“I’m not done,” he said, his voice prickly. “I don’t need drama. And it seems like drama is always following you, Jackie.”
“Drama?” Jackie was seething. “Me? Patrick, that isn’t fair. When is the last time—”
“Katrice Nixon,” Patrick reminded her. “I let that slide. But, let’s be honest, your attitude sucks most of the time. You’re unpredictable. There was the weird voice thing. Then the drama trying to sign Mo…”
“I signed Mo,” Jackie said sharply. “Not only did I sign Mo, but he also has a title fight in a couple of months that I arranged. I did that! And I did it with the ‘weird voice thing,’ as you call it. Me!” She pointed at her heart, because at this moment, it was the strongest thing she had. Her nerves were shot, and her brain was misfiring.
“You signed Mo with Antonio’s help, right?” Patrick’s tone was so cold.
“I could have gotten Mo on my own. Antonio just tagged along as backup. He got a lucky lead, and I made the most of that luck.” Jackie saying that made her heart thump.Shewas lucky…hisLucky.
Patrick rolled his eyes. “A ‘lucky’ lead you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Is that how you landed PJ in the first place? Your relationship with Antonio?”
“Okay,” Jackie held up her hands, laughing bitterly. “Now you’re just insulting me. I didn’t know PJ was Antonio’s son when I signed him. I worked my ass off to sign PJ. Trying to convince Marilyn to take a chance on me wasn’t an easy thing.”
“And now, she has zero faith in you as PJ’s agent. Because you’re sleeping with his father.” Patrick shook his head. “How long has this been going on?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I knew Antonio socially way before I became PJ’s agent. Like ten years prior to him joining this firm. We were not in any kind of relationship. But why does it matter? I don’t recall a nonfraternizing policy here.”
“While that may be true, it doesn’t look good,” Patrick said.
“I know,” Jackie admitted.
“And PJ knew about this…special friendshipbetween you and Steele?”
“Listen.” Jackie ran her hand down the nape of her neck, feeling beads of perspiration there. If her perm reverted, and this conversation left her with a nappy kitchen, she’d be even more pissed. “Are you done? Because this entire conversation is making me uncomfortable.”
“Very well,” Patrick stood, buttoning his suit jacket. “Just know that you need to really think about your place at this firm. You’re good, Jackie. No doubt your numbers and roster are impressive. But decent agents come a dime a dozen. Especially agents with better… optics. Clients appreciate agents who are drama-free.”
“Or I could just leave. My clients would follow me to end of the earth.” Jackie believed what she said. She couldn’t be one hundred percent sure her roster would show loyalty, but Antonio’s confidence in her rang in her head. This was the first time she’d felt faith in her ability to stand on her own.
Patrick scoffed. “You wouldn’t.”
“What did you call me? Unpredictable?” Jackie shrugged. “You never know.”
Patrick opened his mouth, then shut it quickly before leaving the office.
As soon as the door closed, Jackie’s suppressed feelings bubbled to the surface in hot, angry tears. She wiped her face, then swiped the dying succulent on her desk into the trash. Her life was imploding right before her eyes.
CHAPTER 43
