"Smart went out the window when he stole my phones and..." I stop, a sickening realization dawning. "Did you just say there’s an ethics complaint against Ivy and that there are photos involved?”
He nods, his eyebrows pulling together into a frown.
“That was him."
"Probably."
"Definitely." I grab my keys. "I have to warn her."
"Dec." Riley appears behind Rowan on the screen, her usually bright expression serious. "You can't go to her right now. If Gregory's watching, and he definitely is, you'll just make it worse."
"I don't care."
"She does. Her career is on the line. If both of you are seen together, that's proof the ethics complaint is legitimate."
Pain slices through me. My hand runs over my forehead helplessly. Everything I do to help Ivy right now will only hurt her more.
But I can't just sit here while Gregory destroys her. I disconnect the call and head for my car, my mind racing throughoptions that all lead to the same conclusion. I need to end this with Gregory. Now. Before he does any more damage.
The drive to the Raptors' facility takes a few minutes that feel like hours. Today is a rest day. None of the players are meant to be in the facility. But Marcus is waiting in the parking lot, arms crossed, expression thunderous. He starts walking toward me before I'm even out of my car.
"You son of a bitch," he snarls, getting in my face. "Did you know about the investigation?"
"What investigation?"
"Don't play stupid. Did you know about the complaint accusing Ivy of falsifying research data to protect her 'romantic partners'?" His hands fist in my shirt. "Plural, Declan. They're implying she's sleeping with multiple players."
Ice floods my veins. "That's not... She would never..."
"I know that! But it doesn't matter what's true. It matters what they can prove. And someone sent them time-stamped photos of her entering your building at night and leaving at dawn." His voice cracks slightly. "They're destroying her, Dec. Everything she's worked for is gone, because she got involved with you."
My shoulders slump at the realization of what this could cost Ivy.
"I didn't know," I say, my voice rough. "But I'm going to fix it."
"How? By staying away from her? She says you've been ignoring her texts and calls."
I don’t tell him that my phone isn’t with me because even if it was, I wouldn’t have answered Ivy’s call. I promised to be there for her, but I can’t go because every interaction between us is fuel for Gregory's fire. Staying away is the only way to protect her even though she’s calling the phone the sleazy agent stole.
But I can't explain that to Marcus without revealing everything.
"I'll fix it," I repeat.
"You'd better. Because if you don't..." He releases my shirt, stepping back. "I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."
He storms off.
I pull out my laptop from the car and start researching contract lawyers, someone who can untangle me from Gregory's grip. Someone who specializes in fraud, because that's what this is.
Theft. Manipulation. Nine years of control masked as management.
I'm so focused on my search that I don't hear the footsteps approaching until it's too late. The smell of sharp cologne announces Gregory before his voice does, that blend of sandalwood that makes my skin crawl.
My phones are in his hand like that's the most casual thing in the world.
"Lost these?" He extends them toward me, that cold smile firmly in place.
I snatch them from him, resisting the urge to throw a punch.
