“I inherited the team when I was twenty-seven.My dad died suddenly.I was living with my brothers on one of our properties, working cattle and running a feed operation.I never wanted a corporate life.Never wanted the spotlight.My parents separated when we were young, and my brothers and I stayed with my mom.I let the people in suits handle everything because I didn’t know how to do it myself.I figured they would take care of everything.”
I shook my head.“You should’ve known.It was your job to know.”
“You're right,” he said simply.
The honesty startled me.I straightened and turned my body to face him.Studying the man before me.He looked honest, remorseful.His big almond-shaped brown eyes were warm and open.I felt the anger soften, just a little.
“I should have known,” he repeated, eyes steady on mine.“And I didn’t.And Nate Carson paid for the consequences of my distance.I’m not going to pretend otherwise.”
A lump rose in my throat, sharp and unwelcome.I had to blink quickly to hold back the tears.
He continued, quiet but unwavering, “When I saw that video...when I saw you screaming for them to stop, when I saw reporters trying to touch you… when I saw a video of you with blood on your hands and cameras shoved in your face...something in me shifted.I realized just how deeply I’d failed my players.My staff.My community.You.”
I could feel his pain and regret as he spoke.I wanted to find the lie in this man, find the deception, but I couldn't.He stood in front of me an open book.Nothing like the management from the team, nothing like the people I had been directing my rage at.
“So what?”I whispered, voice cracking.“You came to apologize?”
“No,” he said.“I came to tell you what I’ve done.”
My heart stuttered.
“I fired Ray Decker,” he said.“And the head of PR.And four people in marketing.I’ve suspended two coaches pending investigation.And starting next season, the entire team culture is being rebuilt from the ground up.Mental health, physical limits, contract transparency, all of it.”
I stared at him.I didn’t want to be moved.I didn’t want to feel anything.But something shifted inside me.Like this stranger was slowly peeling back the layers of protective anger.
He took a cautious breath.
“And I came,” he said softly, “because I want to take something off your shoulders.”
I almost laughed.“Take what?What else is there left to take?”
His eyes flicked to my stomach, respectful, never lingering, and then back to mine.
“Your anger,” he said.
Everything went very still.
“My… what?”
“Your anger,” he repeated, voice gentle but firm.“I have been in contact with the Carsons.I see what it’s doing to you, Tessa.I see how it’s hollowing you out.You don’t need to carry the fight alone.Not when I’m the one who should’ve been carrying it all along.”
My throat burned.It felt like the sun was trying to break through...but how could that be?The guilt was whispering in my ear that I didn't deserve it.
But I found myself asking.“If I give up my anger… what’s left of me?”
He held my gaze without flinching.
“Everything worth having,” he said softly.
I made a small, sharp, involuntary sound.
Callum took one careful step closer.
“You may not remember,” he said, “but I remember you.Years ago.You worked at one of our orchards and then with the livestock on one of my properties.You handled a three-year-old mare no one else could get near.I knew then you were someone who saw the world clearly.Someone who didn’t shy away from hard things.Every single person you worked with spoke so highly of you.I think we even tried to offer you a position on our ranch after you graduated.”
Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall.
“I didn’t know it was you....That you and Nate were together,” he continued.“But the moment I found out, the moment I understood… I knew I owed you this conversation.”
