Just me and my girls.
Chapter 49
Teagan
I’m going to kill him.
It hasn’t even been three hours since he left for their away games in Florida, and there’s been delivery after delivery of food, coloring books, and markers.
That isn’t what’s me riled up. In fact, it’s very thoughtful.
No, it’s the large imposing man at the door who has a scar running through his eyebrow and is telling me Quentin asked him to come here.
“I’m Idris. I know he’s mentioned me before to you. It’s nice to meet you.” He holds out his hand to me, which I take cautiously.
“Nice to meet you. He’s not here. Did you need something?”
I chide myself because if this man isn’t a good guy, I just gave away that I’m home alone. Idiot.
“He wants me to stay with you while he’s gone since you’re supposed to be taking it easy,” he says, completely professional as if he’s done this before.
“He’s ridiculous.” I scoff as I cross my arms. “I’ll be fine. Sorry you came all this way.”
“I also have some information you might like to talk about,” he speaks up, making me pause halfway to the door that I was about to close.
That piques my interest because while I thought he’d want to talk while Quentin is here, I’m glad to have it now.
The sooner I can take that asshole down, the better. He doesn’t deserve to gloat around the gymnastics world the way he is.
“Fine. I’ll let you in for that, but then you’re gone,” I say as I step back from the doorway to let him in.
He’s quiet as he takes off his shoes, and we make our way into the kitchen. I take a seat at the dining room table, and Idris sits across from me. He sets his briefcase on the table and flicks it open, with the inside full of documents and papers.
A swallow works its way down my throat. This is it. I’m going to find out exactly what that scum of a coach has really been up to.
What if he’s been up to nothing?I wonder. If he’s really done nothing wrong besides blackmail me.
Either way, I’m going through with this. Whether there’s incriminating information on him or not. I need to lead by example, and my daughter is going to know that I didn’t let people in power silence me.
At least not anymore.
“Quentin wanted to be here for this, of course, and I know this is a heavy subject. Are you sure you want to do this right now? Otherwise, we can wait,” Idris offers, his voice kinder than one would expect.
“No, let’s do it,” my tone is final. No going back.
“To start, I was able to obtain footage from the hallway you had your last discussion with your coach in, the one he wrongfully dismissed you in. Whoever he paid to bury the information wasn’t very good at their job,” he says in disgust, as if the lack of a job well done offends him. Even though it’s helping us in this situation.
“This alone you could release to the public and explain how you’ve been blackmailed. The news outlets and social media will devour that. He’ll never see a gymnastics building again in his life. Unless you prefer to give him a taste of his own medicine and blackmail him with that video. You could tell him you want back on the team or else—”
“No, I want him gone. I won’t compete for him,” I cut him off, needing Idris to know that I want to bury Coach Samuels. Not literally, of course.
“Before I suggest a plan, you should know that you’re not the first gymnast of his that this has happened to. Does Anna Tanner ring a bell?” Idris asks, folding his hands together.
“Yeah, she was on track to be an Olympic champion when she pulled out a few months before due to family reasons…” I trail off, connecting the dots. “I’m assuming there wasn’t a family issue?”
Idris shakes his head. “No, there wasn’t. Samuels has an older daughter who was competing the same time as Anna and—”
“He wanted his daughter to qualify. Without Anna there, it would’ve given her a fighting chance.”
