Page 61 of Playing Rucking Hard

Kenzie:Warner and Janice have called me. They are concerned this will leak to the press. It makes the club look bad and you look worse. The word STALKER is being used.

Kenzie:I’m so angry with you. I had a busy day planned matching rugby league players with localjunior teams and making children happy. I am not happy. The children won’t be happy. Ask me why????

Kenzie:No one is going to be happy because I’m doing crisis PR management prep because of you. You. The person asking me for a favor is creating work for me.

Me to Kenzie:As long as it’s all on me.

Coach Bronx:My office at the Tower

Coach Bronx:With or without your agent

Coach Bronx:With or without your lawyer

Fuck.

Chapter 21

The Slow Burn

Emma

“Do you know why we’ve been called out?” Kelli asks as Skye and I wait with her for someone to stop yelling at Kareene inside her office.

“I put on a kilo and my uniform’s tight, but it’s that time of the month and I’m bloating,” Skye paces nervously. “It’s not that noticeable, right? I mean, who looks that closely at us individually? Fans want to see the players, and everyone knowsthe camera adds ten pounds—so it’s not my fault if someone wants to call me fat.”

“You’re not fat,” I assure Skye. “You don’t even look bloated. You are gorgeous, inside and out. You work harder than anyone in training, and your kicks are the standard Kareene holds us to.”

“Then, why am I here? Why does she want to talk to us? And at the Tower?” Skye is spiraling, but I know something she doesn’t know. Kareene is looking for me. Kareene wants me to confess, and either she doesn’t know I’m the one she’s looking for, or she is using Kelli and Skye to guilt me into confessing.

“It’ll be easier if they resign,” I hear a female say before a male’s voice says, “This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Did he force himself onto her?”

“We’ll get her to sign an NDA, or she’ll never work again. McMillan’s reach is everywhere.” Kareene says, and I want to throw up. If I confess, then I’m out of a job. If I don’t confess and they decide I’m guilty, I’ll never work again.

“Don’t be a bitch, K,” Benz’ voice is low and controlled. “You’ve narrowed it down to three lockers. Just talk to the women and see what they have to say. I’m not going to ruin a woman’s career just because a footballer was found stalking the lockers. If anything, Dylan Fleski is the one who needs to answer for his actions.”

“But those girls are always joking about how easy it would be to catch a player or sponsor’s attention,” Kareene says, and Skye snorts.

“Seriously? Kareene is the reason we have the rule. She hooked up with a married player a decade ago, and the wife threatened to go to the sponsors.”

“I thought that was a rumor?” Kelli says, eyes wide. “Who was the player?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Skye waves her hand. “The point is, unless they have evidence, deny, deny, deny.”

“I’ll be in touch once I know more.” We hear two people sign off and calls disconnect before Kareene’s high heels get louder and she flings her office door open. “Ladies, we need to talk.”

I follow Skye and Kelli into the cramped office and look to their posture and mannerisms to guide mine. They aren’t faking their innocence, and I need all the help I can get if next month’s rent is going to be paid on time.Think of Sage. Dylan said to admit nothing. But can I trust him?

I keep my shoulders back, my expression carefully neutral, but inside, I’m spiraling.

Skye sits beside me, arms crossed like she’s personally offended by the entire situation. Kelli is doing her best impression of someone totally unbothered, except for the way she keeps tapping her nails against the desk.

Kareene watches us for a long moment before sighing and leaning forward. “I’m going to ask this once. And only once.”

Here it comes.

“Are any of you involved with a Mavericks player?”

Kelli lets out a breathy laugh like the idea is ridiculous. “Are you serious?”

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