The Sweet Spot - Strike Zone Series Book 1

Curveball

Prologue

Carla

      I've been patient, more patient than I should be. I'm not known for being patient, many people call me demanding, power hungry, a bitch. I do what I must to get what I want. When a man is cagey, he's considered smart, when a woman is, we're called ugly names. So be it. I'm not a pushover.

      I've tolerated that little loser, Molly, and the stooges of his friends for far too long. I've put up with the crast comments and rude behavior. I've been looked down on, ignored, and abused by all of them.

     I'm tired of waiting to get my way! I'm done waiting, I'm done being humiliated. I'm just done with Nate Segler! I won't be made a fool of.

      Closing my molding compact, my teeth clench tight. My fingers squeezed the compact in my hand, before I threw it across the room. It smacked into my full length mirror, shattering the glass onto the thick carpet of my bedroom.

      He's pushed me away for the last time. I've looked away from every woman he's turned to when he wanted his "break" from me. I've ignored the gossip about myself when he dallied elsewhere. It got me press and a sympathetic image, for that I tolerated it. It worked to my advantage more times than I can count, so I allowed it to continue.

     Now Nate thinks he can just cast me aside for that little ask-a-nurse! She's nothing! No one! How does he think she can contribute to his career? She has nothing to offer him! She has nothing compared to me!

     I will not be humiliated this way. I've kept those pictures for security, my last ditch insurance, in case Nate ever decided to drop me. He doesn't believe me, he doesn't think I'll use it against him, but I will. I will play every card I hold to get my way.

     Pulling out the manilla envelope, I looked through the old photos and glare at the man in question. I'll ruin him before I'll let him make a fool out of me. It's a good thing I have a backup plan.

      Striding out of the room, I head for my office. Going straight to the safe, I turn the dial and open the steel door. Looking at all my precious possessions, I flip through the packages of photos and documents I've collected over the years. Baseball players, Football players, heads of state, judges, senators, I've got them all. Nate isn't the only big fish around.

     I'm not stupid enough to put all my faith in one man. They're fickle and will turn on you at the slightest turn. I've met plenty of rich bastards that I've gotten dirt on. There's plenty to choose from for my next lover.

     Pulling out a rival of Reese's, I open the file and flip through the documents and photos I have gathered. Yes, this will do nicely.
      "Sorry, Nate. But if you won't give me what I want, I know Erik Tipton will." Smiling as my plan began to take shape, I know exactly how to make this work in my favor and it will take Nate, and his loser friends, out of the picture for good.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~
Nate

      On the drive to our parents home, I had time to look back on the last few weeks and wonder how I got to this point in my life. I don't blame anyone but myself for where I am or what happened. I'm responsible for my own mistakes.

     This mistake is a doozy. I knew at the time it was the wrong thing to do. But I was in a slump and I needed help. I thought the people around me had my back. I thought I could trust them. I thought this was behind me. No, you can never run from your past, just stay ahead for a while, eventually it catches up.

     My life has been filled with plenty of highs. I'm a star athlete, I've been lucky enough to have a family that loves and understands me. They supported my decision to play ball and stood by me through every step of my career. I was an ace student, I studied and worked as hard on my classes as I did on my game. I graduated college top of my class. And my star soared.