Page 1 of Imperfect Player

Chapter 1

Everly

The room is buzzing with activity, and I’m standing in the doorway taking it all in. Appraising it. Dissecting it. Scrutinizing every single detail to make sure everything is going perfectly.

People are mingling. More importantly, the right people are mingling. Players and executives. Tripp and executives. Everyone establishing connections, building rapport.

Check.

People are smiling. Laughing. Having a good time. Subjective as that might be, from what I can see?

Check.

The food?

I grab an hors d'oeuvre off a passing tray and emit a soft moan the moment I bite into it.

Check.

Definitely check.

The drinks?

Servers holding trays of champagne maneuver flawlessly through the room. The bar is full, and the bartenders are busy.

Check.

“Everything is going great.”

The unexpected voice at my side startles me, and my hand flies to my chest. Linnie. My boss’s wife and my co-collaborator on this event.

“You know how important this party is to Tripp,” I tell her.

Not that she needs the reminder. More than anyone, she knows what this party means to Tripp.

Everything.

Logical or not, he believes that this little soiree is the sole reason for why Advantage Player is so successful, and in turn, why he is so successful. He’s held it every year since he started the company five years ago.

It’s where he signed his first deal, landing then-client Peter Hampton an outstanding deal with PowerPunch, the top selling hydration drink in the United States. Tripp swears it was all because PowerPunch executive, William Moore, got to see Peter for who he really was, not just the athlete persona that was all over television and social media.

Who am I to argue that?

“I know how important it is to you too. That’s why I’m telling you that everything is amazing.” She nods her head in the direction where Tripp is standing, chatting away with a couple players and some execs from the top brands in the business. He’s laughing and having a great time. “Looks happy to me.”

Linnie’s right. He does, and she would know better than anyone. The fact that Tripp is smiling, and schmoozing, should settle my nerves—but it doesn’t.

Advantage Player is my life. I eat, sleep, and breathe this place. Making sure tonight is perfect? That Tripp is happy? That’s top priority right now.

That, and I’ll do just about anything to keep my mind off my breakup with Kai.

Christ, even thinking his names causes the anger to rise in me. The anger I focus on rather than the heartache. It’s been months since he walked out, telling me he was on to bigger and better things. It was only last night, though, that I realized he meant bigger and better breasts, considering the woman he was splashed all over Instaspace with.

When Tripp glances in our direction, his smile is automatic. It makes me forget about Kai for a moment and smile back at him. With energetic hands, he waves us over.

Linnie loops her arm through mine. “Show time.”

“Show time,” I repeat as I square my shoulders and begin to walk with her, arm in arm.

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