F this thing called Football

Chapter 3: meetings with lawyers

I have made it to the end of my first week. It’s Friday morning. While I would normally be excited, I have a final meeting with my lawyers. I don’t have internet set up at my apartment so Ella and I arrive early at work to have our video meeting. I want my nightmare divorce to be over with. I’m 26 years old and already getting a divorce. This wasn’t how I pictured my life ending up but here we are.

I walk past reception and Ella runs over to the grumpy receptionist, Marge. “Good morning ladies.” She says with a small nod. I smile in return and hurry to my office. The five hour time difference is becoming easier but I don’t want to be late for my meeting. I have a lot of work to get done before I can start my personal meeting. I unlock my office for and rush in. Ella runs to her bed for some much needed rest. I roll my eyes, “Sorry to disturb your beauty rest little lady.” I laugh at Ella and get my game face on.

I sift through player files and meet players before I am interrupted by my alarm. One in the afternoon. It’s time. I log onto my meeting and my screen fills with the faces of my lawyers and my ex with his team of lawyers. We wanted our divorce finalized before I left the states but he drug his feet and fought till the end to get his way.

I took a calming breath and listening intently. My ex Richard sat in his chair with his arms crossed across his chest. He was angry. I could see the anger rolling off his body in waves. I didn’t want anything from this man besides a clean break. I had already changed my name back to my maiden name and moves far far away. I needed this final piece for my new start.

“She doesn’t deserve a dime from me!” Richard shouted out. His lawyer put his hand on Richard’s arm directing him to be silent. All the paperwork told differently though. He resigned after a few hushed words. Richard finally signed the paperwork. If I hadn’t seen it through the screen I wouldn’t have believed it. There was no more fighting. I had a very large sum of money coming my way that I didn’t want or need. As part of our prenuptial agreement, if the marriage ended in infidelity, the scorn party, me, made out very nicely. I didn’t like to think about it, but at least he would be funding a very nice education. I was going for my masters degree while here in England.

I finished out my afternoon seeing the rest of the players on the team. I thumbed through the filing cabinet. “Number 99. Conrad Mackenzie. Hmm. I don’t think I’ve had an appointment with him.” I looked over my schedule from the last three days. Nowhere did I have his name. I looked into his file and found his contact information. It was nearing six in the evening. I knew practice for the day would be over so I dialed his number.

“Yes.” Came his gruff voice on the other end of the phone.

“Hi. Conrad Mackenzie?” My question was follow by a long beat of silence. I continued since I didn’t get a response. “This is a Grace Stark calling from the Red Hawks. I was looking over files and saw you’re the only player who hasn’t met with me. Do you have time soon to meet?”

I was met by more silence. I checked to see that we didn’t get disconnected. “I was hoping I really didn’t have to. I’m finishing in the weight room. I will be up after I shower.” The line went dead. Good talking to you too. I thought as I rolled my eyes

I was finalizing an email to my team of lawyers when Conrad Mackenzie stood in my doorway. He cleared his throat waiting to invited in. I looked up from my laptop, “Please take a seat. I will be just a minute.” I finished typing and turned to grab his file. “Mr. Mackenzie I just need to go over your health history and contact information with you. All the files I was left are a complete mess. We are turning all paper charts digital so if anything happens while on road, we can easily send your chart to the necessary outlet in the case of injury and treatment.” It was the same response I gave all 25 other players. I was met with a blank bored expression. I waiting for a response but got none.

“Okay…” I continued. “If you could please look over your contact information and sign off that it is correct. And then we will go over your health history and past injuries.” I passed his file over the desk toward him. He picked up a pen from beside the file and quickly signed the papers.

“I have here that last pre-season you had a mild concussion. In the four seasons you’ve been with the team I see you have been relatively uninjured besides minor scrapes, stitches above your right eye, and a fracture on to you left radius. Is this all correct.” I looked up to the handsome man sitting across from me.

“Yes that’s all correct.” He still have the same hired expression on his face.

“Is there any injuries or information you need to add before I start getting your digital chart made?”

“No that’s everything.”

“Thank you Mr. Mackenzie. That should be everything. Sorry to bother you with this tedious meeting.”

He seemed uncomfortable with me being so formal with him. “It’s just Mac. That’s what everyone calls me.”

“Well thank you again for stopping by Mac.” I started gathering my bag and Ella’s leash. “You were my last meeting of the day. Im going to lock up and be on my way home for the night.”

I locked my door behind us and we walked in comfortable silence to the elevators. My phone started buzzing in my pocket. I saw it was my lawyers. Hopefully I send all my final paperwork in her correctly. I didn’t answer the call in time. I got a text immediately.

Lawyers: All paperwork has been put through. The new account numbers are entered and your money should be in account by next Tuesday. Please contact your financial accountants about the investments left to you.

Me: Thank you for making it all happen easily today. I will contact them on Monday.

Lawyers: Congratulations on your new found single happiness. Please contact us with any problems.

That was it. I was officially divorced. I was going to need a good drink in comfy clothes when I got back to my little apartment. I left out an audible sigh.

“Hopefully good news?” Mac questioned me.

“Yes actually.” I felt I could confide a small part of me with the man standing in front of me. I looked up into his liquid honey eyes. “I’m officially divorced.” A shy smile played on my lips.