Page 43 of Over the Moon (Rosewood River #3)

And my father—he was impossible to read. He looked almost wounded, and I felt a crack in my heart before he even spoke a word. I tried to swallow over the thick lump in my throat, but it was difficult.

“Which is why nepotism is always a bad idea in the workplace,” Randall said, as he glared at me, making my stomach wrench even more.

“Well, you knowing my father your entire life didn’t hurt when you applied for this position all those years ago.” Sebastian arched a brow as I fidgeted with my hands and stared at my father, who wouldn’t look back at me.

“I was more than qualified for the position as team trainer,” Randall hissed.

“And Eloise is well qualified for the position as physical therapist, as well as trainer, with her dual certification,” Sebastian countered.

Randall handed everyone a thick stapled packet, and I looked over, recognizing the handwriting and realizing that it was a copy of the notes that Clark and I had written to one another. It felt as if the blood drained from my body.

How did Randall get this?

Had he gone through my desk?

Had he read what we’d written?

This was a violation in the worst way. Our private thoughts and feelings were handed out for everyone to read.

It was reprehensible.

“So I’ve already read you the most incriminating letters that Eloise and Clark have exchanged in their little love letter of a notebook, but I made copies of every entry for you all to have.”

No.

Nooooo.

My face heated, and my stomach twisted so violently, I thought I was going to be sick.

I couldn’t breathe.

They all had copies of our most intimate words.

I wanted to run out of the room and never look back.

But I did this. I knew what I was doing was wrong, and I did it anyway.

I looked up, and I saw something pass across Sebastian’s gaze. Maybe it was empathy, or maybe it was pity.

I couldn’t look at anyone else.

“You’ve read enough from the notebook to us already, Randall,” Scarlett said, and maybe I was having an out-of-body experience, but her tone appeared to be laced with irritation. “I don’t need to read everything they wrote to one another. It’s a complete invasion of privacy.”

Scarlett tossed her packet onto the desk and folded her arms over her chest.

I glanced at my father, and he wasn’t moving.

He wasn’t speaking.

He just stared down at his hands, the packet resting on his lap.

“Agreed.” Sebastian set his packet down and cleared his throat. “And you found this notebook because it was left in the training room, is that correct?”

“Yes. Not that it really matters where it was found,” Randall snipped. “It’s such a blatant violation of the contract, I don’t even know where to start.”

“It wasn’t left in the training room. It was in my desk drawer,” I said, unsure how I even found the words to speak because I was beyond humiliated.

Mortified.

Embarrassed.

And everything in between.

But I sure as hell did not leave that notebook in the training room. He’d gone looking for it.

Sebastian scrubbed a hand down his face. “Is this notebook something that you and Clark Chadwick shared? Are you having an affair with a player on this team?”

“Yes,” I whispered, my bottom lip shaking so badly now I couldn’t say more.

“Of course, she is. They’re having a torrid affair. She has crossed the line with our most valuable player, only months after being hired by this organization. Who knows who else she’s sleeping with on the team at this point,” Randall said, and everything after happened in a blur.

My father dropped his packet on the floor as he lunged at Randall, gripping him by the shirt and slamming him into the closest wall. “You shut your fucking mouth when you speak about my daughter.”

Sebastian was on his feet, pulling them apart. I jumped up and reached for my father, but he stepped back and put his arms up, still unable to look at me.

“John, sit down now.” Sebastian’s voice was low and even as he dragged Randall’s chair over to where he stood. “Randall, stay over here.”

He picked up his phone and dialed what I assumed was his assistant, asking her to send security over before ending the call.

“I’m being punished for protecting this team?” Randall hissed. “She clearly doesn’t care about this team because she could get Clark cut after this season for this behavior. Yet, I’m the bad guy?”

“Randall, you need to stop talking, now,” Sebastian hissed.

“Eloise, I have to speak to my brother and our legal department, and Scarlett and I will discuss our options here. Right now, I’m going to ask you to take leave until I figure out how to handle this situation.

” He pushed to his feet and moved to the door.

When he pulled it open, there was a large man on the other side, and his eyes found mine, showing no emotion at all.

“Security is going to escort you to your office to get your things, and make sure you go straight to your car. Do not stop to speak to anyone. I’ll be in touch,” Sebastian said.

I blinked several times, as the humiliation was almost too much. I did not want to cry in front of everyone. I knew it was what Randall wanted, and I was going to do everything in my power not to give him the satisfaction.

“You’re treating her like a goddamn criminal!” my father snapped, and my breath caught in my throat.

“John, I need to figure out how to handle the situation. I can’t do that with you and Randall physically fighting.

I did not go looking for this. I’m as caught off guard as you are at the moment.

But right now, Eloise is in violation of her contract, and I’m simply asking her to take leave until we figure out how to move forward.

I think that is the only fair option at the moment,” Sebastian said.

“And Chadwick?” my father asked. “Are you bringing him in here, or does he just get a slap on the hand?”

“That’s how this works, John,” Randall said. “Your daughter is having an affair with our most valuable player at the moment. She could cost him his career because she couldn’t keep her legs closed.”

“How fucking dare you!” Dad shouted, and he was back on his feet.

Tears streamed down my face, and I put my hand on my father’s shoulder. This was so much worse than I ever could have imagined.

“I’m so sorry,” I croaked.

“Eloise, you’re excused, and I will reach out when we have more information about how we will proceed.” Sebastian turned to face me, and I nodded.

I walked out the door, swiping at my face.

The ride down on the elevator was completely silent, and I’d never felt so disgusted with myself in my life.

“Here you go.” The large man beside me pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and handed it to me. “I’m Bullet, by the way.”

Seriously? I was too overwhelmed to process the fact that I was being escorted to my office and out of the building by a man named Bullet.

“Thank you,” I said, as a sob escaped.

I did my best to pull it together as we walked the short distance to my office where I grabbed my notebook from my desk, even though there were already copies of everything in it printed. I doubted I’d ever be back here, so I wasn’t going to leave it here.

I snatched my purse off the desk and followed Bullet down the hallway toward the exit.

“You all right, Doc?” I heard a familiar voice from behind me and turned to see Weston watching me with concern.

“No stopping,” Bullet said, his voice low.

I nodded and kept moving. The large man escorted me to my car, and once I slipped inside, I offered him his handkerchief back.

The slightest chuckle escaped. “You can keep it. Get home safely.”

He shut my door, and I pulled out of the parking lot and drove about a block before I pulled over and the dam opened.

I sobbed until I had no tears left in me.

And when I walked into my apartment, I knew that everything had changed.

There was no fixing this now.