Page 58 of The Billionaire Player

“Georgia called me on Tuesday morning and demanded that she see what I had written. I didn’t have anything as my deadline to have the first draft wasn’t until the end of the week. She didn’t seem to care and told me I had to come in and give her what I had or she implied I would be fired.

“I was going to come in, but JD suggested that I take some time and write down what I had so I’d be able to give her something. It was a good idea, so I took a few hours to write it up and then I went into the office. When I did, Georgia was working with some of the other staff on the story.

“At least what they thought they had. There was nothing of substance on the storyboard, it’s what Georgia uses to line up her story and her ideas. It was full of half-truths, lies, and even some conspiracy theories about your family. It was all shit and I told her as much.

“She gave me flack about being late and that they had to start without me. I had sent her an email telling her what I was doing and that we could get started as soon as I got in the office. I guess she didn’t like that, nor the fact that because I had written the article, or at least a first draft, all her work was wasted.

“Georgia had the staff break for lunch while she read my article. When we came back, she tried to tear it apart. Telling me that it wasn’t true, that I had only written what I did because I was sleeping with you. She said there was no way that she would print it. Needless to say, that didn’t go over well,” I said.

“What happened?” Mac asked.

“We argued. A lot. It got a little heated, probably on both ends but definitely on hers. Her boss, Monica, got involved after about an hour of us going at it. Then the three of us went round and round for a while. At one point, I thought Monica would side with Georgia but then she asked to see my research and the evidence I had to back up my story.”

“Only you?” Walker asked.

“I thought I would go first and then Georgia would do hers, or Monica was only interested in making sure my story was legitimate and it would then cancel out Georgia’s. I didn’t mind doing it but it took hours. Georgia kept trying to prove my facts wrong and said she had sources to contradict what I had, but when we would try to get her to produce them, she always fell through.

“When we finished, I thought Monica could see that my story was sound and the one that she should go with. It was late, I have no idea how late but she said we should all go home, get some rest, and we would tackle this again in the morning. I was exhausted, drained, and just headed home and went to bed. I slept like the dead for about eight hours and when I woke up, I had a little surprise.”

“That’s the understatement of the century,” JD said.

“Georgia must have gotten them to publish her story after I left. I’m not sure if Monica signed off on it or if Georgia went over her head. I went over to Paps to see what was going on. I needed to get some answers for myself and for you, but they wouldn’t let me in. Apparently, I’d been fired.”

“What? Why?” JD asked.

“They didn’t say, just that my services were no longer needed and they would contact me when I could get my things,” I said.

“Lexi, they can’t do that to you,” Mac said.

“At that point, I didn’t care. By then, the retraction had already been printed, the article had been taken down and all I cared about was trying to talk to you,” I said and looked at JD.

“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked.

“I did, but your phone went directly to voicemail which was full. I called here to see if I could talk to you, but Samantha wouldn’t let me. I even called Bennett Liquor offices and I got no response. So, I came here,” I said with a sigh.

“It was a good thing that you did,” JD said.

“I’m so sorry this happened. I have no idea why Georgia would do this, what she thought she would gain. I just heard she resigned instead of being fired. I don’t know how it happened, no one will tell me anything. I never would have done this to you. I never would have gotten involved with you if I thought this could happen to you or your family. I’m so sorry,” I said.

Tears started to form in my eyes as I spoke. I had felt the hostility of Mac and Walker as I told them what happened. I wasn’t even sure if they would believe me. I wasn’t sure if I would if I were them. I truly hated that they were in this situation and I only wanted to make it better but I didn’t know how. I really hated that I was starting to cry, I never cried.

“None of this is your fault,” Mac said.

“Georgia is friends with Lizbeth and we think she might have put her up to this,” Walker said.

“What? How? Why?” I asked, looking from Walker to Mac and back again.

“We’re not sure. We’re still to figure all that out. It seems odd to think a woman would ruin her career just to make her friend happy or to get back at her ex,” Walker said.

“Spoken like a man who has never had a woman hate him,” Mac said.

“Spoken like a man who never had the pleasure of dating Lizbeth,” JD muttered.

“She’s a piece of work. I can’t imagine being so mad at someone as to do something this nuclear, or convincing a friend to. You think that’s what happened?” I asked.

“It’s what we’re leaning towards. Luke did some research into Georgia and found a few very chummy pictures of her and Lizbeth in college. Maybe the sisterhood goes deeper than any of us thought,” Walker said.

“Or sicker,” JD added.

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