Page 95 of Cold Carnage

I sat there, staring at the phone in disbelief.

I shoved another stack of papers into the cardboard box, each one feeling like a piece of my dignity being packed away. Thesound of the documents rustling against each other was the only noise in the otherwise silent room. My desk, once cluttered with work and personal touches, now looked barren and desolate. The framed photo of my sisters, the little cactus plant I had named Spike—everything was getting tucked away.

Just as I reached for my coffee mug, there was a sharp knock on the door. Before I could even respond, Gideon walked in, his face set in a grim expression.

“What’s the nature of the relationship between you and Ryker Kane?” he asked bluntly, closing the door behind him.

I blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by his directness. “Excuse me?”

“I know this isn’t my business,” he continued, “but if I decide to keep you?—”

“I never considered you would?—”

“Just—if you would answer the question,” he cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I sighed deeply, glancing at the half-filled box beside me. “I’m in love with him,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"How?" he asked. "You've been here for a few days."

“The two of us met while I was in college," I explained. "We spent one night together and... well, I wasn’t naïve enough to think a top NHL player could fall in love after one night.”

He remained silent, the same look on his face.

“I met his brother in college too,” I continued, my gaze fixed on the floor. “But I didn’t know it was Ryker’s brother at the time. And Ryker made it seem like he didn’t remember me. I thought that was it. When I came here, I didn’t think there would be any issues since I stopped seeing his brother a couple of years ago, but…”

“But,” Gideon prompted.

“And his feelings for you?” he asked, his eyes searching mine for any hint of deception.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I can’t speak for him.”

He rubbed his temples, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "Paige, I'm in a dilemma here. We need Crowder. A signing like that could shift the focus, bring some much-needed positivity to the team. But keeping you on board if you and Ryker remain an item? That's a scandal I’m not sure I want to handle. Even if you went to Michelle in HR and filled out the necessary paperwork… Those photos are incredibly damaging.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have reassured him of my professionalism. But right now, I held back.

"Can you promise me you won't get into a relationship with Ryker Kane?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

"I can't," I replied, my voice steady but soft.

He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Then I'm forced to dismiss you."

"I understand," I said, swallowing hard. "Would you still like me to speak to Jared Crowder?"

He pressed his lips together in a thin line. "I assume you're going to ask for your job if he signs?"

I shook my head. "I'm a fan regardless of whether I work for the Serpents or not."

He grunted, clearly conflicted. "I'll speak to Kane myself," he said finally. "Maybe I won't have to worry… Fine. If you sign Crowder, we'll work something out. Now, get out of my sight before I change my mind."

He turned and left the room without another word.

I stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. My career hung in the balance, contingent on something entirely out of my control.

What the hell just happened?

I fired off an email to Julian Burrows without hesitation. My fingers flew over the keyboard, fueled by a mix of determination and clarity.

Mr. Burrows,

---