Guess therapy with Dr. Lisbon is paying off.
Gwen pops out from behind a pillar looking stressed and walks right into me, knocking over my suitcase and tripping over her pink-stilettoed feet. I catch her around her biceps and steady her.
“Oh, hey, Nico. Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” I step back, giving her space to smooth down her shirt. She doesn’t look like her normal bubbly and smiley self today. She looks exhausted and maybe a little sad. Alarm bells go off in my head. “Are you okay, G?”
“Yeah. Yup. Fine.” She snaps her fingers and pulls out her cellphone, swiping and tapping. “Oh, since I have you here… I already received the formal contract from Charles Tinsley’s assistant.”
Wow, Charles works fast. I just left his office. I knew going in I was going to sign with him, but hearing him and his team present their plans for my contract and my eventual retirement has me itching to sign on the dotted line. It’s obvious to me now that I put too much trust in Damien’s hands, and I shouldn’t have.
“Thanks for letting me know. Pretty soon, you won’t have to deal with me anymore. You’ll be up in the front office, making a splash.”
Gwen gives me a sad smile. “No rush. Turns out I won’t be taking over anytime soon.”
“What? I thought that was the plan?”
When she started working as Cam’s assistant/social media manager, it was with the knowledge that it was a temporary position because she would eventually take over the Evaders public relations and marketing department. Helping me was a side job to prove she has what it takes to do the job.
“Plans change.” Gwen sighs, looking defeated.
“I’m sorry to hear that. While I have you, has there been any word on Damien and his lackeys?”
“Not yet. He’s keeping a low profile. I heard Damien’s second in command was interviewing at MGT Sports.”
“Fuck.”
There is no fucking way I’m going to let that slimeball Kyle continue to have a career after the shit he said. Who knows what the fuck else he’s done. My gut tells me he had more fingers in the pot at Damien’s company, Strike Sports Agency, than he and Damien will admit. My lawyer and his PI are digging for dirt as we speak. We’re waiting until we have all the details before we take Damien to court.
“I may have called a family friend who works there and let him know what a classy guy Kyle is, for you.” Gwen’s reach and stream of contacts know no bounds. It helps that her family is very well respected in the sports community.
“You’re the fucking best. I owe you one.” I pull a surprised Gwen in for a hug and squeeze.
“Didn’t know you were a hugger, Romero.” She laughs.
“I’m not usually.”
“Is your black heart softening now that you have a woman in your life?”
“Maybe.” I shrug. I’ve always been a good guy; I just hide it beneath my rude, cocky attitude.
“I think it is.” She chuckles.
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes at her.
Gwen smiles, looking a little more lighthearted. “Anyway, I’m happy to help. Kyle is a creep and should be blackballed. I’ll let you know if I hear anything else.”
“Thanks. Take care, G,” I call out as Gwen hustles off towards the front office elevators, making me curious about why she won’t be taking over as Chief Marketing Officer.
As I turn, I find Lance leaning against a pillar, glaring at me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“What was that about?” he grumbles as I walk past him.
He falls in step beside me as we walk through the halls towards the meeting room. “Nothing, you fucking lurker. Ask her yourself.”
“Tried. She doesn’t want to talk to me.” Lance sighs, rubbing his hand over his jawline in thought.
“That’s your fault.” While I understand his predicament, he did this to himself.
