Page 65 of Fake Out

“Oh. Good.”

I clear my throat. “So… what can I do for you?” I wince at how professional I sound.

It’s stupid. After everything we shared, after the regrets I have, I don’t need to speak to him like that. And yet I can’t seem to help it. I’m afraid. Afraid of even showing how much I miss him.

“Look, I know this might seem out of the blue, but I have a business proposition for you,” he says, sounding slightly nervous.

My pulse quickens, curiosity piqued. I glance around the office, a little worried about being busted taking a personal call on my first day, but also not caring. There’s very little I wouldn’t risk at this point for a conversation with Charlie, and the fact that he’s talking business has me even more interested.

“Go on,” I encourage him, leaning forward in my chair.

“Remember that meeting we had with the San Antonio team?” he asks. I nod, even though he can’t see me, memories of that day flooding my mind.

“Of course.” I remember every meeting, every day and night with Charlie, like they just happened.

“Well, they just called me,” he continues, his voice growing excited. “They loved you, Marissa. They want to work with you, not the agency that sent you. Can you believe it?”

I sit back in my chair, stunned by his words. The possibility of working as a sports agent again, of returning to the dream life that was only just getting off the ground before it crashed and burned, is overwhelming. A flicker of hope begins to burn within me.

“Charlie, are you serious?” I ask, my voice trembling with emotion.

“Dead serious,” he replies. “There’s more, too. I told them that our relationship was fake, that it became real, and that Isaac didn’t like that.”

My jaw drops. “Why would you do that?”

“Because it’s the truth,” he says simply, a hint of defiance creeping into his tone. “Because I’m done hiding. And because I thought maybe you might be too.”

My heart thumps erratically as I process his words. Could this really be my chance? My chance to escape Isaac’s manipulation and finally get the recognition I deserve?

“But what about Isaac?” I question, remembering my fearsome boss and his iron grip on my career.

“Forget Isaac,” Charlie commands, the intensity in his voice flooding through the line. “This is about us, Marissa. About you and your talents. You’ve been under his thumb for far too long. San Antonio doesn’t care about him. Let him talk all the shit he wants.”

His words spark a fire in me that I haven’t felt since before all this mess with Isaac began. I realize that Charlie is right. Isaac can say whatever he wants, but if I can prove myself as an agent, that will speak volumes more than any words ever could.

I’m still confused, though. Does Charlie really need me? After how I kicked him out of my apartment, I’m shocked he wants to work with me.

Maybe the San Antonio team won’t see him without a rep. That makes sense. They don’t want to take the time to explain everything to him and work through the details of any deals.

“So, what do you say?” Charlie asks. “Are you up for it?”

My eyes dart around the dull, beige walls of the realty office, and I know without a doubt that I crave the excitement and passion that working with Charlie and the San Antonio team would bring.

He goes on. “I’ve got two tickets booked for this afternoon to San Antonio. Everyone will be in this meeting. All the reps. All the team owners. It’s happening tonight.”

“Tonight?” My heart races at the thought of seeing him again, and I grip the edge of my desk to steady myself. “Charlie, that’s so soon.”

“Listen, I know it’s short notice,” he replies, “but they want to move fast. I need you there, Marissa. As my agent.”

A heavy silence falls between us as I process his words. The prospect of working together again sends a thrill down my spine, but I can’t ignore the ache in my chest at his insistence on keeping things strictly professional.

“Charlie, I—” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“Before you answer,” he says, voice firm, “I want you to know I’m not asking for anything personal. You made it crystal clear how you feel about our relationship. This is just business, okay?”

His words sting, but they’re fair. I was too harsh with him, pushing him away when all he had done was try to support me. But deep down, I long to be more than just his agent. I want to mend our broken connection.

This isn’t the time to bring that up, though. Hell, I don’t know if it will ever be the time. For all I know, Charlie has already moved on.

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