Chapter Nineteen Olivia
Chapter Nineteen
Olivia
Walking into Ralph’s office with Mark standing beside him, feels very different from when I was in Mark’s office. Yesterday, I walked into this building feeling defeated, expecting the worst. Today, I walk in with evidence that could change everything.
When we enter, Mark’s expression is unreadable, but Ralph looks almost... hopeful.
“Show me,” Ralph says without preamble.
I hand over the envelope, my hands steadier than I expected. Carter stands beside me, his presence a solid anchor as Ralph spreads the documents across his desk.
Mark leans forward, reading over Ralph’s shoulder. The silence stretches, broken only by the rustle of paper and the tick of Ralph’s desk clock.
Finally, Mark speaks. “This is legitimate?”
“Carol Martinez brought it to us herself,” Carter says. “Her nephew worked stadium security. He admitted to fabricating the anonymous sources and lying about Olivia leaking information.”
Ralph picks up the confession, scanning it carefully. “This is notarized. Dated yesterday.” He looks up at me. “Did you know anything about this before today?”
“No. Carol contacted me out of the blue last night.” I pull out my phone, showing him the messages. “I didn’t know who she was or what she wanted until this morning.”
Mark takes my phone, reading the texts. His jaw tightens. “Jake Martinez. I remember him. Hired him because Carol vouched for him.” He looks at Ralph. “Can we use this?”
“Absolutely.” Ralph’s already pulling up something on his computer. “With this confession, we can force Sports Insider to retract the article. Issue a public apology. And we can pursue legal action against Jake Martinez for defamation.”
“I want him prosecuted,” Mark says flatly. “He damaged this organization’s reputation. Damaged Olivia’s reputation. And he profited from it.”
“Agreed.” Ralph types rapidly. “I’ll have our legal team draft everything. We can have a press conference scheduled for this afternoon if you want to move fast.”
“This afternoon?” My voice comes out smaller than I intend.
Mark’s gaze shifts to me, and for the first time since this started, I see something like approval in his eyes. “You’ve been dragged through the mud for twenty-four hours, Olivia. The longer we wait, the more damage it does. We need to get ahead of this. Clear your name publicly and decisively.”
“What about Carter?” I glance at him. “The article said things about him too.”
“The article painted me as a victim,” Carter says. “Which I’m not. But you, they made you look like you orchestrated everything. That’s what needs to be corrected.”
Mark nods. “Storm’s right. The focus needs to be on clearing your name and exposing Jake Martinez for what he did. We’ll handle the rest later.”
Ralph prints several copies of the documents.
“I’ll get these to our PR team. They’ll draft a statement, coordinate with Sports Insider’s legal department for the retraction, and set up the press conference.
” He looks at me. “You’ll need to be there, Olivia.
Standing beside Mark, showing that the organization supports you. ”
My stomach twists. “I have to face the press?”
“Yes.” Ralph’s voice is gentle but firm. “I know it’s intimidating. But this is how we control the narrative. You stand up there, professional and confident, while we present the evidence. Let them see that you’re not the person Jake Martinez made you out to be.”
Carter’s hand finds the small of my back. “I’ll be there too.”
Mark shakes his head. “Actually, Storm, I think it’s better if you’re not. This needs to be about Olivia and the organization. Not about your relationship.”
“But—”
“He’s right,” I interrupt quietly. Carter turns to me, jaw tight, and I reach for his hand. “This is my career. My reputation. I need to do this on my own.”
“You don’t have to do anything alone.”
“I know. But Mark’s right. If you’re standing beside me, it becomes about us instead of about the truth.” I squeeze his hand. “I need to do this, Carter.”
He’s quiet for a moment, conflict clear on his face. Then he nods slowly. “Okay. But I’m watching from somewhere. Even if it’s just a screen.”
“Deal.”
Mark unbuttons his jacket. “Ralph, get the legal team moving. I want the retraction demand sent within the hour. And I want Jake Martinez fired before lunch.” He looks at me.
“Olivia, take the rest of the morning. Get yourself ready. The press conference will be at three o’clock. Can you handle that?”
I straighten my spine. “Yes.”
“Good.” Something like respect crosses his face. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I should have trusted you more. Should have fought harder against the accusations instead of putting you on leave immediately.”
The apology catches me off guard. “You were protecting the organization.”
“I was protecting the wrong thing.” He heads for the door, then pauses. “See you at three, Olivia. And Olivia? Make them eat their words.”
When he’s gone, Ralph starts gathering the documents. “He’s right, you know. You didn’t deserve what happened. And I’m sorry I didn’t push back harder.”
“Everyone was just doing their job.”
“Doesn’t make it right.” He hands me a copy of the documents. “Keep these. You might need them later. And Olivia? You’re going to be brilliant this afternoon. I know it.”
Carter and I leave Ralph’s office in silence. It’s not until we’re in the elevator that he finally speaks.
“You sure about this? Doing the press conference alone?”
“No. But Mark’s right. This needs to be about clearing my name, not about us.” I lean against him. “Besides, I won’t really be alone. You’ll be watching.”
“Damn right I will.” He kisses the top of my head. “And afterward, we’re going out. Celebrating. Making up for the worst twenty-four hours of our lives.”
“Celebrating what?”
“You. The truth. The fact we made it through this shitstorm together.” He tilts my chin up. “And after today, we don’t have to hide anymore.”
The elevator dings, doors opening to the parking garage. As we walk to his truck, my phone starts buzzing. I pull it out, seeing messages flooding in.
My assistant: OMG I just heard! Are you okay? Do you need anything for the press conference?
Maya: GIRL. I JUST SAW. CALL ME IMMEDIATELY.
Derek: Storm told me what happened. You’re a badass. Go get ‘em.
And dozens more. From colleagues, from people I haven’t spoken to in months, from journalists asking for comments.
“It’s already spreading,” I murmur.
“Good.” Carter opens the passenger door for me. “Let them know the truth before the press conference even happens. By the time you get up there, half the work will be done.”
We drive back to my apartment, and the entire way, I try to prepare myself. What I’ll say. How I’ll stand. What expression I’ll wear when they ask questions about Carter, about our relationship, about whether I really did nothing wrong.
Because even with evidence, some people will still doubt. Will still whisper and wonder.
But at least I’ll know the truth. And so will everyone who matters.
Carter walks me to my door, and I turn to face him. “Thank you. For everything. For believing in me and not letting me push you away. For—”
He kisses me, cutting off my words. It’s gentle and fierce all at once, a promise and a claim.
“Stop thanking me,” he murmurs against my lips. “This is what love is. Showing up. Fighting. Refusing to quit even when things get hard.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Now go get ready to destroy everyone who doubted you.”
I laugh despite my nerves. “No pressure or anything.”
“You’ve got this.” He kisses me once more, then steps back. “I’ll be watching. Every second.”
“I know.”
Inside my apartment, I stand in front of my closet for ten minutes, trying to decide what to wear. Professional but not too buttoned-up. Confident but not arrogant. Approachable but not weak.
Finally, I settle on a navy suit, the one I wore for my first day at the Dragons. The one that made me feel like I could take on the world.
I need that feeling today.
I shower, dry my hair, apply makeup with more care than usual. Each step is deliberate, methodical. A ritual to center myself before the battle ahead.
My phone buzzes. Maya.
You better call me before this press conference or I’m showing up at the stadium.
I hit dial.
She answers immediately. “Tell me everything.”
So, I do. The meeting with Carol Martinez. The documents. Jake’s confession. The press conference scheduled for this afternoon.
“Holy shit,” Maya breathes when I finish. “You’re about to clear your name in front of the entire sports world.”
“I’m terrified.”
“Good. Use that fear. Let it make you sharp.” Her voice is fierce.
“You’ve done nothing wrong, Liv. Nothing.
And today, you’re going to prove it. You’re going to stand up there and show everyone exactly who Olivia Rivers is, a brilliant, professional, ethical woman who refused to be broken by lies. ”
Tears sting my eyes. “What if I freeze? What if I say the wrong thing?”
“You won’t. Because you’ve been training for this your entire career. Every press conference you’ve managed, every crisis you’ve handled, this is what it’s all been leading to.”
“That’s dramatic.”
“But true.” She pauses. “And Liv? Carter’s going to be watching. So, when you get nervous, when you feel yourself starting to panic, remember that. Remember you’re doing this for both of you.”
“I will.”
“Good. Now go be the badass I know you are. And call me the second it’s over.”
“I will. I love you, Maya.”
“Love you too. Now go show them what you’re made of.”
I hang up, take one last look in the mirror, and head for the door.
It’s time to take back my life.
At two-thirty, I pull into the stadium parking lot. The main entrance is already swarming with press—cameras, reporters, news vans with satellite dishes.
My heart hammers, but I force myself to breathe. To remember Ralph’s words. You’ll be brilliant.
I park in my usual spot and take the back entrance to avoid the press. Inside, staff members I haven’t seen since yesterday stop me, offering support, apologizing for doubting me, promising they knew I didn’t do anything wrong.
I accept their words with grace, even though I want to ask where they were yesterday when I needed them most.
Ralph meets me outside the conference room. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Good.” He hands me a printed statement. “This is what we’re releasing. Mark will read it first, then open the floor for questions. You don’t have to answer anything you’re not comfortable with, but I’d recommend addressing at least a few. Show them you’re not afraid.”
I scan the statement. It’s clear, factual, damning to Jake Martinez without being vindictive.
“Okay. I can do this.”
“I know you can.” Ralph squeezes my shoulder. “We’re all behind you, Olivia.”
At two fifty-five, we walk into the conference room. The press is already seated, cameras rolling, journalists ready with questions.
Mark stands at the podium, looking every inch the powerful team owner. When he sees me, he nods once.
I take my place beside him, spine straight, hands folded, expression calm.
Even though inside, I’m screaming.
Mark steps up to the microphone. “Thank you all for coming. We’ve called this press conference to address yesterday’s article in Sports Insider regarding Olivia Rivers and Carter Storm.
We have new information that completely exonerates Ms. Rivers and exposes the article for what it was, a fabrication based on lies and manipulated evidence. ”
He proceeds to read the statement, laying out everything. Jake Martinez’s confession. The fabricated sources. The lies about me leaking information. The evidence Carol Martinez provided.
The room erupts with questions before he’s even finished.
Mark holds up a hand. “Ms. Rivers will take a few questions. But I want to be clear, she did nothing wrong. The Dakota Dragons stand fully behind her, and we deeply regret the way this situation was handled initially.”
He steps aside, and suddenly, I’m at the podium, dozens of faces staring at me, cameras flashing, recorders held out.
For a second, I freeze. Feel the panic rising.
Then I think of Carter. Of Maya. Of everyone who believed in me.
And I find my voice.
“I’ll take your questions now.”