Part X
Alex sat in bed the next morning, reading the bills that were sent prior to that day. She and Marissa had money to spare. But it wasn't enough for Alex. She really wanted to have house of their own. She secretly hoped to get a promotion or a better job. She didn't want to put pressure on Marissa. Marissa was already happy in the Bait Shop.
"Hey you… You're up early…" Marissa snuggled to her holding her by the waist.
The brunette looked up to Alex and smiled.
"Morning…" Alex removed her glasses and bent down to kiss Marissa on the cheek.
"I was hoping to discuss those after dinner. Seems you're up for it this early…" Marissa sat up giving Alex a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't worry about them. I'll run down on my break to pay them."
"We're not short are we?" Marissa asked worriedly.
"No we're not. We have a few to spare." Alex replied giving her a reassuring kiss.
"Ok. Go take your shower. I'll fix breakfast. Love you…" Marissa kissed Alex's cheek then stood up to wash her face in the bathroom.
Alex smiled watching her go.
"I love you too Marissa." Alex called out making the brunette turn to her with a smile.
----
"BETH! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!" Their uptight manager yelled out, making the brunette run across the room.
Alex arrived holding her lunch box that Marissa had prepared for her. Sitting on her desk she sighed before looking at another pile of papers she had to work on.
"ALEX! GET YOUR ASS IN HERE RIGHT NOW!" The manager yelled out again.
It made Alex shot up from her seat, running towards the conference room. When she reached for the door, she found Inna sitting on the other end along with a few men in suits and Beth seemed to be confused at what was going on.
"Uh hello?" Alex stuttered out nervous at what this meeting was all about.
----
"You seem pre-occupied today Marissa…" Joyce asked as they both mopped the floor.
"I was thinking of getting an office job." Marissa replied smiling.
"Why? You don't like working here anymore?" Mark asked wrapping his arms around Joyce.
"I do. But I have to help Alex a lot more. We want a lot of things. Like our own house… Kids…" Marissa said dreamily.
Mark and Joyce smiled at each other, and then turned their gaze towards their friend.
"Did she ask you already?" Joyce asked casually.
"Not yet. But I wouldn't mind if she did." Marissa answered her thoughts brought back to ones which included Alex's.
----
"So you're basically saying…?" Alex shook her head unsure if she was hearing things right.
"We're basically saying they want to hire you for the season as my replacement for the LA Sparks." The injured Inna Van Stein casually explained as she smiled looking at the bewildered Alex Cohen.
Beth's jaw just drop. The girl felt her throat dry.
"Why me?" Alex asked still utterly stunned.
"You're the best Alex Cohen. Your performance may not have been seen in the NCAA, but you definitely kicked ass in Europe." Jill, the team's coach stood up showing Alex the clippings their office had gathered and as well as the stats for all the teams Alex had played in.
"Just for the season?" Alex asked again.
She didn't really know what else to say or ask.
"For now, just for the season. If you help us reach the semis, you're looking at a contract good for four years Miss Cohen." Jill replied sitting back down.
"Well?"
"What about the salary?" Beth blurted out, earning a glare from their manager.
She shrugged her shoulders and looked at Alex who shot her a grin.
"Who might you be Miss…?" Inna shot Beth a sexy grin making the girl flinch.
"Uh…" Beth uttered not knowing what to say.
"She's my manager now." Alex replied saving Beth some embarrassment.
"Oh…" Inna replied still grinning at the flustered brunette.
"How about we talk about the details tomorrow? Say lunch?"
"Yeah sure." Alex replied.
"Bring your cute manager with you." Inna added grinning at Beth.
----
Bianca entered the Bait Shop alongside Jodie and took a seat beside the bar while Marissa cleaned it. Joyce and Mark were putting up posters while Jean arranged payments for the bills.
"So why are you going to really look for another job?" Bianca asked drinking a glass of water.
"I'm thinking about it. And I need to talk to Alex about it…" Marissa replied resting her elbows on the bar.
"If you quit can I take your job? I know Beth's earning enough for both of us. But I want a job." Bianca said fiddling with her bracelet.
"Summer got a job at a magazine. Assistant researcher I think." Jodie joined in thinking about the name of the magazine.
"Wow! That's great. Summer's all working girl now." Marissa smiled earning a laugh from Bianca and Jodie.
"Well I'm glad someone hired her. She's been really too picky." Jodie grinned drinking a glass of coke.
"That's Summer for you." Marissa replied smiling at her friends.
----
Alex entered their apartment, utterly tired and confused. Her boss had no objections to her sudden "PROMOTION" since the company also owns the team. She took a seat on the couch, deep in thought.
"I don't think Marissa would agree… She hates me playing the damn sport…" Alex rubbed her forehead not knowing what to do.
"But… The perks… The money…" Alex took a key from her pocket and stared at it.
"We could have our own house and our club in a year's time…"
Alex rested her head on the headrest. She was still deep in thought.
"How am I going to tell Marissa about this...?" Alex mumbled as she put her hands to cover her eyes.
----
"Thanks for the lift Jodie." Marissa got down from Jodie's jeep and waved the brunette goodbye.
She turned around, holding some a pint of ice cream and some rented DVDs and walked over towards their beach apartment. Marissa was caught by surprise, finding a red mustang with no plate on their garage.
"Wonder who's dropped by…?" Marissa asked herself, her eyes glued to the vehicle as she walked up the door.
She opened the apartment door and turned on the lights, only to find Alex sleeping on the couch, still in her office clothes.
"Poor baby…" Marissa smiled closing the door behind her.
She put the bags she was holding on the coffee table and sat beside the sleeping blonde.
"Wake up…" Marissa said softly leaning down to kiss Alex's lips.
Alex stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at the sight of Marissa hovering her.
"Sorry I couldn't pick you up… Late meeting…" Alex mumbled sitting up to bring her lips to Marissa's.
"It's fine…" Marissa replied under the kiss.
She pulled away from Alex then ran her fingers through Alex's hair. She looked at her adoringly, but Alex seemed to be feeling uneasy.
"Something wrong?" Marissa asked looking intently at the blonde.
"I'm fine." Alex replied sitting properly to cuddle with Marissa.
"I found a mustang on the garage. Did our neighbor have a visitor?" Marissa asked looked up to her.
"Um… Um… That's actually ours…" Alex replied feeling fear flush her veins.
"What I don't understand?" Marissa bolted upright facing Alex who was beginning to look pale.
"Um… I got a promotion. Sort of. They're still ironing out the details."
"Huh?"
"You know… Salary… Contracts…"
"What contracts?" Marissa crossed her arms, confused at what her girlfriend is trying to tell her.
"They asked me to play professional basketball hon." Alex smiled trying to earn a little happy-look from Marissa.
"Basketball?" Marissa asked stunned, and utterly in disbelief.
"Yes."
"B-A-S-K-E-T-B-A-L-L?" Marissa asked again her tone starting to get nasty.
"Yes…"
Marissa just stood up and looked at Alex in shock. Alex knew what she felt about her playing. She knew how it worries her when she does. And here she is saying she got promoted to becoming a basketball player? When did the financial ladder of employment end up in being a professional basketball player?
"You are not taking that job!" Marissa walked towards their room and Alex hurriedly followed.
"HONEY! IT'S ONLY FOR A YEAR!" Alex called out only to be halted by a door slamming in her face.
"Way to go Cohen…" Alex mumbled banging her head against the closed door.