“Can I go?” Indy asked, starting to stand.
“No. Sit down,” Dom barked. She fell back into the chair and winced when her elbow bounced off the armrest, jarringher body and making the entire side of her face ache. “What happened today is my fault. I didn’t realize the rivalry between you two had progressed to this level, but that stops today. From now on, you two will train together as a doubles team.”
“Absolutely not. I can’t train with—”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. There’s—”
“Shut up, the both of you. This is how it’s going to be. If you don’t like it, you’re free to seek out a different coaching situation.” His jaw was set, his brow furrowed, and his shoulders held high, body language Indy recognized even after such a short time at OBX. He was dead serious. Silence reigned in the office as Dom looked at Jasmine, then back to her. He pursed his lips and then his posture relaxed, just slightly. “I’ve been in contact with the tournament officials in Paris. There’s a spot in the women’s doubles draw opening up. If you two can prove to me that you can work as a team, it’s yours.”
Indy felt Jasmine’s eyes on her, but she wasn’t going to look back. “Fine,” Indy said, her patience wearing thin. “Now can I go?”
“Go.”
She stood, careful not to press the ice pack too hard against her cheek. Not that it mattered much; the side of her face was almost numb and the ice was melting. Frowning, she tossed the damp bag wrapped in a towel to Dom, who caught it. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jasmine stood, too, but Dom waved her back. “You, sit. We’re not done yet.”
Indy bolted out of his office and down the stairs, but notbefore she heard Dom’s sharp “What were you thinking?” Though she didn’t hear Jasmine’s reply.
The atrium, usually empty during morning practice sessions, was buzzing with players and even a couple of coaches. Most were at least pretending like they had a reason to be there, chatting with Roy or digging through their racket bags, but some were staring up at the windows to Dom’s office, obviously trying to figure out what was happening behind the glass. The room held the unnatural silence of too many people trying not to make a sound, and when she emerged from the stairwell, every eye focused on her.
“What?” she shouted, and a visible jolt went through the crowd, sending them scattering.
As the large room emptied out, Indy caught sight of Caroline stepping through the atrium’s front doors and then checking in with Roy.
“Indiana,” she called out, striding toward her quickly. “I just heard what happened, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Indy said. “Wait. How did you find out what happened?”
“Dom called me.”
Indy scoffed. She didn’t need Caroline for something like this.
“It’s already taken care of.”
Caroline’s eyes narrowed. “How has it been taken care of?”
“We have to train together now. He wants us to play women’s doubles at the French Open, which would be amazing, if we don’t kill each other first.”
The agent snorted and tossed her head like an agitated racehorse. “That is unacceptable.”
“What’s unacceptable?” Indy asked, but Caroline was already gone, theclick-clackof her heels echoing through the atrium as she marched toward the stairs to Dom’s office. “Caroline, what the hell?”
“He is allowing his ego to cloud his judgment, and I will not allow it,” Caroline said as Indy caught up with her. “Dominic!”
“He’s in there with Jasmine,” Indy said just as Jasmine burst out of Dom’s office and raced down the stairs. Without lifting her eyes from the floor, she took off for the locker room. “Or not.” Caroline was halfway up the steps by the time Indy caught up again. “I really don’t think this is a good idea,” she managed to whisper before they reached the top.
“Ms. Morneau,” Dom said from his desk, letting his head drop back so that he spoke to the ceiling instead. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I heard you’re punishing assault with a trip to Paris,” Caroline said, stomping right up to the front of his desk.
Dom’s head snapped back up to face them. “As always, I determine what goes on in my training facility.”
“And that this player’s father is the owner of said facility has nothing to do with your determination?”
“Dismissal for the day is standard practice in an altercation like what happened today, but besides that, I don’t believe this is any of your business, Ms. Morneau.”
Caroline pressed her hands flat against Dom’s desk and leaned over it. “Indiana is my client and she is my business. That girl physically assaulted her, and you give her the chance to play doubles at the French Open.”
