Page 29 of The Long Game

“I’m going to murder him, I—”

“Adalyn Elisa Reyes.”

“Sorry,” I said, even though Matthew was still going to hear about this. A gulp of air left my lips forcefully. “I’m also sorry about not telling you I was leaving. And about the video.” My eyelids flickered closed for an instant. “What I did is inexcusable.”

“Inexcusable.” A trail of curses in Spanish I didn’t catch left her mouth. “You’re my daughter. There’s nothing you can do that I will not excuse. And that Paul? He always had a mouth on him. What did he say to you, huh?” Something in my stomach twisted. Paul hadn’t said anything. The worst he’d done was be in my way when I’d… lost it. “You know what? I don’t even want to know. I’m going to go down to wherever he is and tell him that he’s old enough tolook for a real job. You know, one that doesn’t involve costumes with feathers.”

“Please don’t,” I said, biting back a groan. “And he’s a performer, you know that. We pay him well for what he does.”

“Too much, probably. I would like to see him in a restaurant’s kitchen. Now, that’s hard work. Not swaying his ass for a crowd.”

“Mom.” I groaned. “You used to be in the entertainment industry. You modeled. That’s not so different from what Paul does.”

“And I was in many kitchens before that. Ugly, filthy kitchens at that. I bet that boy hasn’t lifted a finger in his life.”

“I… There’s…” No point in discussing this. “There’s something I need to talk to Dad about. Can you please pass him the phone?”

Maricela Reyes sighed the sigh that told me she wasn’t done with me. “Work. It’s always work.¿Y qué hago con los pastelitos que te traje?I thought they’d cheer you up. The internet is so mean. The comments under your video are—”

“Kelly will love them,” I interjected. I did not want to hear about what the internet was saying. “Give the sweets to her.”

“Fine, I will. And I love you, okay? Call me if you need me,¿sí?”

“I promise,” I lied again. I wouldn’t need anyone but myself to get out of this.

There was some noise on the line as she returned to my father, and then, his voice cut a curt, “Yes?”

“I…” I started, making the mistake to trail off for a second too long.

“Adalyn, I don’t have all day.”

I squared my shoulders, even if my father couldn’t see me. “I thought you were calling to update me on the status of… things there. In Miami.”

“It was your mother calling.” A pause. “And I remember very clearly telling you to give all your focus to the assignment.”

“If there’s anything that I can do from here, I—”

“You’re not needed over here, Adalyn. Your assistant is handling things. And I was very specific: no remote work.”

That sliver of hope was snuffed right out, leaving me with ahollow spot in the middle of my gut. “Is that why my access to the system has been revoked?”

“Yes,” he answered quickly. “You’ll reach out to David if there’s something urgent that needs my attention. You must still have his private number from when you two… were involved.”Involvedseemed to be a stretch now that I’d learned what I had. “Anything that’s not urgent, you will account and detail and record to—” He stopped himself with an irritated sigh. “Have you not read the memo?”

The one-page memo about the Green Warriors where it was not specified that the team was a recreational U10? I had. Now. A little too late apparently. “Yes, I have.”

“Then you know what to do. We’re sponsoring the team now, so think of it as an extension of the Flames. I expect to get a good story out of this. You should arrange for a few journalists to write about how much good we are doing for a rural community. Create a success story out of it.” Another sigh. “This is a waste of time. Everything should be obvious to you, Adalyn.”

I felt myself sink into the bleachers. Maybe it should be. “Speaking of the team, though, the, um, Green Warriors. It’s… not what I expected.” I waited for him to say something, and when he didn’t I felt the need to fill in the silence. “The accommodation is also less than ideal, unfortunately. The cabin is—”

“What exactly are you trying to tell me, Adalyn?”

“That…” I could have said a hundred possible things. I used to be someone who worked well under pressure, so I knew I could have come up with smart, well-reasoned arguments as to why this whole thing was… ridiculous. Way under my paycheck. But instead I blurted, “My accommodation is subpar and I’m supposed to work with a children’s team.”

A bitter burst of laughter echoed in the line. “Well. You lasted all of twenty-four hours before giving up.”

The words felt like a blow to the middle of my chest. And for whatever reason, my head decided to throw a very similar statement back at my face. Cameron’s.I don’t think you will make it a single night there.

“I don’t blame you,” my father continued. “Leaving behind the comfort of the life I’ve provided for you is not easy. So fine, I’ll send you somewhere else. Have a pick, Underwood Holdings has enough options to keep you busy until this blows over. I always believed you’d be better suited for real estate anyway.”

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