Page 4 of Relationship Goals

I blink.

I didn’t take him for an idealist. Not sure I do now, either, despite that little comment.

“That’s why you’re allowing me here? You want the film to inspire change?” I try to keep the questions as neutral as possible.

John snorts, wrinkles creasing around his eyes. “Sports films have a trickle-down effect. Doesn’t matter to me how bad Dick’s movie makes IFF look. It’ll sell tickets, and that I care about.”

Can’t say I love that answer, but it’s not entirely surprising.

“Kinda like how your little TV program made my granddaughter absolutely wild about mermaid tails for a while,” John adds. “She was torn up when it was canceled. Show really went downhill after they killed your character off.” He gives me a long look, and it’s calculating, like he’s waiting to see how I react.

Unease makes me shift in my chair.

“Publicity is good for business.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know that as well as anyone. It’s just too bad the publicity I got took such a toll on my character’s health.” I wink at him, which I regret immediately, icked out at myself.

Charles laughs, too, then spears me with a slightly apologetic glance. “You do havequitethe reputation with the press.”

“I have a tendency to say what I think,” I manage, making myself laugh along with him. “I’d like to believe I’ve learned from my, ah, mistakes.”

There. That’s about as much as I would like to address the damnedBlood Sirensscandal. My heart’s pounding, my stomach in knots, and a cold sweat’s broken out on my palms. It still hurts to think about, that the rest of the cast thought I was throwing themunder the bus, the way I gave the press just enough ammunition to do a hit job on the show and my career.

“Honesty. We like that about you,” John tells me, and there’s real warmth in his eyes when I force my gaze back at him. “Of all the actresses Dick ran past us, you were one of the few we wanted to come on board and study the organization.”

I try not to react. He asked these guys for casting input? They knowtheirindustry, sure, but they seem to be the least likely people on Earth to have a say in Grace’s decisions.

“We thought you’d be the most fun,” Charles agrees, interrupting the flow of my thoughts.

That catches me by surprise, and I let out a laugh to hide my discouragement. They thought I would be the mostfun?

That doesn’t sit right with me. I’m not sure much of this conversation is sitting right with me, if any.

“Good to know.” I swallow past the tightness in my throat. “A few weeks, you said? Well, we will definitely have the chance to have fun, and I look forward to learning everything I can.”

A chair creaks as John leans farther forward.

“Sure. Dick said to give you the opportunity to sit in on meetings, practices, games, whatever you wanted access to—within reason—for the role.” Charles folds his hands in front of him.

“And having a celebrity at our games never hurts,” John adds.

My heart’s beating faster now, as the reality of what they’re saying sinks in. Regardless of why these two thought I’d be good in the role of the badass whistle-blowing woman, or why they wanted me here, I am here, for a few weeks, to research my role.

My role.Mine.

Four weeks, six at most, to soak it all up, so I can give this role my absolute best. I inhale slowly through my nose. A few weeks of research here with the Aces. Going to meetings, games, practices.

“We’ll work with your schedule, of course.” John peers at me with concern at my silence. “We know you’re busy working, but we’re going to pair you up with Michelle Oxford, our new director of operations. You’ll have to sign an NDA for all things considered proprietary, and our lawyers will get that over to you today.”

He shrugs a shoulder as he mentions the NDA, but I barely clock it. Of course they’d have me sign an NDA. That makes sense.

“What else is happening today?” I tilt my head. “Do I get to sit in on anything?”

“Today?” He squints at me, as if surprised by my go-get-’em attitude. “Today we’re just giving you the lay of the land. We have a tour planned—”

The conference door opposite me bursts open, and one of the most striking men I’ve ever seen stalks through, his clear blue eyes locked on me. He’s handsome, but not in the easy Hollywood way most men around here are—his nose is slightly too large and there’s a bump where it looks like it broke and was never set right. His jaw is almost aggressively strong, as are the thick slashes of dark eyebrows above those memorable light blue eyes.

He’s visually arresting.

Powerful.

---