Page 19 of Zero Pucks Given
“Too late for that.”
“Actually,” he said, “it’s not. We want the two of you to go on another date.”
I snorted. “Fat chance. Find someone else.”
“Nowthatis something it’s too late for,” Bob replied. “Have you seen the social media engagement we’ve received on our posts?”
I frowned. “What posts?”
Bob retrieved an iPad from a nearby table and handed it to me. It was an Instagram photo of me and Grayson outside the restaurant, smiling like we were having a good time.
The post had thirtythousandlikes, and over two thousand comments. I opened the comments and skimmed a few.
“They’re such a cute couple!”
“GORGEOUS! Love the dress!”
“If she’s not good enough for Grayson, give me a call!”
“Did he score last night, or just get an assist?”
“Power couple! Can’t wait for the wedding!”
“We’ve never had this much engagement on a team post before,” Bob bragged. “We expected enthusiasm to die off once the contest winner was selected, but it appears the fans are invested in your date with Grayson. You’re the hottest new couple in town.”
An incredulous laugh bubbled up from my throat. “We’re not a couple. We’re the opposite.”
“Surely you can give it another shot,” Bob said. “One more date. That’s all we’re asking for.”
“I most certainly will not give it another shot. The next time I see Grayson Steele, I’m dumping a glass of beer over his head.”
Bob took the iPad from me and scowled. “By refusing to go on another date, you’re throwing away ten thousand dollars.”
“I already went on one date, and you loophole’d your way out of paying me. Even if I go on another, you’ll find another way to screw me over. Or make me go onmoredates.”
“I am sorry to hear that.” Bob put the iPad away and steepled his fingers together on his knee. “Ms. Harper, let me make this very clear to you. We have already devoted significant resources to this contest, a contest which you won. We have already posted photos from your date, which means it is too late for us to announce a new winner. If you refuse to go on a full date with Grayson, as stipulated by your contract, then we will have no choice but to pursue legal action.”
I leaned toward him. “Letmemake this very clear toyou. I will never go on another date with that man. If that means you have to fire me and send your army of lawyers after me for breaching your precious contract, then so be it.”
I half expected the security guard by the door to stop me, but he didn’t move as I stormed out.
On the way back to my concession stand, I let out an annoyed snarl that caused a few fans to glance in my direction. I hated being manipulated like this. First Grayson, and now Bob the Marketing Asshole. Pushed around by men who had a lot more power and money than me.
If they fired me, so be it. I had made my decision. I wasn’t going to let them force me into doing something I didn’t want. I didn’t have the fame or influence they did, but I still had some control over my own life.
“Unbelievable,” I told Sharon when I got back. “Guess what they asked me.”
But she was staring at her phone. “Have you seen your videos?”
“Huh?”
“Apparently, after your date last night, a bunch of internet sleuths tracked down your info. They found your TikTok channel.”
I groaned. “Great. I’m guessing I have a bunch of rabid fans saying mean things in the comments? Claiming I’m not good enough for the amazing Grayson Steele, praise be his name?”
“The opposite—theyloveyou!”
She showed me her screen, but I was already pulling my own phone out of my pocket. The first thing I looked up was my channel metrics. Most of my videos only got a few dozen views, but the video I’d posted this morning had eightthousandviews. My older videos had also seen a spike in views, as well as a few hundred comments.
