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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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PARAGON SPONSORS LEAVE IN EXODUS

Five sponsors dropping the team the day after their controversial announcement is obviously cause for concern. However, team management was optimistic. Grayson de Clare spoke when asked for a comment. ‘Both myself and team ownership acknowledged this was a possibility with our choice. When you’re breaking into a new direction, there are always people who won’t want to go with you. To our former sponsors, we thank them for their support and wish them well. We firmly believe there are sponsors who will line up behind a team who’s ready to push into the future, and that’s where we’re aiming to go.’

“I’ve been expecting your call,” Brian Barnes said. As the CEO of AcroSpark—a tech company that had been one of Paragon’s main sponsors for several seasons—he was the ultimate final word on what went on.

“And I would have appreciated a heads up or a conversation before you made your decision. Finding out about it through the media made my morning interesting.” I hated seeing Vanessa worried. Was it a problem? Yes. Would we handle it? Also yes.

A long sigh slid through the speaker. “Yeah, I’m sorry about that. Look, we’ve been getting so many calls. There’s a lot of outrage right now, and we have to stay ahead of that. You know how it is.”

I tried to keep my rage inside, but it brushed up against the walls keeping it in check. “Honestly, Brian, in this case, I don’t know. I’ve never seen you bow to public opinion like this before. Especially in a matter where public opinion is split, and you’re in the minority.”

“You sure about that?” The sarcasm in those words only made the leash on my patience shorter.

“If it’s not the minority now, it will be by mid-season.”

I practically heard him shrug. “We’ll see.”

“I guess we will. Anything I can say to change your mind?”

“Afraid not.”

“Then you have a good day, Brian.”

Ending the call with a punch of my finger, I leaned back in my chair. I hadn’t lied to Vanessa. I expected this. That didn’t make it easier to manage. On top of the sponsors, we’d had quite a few resignations submitted this morning. I didn’t understand it, but people had free will. They could do what they wished.

I hit the intercom. “Mason?”

He didn’t even bother responding, instead pushing the door open with a pile of papers already in his hand.

“Please don’t tell me that’s a stack of resignations.”

“No, it’s not. I think you’ll be happy about this batch. They’re messages.”

“From?”

Smirking, he backed away. “Take a look. HR is already on top of the resignations. I’m pretty sure they already have replacements lined up for every position.”

My chest loosened a bit. That would help us in the media. Teams fluctuated all the time, but under media scrutiny a mass exodus could look worse than it was. This would show we weren’t missing a beat. “Good. Thank you.”

“Lunch?”

“Please.”

The first message was from LORE. The company owned half a dozen clothing brands with household recognition. Most of them focused on women. A grin cracked onto my face and I was going to have to give Mason shit for being right. These were the messages we’d been waiting for. New sponsors lining up to take the places of the ones we lost plus more .

Several high end jewelry brands, more clothing, tech, an energy drink. If I could get these underway by the end of business today we would be in amazing shape. Before I did that, I needed to check on my Omega.

I already missed her. Walking away from her was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do. The way her softness melted beneath me, ready and willing for more. The duality of both her bravery and her vulnerability. Her voice. Her scent .

My phone was dialing before I even finished the thought.

“Hello?” She sounded out of breath.

“Hello.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yes. I wanted to say hello, but also ask you if you had any additions or subtractions from your list of dos and don’ts for sponsors.”

Her little intake of breath went straight to my cock. Was that the sound she would make when I slid inside her for the first time? Fuck , I hoped so.

“We have more?”

“We do. I think you’ll like them. Just wanted to make sure before I said yes.” What sounded like a clatter of metal came through the phone. So my Omega had found the gym. Good girl.

“No. Everything’s the same.”

“Thank you.”

“Can I ask you something?” I heard what sounded like a treadmill winding down in the background.

She could ask me anything and I would listen. Her voice was quickly becoming my favorite sound in the world. “Anything.”

“Can you have someone drive by my apartment and see if it’s being stalked by any cameras or anything? I know it’s unlikely, but I’m going to need clothes if I’m staying with you. And I’d like to… if that’s okay with all of you. Obviously it’s only tonight since we leave?—”

“I’ll have someone drive by,” I said. “Absolutely. And I think all four of us would be devastated if you didn’t stay, little one.”

“Devastated, huh?”

“Absolutely lost with no hope of recovery.”

She laughed, the sound free and clear. I would make sure I always heard her be so at ease. Even if her apartment was being stalked, I had ideas about the clothes.

“Don’t work yourself too hard in the gym.”

“Isn’t that my job?”

“It is,” I acknowledged. “But unless you have any objections, you already have another workout on your schedule.”

“Oh?” Vanessa’s voice dropped into a place of sultry desire. “I didn’t realize I had that kind of appointment.”

“You do.”

Mason popped his head in and nodded at my phone, pointing to the messages on my desk. I needed to take that call.

“I have to go,” I told her. “But I’ll let you know when I send someone to drive by.”

“Okay.” I imagined her the way I’d seen her this morning—flushed and breathless underneath me.

The line had already gone dark by the time I hung up. Mason would get them back on the phone, and I would get to it. But I had one other call I needed to make first.