Page 114 of Sven

“Is it true you were fired for inappropriate sexual activity with a minor?”

That question almost stopped her in her tracks.

Fuck. How the fuck did they find out about that? The foundations said they would kill the story.

Her steps quickened, and she made it to her car. She tried to buckle Winnie into her car seat. The adrenaline coursing through her made it hard to buckle her in, but she got it as quickly as she could before turning to get in the car, hiding her face from the flashing cameras.

She got in her car and drove home.

As she turned the corner, she could see a couple reported on the sidewalk outside of Sven’s house.

Fuck. What was she going to do?

38

Sven

Sven was leaving the ice, feeling on top of the world. He got a goal. The team won. And he was on his way home to Natalie and Winnie. It was perfect.

He got off the ice and headed to the booth. They had already talked about him doing media since the article came out.

“Sven, Conner’s doing media tonight,” Coach Wagner said, stopping him.

“Oh, okay.”

The team made it into the locker room, and the coach followed them. Usually, Coach Wagner talked to them and then soon after, that there would be post-game interviews with the players in the locker room.

“Good game out there tonight. I just got word we are having a closed locker room. Cash and Ethan, you guys are going to head into the press room. I’ll see you all tomorrow for video game review.”

That was odd, and Sven would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous. The article had landed well. He tried to push away the nerves and just get home to his girls.

Once he was out of the shower and got dressed, Sasha and Hillary headed into the locker room.

“Sven,” Hillary said with an expression he couldn’t quite read, “can we have a word?”

His heart dropped. He nodded and walked over to them.

“Is this about the article?”

“No. There is a new article.”

His brows drew together. “What did it say?”

“It wasn’t about you . . .” Sasha said carefully.

“What was it about?”

“It was about Natalie,” Hillary blurted.

“What the fuck?”

Sasha nodded and looked concerned, but Hillary’s murderous expression matched his own.

“Was it bad?”

“Yeah,” said Sasha, who somehow was remaining composed. “It’s bad. Somehow, the press got wind of her being Mr. Roper’s granddaughter....”

Sasha bit her lip.

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