Page 65 of Game Changer

Chapter27

Zara

For all my adult life I’ve always had a plan. A vision of what I wanted my life to be. I thought working in bars was only a stop gap. I had aspirations much higher than that. I always knew I wanted to run my own businesses and be successful. But I hadn’t even contemplated that those businesses would end up being the very pubs I was using to get myself to somewhere else. I made my dream happen through hard work and determination. But now, as I sit looking at the embers of the fire I’ve been dragged into, I wonder whether it was all worth it. Is it worth knocking yourself out to build a life that can be taken away at the drop of a hat?

I’ve never felt as let down by anyone as I do by Buckie right now. I can’t believe he thinks so little of me that he’d be so cruel to do this to me within hours of finding out I’d lost everything. I was hurt when I told him I needed a break. I didn’t expect him to run straight into Annalise’s arms. What hurts more than anything is that I’ve now lost my best friend. I wish I’d stuck to my guns and never allowed myself to get swept up with him again. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it was the wrong decision, but my stupid heart always wins. And now it’s paid the ultimate price.

I’ve deliberately stayed away from any online gossip and have been conscious of staying away from social media. I honestly don’t think my nerves could take any more revelations about Buckie and Annalise at the moment.

Crush feels like an alien planet to me right now. The place is completely empty. On any normal day there would be pole dancing classes going on in the front of the club, and staff milling around at the back prepping for the night ahead. It feels eerie this morning and as I look around, I feel tears form in my eyes. How could it all have come crashing down like this? I’ve only ever done right by everyone. I’ve always been gracious in accepting help and always paid it forward whenever I could. Unfortunately, being nice always seems to mean you get hurt the most.

I head into my office and stand in the doorway looking in. I remember the weeks of painstakingly picking out all the furnishings. I was so excited about my new venture. I even had the artwork for the club commissioned from local artists. I’ve worked damn hard to build this club up and it all seems pointless now. The whole place is tainted for me, and I doubt it will ever come back from this. Crush had been building a great reputation as a classy club, but no one will ever think that again. Memories are long in this business and gossip has a nasty way of snowballing. God knows what’s being said about me and my establishments that isn’t reported on. Word of mouth is your best and worst advertising

My phone buzzes in my bag and I take it out to find a text from Nessa.

Have you seen this? You’re going to want to see this. X

There’s a link to a YouTube video under the message. It’s a clip of a late-night chat show in the US. Both Buckie and Annalise are on it. I can see from the thumbnail that they are sitting together on the sofa in front of the host.

I hover my finger over the play button. I don’t know what to expect, but I assume that if Nessa is telling me to watch it then it must be important.

I sit down in my chair and turn on my computer. Opening up the messages icon I click on the link and put it to full screen. Scanning through the host talking at the start, I find the moment right before the guests come on to the set. Taking a deep breath, I hit play.

“So tonight, we have a treat for you. Hoping to be up there with the likes of Braveheart, Rob Roy, and Highlander. Please welcome the stars of the new Scottish film Solace. Owen Buchanan and Annalise Shears.”

Even the mention of their names together makes me feel sick to my stomach. I’m ready to throw up into my bin when I see them emerge through the doors behind the host, arm in arm. The pain I’m feeling right now is a million times worse than I could ever have imagined at seeing Buckie again. They take their seats next to each other, Annalise closest to the host.

“Welcome to you both,” says the host.

Buckie smiles at him and nods his head. “Thanks for having us.”

His voice sends tingles all over my body and I swipe a tear from my cheek. Annalise doesn’t say anything. But I would love to have been there to wipe that smug smirk off her face as she makes eyes at Buckie. Was this her end game? To get Buckie for herself. A horrible realisation flashes into my mind. Itwasher. It was always her. Every single thing that has happened since Buckie came back here has had her involved somewhere.

“So, this new movie took you back to your homeland Owen. How did it feel being able to go and film in the Highlands?”

“Oh, it really was fantastic. We used to take a lot of staycations when I was young. My parents loved being in the outdoors, so I was always dragged up some hill or mountain somewhere. The outdoor filming was brutal though. The weather is changeable in Scotland at the best of times. But in the highlands, and especially high up in the hills, a weather front can come in so fast that you don’t have time to prepare yourself for it.”

“Annalise, how did you get on during the filming? You wouldn’t have been used to that kind of scenery or weather?”

“Oh, I was fine. I can turn my hand to any situation. It’s very beautiful over there in Scotland. I’d like to spend a lot more time there actually.” She turns and smiles at Buckie, putting her hand on his knee.

I’m seething inside and I make fists with my hands, my nails digging into my palms. Then I see it. It’s the tiniest movement, but I definitely saw it. Buckie’s jaw muscle twitches as though he’s trying to bite his tongue. Now I’m intrigued and I sit forward in my seat.

“Okay let’s watch a clip from the movie—”

I scan through the bit with the clip. I’ve seen it already and I want to know what was so important about this that Nessa told me to watch it. I stop it after the clip is done and play the video again to the audience cheering.

“Well, I have to say, you both had some great chemistry going on there, and rumour has it that it didn’t stop quite there.”

Oh fuck.

Annalise places her hand on her knee. She makes sure to flash the outrageously large diamond ring she’s wearing.

“Hmm yeah you’ve got to love the old rumour mill,” says Buckie. “I mean where on earth would they have gotten those rumours from? I wouldn’t have said we did anything to make people think anything was going on between us. Would you Annie?”

She looks at him like she’s going to murder him, and a smile spreads across my face.

“Um, what… ah.” Annalise seems a little dumbstruck at how this is going, and I can’t help but laugh.

---