Page 86 of Wicked Player

His eyes were kind, blue eyes filled with so much disappointment, tears welled and threatened to spill. I’d screwed up. Stupidly. Hugely and there was no fixing it.

“I know. I’m sorry. Does anyone else know?” I asked, pointing to the pictures. A fake email? Someone, i.e., Connor, had gone through a lot of work to keep that anonymous…and slapping me in the face at the same time. It had to be Connor, but was he really so vindictive? Despite his creepy attitude lately, I still couldn’t believe he’d sink this far.

“Email was blind carbon copied to me. I have no idea who else has received this, but it’s the text that makes this even worse.”

I didn’t want to know. I still had to ask and when I did, Shane leaned toward the monitor again and read:

Elizabeth Hayes, reporter for XTCP gets up close and personal with the subject of her story for the last few weeks. Seen here, lip-locking with the Rough Riders very own wide receiver, Gage Bryant, outside a sex club just a week before his new family center opens at the children’s hospital.”

Oh no. “I’m sorry,” I said again, sniffing away more tears. “I know you’re disappointed and this was such bad judgment. I know how bad this looks, and I should have told you when things changed. I know that now but I didn’t think. But Gage and I are seeing each other. It’s recent, but I can assure you that it in no way affects how I handled this story.”

It couldn’t have. I didn’t even know the guy I was making out with was Gage until last weekend. It was such a lame excuse and yet honest at the same time. I should have gone to Shane as soon as I figured it out. I never should have gone to that private room at Velvet with him once I knew who he was.

There were a million things I should have, could have, would have done if I had the chance to rewind time.

In my lap, my phone vibrated and lit up. A text from Gage in all caps that sent my heart rate into overdrive.CALL ME. STAT.

Shane was as perceptive as ever. “Let me guess. I wasn’t the only one to get the email.”

I showed him the screen, shaking my head. “No. It appears not.”

“This is disappointing. I had high hopes for you, Elizabeth, I really did. But you have to understand the position this puts me in.”

Oh God. Did I? Wasn’t I sitting in Gage’s lap less than twenty-four hours ago worried about the same thing?

“Would you like me to clear out my desk today or come back later?” The gavel was dropping. My job was over. What in the hell would I do now?

“Let’s wait,” Shane said. And my brief moment of hope evaporated almost as quickly as it rose. “I have a meeting in an hour and if these photos go live and wide, I don’t know what the fallout will be. For now, you’re suspended and off the story. But let’s give it the weekend, wait for the damage to settle and we’ll see where you are.”

It was better than getting fired. “I understand.”

“I’m trying to be fair here, Elizabeth. But I can’t promise you anything. And you’ve shown a severe lack of judgment that I don’t know if my bosses will understand, and as far as Shayla—”

“She’s coming back.”

“No, actually. She stopped in early this morning and gave her notice. But I can most likely guarantee that if you are able to keep your job, you won’t get her spot. I am sorry about that.”

I closed my eyes and sniffed again, unable to keep the tears away any longer. In my lap, my phone buzzed again, and I gripped it harshly. It was Gage again. I knew it.

“I get it. And I really am sorry, Shane. I was caught up in everything and showed horrible judgment like you said. I take full responsibility for that. And I’m definitely more sorry for putting the station in the middle of this.”

“You’re a good girl, Elizabeth. I know that. But for now, go home and we’ll touch base when I know more.”

I nodded, swiped my tears and rose on trembling legs. The walk back to my desk took a lifetime and Amanda’s presence at my desk, hip up against the side, phone in her hand made everything worse.

“They went public?” I asked at her expression. She didn’t need the clarification.

Her lips twisted and her eyes held a heavy weight of pity. “Yeah. They’re up on Twitter by some of the local blogs already.”

“Shit.” I dropped my head and grabbed my purse.

“If it’s any consolation, he looks like a really good kisser.”

“Jesus, Amanda,” Will said, walking around our desks. He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You okay?”

“No. Suspended until we see the fallout. I need to go.”

“We can do drinks tonight,” Amanda offered, but drinking was the last thing I wanted to do. At least in public. I’d seen the way gossip blogs went viral and with Gage as the subject, it was bound to be bad. So bad.

---