“We can go somewhere else,” Nick says. “I was told these guys are the best for miracles, but I’m sure we can find someone else just as good.”
“Now, wait a minute,” the stuffed shirt interjects. I wasn’t listening when he introduced himself so I didn’t catch his name. “Lena is the best there is. You won’t find anyone else.”
Finally, I succumb to the desire to glance at her and see how she’s taking this. I catch the tail end of an eye-roll, and it makes me soften toward her a little. She’s not drinking up the flattery the way some might.
Lena. I try her name out. It suits her. Pretty, bordering on pretentious but not overstepping the mark.
“Whatever puppy dog stuntsLena”—I emphasize her name now that I know it—“wants to pull, they aren’t going to do jack.” I address Nick. “I still don’t get why we’re here. Give it a couple of days; Erin will decide she doesn’t want to act on her threats, and the hubbub will die down.”
Lena’s face twists into a sneer. “Die down?” she demands. “The only way this shit-nado is dying down is if someone gets proactive about putting out your fires, and fast. Also, have a little respect for your girlfriend.”
“Ex-girlfriend.”
“Whatever.” She says it like the “ex” part doesn’t matter. As if Erin and I didn’t break up more than two months ago now. “She’s not some problem that will disappear if you ignore her. Domestic violence is a serious crime, and you can’t just hand-wave it away.” Her nose crinkles like she smells something bad. “It disgusts me that you’re callous enough to think otherwise.”
Callous? Me?
I count to five in my head and remind myself she doesn’t know me. Her perception of me is based on what she’s seen in the news, and I have to admit, it’s damning. It also isn’t true, but I don’t bother saying that because this woman isn’t going to believe me. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I decide the best way to deal with her is to call her bluff.
“Okay, so you say the problem isn’t going away on its own. What did you have in mind to fix it?”
“I… I…” She flounders, and I can’t stop the smile that tugs at my lips. She’s all bluster and no bite.
“That’s what I thought.” I turn to leave, but her smarmy boss lays a hand on my arm. When I stare at it, he snaps it back like he’s been stung, his cheeks going pale. This guy is even worse than Lena. At least she has the balls to say what she thinks to my face. He’s the type who’ll pretend to be on my side, but all the while he’s secretly fucking terrified of me.
“Wait, wait, wait,” he says. “Give me two minutes to speak to Lena in private and talk her around. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Lena looks like she wants to bash him over the head with a paperweight, and I don’t blame her. He’s a condescending little shit. “Adrian—” she says.
“My office.” He snaps his fingers, like he’s ordering a dog to heel. “Now.”
They leave, her trailing behind, practically dragging her feet, and Nick gives a low laugh. “Good old Jase. Always charming the ladies.”
I jerk a thumb at the door. “Can we go? I’ve had enough of this.”
He sighs, his expression regretful. “I wish we could, but what she said is true. Whether you want to believe it or not, this situation has the potential to derail your career.”
“How can it, when I have the championship bout so soon? I’ll blow Karson out of the water, and everything will be fine.”
Nick ums and ahs. “That’s if you don’t get arrested before the fight.”
“Pfft.” I shake my head. “Not gonna happen. Erin is full of hot air.”
“She also has a taste for the spotlight, and she’ll keep spouting this bullshit as long as the cameras are rolling.” Damn, he’s right, and he must sense he has the winning hand because he powers on. “Not to mention, you promised Seth you’d take this seriously and do whatever you could not to tarnish the reputation of Crown MMA gym.”
Ouch. Low blow.Nick knows I’d go to war for Seth if he asked. My trainer gave me everything. He had faith in me, took a chance on me, and he had no way of knowing I’d pan out to be a good investment. I was just a kid from a poor neighborhood with a mother of a chip on my shoulder and a willingness to shed blood to escape.
“Fine,” I concede, not surprising either of us. “I’ll hear them out.”
But I have a bad feeling about this, and my gut doesn’t often lie to me.
2
Lena
Have I mentioned I’m sick of Adrian’s power plays? He’s only one rung above me at our firm, but he milks it for all it’s worth. Like taking me aside for a word in private. What a douchey move. Does he think he can intimidate me into doing what he wants? If so, he’s sorely mistaken. I’m not the kind of person who responds well to threats.
Adrian closes his office door behind us and crosses to sit at his desk, as if to emphasize the difference in our positions. While my office is nice enough, his is large and lavish, with expensive furnishings he probably bought to make himself seem more important. As big as Jase Rawlins’s ego is, Adrian could equal him.Maybe. I recall how Jase appraised me, and the way my body responded, liking his attention. Craving it. Shit, I have bad taste in men.
