When Jackie stepped off the elevator to the main suite of AMW-Elite, all conversation stopped.Bad news travels fast, she thought. Especially when the bad news was plastered all over social media.FuckingSports Ragz.
Her early morning snuggle with PeeWee had been interrupted by a barrage of text messages. Tanika had asked her, urgently, to read an article she’d sent. When she finally opened the link toSports Ragzand scanned the piece, Jackie’s heart nearly stopped.
PJ Dawson, rookie sensation and league darling, is in hot water following a DUI arrest. Sources say that he and his passenger, social media influencer India Inkwell, were going 120 mph in a 65-mph-zone. Dawson was clearly intoxicated. Controlled substances were also found on the scene. Dawson was booked and arrested, along with Inkwell, but the real tea wasn’t the DUI—it seems Dawson has been keeping a major secret. Sources say that a shouting match was heard between Dawson and agent/former defensive back Antonio Steele, in which Dawson shouted that Steele was “too late to play daddy.” Dawson has always been tight-lipped about his father, as seen in his recent awkward interview with Sara Taylor of WWSN. This could only mean Steele is Dawson’s father. We reached out to PJ’s mother, Marilyn Dawson, for confirmation, but she declined to speak. Witnesses to the shouting match also claim that Dawson has fired his agent, Jackie Miles, also of AMW-Elite. Allegedly, Steele and Miles are dating. Will Steele take over as his son’s agent, stealing his supposed girlfriend’s client? Speaking of girlfriend, are Dawson and bad girl Inkwell a couple? So many questions! So few answers! But Sports Ragz will get to the bottom of it!
As Jackie rounded the corner to her office, she could feel her colleagues’ eyes on her. She wasn’t going to let the gossip get to her. She held her head high. But before she could reach her door, she saw Donny heading her way. The hallway was narrow, and there was no way she could avoid him or his shit-eating grin.
“Jackie,” Donny said, his voice laced with faux sympathy. “How are you holding up? Heard you got your voice back. That’s good. Tough break with Dawson.”
“Donny, if you are here to talk shit, I’d rather you not,” Jackie said, attempting to go around him. But Donny, as always, was terrible at picking up on social cues.
“I had no idea you and Steele were a thing. And Steele is actually Dawson’s father?” Donny let out a low whistle. “Talk about drama! Seems to follow you everywhere, huh, Miles?”
Jackie bit the inside of her cheek. “What do you want, Donny?”
“Well, since PJ is no longer your client, do you know if he’s going to stay with AMW-Elite or go somewhere else? I mean, since you and his father basically screwed the pooch. Wait, that’s probably a really bad expression to use around you.”
Jackie tented her hands in prayer the way she’d seen Antonio do to calm himself down. It seemed to help. She took a deep breath. “Donny, I’m going to say this one time and one time only. Stay the fuck away from me. And stay the fuck away from my clients.”
“But he’s not your—”
“I said what I said!” Jackie yelled, channeling her inner NeNe Leakes fromReal Housewives of Atlanta. “Now get the entire fuck out of my face!”
“Jeesh,” Donny held up his hands, relenting. “Guess The Viper is back.” He eased out of the way to let Jackie pass.
As soon as she came into view, Calvin jumped up, a coffee in hand. “Heard the news,” he said sympathetically. “I’m really sorry Ms. Miles.”
“All good,” Jackie said, taking the coffee. “Thanks Calvin. I appreciate the pick-me-up.”
“I figured you could use it, especially since Patrick is waiting for you in your office.”
“Uhm, you could have led with that, Calvin.”
Calvin nodded. “I thought the Americano could ease the sting a bit.”
Jackie took a sip, enjoying the warmth as it enveloped her chest. “It helps.”
“For what it’s worth, I like you and Mr. Steele,” Calvin said, lowering his volume so he wouldn’t be overheard. “I mean, I know you don’t care what I think, but you seemed happy around him. Even when you couldn’t say a word.”
Jackie’s heart squeezed at Calvin’s words, which were spot-on. She was glad she hadn’t fired him after Mexico. She gave him an affectionate pat on the arm before entering her office.
“Morning, Patrick,” she said. Patrick didn’t respond. He looked tense, his typically coiffed blond hair all over the place. She placed her drink and bag down, shrugged out of her blazer, and sat at her desk, poised for whatever he had to say.
“Jackie,” Patrick began, forgoing a greeting. “You know I hate hearing news secondhand, right?”
“Of course,” Jackie said. She opened her laptop, trying not to seem rattled by his presence.
“I don’t have to remind you that having a client of PJ Dawson’s caliber on the AMW-Elite roster is a win for all of us. And as this merger closes, having any kind of unrest just doesn’t look favorable to potential clients and sponsors.”
“Unrest?” Jackie raised an eyebrow. “Patrick, seriously, I—”
