Page 43 of Match Point

Leo rolled the question around in his head as he pondered the best way to respond. His softer instincts toward Sorcha the woman told him to tread lightly, but there were harsh truths in the world. “It’s not up to me. It’s up to you.”

“Not true. If it were up to me, I’d have been signed for longer than three months. Which leads to something that’s been bothering me for a while. How did you know about Stanley and me? You told Howler about it. That and all the headlines was all you. I know how your logical mind works, so don’t deny it.”

“I won’t deny it. I was doing my job and I know people.” He glanced down at his phone and checked out the exercise app. “Your heart rate isn’t high enough. I’m going to make some adjustments.”

“Let’s not and say we did,” she said with a laugh.

“That’s a good sign. That means your endurance has increased.” He adjusted the speed and inline and the sound of her footfalls increased. “My contact at Stanley’s agency told me that you were difficult to work with and that Stanley had serious reservations about signing you for another four years.”

“Did you ever think to question why he’d let a very lucrative contract with a high-profile talent walk? Granted, we fought, but I’m not the first or the last athlete who has made headlines.”

“Damn, you said that entire sentence without losing your breath. I’m impressed.”

She reached over and playfully pinched his arm. “You’ve managed to evade my question. Again.”

He felt her touch to his toes, and he increased his own pace. “It wasn’t my place to question it. This is between you and Howler. I’m just your manager.” And not for much longer.

“You’re more than that and you know it.”

There she was wrong. He wasn’t her friend, or her lover. “Okay, I’m biting. Why did he opt out of re-signing you?”

“I found out he was leaking my whereabouts to Tim. He knew I had a restraining order against the guy and yet Pap kept showing up wherever I was supposed to be,” she said, a trace of vulnerability in her tone, a direct contrast to the confident woman he’d grown to like.

“Pap found you again. Do you think Stanley tipped him off?” The more he found out about the guy, the more he wanted to kick his ass.

“I can’t say for sure. Grace was advertising the interview on local television. But I wouldn’t put it past him because despite what he said, he was pissed that I went with Howler. If it got out that it was temporary and I was dropped after three months, I’d never live it down.”

“Why did you take the chance then?” While she infuriated him, he had faith in her abilities. If she’d crack down and give herself a chance, she could be where she wanted to be, at the top.

She averted her gaze, but not before he caught the way she blanched in the mirror. “Because of what I told Grace. I liked the fact that the agency is signing women. For far too long, we’ve been underrepresented. Regardless, if I lose, I lose my bargaining power.”

“If I didn’t think you could win, the agency wouldn’t have signed you.” She had to be invested in her comeback or he was wasting his time.

“For three months. If I get eliminated early in the tournament, then what?” The high flush on her face drained and panic reached her eyes.

“If you keep doing what you’re doing, you have nothing to worry about.” He wanted to reassure her more but he couldn’t.

The private investigator had contacted him that morning. What he’d revealed meant that Leo had to make some hard choices. And quick. The first and the easiest was the decision to get out of the military. His contract was up, and his heart was no longer in it. Since he’d left the military proper, he’d debated quitting the reserves but each time he started to, he hesitated. For his entire life, he’d wanted to be in the military like his dad, but the truth was, he couldn’t cut it. Too many old resentments over his parent’s situation—a common occurrence that tore many immigrant families apart—dogged his heels.

Instead of going on his service duty, he’d travel to Puerto Rico to visit his mom. The island had been ravaged by a hurricane during the last hurricane season, with half of the residents living without proper food or water.

One thing stood in his way. Sorcha. He’d promised Howler a month and he’d lived up to that obligation. But he wasn’t ready to quit her and that was the gist of the problem.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Sorcha tossed the tablet on the couch in the media room of Howler’s house and turned the television channel to a classic 1980’s romantic comedy. The couple on the screen started to make out and she sighed. Leo had left an hour before, quiet and distant after their countless interviews with staff she had no interest in hiring. The interviews had brought home the fact that her time with Leo was limited, which made her more restless.

Her phone chimed and she answered the text. The door opened and Trent came inside, his hair no longer blond but a bright blue. Before he could shut the door, Vegas bolted inside, his tail wagging as he licked her hand. She scratched him behind the ear and his tongue lolled sideways from his slack mouth. “I wish men were as easy to deal with as this guy.”

“You’re preaching to the choir.” Trent plopped down on the couch next to her, a Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt stretched across his broad chest. He picked up the discarded tablet with the resumes of potential staff members. “Who’s this hottie?”

“I’m supposed to be picking out an assistant. Leo is insisting I get one.”

“Assistant as in get me some coffee, a bagel and some Botox?”

She shook her head, running her thumb between Vegas’ big brown eyes. “Yes, to the coffee, a definite yes to the bagel, and no to the Botox. Unless you think I need some.”

He tried to look serious while inspecting her face but failed miserably. “Not quite yet, but if you keep frowning like that…” he shrugged.

---