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plates. “Enough about me. How was your meeting with the Empire owners’ lawyers?”
    Jaclyn looked away from Tiffany and her mother. She scowled. “The lawyers told me Gerry and Bert want to end the arena contract so they can move the team.”
    Violet gasped. “Are you kidding me?”
    â€œNo.” Jaclyn served another guest.
    â€œWhere do they want to go?”
    She shrugged, checking the clock. She’d have to return to her office soon. “Someplace where they won’t be competing with another basketball team. Gerry likes the sound of the Nevada Monarchs.”
    â€œNevada?” Violet sounded as baffled as Jaclyn felt. “Have they gotten any offers?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t tell me.”
    â€œI can’t believe them. Is Bert really on board with Gerry’s plan?”
    Jaclyn had been wondering the same thing. “I haven’t spoken with him yet.”
    â€œJackie.” Her former teammate’s tone demanded her attention. Violet’s eyes were dark with concern. “I know you’re upset. But, if you’re going to save the team, you’ve got to keep your emotions on the sidelines and approach this problem as a business.”
    That pulled Jaclyn up short. “I am treating this as a business.”
    â€œThen why don’t you know whether Gerry has an offer from another market?”
    â€œHe wouldn’t tell me.” Jaclyn pursed her lips. “And I was too upset to push.”
    â€œYou’ve got to ask. Gerry’s decision to move the team isn’t an emotional choice. It’s a business decision. You’ve got to treat it the same way.”
    â€œYou’re right.”
    Violet used her serving spoon to gesture toward Jaclyn. “You can start by reclaiming your position as general manager. Your grandfather made Gerry interim GM when he was sick and you were taking care of him. Gerry’s been interim for almost two years now. You need to take your spot back before Gerry grows roots.”
    Jaclyn relaxed slightly. “I know. I wasn’t ready before, but I am now. I gave the firm my two weeks’ notice this morning.”
    â€œGood for you.” Violet’s eyes twinkled. Color warmed her cheeks. “You have to regain control. Gerry and Bert are on the verge of destroying everything your family helped build. You need to stop them.”
    Jaclyn nodded. “I’ve also got to figure out a way to increase the franchise’s revenue.”
    Violet smiled as she added potatoes to another plate. Concentrating on Jaclyn’s problems seemed to lift her spirits. “Pre-sales will shoot up with the Mighty Guinn taking over as head coach.”
    â€œMaybe for the first game. But to sustain sales, we’ve got to win.”
    â€œDon’t worry. The Mighty Guinn knows how to win.”
    Jaclyn paused as their replacements showed up. The two women took over Violet and Jaclyn’s stations.
    Jaclyn walked beside Violet back to the kitchen area. She tossed her apron and hairnet into the laundry basket. “But does he know how to coach? You know as well as I do that it takes three things for a team to win—talent, coaching and chemistry. We have talent. But we need coaching and chemistry to bring it out.”
    â€œYou don’t think Marc Guinn has what it takes to bring out the chemistry in the Monarchs?”
    â€œNo, I don’t. And, even worse, he doesn’t want to.” Jaclyn led the way out of the chapel. She stood at the top of the front steps and swept her gaze over the aging storefronts, pedestrian lunch traffic and persistent street vendors. “After three losing seasons, if we don’t change the team’s attitude, we won’t have a prayer of winning.”
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    Gerald Bimm was pretentious. His office was a showcase for his museum-quality art. DeMarcus considered the track lighting that lit the professionally framed modern paintings