I had suspected that there had to besomethinggoing on in the world of sports agents and their multi-million dollar deals.Getting a complete meltdown from Oliver Harvey on camera would be incredible, but getting a scandal involving the top football player in the country would be even better.I had to admit, I had considered that there could be extra angles to the footage I captured – if I was lucky.I certainly hadn’t expected it to fall into my lap quite this quickly.
“So, what are we going to do to fix this?”Angus asked – and I found myself leaning forward, dying to find out the same.
Olly
“Whyhaveyou brought him in here, anyway?”
Ace’s question lingered in my mind long after I had answered it.
I wasn’t sure I had an answer.I’d given one that wasn’t real.I’d justified it as smoother for the working process.
But really…
Having Keaton in the room made it feel a little bit brighter.
I was glad I had made the move earlier today.We were facing a real crisis.Keaton’s presence was calming and I needed that right now.I didn’t have time to think about the logic of it.There was no space in my head to wonder how I could have that reaction to a virtual stranger.It just was.I needed it.I couldn’t question it.
“We need to do three things,” I told Ace and Ridley solemnly.“Figure out who set this up.Make sure the contract we signed is bulletproof.And find a way to appease West Morton without this turning ugly.”
“How are we going to do that?”Ace threw up his hands in disgust.“They think we approached them and now we’re just going to tear it away.In what universe is this not going to go viral on social media as a scandal about the most famous football player in the world treating his sponsors like shit?”
“We could be honest.”
I looked up sharply for the source of the voice.Keaton’s cheeks were heating up as he realized he’d interrupted us.It was almost easy for him to blend into the background behind that desk.But only almost.
I had a feeling he was never going to become part of the background for me.
“And say what?”I asked.If he was going to give his opinion then I wasn’t going to shoot him down.Not without hearing a full plan.
Keaton seemed much more hesitant now all of the attention was on him.I noticed the way he looked at Ridley and flushed deeper.I narrowed my eyes.Was that how it was?Ace had teased him about it earlier.Was he right?
“Tell them the truth,” he suggested.“When I spoke to Leo on the phone, he sounded like a really good guy.I think if we’re honest and tell him that someone set us up – all of us, him included – then he’ll be angry with the right person.Them, not us.I think he’ll understand that we’re all victims in this.”
“Especially if I give him a personal apology,” Ridley added.
I raised an eyebrow.“You would?”
He shrugged.“It’s the least I can do.This is going to affect my reputation if it comes out, and I didn’t even have anything to do with it.I don’t want this to be something that hits the news and the resort can truthfully say that I didn’t call them and apologize personally.And anyway, I’m here.”
“You want to do it now?”Ace asked.There was only a hint of panic in his voice.He was getting better at hiding it.
“Why not?”Ridley shrugged.“The kid has a good plan.”
“I’m thirty-one years old,” I heard Keaton say faintly.
“It would be better if we had a full explanation,” I said.“The name of the person who did this.The how.The why.”
“It might be better to resolve the situation fast,” Keaton said.I caught his eye.He seemed unable to believe that he was talking back to me.“It sounds like they’re really looking forward to having Ridley at the resort, and so long as they still think he’s coming, they might start to outlay expenses and make plans.They may even start talking about it on social media.”
I did not let my pleasure show on my face.Keaton was already proving that moving him in here was a good decision.I did not want Ace ribbing me about it the way he had ribbed Keaton about Ridley.I kept my emotions firmly under wraps.“Then make the call,” I nodded.
Ridley jumped to his feet as though he had just been waiting for my word.“You have the number, Ace?”
“I’ll come out with you,” Ace replied as he got to his feet.They both walked outside.I guessed Ridley didn’t want an audience for the call.That was fair.
They left rapidly.I was alone with Keaton again within only a moment.
I looked at him curiously until he felt me watching.He looked up and flushed hard.
