12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Thank you.” I say to the familiar Uber driver as I step out of the car.
I’m certain he wishes me good luck, as he always does, but I’m too preoccupied with how late I am to pause and acknowledge his kind gesture.
Ascent Athletics looms over me as I climb the unending stairs toward the double doors of the company. I had spent way too much time talking with Leo’s teacher after dropping him off this morning, to realize just how late I was running to work.
Tardiness is never a quality of mine. So, this is new for me, and I don’t like the distasteful feeling it leaves on my tongue.
I glance at the time on my watch and curse under my breath. Not only am I late for work, but I’m also late for a team meeting that I set last night.
Way to show a good example.
I walk into the company just as someone walks out and I hasten my steps toward the elevator. I’m too into my head to notice the stares that are being directed my way.
“Hold the door,” I call out breathlessly, slotting my hand between the gliding doors before I’ll be forced to take the stairs.
Shit. For someone who works at an athletic company, I’m way out of form for a little rushed trip up the never-ending stairs.
The doors slide open again. I force myself into the crowded elevator and throw polite grins to everyone I see.
My lips feel dry, so I fumble for a ChapStick in my bag. The hairs on my neck stand erect by another round of unwanted attention from my colleagues.
They’re trying and failing to pretend like they’re not staring and whispering to each other. It’s like everyone else knows something that I don’t.
I swipe the ChapStick across my lips, trying to focus on anything but the pregnant silence.
I try to wonder what recent developments may have come up in the company to warrant such a reaction. It has to be a juicy gossip. But the more I take note of them, the more I realize the stares are strangely being directed at me.
The elevator alerts me that I’ve reached my floor. I step out briskly, brows pinched and lips downturned, eager to leave behind the odd tension.
But as my heels click against the polished floor of the hallway, the same thing happens here. Stares and whispers.
I can’t help but glance down at my shirt. Did I spill coffee on my blouse this morning? I haven’t even had my morning coffee today. Or there’s something on my face?
My unease grows with every passing second, their glances sharp and lingering, as though I’m an unexpected guest rather than their usual colleague.
As I head to the conference room, I catch snippets of hushed conversations – words cut off just as I walk past. Some people avoid meeting my eyes, pretending to be deeply engrossed in their work.
It’s clear that whatever is going on is definitely about me. But before I dig deep into what’s going on, I have to attend my meeting first.
So, I roll my shoulders back and pretend I don’t notice their odd scrutiny.
Relief escapes me in a sigh as I push open the glass doors of the meeting room, trying to shake off the nagging feeling.
“Sorry for keeping everyone waiting. I –” My words are cut short when I notice how empty the room is, save for the presence of Allison and Matteo who immediately get to their feet when they see me.
My confusion grows. “What’s happening? Where’s everyone?”
Matteo clears his throat awkwardly. “Matthew postponed it since Evelyn called him up.”
I slide my bag off my shoulder. For a moment, my heart beats with trepidation that it may have something to do with the Brand Director position. “Evelyn called him up? When? Why?”
“Just a few minutes before you came in,” Allison says. “You haven’t heard?”
Irritation grows deep within me. “Heard what?”
Matteo slides his phone across the table toward me. “You might want to see this first.”
My stomach drops as I glance at the screen. The article opens with relentless photos of Matthew at the park yesterday. But what makes the cover photo is the one of me on top of him, my hand on his chest, his arm snug around my waist, and our faces inches apart.
The blood drains from my face as I read the first headline blotted in red.
Former Star QB of the New York Wildcats Sparks Romance with Disgraced Heiress.
Paparazzi have struck gold again, this time capturing the former star quarterback of the New York Wildcats, Matthew Pierce, leaning in close, on the verge of a kiss in an intimate outing with none other than the infamous runaway bride and disowned socialite, Hailey Donovan.
Photos show the pair at a local park, pressed together like sardine in what looks like a heartfelt moment as Hailey’s son, Leo, plays on the swings nearby.
While neither has addressed the nature of their relationship, the photos have not only ignited a media frenzy but also quenched the curiosity of the QB’s fans, who have long wondered about his life following the career-ending injury that pushed him into relative obscurity.
My eyes scan the other articles in tow.
From Runaway Bride to Single Mother: The Fall of a Middle-class Socialite.
Is Leo Matthew Pierce’s Son?
Heiress-Turned-Single Mom Fights for Redemption.
Gold-digger Alert: Is Hailey after the QB’s heart or his family’s wealth?
“I’ve always shipped you both,” Allison sighs. “But I didn’t think something like this would happen. There are articles everywhere about you and your family and Leo. This is bad.”
It feels like my intestines are twisting in knots. Nausea bubbles in my guts, and it takes every form of self-control not to hurl.
My phone buzzes loudly before I can do anything else. My fingers shake as I lift the device to my face.
Allison and Matteo watch me expectantly.
“It’s Evelyn,” I say. “She wants to see me. Right now.”
Allison visibly cringes.
Matteo sighs. “We’ll be down here.”
“No need,” I shake my head, even though my nerves are jumping all over the place. I know how much Evelyn detests workplace relationships. It’s one rule of the company that everyone tries to obey.
“I’ll handle this.”
Allison touches my shoulder. “Are you sure?”
I force a smile and grab my bag. “Of course. I’m Hailey Donovan. I’ve handled worse.”
***
The tension in Evelyn Chang’s office is so uncomfortably thick that a bead of sweat runs down the nape of my neck.
I’ve heard tales of Evelyn’s no-nonsense reprimands and I’ve seen people lose their jobs because of it. When I was employed at Apex Fitness years ago, I made it a point of duty never to disappoint her and it’s been going well for me.
Not until today, that is.
Matthew sits next to me in front of her desk. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since he drove us back home from the park yesterday.
Unlike me, who’s physically trying not to squirm, he appears calm and collected. He doesn’t look surprised by the news but I can feel the annoyance rolling off him in waves from the stiffness in his shoulders.
Evelyn takes off her glasses and fixates her steely gaze on us. Disappointment is sprayed all over her face in every form possible.
“I’m not sure what the two of you were thinking,” she begins, her voice cold and clipped.
She leans forward, resting her elbows on the desk, her stubby fingers interlaced.
“But let me make one thing very clear–Ascent Athletics is not a reality TV show. When we made you two work together, we clearly didn’t need the added publicity of this…
” She waves a hand dismissively, gesturing between the two of us. “…whatever this is.”
I open my mouth to protest, but she holds up a hand, effectively silencing me.
“I don’t want to hear it,” she snaps, focusing her disappointed gaze on me.
It feels like a lash on the cheek and I sink further into my chair.
“You both know the rules. Workplace relationships are one thing, but flaunting them? Letting the paparazzi turn this company into a tabloid headline? That’s unacceptable. ”
A dark look crosses Matthew’s face. “With all due respect, ma’am, the media took those photos out of context. It wasn’t–”
“Out of context or not,” Evelyn interrupts, “your personal lives are now a distraction to this company. Employees are gossiping, our clients are asking questions, and this morning, I had to reassure the board that this wouldn’t turn into a scandal.
Do you have the faintest idea of how much damage control I’ve had to do in just twenty-four hours? ”
I remain silent as several thoughts run through my head.
Just when I think my life can’t get any shittier than it already is, this happens.
From the risk of losing my son to his deadbeat father, to my own father demanding I marry his business associate to this – running a risk of losing my chance as Brand Director because my face is now plastered all over the tabloids.
“We didn’t mean for this to happen,” Matthew says, his voice steady. “You can assure the board it won’t affect our work. All of this is my fault anyway.”
I glance at Matthew, but he’s not looking at me. I can tell from the clenching of his jaw that he blames himself for what has happened. It’s not his fault that the paparazzi are on his heels. And it’s certainly not his fault that he used to be a star athlete as well.
Just then, an idea from God knows where, begins to form in my mind. The seed grows bigger and bigger as Evelyn speaks.
“For your information, it already has,” Evelyn counters, leaning back in her chair.
She pinches the bridge of her nose, exhaling sharply.
“Listen, it’s an honor to have someone like you work here, and we were well aware of the publicity it would bring to the company.
But this kind of publicity won’t do us any good.
Frankly, I don’t care what you do outside these walls, but when your personal life spills over into my company, it becomes my business.
” Evelyn looks at me. “And right now, the headlines are all about you and Mr. Pierce. Care to explain?”
The seed in my head finally bears fruit. It’s a crazy idea–the craziest I’ve ever come up with. But it seems viable, and I hope it will work.
I sit straighter, take a deep breath and glance at Matthew. “I think it’s about time we let the cat out of the bag.”
Matthew turns to me, his face devoid of expression but his eye twitches in confusion.
I direct my focus on Evelyn who’s carefully watching our interaction. “It’s not all a complete lie.”
Evelyn leans away from her chair. “Excuse me?”
I ignore Matthew’s piercing stare and continue with a lump in my throat.
“First, I want to apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. But I assure you, Matthew and I…” I swallow the lump and force a calm smile.
“…we’ve been involved long before the merger.
We’ve kept it private to maintain professionalism, but unfortunately, the paparazzi had other plans. ”
Evelyn raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Long before the merger?”
I clasp my fingers together and confidently nod.
“Yes. We were careful not to let it affect our work. Our dynamic has always been professional during work hours and it will continue to be. Our personal relationship won’t interfere with our responsibilities, especially not with the Brand Director position still up for grabs. ”
The mention of the promotion piques her interest. She studies both of us closely. Matthew remains silent next to me and I can’t afford to look at him right now.
“And you really expect me to believe two people –lovers– competing for the same role can keep their personal and professional lives completely separate?”
“Absolutely,” I reply, leaning forward slightly.
“If anything, our rivalry for Brand Director has made us more focused. We’re both passionate about this company and our work, and we’re determined to prove ourselves.
I promise, our relationship might have been forced into the limelight, but it won’t compromise the project or the company’s reputation. ”
For a moment, silence fills the room. Evelyn turns to Matthew, and I hold my breath.
“She has said it all,” Matthew says, leaning back in his chair. “We’re more serious about this project than you think.”
I release a tense breath and the muscles in my shoulders relax.
“Fine,” Evelyn says finally. “I’ll hold you both to your words. But understand this–any hint of this affecting the campaign or the team, and I won’t hesitate to take action. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.”