Narrowing my gaze, I asked, “You just divorced a couple of years ago, right?”
“Yes.”
“What happened? I never saw too much more than that you were going through some tough times.”
She scoffed and replied, “I worked hard to keep my business off the front page and out of social media.”
“And yet, you want me to put mine there.”
Chanel bounced her foot up and down from her reclined position on the chaise. She rested her head in her hand after she propped her elbow on the arm of the couch. “No, I don’t want you to put your personal business out there. I want you to put the athlete who’s transitioning to a businessman out there. I’m trying to sell a feel-good story that inspires, educates, and ministers to your fans.”
“You seem to be the only fan I have lately. No matter where I turn, it seems the world is against me.”
“I know it can seem that way at times, but that’s just the devil whispering and trying to get you down. You can’t buy into his mind games.”
“You’re a spiritual woman?”
“I pray daily and let the Lord guide me. Without Him, I’d be lost.”
I smiled and nodded, relating to that statement deeper than she might perceive.
“Same.”
“I know. I’ve seen you praying on the bench and in the locker rooms. I can tell it’s not for show either. It seems to be a privilege, and though you’re not ashamed, I can tell that you’re not trying to draw attention to yourself.”
I changed the subject and asked, “How did you get in the industry?”
“My dad is and always has been a sports fanatic. We watched games together from the time I was two months until now. He would sit me on his lap and watch them with me, and according to my parents, I was more reactive to plays than he was. He watched basketball, football, baseball, soccer, boxing, MMA, and the Olympics. He would complain about the sportscasters not getting to the heart of the matter and not getting the athletes to open up in the right way. He said they spent too much time offending the players rather than getting them to feel like they had a comrade on their side. I knew then that I would be a sideline reporter. I just had to build my career one brick at a time. I wanted to prove that a woman could be feminine, sexy, and girly in this space and still do a great job. That’s what I’ve built my brand on. I wanted to give the players a person they could trust, and?—”
“It doesn’t hurt that you’re a fine, beautiful ass woman either.”
“No, it doesn’t,” she replied softly with a smile.
I knew that I needed to get my ass out of here and head home. If I kept fucking around with Chanel the way that I was, I would be in serious danger of breaching my commitment to stayloyal until my marriage ended. But when it did, I planned to be all up in them guts.
TWO WEEKS LATER
“Chanel Dubois is knocking down morethan barriers and walls in the sports industry; she’s knocking down the walls of happy marriages. The award-winning sports journalist has been creeping around town with MVP shooting guard, Ashton Santoro.”
“Happy wife, happy life. I don’t think so. Word on the streets is Zoe “Muffin” Santoro isn’t so happy anymore. She’s filed for divorce now that her celebrity husband has been caught making out with award-winning, Chanel Dubois, the reporter for Bolton Sports. Yet the MVP baller seems to be very happy with the prized trophy, Ms. Dubois.”
“Hot Lips Santoro and Hot Hips Dubois: The couple of the year no one saw coming. The sexy basketball player is starting a new chapter of life with a brand-new wife. Yes, you heard it here . . . Word on the streets is that basketball’s sexiest un-eligible player is now on the market again after his wife filed for divorce. That comes on the heels of leaked photos of the star getting it on with the curvy, bad-ass, beautiful fashionista of sports, Ms. Chanel Dubois. Who could blame him, though. Have you seen her in a bikini?”
“Fuck!” I grumbled, handing Amélie’s phone back to her. It had been a difficult evening already, because we hadn’t won tonight’s game.
Our team played poorly, and for the first time in a long time, we weren’t a cohesive unit. I felt guilty about that, because although I tried to put my attitude behind me, it was difficult for Alex and me to work together.
“You’d better say that again.”
“I don’t want to deal with this right now. After that horrible game, the last thing that I need is to deal with bullshit.”
“I’m sorry, but these rumors aren’t going anywhere until you address them. With your temper the way it has been lately, things are only going to get worse. I’m surprised her lawyer hasn’t already contacted yours about the divorce and changed the terms,” Amélie declared.
“She has no proof of anything. These pictures prove nothing, Amé. I have proof of her infidelity, thanks to the best investigator in the business.”
“I hear you, but don’t be surprised if things change. She’s got an axe to grind, and I put nothing past that woman.”
“Thanks for letting me know this.”
