Read The Deal with Love (One on One) for Free Online Page B

nodded. “When I told Elise about my idea, she wasn’t thrilled, so we compromised.”
    Christian struggled not to make a face. Compromised? Is that what they were calling it these days?
    “Instead of a big media crew the league would undoubtedly send if they were in charge, I agreed to a one-person crew,” Dale continued. “At that point, I knew I needed someone she and I could both trust. The first person I thought of was you, Christian. I know you’re friendly with my daughter. I’m aware of your credentials as a filmmaker, you’re local, and you have a connection with the team with your sister about to marry one of our players. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
    Looking entirely too pleased with himself, Dale cast another expectant look Christian’s way.
    Christian exchanged a brief glance with Elise. Time to play his part. “I’m flattered, but I don’t think I can do this. I’m teaching summer school, and this isn’t my forte, so to speak.”
    Dale was already waving his hand in dismissal. Getting turned down probably wasn’t in the mogul’s business playbook. “Nonsense. I looked into your schedule. You’re only teaching one class in the morning, so you have time to film her afterward, and it’s only for a week or so. Besides, you’re an award-winning documentarian, so this should be right up your alley. I also know that your school could use some money. I’m more than willing to send a donation in the Stampede’s name to your school for you to use however you see fit.” He steepled his fingers on the desk and leaned forward, the determined look on his face reminiscent of his daughter. “If that isn’t enough to convince you, how about this? I know you’re working on a new documentary, and I hear you’ve applied for a grant to help fund the project. I’m sure it doesn’t come as a surprise that I have the money to fund whatever projects I see fit.”
    Christian struggled to keep the shock off his face. Based on the way Dale leaned back in his throne, looking supremely satisfied with himself, he wasn’t sure he’d succeeded.
    Not that Christian could blame him. Dale had played what he undoubtedly considered his trump card. It was obvious why he’d become a billionaire, courtesy of founding a successful restaurant chain, and now owned an NBA franchise.
    Yes, Christian wanted to win the grant to make his latest summer film project all he’d dreamed it could be. More money meant better production. Unfortunately, competition was beyond stiff for the grant. Almost rigor mortis status. There was no guarantee at all that he’d get it, which had kept him up more nights than he wanted to admit.
    Regardless, he’d made a promise to Elise. He wasn’t sure that spending more time with her was in his best interest anyway. Just being around her made him feel like a thirteen-year-old boy discovering the joy of girls. Even now the scent of her perfume drifted toward him, making him want to nibble on her neck and then make his way up to her lips. Which was beyond ridiculous. He was in control of his desires. He always had been. He always would be.
    More importantly, he’d made a promise to himself that after he stopped making films full-time, he was going to lead a more comfortable lifestyle, one that wouldn’t have the kind of stress he’d left behind. He’d have a career that would allow him to go home at night and relax. He wanted someone who shared that same mindset with him, not someone who thought she was failing if she only worked sixty hours per week.
    “Well?” Dale prompted. “I know you’ve been struggling to get that funding. I’m more than willing to support such a worthy project. Use the money however you see fit.”
    Something no one else had offered. After finishing the documentary, he wanted to enter the film into a national film festival contest and take his students to the festival. A great way for them to be around other filmmakers and for them to see what was possible