Page 39 of One Pucking Wish

Once we’re in my office, I close the door behind him and shove the phone against his chest. “Want to tell me what this is about? You couldn’t go one night? Why? Why do you make my job so hard? Do you know what a mess this is going to be to clean up!” My voice is shrieky, and I sound like I’m on the verge of a meltdown, which, if I’m being honest, maybe I am.

Gunner stares at my phone, his eyes narrow. “That fucker.”

“Oh yeah? He’s the fucker?”

He looks at me. “This isn’t what happened! He tripped and fell into me. I caught him and helped him stand.”

“Really because your face looks like you’re about to kick his ass, and your hands are splayed across his chest like you’re shoving him,” I snap.

“He had just spilled a fishbowl of icy, sticky liquid all over me. Sorry if I’m not smiling like a fucking Cheshire cat, but I did not push him. I caught him.”

“The picture looks like you’re attacking him!”

He takes a step toward me, his features schooled. He places the phone on my desk and lowers his voice. “I don’t care what the photo looks like. I’m telling you right now, I didn’t do shit to that guy besides stopping him from falling onto the floor and smashing his face in. This picture has been taken out of context. Ask all of the guys. I didn’t do anything to that idiot. In fact, given the circumstances, I was incredibly patient.”

My anger dissipates. “It looks bad, Gunner.”

He shrugs. “Maybe so but that doesn’t mean that it was.”

“And now the guy in Vancouver has come forward saying you hit him, too.”

“What? The little dweeb we paid off? The one who got box seats and all the money in my wallet?”

I sigh. “Yeah, that one. I haven’t transferred the tickets to him yet, so he won’t be getting those. But your cash? That’s gone.”

“I don’t care about the money, Penny. I’m pissed at the fact that he agreed to one thing and did something else.”

I throw up my hands. “Yeah, well… welcome to my life, Gunner. Every day is another disappointment. I leave you guys early one time, and this happens.” I glare at the image on my phone.

“I told you…”

I nod. “I know, but that’s not going to matter. The picture is pretty damning, and now with the Vancouver guy chiming in… it’s just not going to go away easily.”

“I should’ve let him fall and break his nose against the floor,” Gunner huffs.

I shake my head. “People do all sorts of messed-up things for money. You know he made money with that shot. I mean, it looks awful. The headlines are all over the place, but the one constant is they all paint you in a very bad light.” I wave my hand through the air. “Go to practice. I’ll figure it out.”

Gunner looks like he wants to say something, but instead, he turns and leaves without saying another word.

My coffee is lukewarm now, but I suck it down as if my life depends on it. I need my brain awake. I take a seat at my desk and open my laptop. Grabbing a legal pad of paper and a pen, I start writing out my to-do list.

So much for an easy day.

The sun has long set before I’m satisfied with my day’s work. I sent a message to Gunner, requesting he come back to my office. He left for home hours ago, but I don’t feel remotely guilty for making him come in. This is his mess after all.

“You summoned,” he grumbles, opening my office door.

“Take a seat.” I motion toward the chair facing my desk. “We have some stuff to go over.”

He does as instructed. “Did you get it all figured out?”

“Well, I sent a letter to the guy in Vancouver threatening to sue him for breach of contract. That night, I had him e-sign a general agreement that I keep on my phone for cases like that. I doubt it will actually hold up in court, just as I doubt the Crane Organization would ever take it to court, but the little jerk doesn’t. I think the letter scared him enough, though. He apologized and agreed to withdraw his statement. As for the guy in Florida, he states he didn’t say anything negative about you, only sold the picture and the tabloids ran with their own stories. I contacted all media outlets with an official statement from the Crane Organization clarifying what happened last night and what is happening in the photo. Some may run a revised story, but most probably won’t. So let’s just hope something bigger and better happens in the sports and entertainment world tomorrow that will pull the tabloids’ focus away from your photo. In the meantime, I’ve set up a pretty rigorous tour to brighten your image.” I hand him the five-page document.

“A tour?” he holds the packet in his hands.

“Yeah, we’ll call it your good deeds tour. I’ve looked at your schedule for the next couple of weeks, and when you’re not training, traveling, or playing, you’ll be doing something to improve your image. I have all sorts of volunteer activities set up, which will all involve photo ops, of course. You’ll find your schedule, along with your obligations, in your packet.”

Gunner flips through the pages. “Are you kidding? This is a shit ton of work, Penny.”

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