Page 17 of Wild Blades

I rest my head on the hand of my bent arm. “Yes, it is. And what you do isa job.” I copy his finger actions. “You’ve stopped excelling and now you’re coasting.” He’s too stuck in his misery to see it for himself, so I lay it out for him. “Everyone is replaceable. I was. Someone younger, thinner, and sexier comes along. Boom. All gone.” I splay my fingers out like an explosion. “Same with you. Do you know how many guys would sell their parents just to be in your position? How many hockey players want to be you? What they would give for just a chance to step onto the ice you play on? And you’re blowing it. You heard it from Marcus himself. He will replace you just like that.” My thumb and middle fingers click together to make a snapping sound that cuts through the silence of the room. “Without Leon, you’re vulnerable. No one to fight in your corner, defend you, negotiate on your behalf. You’ve made yourself effortlessly replaceable.”

It’s what Michael did. Replaced me.

When I caught him having sex with Darcy Humberston, a ten-year younger version of me, in our New York apartment, it didn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, which was confirmation he was not the one for me.

There was something intangible I felt on my wedding day. I knew it was there, hanging above me like a big red flag, but I ignored it. I’m grateful we never started a family together. Which was what I’ve always wanted, but then parked because, after wegot married, Michael announced he didn’t want children, not until I retired from modeling anyway.

Turns out that was a lie; he didn’t want children at all. Not with me, not with anyone.

I wish he’d told me sooner.

I’m thirty-four; my biological clock is ticking. Loudly. With no husband or partner, it seems like a family, for me, is never going to happen.

Sitting up straighter in the uncomfortable boardroom chair, I uncross my legs. “I want to see the man you were before this.” With my pointer finger, I tap on the folder full of the articles that have seriously damaged his credibility. “You have fallen out of favor with the fans. Your likeability ranking sucks. But I have a plan to make the fans forget all of that. I want to help you get the old Wade back.”

“I don’t remember what that guy was like.”

“I have a feeling that if you unload the anger and grief you’re carrying it will help you. Don’t you want to be known as the greatest hockey player of all time?” I try stroking his ego. “Imagine that title. Wade Collins. The GOAT.” I draw an invisible rainbow in the air with both hands. “It has a bit more clout behind it than the sexiest athlete of the year, don’t you think?”

He bites the side of his mouth, then says, “You’re annoying.”

“I know.”

He goes quiet for a bit, as if he’s considering my words before he replies, “I’m not grieving.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m not. She died a year ago.”

“Grief takes time. I lost my grandmother five years ago and I am still grieving. There is no time limit on those feelings.” Sharing my deep secrets with Wade Collins, a man I knew nothing about until last night, seems to be what is happeningtoday. “I was mad at her for dying. My mom and dad love mummies, caskets, and pharaohs that lived thousands of years ago. They were, and still are, fascinated with the past, but my grandmother, she cared about me, lived in the present, and kept every clipping from every magazine and advertising campaign I was ever in.”

A mumble so low leaves his lips, but I don’t catch what he says, so I have to ask him to repeat it.

Looking out of the double-height windowed wall, he shares his words louder. “Gretchen kept mine too. She would kick my ass if she saw the recent stories about me.” He points to the file I put together and his firm jaw twitches. “I kinda hate you right now.”

I nod with a smug grin on my face. He’s lying, and I knew I’d win him over. “I know. But you’ll love me in the end. Promise.”

“You’re getting a little ahead of yourself. I think love is a stretch.”

“You will. Just watch.” Smug face disguised, I tap my fingers happily on top of the folder we’re going to burn once he’s in the number one position on the player likability polls.

I have my work cut out for me.

“I need Leon.” He gives in to the inevitable. “And you.” That seems to stick in his throat a little.

Yes! Gotcha. He’s in.

“You do. And Lola, Joe, Ash, Dustin, Thomas. Marcus brought all of us in for a reason. He wants to help you, Wade. The Eagles marketing team has enough work to keep them going for the next decade, and the last thing they need is you making more for them. Marcus requested me specifically to work with you because he knows how hard I will work. He trusts me, Wade. He’s a smart businessman. If he trusts me, so should you.”

I may also be doing this for selfish reasons. I’m gearing up to launch a talent management agency. While I love working withbusinesses promoting products and services, I miss working with people, and we’re going to do something revolutionary. I’m excited about it.

I’m a sucker for a challenge and I may have got exactly what I’m looking for with Wade.

“Wewant to help you find yourself again. All of us.”

“Playing hockey for the Eagles is all I’ve ever wanted.” In a moment of vulnerability, he shares that information with me again.

“Then show us that passion. Where is it? Where did your fighting spirit go?” I make a ball with my fist and punch the air a fraction.

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