I open my mouth. Close it. Because how do I prove a negative?
“The leak about Carter’s arrest came from the police department,” Ralph interjects. “Security footage. Someone with access to their system sold it to the press. Olivia had nothing to do with it.”
“Can you prove that?” the lawyer repeats.
“I can verify that the footage didn’t come from our end,” the security chief says. “But that doesn’t change public perception.”
Mark rubs his temples. “Jesus Christ. What a mess.”
“There’s more,” the lawyer says, pulling out her tablet. “Social media is already running with this. #GoldDigger is trending. Along with several other hashtags I won’t repeat.”
She turns the screen toward us, and I see tweet after tweet, each one more vicious than the last.
She’s just using him for fame.
Poor Carter. He deserves better.
Typical. Woman sleeps her way to the top and ruins a good man.
She’s trash. Fire her.
My hands clench in my lap. Carter’s grip tightens on mine.
“This is bullshit,” he says. “Every word of it.”
“Maybe,” Mark says. “But it’s the reality we’re dealing with.” He looks at me, and I see the decision in his eyes before he says it. “Olivia, I’m putting you on administrative leave. Effective immediately.”
The words hit like a physical blow. “Mark, please—”
“Non-negotiable.” His voice softens slightly. “Look, I’m not firing you. But until we get this under control, I can’t have you working directly with the team. It’s too much of a distraction.”
“A distraction.” The word tastes bitter. “That’s what I am now.”
“That’s what the situation is,” he corrects. “And Storm, you’re benched for Sunday’s game.”
“What?” Carter’s on his feet. “You can’t—”
“I can, and I am.” Mark stands too, meeting him eye to eye. “You want to be with her? Fine. But there are consequences. And right now, those consequences include both of you stepping back until we figure out how to spin this.”
“There’s nothing to spin,” Carter says through gritted teeth. “We’re two adults in a relationship. That’s it.”
“In any other situation, I’d agree.” Mark’s voice is weary now. “But you’re not just any adult, Storm. You’re the face of this franchise. And she’s—” He stops himself.
“She’s what?” Carter challenges. “Go ahead. Say it.”
Mark’s jaw works. “She’s the woman everyone thinks used you to get ahead. And until we can prove otherwise, that’s the story.”
Silence falls over the room, heavy and suffocating.
I stand on shaking legs. “I understand. I’ll clear out my office.”
“Olivia—” Carter reaches for me.
“It’s fine.” I force a smile that feels like glass. “I’ll be fine.”
But as I walk out of that office, past the staring staff members and whispering colleagues, I know the truth.
I’m not fine.
