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Chapter 3

Rina

T oby rushes over to me the second I’m about to enter the press room.

“We might have a situation,” he says.

I shoot him a glare. “What now?”

He lowers his voice and looks around. “Mackenzie Stratton just asked me to add a desk to your office.”

I all but growl. “What do you mean add a desk ?”

“She didn't give me much detail.”

I also look around to make sure nobody is around. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

He shakes his head. "I wish, boss. Sounds like she might have somebody coming on staff."

Just what I need. A team captain with fists of fury. An assistant who's worse than Twitter when it comes to the regular updates, and now—a mystery co-worker.

Izzy was right. This should be fun.

“We'll deal with that later. Did you get Landry his talking points?”

“Uh.” He clears his throat and I blink at him. “Yes, they’re next to his mic.”

“Great. Then, we’ll stick to the task at hand, Toby. We are in charge of maintaining the image of the best ice hockey team in North America. That is our priority. Got it?”

Poor kid. I don't mean to be so tough on him. But he's going to learn one way or another that this business doesn't take kindly to those who play nice. It'll chew him up and spit him out without any regard for his well-being.

He gulps. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Head back to my office. After this press conference, we have work to do.”

He nods. “Got it.” He turns to go down the hall just as my boss rounds the corner. Her cream-colored, flowy skirt glides behind her as she walks. When she spots Toby, she stops.

Toby pauses, too when he sees her and does some weird, nervous bow like she’s royalty.

Oh my God. I shake my head but watch as she says something to him. He nods in understanding and shoots me a quick glance before he continues on down the hall toward my office.

Mackenzie Stratton approaches me, looking regal as usual.

“Mack,” I say by way of greeting. It’s what she’s asked me to call her ever since she hired me on full-time last year.

“You know what my favorite part of owning a professional sports team is, Lopez?” she asks, stopping in front of the press room door.

“What’s that?”

“Every day presents new problems to solve, which is why I try to hire the best of the best. It’s those boys in there that play the game, but it's my team that keeps this place running like a well-oiled machine.”

Something tells me she has more to say. “Is there something you’re trying to tell me, Mack?”

"What happened this afternoon?" She cocks her head to the side, awaiting a response.

I shake my head. "I'm already all over it. Don't worry, come tomorrow, nobody will even know that Keelan Landry had an altercation."

"No, they won't," she agrees. "Because I've called in for reinforcements."

I still. Reinforcements? I've never needed reinforcements.

“It's been in the works for a while, but I finally bit the bullet, considering how everything went down today."

I blink at her, suddenly panicking internally.

"I hired a marketing director,” she clarifies.

I breathe. Oh good. For a moment there, I thought she was about to fire me.

“You did?” I beam.

Thank the heavens above because I’ve been acting as PR manager and Marketing director since taking the gig, and frankly, I'm tired.

“So who’s the lucky person?” I ask her.

“Well, she's currently waiting in your office."

“She… ok, that's great!”

"Let's see this press conference through and once it's over, do you care to join me in your office?" she asks. It's an ask, but we both know she's not really asking.

"Sounds great." I pull the door open to the press room just as Keelan is pulling the mic toward him.

Mack and I both stand at the back of the room to get the best view of the entire space.

Read the notes. Just read the notes. I attempt to telepathically communicate with my problem child du jour.

Keelan clears his throat. "Well, as you all are probably aware, there was a physical altercation that took place at the Space City Arena today between myself and well-known athlete Redmond Bonner."

His eyes catch mine for a split second before he looks back down at the prompter card and continues, "I want to apologize to the Houston fans, who I know expect better from me. What took place today isn’t how I wish to be portrayed to you all. And for that, I’m sorry. I apologize to my team for the negative attention this incident has unfortunately brought on, even if that viral song is really catchy," he adds. The room erupts into a wave of chuckles. "And lastly… "

Come on, Landry. You can do this.

His jaw ticks and the room is quiet. "I apologize to Redmond Bonner."

I feel my shoulders drop with relief. He did it. We might just be able to get through this without any hiccups.

"I apologize to Redmond… " he repeats. "For not breaking his leg and causing him the pain that he really deserved.”

Oh, no.

The room slowly fills with murmurs, and I motion to Toby to cut him off.

Why I thought Keelan would actually do anything he's told is beyond me.

Keelan looks right into one of the cameras recording him. “So if you’re watching this, Bonner… just remember who won.”He winks and gives the camera a sinful smirk before the chair he's seated in squeaks as he pushes it back and storms out of the room.

The reporters in the room rise to ask their questions. Coach Murray’s voice comes on the mic, making an attempt to calm them down.

I give myself a few deep breaths before I tug on my jacket top and follow him out of the room.

“Landry,” I call out once I'm in the hall.

He keeps walking.

“Landry!”

He continues with his long strides.

“Keelan,” I finally say.

He stops and waits for me to catch up to him. His head is hanging down, and I can see his fists clenching. I place a hand on his shoulder as I approach, and I immediately feel the tension leave his body.

“Keelan,” I say in an almost whisper. He looks at me, defeated.

"I told you, whatever the consequences—I’ll pay it, Rina. But don't for one second think I regret punching him in the face for what he did to you." His deep chocolate eyes study me for a reaction.

And I want to give him one. For thinking with his emotions and not seeing the full picture. For being reactive instead of calculative.

But that would mean expecting him to be like me. And if I've learned anything from Keelan Landry in all the years I've known him, it's that we're as opposite as they come.

I sigh. “Come on.”

I reach for his hand and pull him further down the hallway and into my office.

“What are you–”

“Just come on.” I shut the door behind me and lock it.

For a moment, I stand there, hands still on the door handle before I turn to look at him. I can feel the rise and the fall of my own heavy breathing.

“I’m going to regret this.”

“Regret what?” he asks.

I breathe in deeply and let it go before meekly saying, “Thank you.”

I don't think that's the reaction he expected from me.

He shakes his head incredulously, “Did you just say–”

“Thank you,” I say a little louder, turning to face him. “Nobody stands up for me… the way you do.”

From the corner of the dark office, I hear the sound of slow clapping, and we both step apart and look back.

"Aww. That was just… so beautiful," the blonde woman purrs. She pulls the heels she had kicked up on her makeshift desk and rises from the chair.

"Hello, Keelan. And… hello, Rina." Her bright eyes could slice me with just her look.

My mouth goes dry.

It can't be.

She can't be.

Keelan clears his throat. "Jenny." He looks at me and my shocked expression before asking, "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

My old college roommate smiles. Her glossy pink lips curl up in a devilish grin just as there's a knock on my door.

I unlock it and open it in what feels like a blur as I try to wrap my mind around seeing Jenny here— in my office —of all places.

Mack walks in. "Ah, I see you've met my new hire," she says, beaming in her direction. Then she sees Keelan standing behind me.

"You," she says, pointing a finger at him. "We need to talk."

"I feel so wanted today," he pulls a red lollipop out of his pocket, removes the plastic off of it, and sticks it into his mouth while stuffing the wrapper into his back pocket.

"That's not always a good thing," Mack says.

He grins, "I don't know. I kinda like the attention."

"You can expect an email from me," Mack says to him.

He nods.

"Later, ladies." He salutes while walking toward the door. "Don't have too much fun without me."

"Goodbye, Landry," Mack and I both say in unison.

He finally shuts the door behind him, and my attention goes back to the newest office member. She's standing in the corner, arms crossed, watching me.

"I swear," Mack says. "You've come at the perfect time. Because Keelan Landry could single-handedly bring down this entire organization if he's not kept in check." She crosses over to my desk and pulls a chair over to face us both.

"He won't," I assure her. "I'm already all over it."

"Oh, I'm sure you are, Lopez. But with the help of Ms. Cobbs here, we'll be able to pull double duty on staying on top of everything."

I manage to smile. "Of course," I say.

I glance at Jennyfer. Her face is frozen in a half grin, half glare.

She's not saying the word. But I can practically read it on her face as she looks at me.

Liar.