Page 116 of Crossing Lines

I give him a tight smile, wishing I was as optimistic as Zeki is. But optimism isn’t going to fix this issue, and I’m going to need to face the reality that no one wants to work with me. That Harold and his rumors have done permanent damage to my reputation in this business.

“But what if it doesn’t?” I ask. “If I float the team for this season, I won’t be able to sell for a profit. I won’t be able to take a break and…” And I won’t be able to stop. I’ve been working myself to the bone to prove that I can do this again, that it’ll only be for two years. But now there’s no end in sight and I’m just exhausted and?—

“Then don’t sell it. I’ll run it for you, and you can take some much-needed time off. You aren’t alone and you don’t have to do it all yourself. Not anymore.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course. I wasn’t lying when I said I love working for the team.”

“I’ll think about it,” I say quietly. “But just so you know, there’s no one else I’d want in my corner than you.”

“Please don’t tell me you’re just now realizing that I’m the best brother in the world.”

“Oh, I’ve always known.” My lips twitch. “But I didn’t want to inflate that ego of yours.”

Zeki chuckles before snapping his laptop closed. “Go home, talk to Nina, and tomorrow will be a new and better day.”

Chapter 30

Nina

Ihaven’t been able to concentrate on painting the gym. Every few minutes I check my phone, waiting to hear how Evren’s meeting with Glam Pop went.

Between everything that happened with Mom and everything still unraveling with Evren, it’s been an emotional roller coaster. Relief hits in one moment, anger in the next, and then devastation takes its turn. But meeting with Rose earlier today—hearing her say I did the right thing—helped. Just enough to breathe again.

“Hi,” Evren says from the doorway.

I spin to face him. His jaw tenses as he stares past me, lost in a storm of thoughts. His usually composed face is shadowed with something raw and uncertain.

“How did it go with Glam Pop?” I ask.

“It went.” He sighs, coming over to me. His steps are measured, heavy with something unsaid. “I fired them.”

“You what? You can’t do that, you need them.”

“I don’t want anything to do with Mick after his reaction. We don’t think he’s working with Harold and instead is just trying to hurt you.”

“Jeez.” I grimace, the sharp pang of betrayal twisting in my chest. “I really lucked out in the parental lottery.”

His expression softens, and he steps closer, warmth radiating from his body as he wraps his arms around me. “I’m so sorry,” he murmurs into my hair.

“And Ben?” I whisper, afraid to ask.

“Only time will tell where he stands.”

I swallow hard, the lump in my throat burning. “I’m so sorry you lost them as a sponsor.”

“It is what it is, but I need to ask you something.”

There’s something in his tone that has me pulling back so I can see his face. “Okay?”

“Mick mentioned that you’ve been applying to work with other teams and that you have an interview next week in New York.”

I stare at him in confusion, trying to piece together what he just said. “I don’t have an interview. I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about.”

“But you applied for a job with other teams?” he presses.

“I applied for one team when you first moved in. It was after you called me out for partying. I was drunk and hurt and wanted to provoke you. But I haven’t checked the email account I used to apply since then. I don’t want to work with anyone but you.”

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