Free Dare To Love Series: A Kissing Dare (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Yvette Hines Page A

bewildered expressions of those before her. She was fully in the zone and enjoying herself. Another click and she turned and pointed to a group picture of the smiling faces of boys and one girl in football uniforms. “Ninety percent of football players start here. Learning to love the game. Going to bed with dreams of playing in the NFL. They want to do it for the excitement, thrill, for their parents, the admiration of the fans and success.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alex nodding, whether in approval or remembrance she wasn’t sure.
    She brought up a few slides of big homes, flashy cars, boats, jets and beautiful, sexy women and allowed the photos to speak for themselves. “However most of them end up closer to this by the time the stadium lights fade on their careers.” Her screen now displayed a clip of an ex-NFL linebacker and the article about his Super Bowl ring being bought. It had thankfully been returned to him. The next article and photo presented information on another linebacker who had wound up living below a bridge on the west coast, homeless. The man had also been a player and winner in Super Bowls.
    “Most athletes are unprepared for the financial pressures when the big checks stop rolling in. Their houses and cars get repossessed, bankruptcy becomes their only way to tread water, however soon their continual poor investments by those preying on them and miss management of their own funds leads to heartache, depression and ruin. I can help them succeed. I want to help them keep their finances working for them and their families well into the future and after they’re gone. I want to facilitate them keeping their pride.”
    Jo’el continued into various money management strategies and investments that would appeal to players based around their personal interests. The observers began to ask questions of her at this point. She remained calm and steady as she answered each of them. Financial questions she could handle in her sleep. She reminded herself not to get too technical or heavy in the information. Most people began to get crossed eyed when it came to financial management principles.
    When she was done, she placed the remote on the table.
    “Thank you, Jo’el. We enjoyed the presentation and it was highly informative.” Madison rose and approached her. The woman’s face was a mask, not giving anything away. “We’ll take some time to discuss this and get back with you by the end of the day.”
    “Understandable. Thank you all for your time.” She gathered her things and walked out.
    No matter what decision the program organizers came to she felt proud of herself. She’d been honest when she told them she’d been directed to do this, but it was now in her blood. If she didn’t get the position and it led to her losing her job, she knew she would go into sport financial management somewhere else. Players needed the expertise she could offer.
    Two hours later, she sat at her desk writing a financial report of her examination of some audited financial statements and corollary data that would present her assessment of lending risks for one of the corporations they managed who were looking into acquiring a smaller company that was headed for collapse. The ringing of her phone barely took away her train of thought as she reached for it at the corner of her desk.
    “Jo’el Gifford, how can I help you?” Her fingers continued tapping away at the keys as the phone sat wedged between her shoulder and ear.
    “Jo’el, this is Madison.”
    She stopped typing, giving the other woman her full attention. “Hi.”
    “I’m headed to a meeting so I’ll cut to the chase. We were all very taken with your presentation and the smooth efficiency in which you handled the line of questions. We are interested in you. ”
    “Ohmygod…are you serious?” She leaped to her feet wanting to scream but keeping her composure so as not to lead Madison into believing they would be working with a nut