Rebound: A 2nd Chance

Jason was in the same room that he had been in since the day had first started. Despite the situation that he was in his attitude seemed pretty relaxed as he surfed the internet on his phone.

'Ooh these shoes look pretty good. I wonder what colorways they have them in. That glacial white and sun gold colorway looks dope!

Should I buy it? I have the money but in a couple of months I probably won't fit them. I forgot how annoying it was to have growing feet.'

It had been over two hours since he had been isolated in the room but not an ounce of worry could be found on his face.

Just as he was about to add the shoes to his cart he turned his head to the door as he heard some people approaching.

There was a middle-aged man dressed in casual athletic wear followed by another middle-aged man in a suit and the marketing agent that had threatened him last night.

Jason put his phone away into his pocket as the three men walked up to him. The man in athletic wear smiled as he stuck his hand out.

"Jason Yang I presume? I am so sorry for the delay in your training. I want you to know that we have gotten everything sorted out.

My name is Bennet Romano but you can call me Benny. I'm the one in charge of the New York branch of Nike."

Jason's face remained unchanged even after discovering the man's identity. He simply nodded his head as he shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you Benny. You know, when I first agreed to join Nike's training camp for middle school basketball players I wasn't expecting to be threatened and strong armed by your marketing department."

Benny's expression turned ugly for a split second after hearing Jason say that. But a moment later and the smile was back on his face.

Benny dragged Hank and Mr. Lionel by the collars of their suits as he pulled them closer to Jason "That's why I brought these two shi- I mean knuckle heads here. So that they could properly apologize."

At first the two men were silent but after a quick slap to the back of both their heads, curtesy of Benny, the two of them apologized in unison "We're sorry."

Jason looked at the two men before shifting his gaze to Benny "There's a Chinese saying that applies pretty well to Korean culture.

The saying goes "There's gold under a man's knees." It means that the value of a man kneeling down is heavy and that it should only be done if the situation truly warrants it."

After a moment of silence Benny kicked the two men in the back of their knees forcing them to kneel down.

"You heard him! What the hell we're you two waiting for huh!? Or do you guys think that your stupidity hasn't reached the point of kneeling for forgiveness!?"

The two men felt as though their faces were on fire. They were successful businessmen who had climbed to high positions in a multi billion dollar company like Nike.

They were used to the sweet taste of success and the respect of others. There were times where they had to lower their heads but that was only to people in higher positions than them.

They had never experienced the humiliation of being scolded and being forced to their knees in front of a little kid.

Luckily it was only the four of them in the room. If there were others there to spectate who knows how badly this would have destroyed them.

Hank looked up to the sitting Jason as he kneeled "I am so sorry Jason. I know I did you wrong but I hope that you can look past the mistakes of an old guy like me."

For Hank he didn't mind saying those embarrassing things. He was already forced to his knees by his boss.

The best that he could do at the moment was try and appease Jason in hopes that he would forgive him.

Mr. Lionel on the other hand seemed to be struggling as he couldn't utter a single word as he kept his head down and stared at the floor.

Jason tilted his head "Looks like one of them doesn't think that he did anything wrong." Mr. Lionel's head angrily shot up as he glared at Jason.

"I already said that I was sorry and I'm already on my fucking knees! What more do you want from me you stu-"

Before he could finish what he was going to say Benny pulled him up from the ground. Benny was only an inch away from Mr. Lionel as he angrily muttered.

"You really like to fuck up huh? I told you this was your last chance you shit head! Do I look like a joke to you?"

He then pushed Mr. Lionel to the ground "Pack your shit and get the fuck out! You have five minutes before I call security to beat your ass and drag you out like a dog!"

Mr. Lionel scrambled to his feet before rushing out the door. Benny then turned to Jason with a bright smile on his face.

"Sorry about that Jason. I hope you don't let a idiot like that ruin your day. I heard that you didn't like the offer that the marketing team first gave you. How about you and me iron out the details in my office."

Jason let out a small smile as he nodded his head "That sounds good Benny."

- - -

Later that night. Jason, Kyle, and Nate were hanging out at their hotel room. They all ate dinner as they watched TV.

They had started their conversation off with talking about how their days had went. When Jason told him about what had happened to him the two of them nearly fell to the floor.

Nate let out an awkward chuckle "And I thought that my day was exciting because I found a twenty dollar bill on the floor."

Kyle laughed "That's just how Jason is Nate. Even when he's not trying he just ends up one upping everyone else."

Jason shrugged his shoulders "It's not like I was trying to flex or anything. You guys asked me how my day went so I told you."

Kyle just shook his head before looking at Jason "So you ended up agreeing to be part of their marketing campaign right? Can you tell us the details or is it like super top secret?"

Jason ate another bite of his unpleasant meal before answering "1 million dollars but I don't get any cuts from their sales. 

When I'm on the court I can only wear Nike stuff and although I don't have to when I'm off the court they said it would be better for my image if I did the same.

The contract is for two years." Jason then reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He then took out a black card with the Nike logo on it.

"They also gave me this card. They said that if I want to buy anything from any of their stores I can just use this card.

Obviously I can't use it to buy a hundred shoes and resale them but if any of my friends or family want something they said it was cool to use it."

Nate was stunned to hear what Jason had said. He wasn't even in high school and yet he had already made a million dollars.

Nate asked "How did your parents react to hearing that you just made a million dollars." Jason smiled "They thought it was a prank at first.

They had a really hard time believing it but after Benny sent them the paper work and the money showed up in their account they had no choice but to believe it."

They continued to talk as they ate their dinner. The atmosphere around the three of them was much more loosed and relaxed compared to the first time that they had met.

Nate looked at Jason "Thanks for inviting me over again. I know that you're busy with training and that you have other friends to hang out with."

Jason shook his head "Don't worry about them. They were all cool and pretty understanding when I told them that I wouldn't be able to spend too much time with them for the last week of camp."

Jason looked Nate straight in the eyes "Blood only makes people related. Loyalty is what really makes you family.

And if I'm going to treat you like family, even if it's only temporary, I'm going to do it right. I've never half assed anything in my life.

Well, except for Mr. Rivera's class but fuck that guy." Nate felt his chest warming up as he heard Jason say that.

'This is what family is supposed to feel like. You're supposed to be able to feel the love and feel relaxed when you're with family.

This is so different compared to hanging out with my other cousins. Even though we've only been talking for two days now I feel close to Jason just like how I feel with my sister.'

Just as they were in the midst of their conversation the program on the TV changed.

- - -

A man in a dark blue suit was on TV "Thank you for tuning in to ESPN. We have some breaking news!

Nike breaks new ground as they sign middle school basketball player Jason Yang to be a part of their roster of players.

Not only is Jason Yang the first Asian American to be signed to Nike since Jeremy Lin. But he is also the first unproven talent that they have ever signed.

Boom or bust. Does Jason Yang really deserve this contract? Or is it just a ploy to use his identity as an Asian American to appeal to the consumers in the Asian market.

Find out more as our panel of Sports experts discuss the topic in detail later tonight."