In a League of Her Own by Kaia Alderson

Author:Kaia Alderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2024-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

“What do you mean, I can’t stay?” Effa’s rage made her voice tremble. She was trying to make her way to the owners’ meeting-room table but Gus Greenlee was blocking her path. “I’m an owner just as much as my husband is!”

“No one’s disputing that, darling. But your ownership is only on paper. We don’t need no ladies in here distracting us while we get down to real league business.” Gus lifted his arms and laced his fingers behind his head. She wanted to smack the smug grin off his face. Gone was the charming man she had met the night before. Well, as charming as someone with all his rough edges could be. He nodded at the New York Age photographer standing at the back of the room. “We only asked you down here today for the photo op. No one here is interested in listening to your . . . opinions.”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. The rest of the men looked away or stared down at the notepads in front of them. Someone nervously tapped a pen or pencil on the table. She felt the energy in the shift, and it was all pushing her toward the door.

Her stomach dropped, not completely from humiliation. It was also from her anger at the realization that, for all their notoriety in the streets, these men were nothing but cowards.

Cum Posey pushed back from his seat, breaking the tension. She thought he was walking toward her at first. To stand with her in solidarity, she hoped. But no, he continued walking to the coatrack that was behind her. He lifted her coat from the hook and held it out to her. “Mrs. Manley, may I help you with your coat?”

“She ain’t going nowhere.” Everybody’s head swiveled to where Abe sat. His normally jolly brown face and ears had blossomed into a heated red. His nostrils flared; he looked like a bull being held back from the ring. “We discussed this, gentlemen, when you negotiated the terms of the franchise. My wife and I are partners, fifty-fifty. She has as much say in the league’s business as I do. If you all insist on something other than what we agreed on back when you were begging me to seal this deal, then I’m gone. And the Eagles franchise goes with me.”

Abe stood up and quietly gathered the documents and notepad that he had brought with him. Then he walked over and stood by Effa. She gasped softly when his fingers wrapped around her hand. He gave it a soft squeeze, but he did not look at her. And she didn’t look at him. She recognized this as the game of chicken that it was. But more than anything, she was too shocked to make any type of response. This was the first time anyone had staged such an act of defiance in her defense. Effa felt her knees go a little wobbly.

She took that moment to pull herself together. To get her head back in the game.

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