Matthew raises an eyebrow. “Meltdown in the elevator? I don’t know anything about a meltdown.”
I’m at a loss. Why else would Drew want me to sign an NDA? I smile as scenes from the Fifty Shades of Grey movie come to mind.
“Is this really necessary?” I ask after I’ve taken a few minutes to flip through the pages of the agreement. “Can’t you just tell me what this is about?”
Matthew shakes his head with a frown. “I’m sorry Julie. I can’t go any further until you sign the NDA.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’ll thank you for your time and go.”
I should slide the papers back toward Matthew and leave. I don’t need any drama in my life. But curiosity gets the best of me. I look through the NDA one more time. From what I can gather, it’s basically telling me to keep my mouth shut or Drew will sue the pants off of me.
Good luck with that, I think to myself.
Despite my trepidations, I sign and date the last page.
Matthew takes the NDA and puts another set of paperwork in its place. “What I’m about to propose to you is going to sound a bit off the wall.”
Isn’t the situation already off the wall?
“Okay. I’m listening.”
Matthew clasps his hands together on the table. “In a nutshell, Mr. Waters has an extreme sleep deprivation problem. He gets two to three hours of sleep a night, if he’s lucky. He is often tired during the day and feels this is having an effect on his performance during games.”
“He seems to be doing fine to me,” I interject when Matthew pauses.
Matthew smiles. “No doubt Mr. Waters is an elite athlete. But he wonders how much better he could be if he was getting the proper rest. Cincinnati is going to the playoffs this year and Mr. Waters is prepared to do whatever it takes to bring home the league title.”
Why is Matthew telling me this? To apologize for the attitude Drew had yesterday?
“I’m sure Drew will win a championship, he’s amazing,” I say, hoping Matthew will see I’m not upset with Drew.
“It’s my understanding you were the young lady trapped in the elevator with Mr. Waters yesterday.”
“I was,” I confirm.
“And you two fell asleep together?”
“We did.”
Matthew slides the new paperwork my way, a blue pen sitting on the top sheet. “Mr. Waters would like for you to assist him in getting sleep.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
“He is willing to pay you fifty thousand dollars if you will sleep with him until the end of his playoff run. Whether that be the semifinal games or the championship game.”
My mouth drops open. Did he say fifty thousand dollars?! “You’re kidding me, right?”
Matthew shakes his head. “I am not. It’s all in the contract. Mr. Waters has already signed it.”
My hands are shaking as I flip to the last page of the new paperwork. Drew’s signature is at the bottom in blue ink. I wonder foolishly for a second if he used the same blue pen Mr. Deer presented to me.
I look up at Matthew. “This is crazy.”
“I told you it was a bit off the wall. But Mr. Waters takes his sport very seriously. He wants to get better sleep. He thinks you can give it to him. He is shocked he was able to fall asleep yesterday, especially in a stressful situation and in an elevator. He is willing to do whatever it takes, including paying someone he doesn’t know a lot of money to sleep in his bed.”
I’m stupefied. “He expects me to sleep in his bed with him every night?”
“Yes. Until the basketball season is over.”
“What about road trips?”
“He would like for you to travel out of town with him.”
I pause. “I can’t. I’m in my last semester of law school and I can’t miss my classes.”
“When is the school year over?” Matthew asks.
“I have five weeks left.”
Matthew does some calculations in his head. “Your schooling will only interfere with the rest of the regular season. I’ll double check with Mr. Waters, but that should be fine.”
“Where am I going to stay? In his house?”
“Yes. Which reminds me, by signing the contract, you agree to a comprehensive background check. Given that you will be staying in Mr. Waters’ home, I’m sure you can understand why he would require one.”
I stiffen. “You won’t find anything. I cleared the Ohio Supreme Court’s protocol for taking the bar examination.”
Matthew puts his hand up. “I don’t mean to offend you, but Mr. Waters knows nothing about you. The background check is just to ensure you don’t have any blemishes on your record. It’s standard procedure with my high profile clients.”
“I understand,” I say, although my mind is spinning. Background checks? Living with Drew Waters? Fifty Grand? What the heck is happening right now?
My bewilderment is obvious. “Do you have any questions?” Matthew asks. “I’m throwing a lot at you.”
“Drew is truly willing to pay me fifty thousand dollars to come to his house and sleep in his bed every night?”
“Yes. The terms are in the contract. The payment will be made in two installments. The first payment will come in seven days. The final payment will come at the end of the season.”
“What if I have to back out before the season is over?”
“You won’t get the second payment, but you can keep the first twenty-five thousand dollars.”
This sounds impossible. “I get twenty-five thousand no matter what?”
Matthew smiles. “You sign the paperwork and last a week, you get twenty-five thousand dollars.”
I need some time to sort this out. “Can you give me a minute?” I ask Matthew.
“Absolutely,” he says and stands up. “I’ll come back in fifteen minutes or so. Is that alright?”
I nod my head.
“Look over the contract and we can discuss any questions you have when I get back.” Matthew steps out into the hallway and shuts the door behind him.
I lean over the table and read the contract Matthew left for me. All of the terms he discussed are included. But there are a few things that catch my attention. I have to use the same shampoo, perfume and other personal care products I wore yesterday; I have to be in Drew’s home by 10 p.m. and ready for bed by 11 p.m.; and I have to tell everyone outside of Drew’s management team that I am his personal assistant. I am not allowed to tell anyone what I am actually getting paid for.
There is also a list of items I am not allowed to bring inside Drew’s home: weapons, drugs and alcohol are on the list. I will be provided with a closet and guest bathroom for my “personal needs.” I am allowed to stay on the property as much as I want and can use all facilities on the property, whatever that means. However, I am not to enter Drew’s closet or bathroom.
One sentence makes me a bit queasy. If I sign the contract, I consent to being searched at any time. I understand why this provision is in there, but still. I don’t like the idea of stripping down so they can make sure I didn’t steal a watch or expensive silver.
I sigh as I reach the last page. I can’t decide if this is too good to be true, or an awful idea. I would have to quit my job at the restaurant, at least for a little while. But I’ll make more money in the next two months than I’d make at the restaurant in a year. More importantly, it will be enough money to pay for the rest of Jeremy’s undergrad studies.