Page 36 of Tight End
“She’s been accused of sleeping her way onto the football beat. And worse. By someone inside your own network.” Raiden’s hand tightened around mine, offering comfort I desperately needed. “That accusation wasn’t just inappropriate. It was a lie. And it was meant to create a false narrative with the potential to damage not just her reputation but also this network’s credibility.”
Mr. Aldridge’s jaw tensed. “We’re addressing the issue internally.”
But Raiden wasn’t finished.
“Marissa works harder than anyone I’ve met in this industry. She researches. She fact-checks. She respects every sport she’s assigned to cover in a way that only a former athlete can. And I’ve seen her turn down an opportunity that might’ve compromised her neutrality even though it meant losing a bigger story.”
I jerked slightly, surprised he even knew about that. I hadn’t mentioned anything to him even though it happened while I was working from home.
“Players trust her because she treats them with fairness,” he continued. “She’s earned every inch of success she has.”
Mr. Aldridge exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. “Mr. Shaffer?—”
“And if anyone claims she used me, they’re lying.”
The room went utterly silent.
Raiden’s thumb brushed across my knuckles. “If the network decides to bench her because of rumors someone else started, I’ll take the PR fallout myself. On camera. In front of whoever you want.”
He would never bluff about that. Raiden didn’t make empty threats. He made promises. And he kept them.
“She belongs on this beat because she’s earned it. Don’t let gossip convince you otherwise.”
Mr. Aldridge stared at him for several loaded seconds. Then he shifted his gaze to me, and he nodded. “As I was saying before”—he frowned at Raiden, but there was respect in his gaze—“Marissa, your work stands on its own. We intend to move forward with the assignments discussed.”
I released a shaky breath.
“And Camille will be removed from any overlapping coverage until further notice,” he added, his tone firm.
“I don’t want that woman anywhere near Marissa,” Raiden stated firmly.
Mr. Aldridge inclined his head. “Understood.”
My pulse fluttered in relief.
He stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “Congratulations on the baby.”
I stood on unsteady legs. Raiden rose beside me, his hand on the small of my back.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Raiden guided me out of the office. When the door shut behind us, I heaved a deep sigh.
Raiden’s hand slid to my hip. “You okay?”
I nodded, emotion clogging my throat. “I am now.”
We waited until we were alone in the elevator to say anything else.
I leaned against him. “I can’t believe you came.”
“Couldn’t let you get punished for being with me.”
I tilted my head back and asked, “How did you even know?”
“Someone from the PR team got a tip,” he explained. “They gave me a heads-up, and I rushed over.”
“Thank you.”
