Page 125 of In Your Wildest Dreams
I was relieved until Everly showed me some articles that popped up this morning, circulating rumors that the Wildcats are working on a trade that’d send Ash to Chicago or Dallas.
My feelings have morphed from sadness and guilt to anger. And I know just who to take it out on.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Scarlett asks. “Or wait until Ash gets back.”
She looks a little nervous on my behalf.
“No. I need to do this on my own. Thank you for getting me in.”
“Of course.” She walks me past security to the elevators. “Get off on the top floor. Third door on the right. He should be there now according to my sources.”
I don’t ask who her sources are, just nod.
“If you’re not back in ten minutes, I’m sending security.”
“I’ll be fine,” I say more for my benefit than hers.
The top floor of the building is quiet when I step off onto the marble floors. Framed photos of the team line the wall. I even see one of Ash. He has his hands raised over his head and a huge smile on his face. It’s a good reminder of why I’m doing this. For him, because he loves this team more than anything. And for me, because I want to put the past behind me and plan a future with Ash.
I don’t bother knocking when I find the office I’m looking for. I don’t even give myself time to think, I just push open the door.
Gabe sits behind his desk with a large, curved monitor in front of him. His expression switches from surprise to barely contained glee when I close the door behind me.
“Bridget. To what do I owe this surprise visit?”
My stomach twists. It’s not the same fear I had the last time I saw him, but I won’t lie, he does scare me. But I know he gets off on that fear and I refuse to let him see it. Not anymore.
“Cut the crap, Gabe. You know why I’m here.”
“I did hear something about a disciplinary meeting with your boy toy and Jim.” He clicks his tongue. “I knew you’d run and cry to him. I’ve gotta say, he has more restraint than I thought. I had a hard time getting get him to crack.”
“You wanted him to hit you?” I’m such an idiot. I fell right into his trap.
“With the shitty stats he’s put up this season, it’s probably enough to finally get him out of here. I’ve been pushing for a trade for months, but the organization is split. What Jim and Coach Miller see in him, I don’t know.”
“Of course, you don’t. You are pathetic. God. I wish I’d never met you.”
His face reddens. “Is that what you came to say?”
“No. I came to say this. Whatever game you’re playing, it ends right now. You and I are over. Trading Ash isn’t going to change that.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m doing this organization a favor by getting him out of here. But you should thank me. That guy is trash on and off the ice.”
“Ash is twice the man you’ll ever be.”
“I think you’ve been spending a little too much time with the other puck sluts, Bridge.” He rolls his eyes.
“What is wrong with you? Seriously? Why are you such an asshole?”
“You can hate me all you want, but your boyfriend is washed up. He’s on the downhill slide of his career and my job is to make sure we have the best players money can buy. This has nothing to do with us.”
“Nothing to do with us? You used me.”
“I did what I had to. You didn’t really think I wanted you back now that you’ve whored yourself around, did you?”
I huff a bitter laugh. “You’re delusional.”
The proud smile on his face fills me with so much rage. Every cell in my body screams at me to leave, but if there’s any chance I can change his mind about trading Ash, I need to take it.
