love that. Thank you so much."
Zechs was at a loss for words. Wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders, he pulled her close in a one-armed embrace. He knew, more than anyone, how perfect she would be to handle such a responsibility. The opportunity that was being offered was far more than he could have dreamed for their family.
With a bow of her head, Dorothy announced quietly, "And now, I'll be leaving you." As he headed past her new administrator, she said, "Expect a call from me a little past nine tomorrow morning. We'll go over the details of your position more thoroughly."
Beaming, Noin nodded excitedly, "I'll be waiting, then. We really can't thank you enough for all of this, Dorothy." Her husband swallowed past another lump that had formed in his throat, still unable to move lest he stir himself from the dream that he surely much have been experiencing.
"No thanks needed," the team owner reassured her with a grin over her shoulder. "Have a pleasant night." That said, she stepped out of the living room and through the front door. As if waking from a dream, Zechs's wide eyes blinked and he sprung into life to quickly run after his employer.
When he stepped outside, his guest was at the bottom of the tall stairs leading to the front porch. "Dorothy!" the coach called before skipping two stairs at a time on the way down to her. "Wait!" Her eyes wide, she turned to him just when he reached the sidewalk and waited patiently for him to catch his breath.
Finally able to get his wind back, Zechs frowned deeply, "I should have known better than to think that you would look to get rid of me like that. I should have gone to you directly, and I am sorry that I thought so little of your intentions. You have every right to me disappointed, but I hope that you'll forgive me for not trusting you more."
A warm smile tugged Dorothy's lips. "Forgiven. I'm just glad that I found out what was happening before I didn't have a say in the matter. You're a fine coach, Zechs, whether we win or lose."
Humbled, the young man lowered his head with a sincere, "Thank you. It means a lot to hear that." Lifting his gaze, he stated, "But I would like to know how you found out. The only people that I told were Noin and Heero. And I know for certain that neither one of them would have approached you for answers."
Chuckling deeply, Dorothy answered, "Well, you're right about that. It would seem, however, that the ladder of the two found an unlikely ally to confide in. One that is no so quick to hold his tongue."
The realization dawned plain on Zechs's face. "Maxwell," he thought aloud with the wonder of it all in his eyes. He smiled and shook his head in amusement, "Who ever would have thought..." Leaning in, he kissed the team owner's cheek and whispered, "Thank you again, Dorothy. You've looked after my family and I won't forget your kindness."
Blushing slightly, the young woman giggled, "My pleasure, Zechs. Now, rest up. I'm sure that you have another busy day planned for the team tomorrow." Dorothy turned on her heels and headed towards her car.
Alone on the sidewalk, Zechs sighed deeply to himself, his head falling back. Looking up to the star-filled heavens, he took a few deep breaths of the cool night air. Running a hand through his bangs as he raised his head, the coach headed back up to his home with his mind still spinning after the recent events.
TBC...
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