Page 21 of Ice-Cold Truth

“The firm I’m interning for is representing Mr. Halstrom.” She takes a deep breath, her eyes holding a hint of trepidation. “Dervin Kobin asked me to look into the allegations against Coach Matthews and the Firebirds’ team owner.”

The words hit me like a slap in the face. “You’re investigating the team? Why the hell would you do that?”

She flinches at my sharp tone, but her voice remains steady. “It’s part of my internship duties. I didn’t have a choice.”

I shake my head vehemently, anger simmering beneath the surface. “There’s always a choice, Elyse. You should have told Kobin to shove it.”

Her brow furrows, a flash of defiance in her eyes. “This is my career we’re talking about, Jack. I can’t just turn down assignments because they’re inconvenient for you.”

“Inconvenient?” I scoff, rising to my feet as my frustration bubbles over. “This goes beyond inconvenience. You’re digging into my personal life and my team’s business.”

“Not your personal life. Just seeing how things are.” She stands as well, refusing to back down. “I’m doing my job just like you do yours on the ice.”

I pace the length of the living room, running a hand through my hair. “This is different. You’re betraying my trust, our…” I trail off, unsure how to define the bond between us.

Her expression softens, and she takes a tentative step closer. “You know how much I care about you, but I can’t let my feelings get in the way of my work.”

Her words sting, and I whirl to face her, jaw clenched. “So that’s it? Your career comes before everything else, before us?”

Elyse flinches at my accusation, hurt flickering across her features. “That’s not fair. You know how important this internship is to me.”

“Important enough for you to fake a relationship with me and then pretend to turn it real?”

She blinks, looking stunned at the accusation. “Of course not. I agreed for fun and because I wanted an excuse to spend time with you. You. Not your team.”

She’s convincing, but I just don’t know what to believe. I exhale a frustrated sigh, raking a hand through my hair. “Just stay out of it, Elyse. Don’t get involved with the lawsuit or anything to do with the Firebirds. This is bigger than some silly internship, Elyse. The team comes first—always.”

Her eyes widen, disbelief etched across her delicate features. “You can’t be serious. This is a huge case, Jack. How I perform could make or break my future career.”

“I don’t care,” I snap, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “Stay away from the team, from Matthews, and from all of it. That’s not a request.”

Hurt and anger battle in her expressive eyes. For a long moment, she simply stares at me, lips parted in shock. Finally, she shakes her head slowly, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I thought you understood me better than that. I’m not just going to roll over and do whatever you say.” With that, she turns on her heel and stalks toward the guest room, leaving me standing alone in the living room, fists clenched at my sides.

I sink back onto the couch, burying my face in my hands as regret washes over me. Maybe I overreacted and let my temper get the best of me once again, but the thought of Elyse digging into the team’s affairs, of her uncovering the truth about my injury and Matthews’ role in it, fills me with a sense of dread I can’t quite shake. If she exposes my injury, I’ll have to sit out the season, and that’s unacceptable to me and the team.

Exhaling a shaky breath, I lean back against the cushions, my gaze drifting to the painkillers on the table. The bottle is a bitter reminder of the secrets I’ve been keeping and the lies I’ve been telling myself and everyone around me. I’m not okay. Not in peak shape, and not ready to finish this season, but I can’tlet Elyse expose that and cost everything I’ve been working for these past eight years.

Chapter 10: Elyse

Irush out of the living room, heart pounding as I fight back tears. Slamming the door to the guest bedroom behind me, I sink onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. How did everything spiral so out of control?

The day started like any other—full of promise and excitement for the day ahead, but my argument with Jack has left me reeling, feeling lost and adrift. I never imagined he could be so callous about my situation. Doesn’t he understand how much this internship means to me? How hard I’ve worked to get here?

My chest tightens as I recall the harsh look in his eyes and the hard set of his jaw as he dismissed my concerns. “This is bigger than some silly internship, Elyse. The team comes first—always.” His words cut deeply, making me feel small and insignificant then and now.

Doesn’t he realize I’m trying to forge my own path? That I can’t simply abandon my principles and ethics, even for him? This internship is my shot at making it in the cutthroat legal world. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.

Yet the thought of disappointing Jack, of going against his wishes, leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Despite his gruff exterior, I’ve seen glimpses of the caring man beneath, who makes me feel cherished and protected in a way I’ve never experienced before.

I sigh heavily. My parents’ marriage taught me the importance of commitment, of weathering the storms life throws your way, but is blind loyalty the answer? Shouldn’t I be forging my own path, following my heart and convictions?

The conflicting thoughts swirl in my mind like a tempest, leaving me unsure which way to proceed. Do I abandon the internship, putting Jack’s needs first as he demands? Or do I dig in my heels, risking a deeper rift between us for the sake of my career?

I take a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling within me. My fingers tremble slightly as I scroll through my contacts, finally landing on “Mom.” A wave of nostalgia washes over me at the simple act. How many times had I called her over the years seeking her sage advice or just joined her for a cup of tea and a chat in the kitchen? I’m suddenly homesick.

Pressing the call button, I bring the phone to my ear, the familiar rings doing little to settle my nerves. After a few agonizing moments, her warm voice greets me. “Elyse, sweetheart. What a lovely surprise.”

Despite the turmoil raging inside, I smile at her cheerful tone. She and I share the trait of cheerful optimism, but I’m having trouble finding it right now. “Hi, Mom. How are you?”

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