Page 43 of Worth the Scandal
Shell’s laughing.
Dad’s smiling.
This old house would appreciate the change of mood and the light hearted conversations. It sat empty for a while after mum and dad moved down south, they used it as player residence when the Ridgebacks first started up—before dad got the coaching job—mum hasn’t lived here for years, and I know the old house would be missing her just as much as we are. I’m smiling like an idiot, and my eyes are glassing over at the thought of mum deep cleaning, or finding some new out of the ordinary décor at the junk shop—you know that woman went through a phase of collecting cows? Yep, whole dining room cabinet is full of them.
For a brief second, I almost forget that I’ve got one very off-limits fullback on the brain and a business to lift off the ground.
Almost.
Even when big things happen, the little things still need to be taken care of.
Chapter Seventeen - Scarlett
10:14 AM–One hour before the seminar
Scarlett:
It’s been three days.
Scarlett:
Three days since the dressing shed and cute night in. Three days since you said, “it’s just a bit of fun, then said no it isn’t.”
Scarlett:
So, tell me—what did you mean, exactly? Because I’m not trying to sign a player who has now ghosted me. I need someone with fast reflexes.
I don’t say what I really want to which is what the hell are we now because we had a moment followed by a few more and you’ve ghosted me.
The typing bubble pops up immediately.
Asher:
I didn’t ghost you. I’ve been thinking. I can’t think straight around you.
Scarlett:
Dangerous habit. Recommend fewer thoughts, more replies.
Asher:
I didn’t want to cross a line. But I’ve been reading over my contract. My agent’s grip is weak at best. There’s a clean exit clause, that my lawyers found.
Scarlett:
So, you have been reading the fine print. Proud of you. You’ve got a lawyer on speed dial? Interesting.
Asher:
You’re dangerously distracting, you know that? I can’t stop thinking about the other day. About Sydney. About what happens if I sign with you.
Scarlett:
You take over the league. I take over the agency world. We both look amazing doing it. It’s not a marriage proposal; it’s just better for your career….and mine xx
I smirk to myself as I reread the texts for the third time, my phone buzzing with notifications, none of which are more important than this conversation. If you read between the lines, we most certainly are not talking about work or are we. Who really knows eh?
11:30 AM—The Ridgebacks Seminar
