“Blackmail?” I said, furrowing my brow and doing my best to look simple and confused. “Why would it be blackmail if I want to talk about what great and reasonable managers you are? I don’t know about you, but I’m sure the crowds would love to know how well their favorite player is treated. Advertisers would love that, too,” I added with a smile that I think made Paul burst a blood vessel.
“ENOUGH,” Paul shouted, a roar that made even Janet recoil for a moment. “You simpering fucking crybaby, I will not listen to you bitch and moan and make little threats like that in this office. I’m going to suspend you from the team if you don’t quit acting like a toddler! You do not get to talk to us like that—you’re nothing, Kieran.”
“We found you,” Janet hissed, moving around my side. “We’re the only ones who have ever cared about you, and here you are, treating us like this? You’re unbelievable, you piece of trash. If you ever want us to forgive you for this bullshit, you’re going to sign that contract this instant and hope we think about renewing it next time.”
“That doesn’t have to be a problem,” I said, and now it was my turn to cross my arms and give them a set look, holding my ground. This was pathetic on their part. “If it means that much to you that the story about what you’ve been doing to me doesn’t get out, we can make it all go away very easily. See, since you handed me that contract,” I said, strolling over to the blinds and looking outside briefly, “I’ve been making a few calls to the other teams around town. After all, being an employee includes a two-way street,” I said, giving them a friendly, reasonable smile that was driving them nuts, “so just like you get to decide what’s in my contract, I get to decide whether I even want to work for you anymore.”
“Do you think any team worth their spit is going to take your sorry ass onboard? Oh no, not when I’m done talking to them,” said Janet, clenching her fists.
“You’re a little late for that,” I said, pulling out my phone and scrolling through my emails. “My lawyer helped me put together a contract more like what most players in the state get, the very same that I sent you. And that’s the frame of reference I used when starting talks with some of the other team owners around town. Right now, I’m looking at four offers in my inbox—oh, make that five, if you count the one that just came in,” I said with a grin. “So the way to fix all this is easy, Paul, Janet.” I pressed a few buttons in my phone and looked back up to them. “I’ve just forwarded you the emails I got back. What I want you to do is accept one of the offers. Trade me or sell me off to one of the other teams, and this whole issue about the contract goes under the bridge.”
Janet stalked up to me, white-hot fire in her eyes. “Alright, fucker, you want to talk business? Fine. We’ll talk business with you on a level you can understand: no. Without us, you’d be out of the job, and you do not have the chips to try to make that kind of demand. You’re nothing, Kieran, do you understand that? Nothing. You’ll pay for disobeying us like this.”
“I’m the closest thing to a father you’ve ever had, boy,” Paul growled, and I met his eyes darkly. That was a line he should not have crossed. “You need to listen to the people who matter in life, and without us, you’re a nobody.”
“I should have started listening to the people who matter a long time ago,” I said in a low tone. “I’m a player and your employee. I have a right to request to work for someone else, and that’s exactly what I’m doing--my offer stands.” And without another word, I turned my back on them and stormed out the building, getting back into my car and peeling out of the parking lot.
I tore down the highway. I should not have been driving right then. I felt like I was seeing red, and my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest.
There was nothing for me with Paul and Janet. That much had been clear before I even walked into the doors. But to hear them talking to me like that, to hear that from people who I thought had my best interests in mind for the longest time…it felt like such a betrayal that I just wanted to tear something apart. Get blind drunk. Anything to forget everything I’ve been going through and just rewind to a time before all this happened.
But I had to face up to what’s landed on my plate. I had to realize that I had to fight fire with fire, and if that meant playing dirty against the two sleazeballs who just tried to treat me like a slave, so be it.
Still, there was nothing more painful to me than feeling that kind of betrayal from people close to me. Paul and Janet had never been exactly tight with me, but this was going to be a heavy change in my life, and it would leave a bitter taste in my mouth about this part of my life forever, I knew. And when I thought about how that bastard presumed be could talk about my father like that as if he had anything to do with--
Tires screeched, horns blared, and I swerved out of the way to avoid crashing into a car I’d nearly drifted into as my mind raced with distractingly infuriating thoughts. I came to a stop on the side of the road, my car and my body intact, and to my left, traffic raced on as my heart pounded. After a few moments, I laid back in the seat, closing my eyes for a moment and counting to ten. My anger had nearly gotten me killed.
I couldn’t drive like this for long. This was worse than road rage. Taking a deep breath, I gripped the steering wheel and pulled back out into traffic once it was clear. I need to go somewhere that I knew I could regain my focus. I needed some support more than anything right now.
I needed to see Danielle.
CHAPTER 9 - DANIELLE
I was deep into editing a new article for the online journal when my phone buzzed and the screen lit up with a text message. I quickly snatched it up and slid the message open, my heart already racing. Lately all I could think about was Kieran, subconsciously hanging on the edge of my seat as I waited for his next call or text, the next time I’d hear his voice or see his handsome face. I was too far gone to even be surreptitious about it anymore. I liked him. I was developing feelings for him. And there was nothing I could do about it. I mean, sure, he had admitted that he had feelings for me, too. But I still wasn’t sure if I could take his words at face value because it just seemed… impossible. Like something that could only happen in some alternate reality in which I was much better looking and he had much lower standards.
There was still that resounding voice in the back of my mind telling me to be careful, to steer clear of any involvement with a man because all they’d ever done was cause me pain. And to be fair, that voice was pretty accurate. I hadn’t experienced a whole lot of good at the hands of men. Especially intensely attractive guys like Kieran. I was still half-convinced that at any moment he was going to play this off like one huge, evil joke for him and his football buddies to laugh at later. Like in high school.
But I was under his spell, whether that would result in agony for me or not. I chewed my lip anxiously as I read his text. He was asking if he could go over to my house because he was upset and needed someone to talk to. He said he was feeling lost.
My heart did an acrobatic little flip-flop sensation in my chest. He was lost… and he was hoping for someone to find him. And he wanted that someone to be me.
I texted him back with my address, warning him that my place was nowhere near as nice as his. He replied simply, okay.
I quietly shut my laptop and packed up my belongings, even though it was the middle of the day and all my coworkers were sitting at their desks. I rarely left during the work day and I knew they would all be gawking at me, confused. I braced myself for the peanut gallery as I stood up and slung my bag over my shoulder. Brett, the eternal thorn in my side, nearly snapped his neck looking up at me. A dark smile formed on his lips and I tried my best to evade his eyes.
“Where ya goin’?” he piped up, loud enough to make everybody look. I froze for a moment, closing my eyes and inhaling slowly to maintain my precarious final nerve, as he was poised to stomp all over it and make me lose my dignity.
But I wouldn’t give in. Not even to him. Especially not
to him. I had somewhere to be.
“For the millionth time, none of your business,” I quipped lightly as I walked toward Chuck’s office to let him know I was heading out.
Once he saw where I was going, Brett added snidely, “Time for a little afternoon delight with the big boss?”
I swiveled on my heel and shot him a warning glare. However, he just stared back expectantly, his eyebrows raised and his arms crossed on his chest. He was baiting me, and I knew it. He wanted to watch me fall apart. He was desperate to humiliate and discredit me in front of all our coworkers because he hated me, hated what I stood for, what I represented in his world. Because I could never just be his teammate, his fellow reporter. Not when there wasn’t a cock between my legs. Brett couldn’t stand the fact that in this male-dominated field, I stood out and above him. I shined where he fell flat. And it was more than he could take. So he resorted to playground bully tactics in an attempt to drag me down and intimidate me into dimming my light. But I would never lay down and shut up for the likes of him, especially not with the added boost of confidence Kieran gave me.
So I merely gave him a sickly sweet smile and said, “You are supremely preoccupied with Chuck’s sexual exploits, I’ve noticed. Is there something going on there, Brett? You have a crush or something? If you wanted my help asking him out, all you had to do was ask. Want me to pass along the message that you’re available?”
Brett’s face went scarlet and he stood up, balling his fists. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating,” he growled. I cocked my head to the side and pursed my lips in faux sympathy.
“What? That you’re sleeping with the boss? You mean the same exact thing you accuse me of almost every single day?” I clarified, taking a dogged step forward. Brett glowered.
“Yeah, but I’m not gay and neither is Chuck,” he said. “I got this job fair and square, while you just waltz in here with your tits and ass and suddenly you think you’re a real reporter ‘cause you got your own cubicle, too. The only reason you’ve gotten anywhere is because you’re a whore, sleepin’ your way to the top. How’s it feel to be called out for what you really are?”
I almost had to laugh at what he was accusing me of. I was very nearly a virgin, after all. I didn’t know how Brett had come to the conclusion that I was some wily femme fatale, but I wasn’t terribly broken up about being thought of that way. If he thought I was attractive enough to land a job based purely on my looks, it had to be some form of compliment in its own way. Suddenly it all clicked. He hated me, but… he wanted me, too. It was pathetic, and it all made sense now. I grinned.
“Oh, Brett. I see now. It’s not Chuck you’ve got a thing for, is it? It’s me,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes. He went pale and everyone in the room let out a sharp exhale, watching Brett. “But you know what? Not only will you never have my job, you’ll never have me either.”
“Bitch, you only wish I wanted you. I could rock your fuckin’ world and knock that smile off your face,” Brett said, lunging after me with his fists clenched. Just then, Chuck came out of his office looking bewildered. When his eyes landed on Brett, his face went dark.
“If you even so much as touch her I will snap your damn neck,” Chuck said, striding over to stand beside me. Brett stopped short, his chest heaving. My heart was racing, but I couldn’t allow Brett or anyone else to see how rattled I was.
“Boss, she’s been menacing me for weeks,” Brett accused, jabbing a finger in my direction. Chuck rolled his eyes.
“You think just because my office door is closed I can’t hear every single thing that goes on out here?” the boss said flatly. Brett instantly cowed, his eyes going wide. He knew he was screwed now. “This is the last strike. You’re out. Get your shit together and go home. Don’t show your ugly mug here ever again. I will not have you around threatening your coworkers and making lewd comments. You’re done.”
Brett stared emptily for a long moment, his mouth agape. I was stunned, as well. I always suspected Chuck would have my back if need be, but I had no idea how far he would go to protect me. I was flattered. It felt good to have someone stand up for me. I was finally realizing my own self-worth. If I was a good enough reporter to be worth firing Brett over, then by god I had to be pretty damn good.
Brett slowly returned to his desk and began collecting his things. Chuck turned to me and quietly said, “You can have the rest of the day off. You need a breather, Danielle. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
So now I didn’t even need an excuse to leave and go meet Kieran-- the opportunity had presented itself of its own accord. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was fate in action. Chuck guided me out of the building and walked me to my car, assuring me along the way that everything would be fine, that this wasn’t my fault and firing Brett had been a long time coming. I thanked him for backing me up and he waved his hand as though to say it was nothing.
Closing the driver’s side door after me, he leaned down and said through the open window, “Go home and relax, alright? You work too hard, kid. I’ll take care of Brett and tell the security guys not to let his sorry ass come back around. Don’t worry about a thing. If he tries anything I will pick him up and drive his butt to the police station myself. Have a good afternoon, Dani.”
“Thank you. I’ll certainly try,” I told him with a weak smile. He patted the side of the car and watched me drive off toward home.
By the time I reached the apartment, Kieran’s fancy car was already in the parking lot outside my apartment building and he was leaning against the side of it looking downward. My stomach twisted into knots at the sight of his long, muscular frame. God, he looked good. He always did, of course, but in the scintillating midday sun he was nearly glowing. A Greek god reflecting more light than the sun.
He smiled as my car pulled in beside his. I got out and he sauntered over, looking me up and down. “You look a little shaken up,” he commented, and I bit my lip.
“Yeah, I had an… interesting morning,” I said.
“What happened?” he asked, reaching to take my hand instinctively. I couldn’t even fight it. I let him hold my hand in his much larger one, his thumb tracing comforting circle on my wrist. I led him up to my apartment, telling him the whole awkward story. He was aghast at how Brett had been treating me and how long it had gone on. When we walked into my tiny little apartment I got us a couple glasses of water and we sat down on the sofa, which was a lumpy old thrift store find-- worlds away from the cushy couch at Kieran’s place.
“I can’t believe you’ve been dealing with assholes like that at work,” Kieran said, shaking his head. He looked pissed enough to track Brett down and kill him himself.
I shrugged. “That’s the reality for so many women, especially in fields dominated mostly by guys. We’re constantly having to prove ourselves worthy of the position. It’s kind of tiring, but it makes me work harder.”
“You should’ve told me what was going on. I would’ve put a stop to it long ago,” he said, scowling. I put my hand on his arm, trying to calm his fury.
“And watch the tabloids rip you apart for assaulting some jerk-off reporter guy? Hell no. I would never let you endanger your reputation for me,” I told him. He looked up and met my eyes, causing a ripple of tingling electricity to shoot between us.
“There isn’t a man alive who wouldn’t be honored to put everything on the line for someone like you,” he said softly. My cheeks burned.
“So, anyway… tell me what happened with Paul and Janet,” I said, changing the subject quickly. “After all, we’re here to talk about you, not me.”
He straightened up a little, backing off just slightly. Still, I was reeling from the intense, momentary connection between us. It was undeniable at this point. This was something much more than a professional dynamic.
Kieran explained to me how horribly Janet had treated him when he confronted her, how dismal his situation seemed now. It was obvious that Paul and Janet weren’t going to back down without a figh
t. “I want your help to expose them,” Kieran asked earnestly. “I need you by my side to make this happen. I-I don’t know if I could do it without you.”
“I promise I’ll stand by you,” I assured him. “I will do whatever you need.”
“If it were just about me, I would never ask for help. I can look out for myself and if they wanted to destroy me I’d risk everything and fight back with fire, but… it’s not just about me, Dani,” he explained slowly, staring down at his lap. “My family… they depend on me for the money I make. That’s why this matters so much. That’s why I can’t just throw caution to the wind and tell Paul and Janet to fuck off. My mom, my extended family, all need me to survive. If I don’t get paid, they can’t go on. So many of them are out of work, disabled, or in other shitty situations. They need my help, and that’s why I need yours.”
He looked up at me, his deep blue eyes sorrowful. I hadn’t known just how far his loyalty and generosity reached. I knew about his mother and how he supported her, but to think that his entire family was depending on him… well, that was a lot of responsibility. A lot of pressure. He was so much more than his cocky, show-offy public persona. Kieran Michaels was a sweetheart looking out for his family, desperately supporting them the best way he knew how.
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