Page 52 of Mile High Coach

It’s not the most important thing, but for some reason, I feel a mighty push to defend her honor. She’s done amazing things for this team, and I’ve been the first to go up against her around every bend.

Before the HR rep can say anything, I speak again, “And who the fuck took those pictures?”

“Mr. Clark,” she snaps, speaking with a voice that doesn’t match her sweet face. “You’ll watch your language when you’re in this office.”

I clench my jaw and say nothing, hands turning to fists under the table.

Lovie spares a glance my way, but I’m too slow to catch it, to hold it.

The HR rep goes on, “As of right now, we don’t have information about who posted these images, or who sent them to the press. But what is more important are the legal implications.”

Lovie clears her throat, “Legal implication? I looked through the employee handbook—it’s not against the rules for us to have…relations.”

She’s still not looking at me.

“No, it’s not,” Ms. Winthrop says, turning her gaze on Lovie in a way that communicates real hurt. “But if you read the employee handbook, then you know that it’s highly encouraged that employees disclose their relationships to us so we can help to protect you. And, besides that, relationships between subordinate and?—”

“I am not Harrison’s subordinate,” Lovie argues. “Not according to the org chart.”

“Regardless of the technicalities,” Ms. Winthrop says, frowning and looking back to her computer, “there areconsequences to this. PR is having a hell of a time trying to control the narrative here. For the most part…Mr. Clark, you’re being painted as something of a villain. A Leonardo DiCaprio-esque older man who just can’t stop himself from dating younger women.”

“First of all,” I clarify, glancing at Lovie, who is staring at her hands. “She’s thirty-three. It’s not like I’m going after some college girl. She’s a grown woman. And second of all—this is not anyone’s business but our own?—”

“You’re wrong in the fact that this very much is the Blue Crab’s business,” Ms. Winthrop fires back, her cheeks red. “Your actions reflect back on us, Mr. Clark. And if Lovie were ever to make the decision to sue?—”

“—I won’t—” Lovie interjects, but Ms. Winthrop goes right on.

“—there would certainly be some legal grounds for it, direct subordinate or not.”

“So what do you need us to do?” I ask, clearing my throat. “Tell people to leave us the fuck alone?”

“No.” She shakes her head, holding her hands up. “Do not say anything publicly until we’ve thoroughly debriefed with PR.”

Great. Just what I need. A meeting with Davis, the fucker.

“And…assuming that this is going to continue, I’m putting together paperwork for the two of you. I’ll need signatures by the end of the day on this. Right now, I’m going to assume PR wants you to make no more public appearances until we?—”

Abruptly, Lovie stands from the chair next to me, holding her hands up in front of her, sucking in a sharp breath, like she’s being held at gunpoint.

“That won’t be necessary, Maya.”

I turn and look up at Lovie, at that dark hair over her shoulders, the serious look in her expression. The librarian, turned principal, turned scared little girl. For a moment, it’slike I can see through every layer of her—the brave veneer, the trembling fear, the bedrock of determination at her very core.

When she turns to me, the look in her eyes is like I’m a stranger. Coldly, without much care at all, she says, “It’s over Harrison. This whole thing is done.”

With that, she turns and walks briskly out of the room.

Chapter 23

Lovie

My hands are shaking, my mind racing, my entire body buzzing with adrenaline when I push through the door to Maya’s office and just start to walk, the sound of my heels against the floor and the whoosh of my heavy breathing the only noises I can hear.

We’re in the administrative part of the complex, and my feet carry past other Blue Crabs office workers, all looking merry in their Santa hats, ready for the upcoming break over the holiday.

As I walk past them, I try to keep my face calm, but I can’t stop myself from wondering—do they all know? Have they seen the article? Are they already thinking negatively of me?

I can already hear what people are saying: that I only got this job because I was screwing the coach. How I was doing it to keep my job. That Harrison somehow took advantage of me or forced me to do it, just because he happens to be older than me.

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