Page 82 of Hard to Break

I’m feeling more than a little guilt as I step inside and drop into the chair.

“I don’t know if the offer’s still on the table”—it’s been almost a month since she put it out there—“but I’m going to have to decline it. I really appreciate you thinking of me and believing in me, because if I’m being honest, there are times when it’s hard to believe in myself. But… long-term, I want to work for myself. So, I’m going to start building that even if it’s hard.”

“You’re going to be an influencer again?”

I shake my head. “I’m going to run PR for Nova, and maybe I’ll take on another few creatives if they’re the right fit.”

I recently heard back from Vivaro, who said they had completed their internal investigation and found no wrongdoing on their part. After emailing the group of women for whom I was speaking, I retained a lawyer and sent a letter outlining what was owed to the group. The influencers were paid out in less than twenty-four hours.

Two of the women have already asked if they can hire me to help them going forward.

Chloe’s eyes sparkle.

“You’re not mad,” I read.

“No. I figured you would pass on the Kodiaks job, but giving you an opportunity here gave you a chance to think it over.”

“How did you know I was agonizing over this?”

Her shoulder lifts. “Jay and I talk.”

I lean forward in my seat, bridging my hands. “You do?”

There’s been so much focus on my personal life lately that I’m not missing the chance to turn it around on somebody else—especially when those somebodies are my very private brother and the badass, professional woman who broke his heart when they were still kids.

Chloe folds her arms. “Occasionally.”

“Occasionally, like, late at night you call him or he calls you? Or are these in-person conversations?”

She rises from her chair to walk me toward the door. “You need to go.”

“Not at all, I’ve got all day.” My grin is wide enough that Chloe shakes her head.

“ThenIneed to go.”

She knocks the ID badge off her jacket, and we both bend to pick it up.

“You’re not going to forget this are you?” she murmurs.

“Are you kidding? I need a new project, and I’ll have you know I make an even better matchmaker than I do a publicist.”

HOOPSNEWS UPDATE:

DEFENDING CHAMPS DENVER FACE DOWN BOSTON FOR FINAL REMAINING PLAYOFF SLOT

24

MILES

The Visitors’ locker room in Boston is quiet, each player lost in his own pregame ritual. I sit at my locker, staring at my jersey, tracing the familiar numbers with my fingers.

Rookie sidles up, his usual boundless energy tempered by nerves. “You think we can do this?”

I look at him, seeing the mix of hope and fear in his eyes. “I know we can.”

Atlas grunts as he comes in and drops his bag at his locker. “What is it with Boston?!”

“What do you mean?”

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