I nodded and took my own chair, powering on my computer. “He’s famous now.”
He was an underdog who had dominated this season; it was a great story to follow all the way to the finals. His rides were bound to be reshown on the rodeo channel over and overuntil December.
Martha coughed loud enough to make me look up. “You’re famous too.”
She was holding a magazine over my computer.
I gasped softly.
It was Cotlonand I on the front page of the biggest rodeo magazine on the market.
His gloved hands were holding my face, mine were on his dirty cheeks, and we were kissing. The stadium lights were behind us, making us lookethereal.
The caption below the photo made me blush harder.
“FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE BARRIER: Is Chicago executive Allegra Ford the secret weapon behind Colton Nash’s historic 96-point ride?”
“Martha…” I said breathlessly.
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “I stopped at my newsstand to get my morning candy bar, and I saw that, thinking it was some celebrity scandal or something. SoI put on my glasses, and I’m like, ‘That looks so much like Allegra.’ And wouldn’t you believe it, it was!”
I couldn’t stop looking at it.
It was truly the most beautiful picture I’d ever seen in my life. I hadn’t given a thought to the cameras and their endless flashes when Colton had run to me after the ride, but…oh my.
I needed the raw photo so I could print it myself. I needed this photo framed.
Martha leaned over my shoulder and flipped to the first article.
FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE BARRIER
They say behind every great cowboy is a woman who prays harder than the horse bucks. But for Colton Nash, the rookie sensation who just shattered records in Sioux Falls with a historic 96-point ride, that woman isn’t just praying–she’s calculating.
Meet Allegra Ford. By day, she’s a high-powered marketing executive navigating the steel canyons of Chicago. But this season, she’s been the constant shadow behind the chutes, a polished contrast to the grit and grime of the bareback draw. Sources close to the Nash camp suggest that Ford isn’t just a spectator; she’s the anchor that’s kept the young phenom centered through a turbulent, injury-plagued climb to the top of the standings.
When the gate swung open on The Womanizer, the world saw a man defying gravity. But as Nash vaulted the fence to find Ford in the chaos of the victory, it became clear: the King of the Dirt hasfound his Queen.
My mouth was dry as I looked back up at Martha.
Did she believe it? Did she think I was the one who was pushing him to be better, to practice harder? Or did she look at me and know it was all a lie?
The person who wrote this didn’t know I had wanted to tieColton to a chair to keep him away from the show.
They looked at our relationship and called me the secret weapon to his best season ever.
~~~
Dozens of eyes were on me.
I was standing at the head of the table. The floor-to-ceiling windows of Chicago ambiance were beside me, the projector ready behind me, and Martha sitting in the back with a big smile; that was all I needed to “crush” this presentation.
I was dressed in a creamy white dress, heels, and a navy blazer, one of the outfits that gave me the most confidence. My makeup was thick, and my hair was lightly curled and sitting on my shoulder.
I was corporate Allegra, but it was okay; this was her element, this was where she needed to thrive.
Mr. Sterling sat in front of me, along with the rest of the stern-looking board members. They were here to determine if I was confident, smart, and had done a good enough job to earn my promotion
No pressure, right?
