Page 46 of Well Played

“Solution?” I look around the room for Bronx, but of all the dozen people in suits, he isn’t one of them.

“Willow!” I turn to see Bronx half jog toward me. “Are you okay? Can I get you anything? Tea, coffee, water?”

He pulls me into a long hug and I want it to be enough to make the horrible things Sloan is about to say to the world go away. My head is spinning. I can ask to be taken off Charlotte’s class, but changing teachers this close to the end of the school year won’t be fair to other students, and I won’t be teaching her grade next year.

I can’t lose my career, and I don’t want to lose Bronx.

I love him, and even though we haven’t said the words, I know he loves me, too. But Charlotte comes first, as she should.

“Gentlemen, please take a seat.” Lloyd takes position at the head of the long table and we all take our seats behind nameplates. “Some of you have an NDA in front of you. I ask that you take a moment to consider it, and sign.”

I take a cursory glance and sign, trusting whatever we are here to do will help Bronx.

“When is the interview scheduled to air?” A woman in a suit asks a man at the other end of the table.

“There will be at least three weeks to go through legals, seek comments from people named, and edit the works. Then there is advertising the segment to sponsors …”

“We launch in three days.” Lloyd McMillan says. “We cannot afford the media to become distracted before Vegas.”

Vegas? What has Bronx and Charlotte got to do with Vegas?

“I can step down as coach,” Bronx says and squeezes my hand when I mouth,coach of what?

“When I asked you what sort of team you wanted to build, you told me that it would be based on respect, honesty, and family,” Lloyd says, nodding to one of the lawyers and things finally make sense. Lloyd McMillan will own the new team, and Bronx will be the new coach. No wonder he couldn’t say anything to me. This is huge. The publicity of a new team will suck the oxygen out of all other rugby league or sporting news.

And Sloan’s allegations will derail or ruin Bronx’s career before it starts.

“Mr. Parker. There are three issues here. One is the blackmail being perpetrated by Sloan Parker. We can seek an injunction for the interview and go to court. However, we cannot stop Sloan Parker from casting aspersions on Ms Caton’s character at her work and with other parents. Once Sloan has done so, we can sue her for defamation, but it would be a difficult case to prosecute.”

“I will not attack Sloan,” Bronx says. “I’m not going to explain to my little girl why I am suing her mother.”

Right there is why I love him. Bronx would rather cut out his own eye than hurt someone he loves.He loves me … he’ll never choose to hurt me.

“The second issue is the appropriateness of the relationship between Mr. Parker and Ms. Caton. You are both of legal age. I have reviewed Ms Caton’s employment conditions and believe it would be difficult for her to lose her job, however, we cannot stop assertions and allegations from being made.”

“Please forgive me for not phrasing this more delicately,” Lloyd McMillan asks me, “but time is of the essence, and we have a lot to get through here. Sloan Parker has reached out and offered a compromise, but we need to know how hard you are willing to fight. How do you feel about Bronx?”

I squeeze Bronx’s hand, wishing we’d had this conversation earlier.

“I’ve been a fan of Bronx since before his daughter became my student, and before I met him. When we are together, I can’t imagine being anywhere else or with anyone else.” Is this the end? Do I need to walk away from the man I love to save his relationship with his daughter? “We said that we’d make our relationship public after he has a job and settles his custody issues.”

“Sloan’s PI has changed all our timeframes.” Lloyd smiles apologetically and my heart plummets, knowing what’s about to come. “It will take a strong person to stand beside a man who is about to have his reputation trashed.”

I know what I have to do. Charlotte has to come first.

With tears in my eyes, I turn my body to Bronx. “What we have is worth fighting for, but it’s not worth losing your daughter over. I love you. I wish I said it last night, but I need you to knowit and believe it. Do what you need to do, and when it’s all over, come and find me.”

I stand and rush from the room before anyone can react.

I did it. I made the ultimate sacrifice for the love of a little girl. On my way home, I call my principal and explain the situation. She rejects my resignation and offers to review my class notes to ensure they can stand up to any external scrutiny or allegations of bias.

“There’s only two days until the school holidays. Take a couple of personal days and we’ll touch base before the next term starts.”

Within an hour, I’ve packed a bag and head out of town. I can’t stay in the same city as Bronx and not be with Bronx. This way, he has the space to fight and a woman to find if he wants her.

PUBLIC VERDICT

Bronx

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