Page 17 of Puck King
The dinner Holliemade sat untouched on the table. She had gone to talk to someone at her bank about getting a loan. It was a sweet gesture, but there was no way she’d be able to get one – and if she did, I couldn’t let her finance the entire clinic. I rubbed my eyes and wondered how long I had been asleep. The TV flickered and an entertainment show droned in the background while I stared at the ceiling of Hollie’s apartment, hoping that the solution somehow lay in the cracks of the plaster above me.
My staring was interrupted when I heard Everleigh’s name on the TV. A pretty reporter was standing outside the building I had left before the weekend. I recognized it instantly as Colton’s high-rise. I sat up and turned up the volume. Everleigh held her head high as camera flashes flickered on her blond hair. She had told me they would get in touch over the weekend to discuss the position, but it was Monday and I still hadn’t heard a word from anyone at King Corporation.
On the screen, Everleigh paused at the door of her town car.
“Miss King,” one of the reporters shouted. “How does it feel to have another cheater in the family?”
Everleigh’s eyes narrowed, but I caught the slight recoil of her head. It was subtle, but as someone who works with the body, I saw it. The question hurt her. That reporter might as well have reached out and slapped her across the face.
I studied her movements, her hands balled into fists at her side. “My brother has done nothing wrong. No more questions.”
Hollie walked into the apartment. “I’m back.” She hung her handbag on the back of a bar stool.
“Check this out.” I pointed to the screen.
“Miss King!” The crowd of reporters surged at her and I almost felt sorry for her, but then I remembered that she’d had everything in her life handed to her on a silver platter, and there was no way that she was qualified to be the general manager of a national league sports team. A team of body guards stepped in between Everleigh and the crowd, and she disappeared behind the tinted window of the town car.
“Have you heard anything from her? At all?”
“Not a thing.” I shook my head. “They’ve ghosted me.”
“Very professional.” Hollie rolled her eyes and handed me a glass of wine. “I don’t have good news.”
“Really?” I took the glass and sat a little straighter on the sofa. “Then why the wine?” I swirled the red in the glass.
“Why not?” Hollie shrugged. “Cheers.” Her mouth drew into a line, and for the first time, Hollie seemed defeated by the whole situation – my situation.
Before I could clink glasses with hers, my phone buzzed on the table. “Cheers.” I tapped her glass and took a sip.
“Aren’t you going to get that?” she asked.
I sighed. “I guess there couldn’t be more bad news, right?” I flipped over the phone and saw the name on the display.
Everleigh King.
“Zeesh,” I muttered. I wanted to ignore the call, but knew that it had to happen eventually. I pushed the speaker button and answered, “Alison Moffat.”
“Alison. It’s Everleigh King.” Her voice was low and all business.
I knew exactly who it was. “Oh, Miss King. What can I do for you?” I pretended like I hadn’t been waiting for a call from her for the past three days.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I want to offer you a position.”
Hollie mouthed, “what the fuck?” Her brow was furrowed but her eyes were wide. I shrugged in response. This wasn’t what I was expecting.
“What are the terms?” I knew that I would accept whatever she offered, but a woman like Everleigh would appreciate a little back and forth.
“I’d like to meet you in person to discuss the terms.”
“Is that necessary?” I asked. Hollie rolled her eyes and gave me a ‘what the hell are you doing look’.
“Yes, Miss Moffat. I’d like you to sign a non-disclosure agreement before we proceed any further. It’s standard practice for our family. Are you able to meet tonight? In an hour?”
“Tonight?” I glanced at the half-consumed glass of wine, thankful that Hollie and I hadn’t gotten further into the bottle.
“Is there an echo?” She sounded irritated.
“Tonight is fine.” I jotted down the address.
