Chapter 28 1st Endorsment

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[20/07/03, Sloson Restaurant west LA,]

Jace sat at a booth near the back of the restaurant, the hum of conversation around him fading into background noise as he tapped his fingers against the polished wooden table. The faint scent of grilled steak and garlic butter lingered in the air, mixing with the soft jazz playing through the overhead speakers. Across from him sat a man in his early forties, dressed in a sharp navy suit with a crisp white shirt. He had the look of someone who had closed a lot of deals in his time—confident but not overbearing, polished but not flashy.

"Jace, first off, happy belated birthday," the man said, offering a small smile as he extended his hand. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. My name is David Hensley, and I represent Titan-Fit."

Jace shook his hand, nodding slightly. "Appreciate that. I figured it was time to finally hear what you guys had to offer."

David leaned back, his smile widening. "I won't waste your time. We've been interested in you for a while now. You're young, talented, and your potential is through the roof. We want to help support that journey. That's why we're offering you an exclusive one-year contract with Titan-Fit."

He pulled out a sleek black folder from his briefcase, setting it on the table and flipping it open. Inside, neatly stacked papers outlined the terms of the deal. "Here's the offer: A one-year contract, with an upfront payment of fifty thousand dollars. You'll receive five thousand per month, access to any Titan-Fit gym across the country, and you can bring your friends along anytime you want. On top of that, we'll provide access to some of the best trainers and doctors in the business—people who work with elite athletes day in and day out."

Jace exhaled slowly, glancing down at the contract. The numbers weren't life-changing, at least not compared to the deals he'd seen floating around social media. There were kids his age signing seven-figure NIL contracts, locking in sneaker endorsements and commercial spots. Fifty grand felt almost modest in comparison.

He wasn't complaining since its better than nothing and unlike what he had been expecting the offers he had received weren't that crazy. The big businesses either wanted to lock him down for mad years by offering the bare minimum to entice him and the ones that did sound interesting he wasn't ready to commit. He wasn't receiving the offers he thought he would be, and this deal also didn't sweep him off his feet.

Although the money wasn't what he had expected but the other perks? Those were harder to ignore. "It's a solid deal, Jace," David continued, watching him carefully. "We're not just offering money—we're offering long-term investment in your future. You'd have top-tier facilities, medical staff, and a brand that isn't just looking for a quick marketing opportunity. We see you as a long-term partner."

He took a pause before he continued speaking. "We only sign one athlete per major sport in each state and you have been our top pick for whatever state you ended up going to. I have personally been following your journey for quite a while, and you have a canon for an arm son." He took a pause making eye contact with Jace who looked up from the contract. "I am sure you will achieve great things, and if not for the mandatory probation period I would have proposed a more lucrative long term deal son."

Jace shifted in his seat, rubbing a hand over his jaw. Fifty grand wasn't small money, and the access to elite facilities was something that could legitimately help his development. But at the same time, was he selling himself short? If he waited, could something bigger come along? Probably?

David seemed to pick up on his hesitation. "Look, Jace, I get it. You've seen the headlines, million-dollar deals getting thrown around, social media blowing up with these massive NIL announcements. But let me tell you something—those deals? They come with strings. Multi-year commitments, brand restrictions, and sometimes, they'll own your image in ways you won't even realize until it's too late. We're offering you something different. A chance to grow at your own pace, to use our resources without being tied down long-term."

Jace leaned back in his chair, letting David's words sink in. His phone buzzed in his pocket, probably another notification from some analyst breaking down the latest NIL deals. He knew he couldn't sit on this forever. Titan-Fit wouldn't wait indefinitely and their offer was genuinely sincere. But this was his future, and he needed to be sure since this would impact his family's future.

He glanced at David, studying his expression. The man was good—slick, but not slimy unlike the dudes he had seen in the hood hustling for every dollar. Taking a deep breath making eye contact with the man, "You know what David, I'm in, I will have my sister look at the contract and if everything is in order I should be ok to proceed and join the TITAN-FIT family."

David's expression brightened the moment Jace agreed, as though a subtle weight had lifted from the older man's shoulders. He carefully slipped the contract back into its folder, tapping it with the edge of his thumb. His tone turned warmer, more casual, as if they were old acquaintances rather than business associates.

"No rush," he said, sliding the folder closer to Jace. "Take your time—have your sister look it over, maybe get a second opinion. We'll set up a follow-up meeting later this week to go through any changes you want. I'm confident we'll come to an agreement everyone's happy with."

Jace offered a small nod of thanks, but his mind was already buzzing with the next steps. He couldn't help but wonder how his sister would react once they saw the numbers in black and white. Even though it wasn't the kind of life-altering deal he'd fantasized about, fifty grand was still no joke—especially for an eighteen-year-old who'd grown up counting every dollar.

"Sounds good," he said, sliding the contract into his own bag. He glanced around the restaurant, momentarily distracted by the din of waiters weaving through tables. Once he looked back at David, he noticed a glint of genuine pride in the man's eyes.

"Although were not signing on the dotted line right now we should still have lunch, my treat." David said as he motioned for one of the menu cards on the table handing one to Jace.

Jace nodded, taking the menu card with a small smile. He glanced down at the laminated pages, pretending to deliberate over the selection trying not to gasp at the large numbers behind the dishes. The past him would have never imagined spending 3 figures on buttered chicken.

He flipped through the menu in silence for a moment, eyes scanning dishes that cost more than he used to spend on a week's worth of groceries. Around him, the restaurant buzzed with the clinking of silverware and hushed conversation. Across the table, David took a polite sip of water, giving Jace the space to think.

Eventually, Jace placed the menu down and glanced up. "Not gonna lie I don't know what half these options are, so I'll just go with the grilled chicken." he said, as he placed the many backs on the table.

"Good choice," David repeated, setting down his own menu. He leaned back in his seat, the chair squeaking softly against the tiled floor. The waiter approached with a notepad, and David gestured in Jace's direction first. After Jace placed his order, David requested a Caesar salad with grilled salmon and handed the menu to the waiter, who disappeared into the flow of clinking glasses and murmured conversations.

"So, Jace," David began, folding his arms, "I know you've got your sister looking at everything, but how are you feeling about it? I mean, one year is quick. You'll be evaluating us as much as we're evaluating you."

Jace nodded thoughtfully, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. "It's... a lot to take in, not just this but everything. Suddenly I'm asked to make choices involving thousands of dollars." He admitted, though his eyes flicked to the black folder nestled beside him. "But a one-year deal is safer. I don't mind proving myself if it means not being locked down for too long." 

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To Be Continued...