“Yesterday’s incident,” He said, voice even, “was a problem.”
I braced myself, waiting for the blame. Waiting to be fired for being the woman causing the players to fight. But it didn’t come.
“You weren’t at fault for what happened on the ice. I want to be very clear about that.” Jameson said. I nodded. He looked at me like he was choosing his next words very carefully.
“TJ is a problem— has been for a while.”
“I agree.”
“The league is going to be coming down hard on him, especially considering the court order violation regarding his minor son.” He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a file. “That being said, this is the plan regarding Tate Bridges.”
My stomach tightened. Jameson watched my reaction carefully.
“I’m not punishing you." He said, easily reading the expression on my face. “I’m protecting you from a situation that isn’t yours to carry.”
He paused, letting that sink in.
“I’m not asking you to step back because you aren’t capable. I’m asking you to step back because the league, the media and the fans will use you as a wedge.” He took a deep breath, sympathy breaking through that neutral mask, “TJ is the problem. We all know that, but you aren’t immune to public perception.”
I chewed the inside of my lip, not liking the unease stirring in my gut.
“Effective immediately, you will no longer handle any team or league communication related to Tate Bridges. No interviews, no social media and no crisis statements.” He slid the folder across the desk to me. “The league will handle TJ’s side. The legal team will handle the rest.”
The room went quiet. I looked down at the file in my hand, a neatly laid blueprint for my career.
“You’re still head of PR. Leading the team. This is not a demotion.”
“And what happens if I refuse to be limited because of my relationship with him?”
Jameson’s eyes zeroed in on me.
“Then you leave.” He said simply, “And you find a place that doesn’t care about perception.”
He didn’t say it cruelly. He said it like it was a fact. Because… it was.
All I had wanted to do was get home. Now, I was home, but I couldn’t get myself to get out of my car. Today was a take out kinda day. I reached into the Chinese container and took a too-big bite out of my eggroll. I was stressed and depressed. Two moods that were not in my color pallet. At least I had a new, smutty Delaney King audiobook release to keep me company.
As the dirty book went on into a steamy scene, I grabbed another eggroll. A knock sounding at the window by my face had me nearly jumping out of skin in surprise.
“Fuck.” I held my shirt away from my body and wiped up the mess with a napkin. My car door opened. I froze at Tate standing there wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans, holding pink tulips. His eyebrows rose to his hairline and a smirk tugged at his lips.
“… Yes, yes, yes! I chanted as he thrust into my pussy relentlessly—“Islammed my hand against the screen with no real aim, only a determination to shut it up. My face was likely an unflattering shade of red.
“Long day?” He asked that smirk still playing on his lips. I could see the laughter he was fighting for his life to hold back.
“Yep.” I said, popping the ‘p’ and tucking my hair behind my ear. I just kept embarrassing myself in front of this man. I gestured to the flowers. “A-are those for me?”
He held a hand out for me to take and helped me from the car. “Sure are, Darlin’.”
Darlin’. Not Allison.I took them with both hands, fighting the urge to push them to the side and fall into his arms instead.
“They’re sort of apology flowers. Kind of, no regrets flowers.” He said, voice low as he steppedcloser, making me tip my head back to look at him. My breathing came in short.
“No regrets, huh?” I challenged him with a raised brow. He searched my face, nodding slowly. “Good.”
His hand came to my cheek, thumb brushing over my cheekbone. “Darlin’. There isn’t much I would regret if it meant protecting you or those boys in there.”
My body instinctively leans into his touch. My eyes fall closed, only for a moment.
