One- Who Said a Woman Can’t?

Madelyn’s POV

"A woman can never succeed here. A woman can't do what a man can do."

I rolled my eyes at the comment because that's just men being men, I suppose.

I looked around the table. Not surprisingly, there was only one female shareholder, and she had only gotten her seat because her husband died and they never had any kids.

"This is a male sport."

"And you believe I can't run this team simply because I'm a woman?" I asked, swirling my pen between my fingers with practiced nonchalance, even though my heart was pounding.

"That's not..." He cleared his throat. "That's not what I mean."

His eyes drifted to my father, who wasn't just the chairman. He was the CEO of the Vipers, one of the most successful baseketball clubs to ever exist.

"I just expected that since your father will be going away for a bone marrow transplant, you'd want to be by his side through the surgery, healing, and recovery phase."

Several board members nodded in agreement.

"Besides..." I turned to the next speaker

"You don't even know anything about basketball. Aside from that four-year internship you had and eventually quit mind you” He said and they all chuckled

“You eventually settled into interior design and started your own company. None of that relates to this team, so I don't see how you can act as CEO of a sports organization."

The pen slowed between my fingers.. because there was no way he just said that during my internship none of them gave me a chance. I spent four years getting coffee for other employees even though my dad specifically told them to train me I was never allowed into a meeting room. I had to hang by the window to listen in … simply because I was a woman and I automatically wasn't enough.

"I don't need my children cuddling me up, and besides, I told them to stay here..." Dad started but he was cut off by the door opening and Dylan walked in.

"Sorry, my meeting ran late." he said heading towards his seat

Finally…I sank back in my seat just a little. Maybe now we could wrap this up, and for once, someone would be on my side.

"I went through the briefs, and I'm not sure why we're still here," Dylan said, looking toward Dad.

Dad simply leaned back in his chair, giving him the floor.

"My sister has worked here for five years. Hell, we were going to give her a position, but you board members refused, despite the fact that when she briefly worked with finance, we uncovered people siphoning funds. We kept her on office rotations, and she did it without complaint. During those years the Vipers made a huge comeback in the industry because I called some game plans and we won. You wanted to make me CEO because of it."

He paused and glanced around the table.

"Now I'll say this. They weren't my game plans. They were hers. Besides, she's only doing this for a month. Can we conclude this already? And this is a family business, so your opinion doesn't really matter."

I bit my inner cheek to stop myself from smiling because honestly no matter what these men thought, Dad had the final say.

But I wasn't getting too comfortable.

The last time I applied for a position here, this same board had shot me down without a second thought. Dad hadn't opposed it then. We'd discussed filling in for him at home, and he'd seemed fine with it, but I still couldn't tell which way he was leaning.

He cleared his throat.

"Well, Dylan wasn't wrong. Davina does have experience, thanks to you guys. We've watched every game together. She gives good play calls and excellent business advice and she has a masters in bus. Administration" I stopped holding back that smile as he continued

"But I'm not going to overlook my entire board." and the smile disappeared

"I'll be gone for half the season, and you're asking for a month. So here's what we're going to do. If you can raise the company's stock by thirty percent in three months, you get the entire season."

I just stared at him.

One thing about me and my dad, we practiced tough love when it came to business. I knew he wasn't going to hand this to me on a silver platter.

But raising the company's stock by thirty percent in three months?

What the hell kind of challenge was that?.

I could easily just go back to my company, It's doing fine.

But I've always wanted to work in sports. It was always the one thing people said women couldn't do. Even my mom believed that. These men had spent years doubting me, talking over me, finding one excuse after another to keep me out.

If nothing else, I was going to prove them wrong.

No matter what.

"I accept. I'll raise the company's stock by thirty percent in three months, and when I do, I will run this club for the entire season."

Dad gave me a smile, and I returned it even though my heart was pounding. The target was insane, but he was giving me a chance. I wanted to make him proud.

I needed to.

" But in the event you fail, I don't want to hear about this anymore."

I nodded.

"That's it then."

"Aren't we being a bit hasty here?" one shareholder said, cutting my dad off. "There has never been a female running a club. She's not the right man for this."

"Of course I'm not." I shrugged. "I'm not a man, but I can assure you I'm the right woman for the job."

Dylan burst out laughing at that, and my dad couldn't hold back his proud smile either.

"Conference over. You'll begin next week."

"Thank you, sir," I said, leaning back in my seat with a smile.

I got the job.

Sort of… The target was ridiculous, but for the first time in years, I was finally in the game.

The meeting moved on to other matters and as soon as it was over, everyone else filed out while Dad and Dylan stayed behind…

"You got the job," Dylan said with a shit-eating grin.

"I got the job," I repeated, drumming my fingers against the table.

"Don't sink my company and Dylan, please..." Dad let out a groan.

"I got it. I'll visit often, be at some games, but she's in good hands." Dylan said that while looking at me like I'd just hung the moon.

He did that a lot, and it made me feel like he saw as more than his stepsister, but that's not possible.

"Either way, you'll be meeting the new coach soon," Dad said. "I expect you to work with him hand in hand if possible. While he handles how this club looks to the public, you'll handle how it works behind the scenes."

"There's a new coach?"

"Before," Dad started, cutting me off before I could go any further, "you begin talking about that, isn't it time for the date arrangements I made? I'm not getting any younger, and I've never seen you with a man. There's no way you're skipping it. You already promised."

A groan slipped out before I could stop it

"I know I agreed to go on four dates. I'm a woman of my word. I'm going." I said reaching for my bag "It's only two more anyway."

My dad leaned back in his seat looking far too pleased with himself.

I walked around the table, kissed his cheek, then smacked Dylan lightly on the shoulder as I passed.

~~~~

The restaurant was beautiful.

Of course it was.

My old man was clearly trying to butter me up for this date when he picked the place but the company is very horrible

"I'm sorry, you mean those are your long-term goals?" my date asked, wiping the corners of his mouth as his laughter died down.

"Did I say something funny?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Yes, you did. You said you wanted to grow your interior design company and do a good enough job with your dad's company that he'd consider retiring and leaving it to you."

He shook his head, still amused.

"It's funny because in what world do you believe you can govern men or become the CEO of a sports enterprise? Besides, there has never been a female..."

"I'll be the first."

The words seemed to catch him off guard. He shifted in his seat, turning his head. He was clearly hoping no one heard that

I tilted my head… A woman has never spoken to him like that before?

"What's your take on women?" I asked, setting down my cutlery and reaching for my wine glass.

"Women are supposed to be submissive, nurturing.Seen not Heard.." He took a sip of his drink before muttering,

"I blame those so-called feminists who made you people believe you belong in a boardroom…. bedrooms and kitchens are a better fitted”

I promised my dad I would stay for at least one hour, it's only been 20 minutes and I deserve an award…I decided to ignore him but the more he talked, the dumber he got, but I kept my smile in place.

"I hope you're a virgin?" he asked and I immediately reached for my glass cause I was clearly going to hate this, I took a long sip of wine and let it sit in my mouth.

"And before you ask, I'm a man you can't..." He was cut off when I spat up all the wine in his face.

"I genuinely feel insulted for sitting through this."

I grabbed my bag and pushed back my chair, I was halfway to leaving when fingers wrapped around my arm .

I turned around to face him and he his hand was up balled in a fist heading towards my face

But before I could fully process that he was suddenly ripped away from me, a loud crash echoed through the restaurant and my head snapped toward it just

in time to see him sprawled across a broken table.

For a second, I simply blinked.

Then I tipped my head back to look at the person standing beside me.

And fuck me.