Chapter 34
Maia entered Rose’s office at the appointed time, her gut bucking when she noted Cameron’s presence. She managed a nod and sank into the last empty seat. She placed her hands in her lap and gripped them together.
Rose got straight to business. “Management says I must stand you down until we resolve this matter.”
“What?” Maia’s pulse hit a speed bump before taking off like a startled rabbit. “No.”
Cameron shifted in his chair. “The management team states we had no problems before you started playing for us.”
Maia gaped. “They’re blaming me?”
Cameron merely eyed her with an impassive expression.
Maia got it, then. “They want me to drop the charges.”
Rose gave a minuscule nod. “Amanda has bite wounds, cuts, and scrapes. She says you let your dog attack her.”
“I don’t own a dog,” Maia snapped. “What about the police reports?”
Rose shrugged.
“Fine.” Maia stood. She twisted too fast and winced at the pain that shot from her thigh.
“Maia, you have an appointment to see the team doctor,” Cameron said.
“No,” Maia said. “I don’t have to do anything, not if I’m stood down.”
Rose tapped her pen on her desktop. “It’s a condition of your employment.”
“And if I don’t attend the appointment?”
“You won’t get paid, and you’ll give the management an excuse to cancel your contract,” Cameron answered.
“Who is on the management team?” She’d scanned the names but hadn’t recognized more than one or two. They’d seemed like distant figures, especially since she didn’t have day-to-day contact with them.
Rose shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. They pay your salary. You signed a contract and leave yourself open if you don’t follow the terms and conditions.”
“Fine,” Maia gritted out. She didn’t mention the Black Fern training camp, which was probably doubtful. If she didn’t play, she couldn’t impress. Amanda would win.
Life isn’t fair. Her aunt’s stern voice blasted through her mind, one of the few things her aunt had enforced on her that bore an ounce of truth.
“Anything else the management team said I should do?” The words burst from her and hovered near snide.
Rose’s brows lifted. “You’re to have no team contact, which means no training or games. They’ll decide what will happen to you at the next board meeting.”
“Which is when?” Maia clenched her teeth, refusing to show any weakness.
“It’s next month. They met last week,” Cameron said.
Maia reached the door without limping. Henry was waiting outside and stood immediately, obviously sensing her distress. She shook her head when he opened his mouth to speak.
“Not here,” she said.
With her head held high, she exited the building. She allowed her shoulders to slump once she sat in Henry’s vehicle.
“What time is your appointment?” Henry asked. “Do we have time for a coffee first?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m seeing that doctor at twelve-thirty.”
Henry drove to the cafe they’d stopped at previously.
“Grab a seat, and I’ll order the coffee,” he said. “Do you want anything to eat?”
“No,” she said, unsure she could even manage a coffee.
Henry joined her in minutes and took the seat opposite. “Tell me what happened.”
So she did.
“Can they do that?” he asked, indignation coloring his expression.
“They pay my salary.”
“Amanda has connections on the management team. They’re covering for her.”
“You think?” This emerged with more sarcasm than Henry warranted. “Sorry. None of this is your fault.”
“What about your spot at the Black Ferns’ training camp?”
“Neither coach mentioned the trials. Amanda told me she was next on the list. A reserve to go to camp if someone drops out. I can ring the guy who called me. He told me to contact him if I had problems. At least that way, I’d know my fate.”
“God, Maia. I’m so sorry. I wish there were something I could do to help.”
Maia reached across the table for Henry’s hand. “You’re on my team, supporting me, and that’s the best. I’ll come back from this.” Somehow. If her team blacklisted her, other teams might refuse to hire her.
Either way, her dream had moved beyond her grasp. For this season, anyway.
Maia walked into the doctor’s room at twelve-thirty, and the visitation didn’t go as she’d imagined.
“We’re worried about your mental state,” he said, steepling his hands in front of his face.
“Pardon?” Maia said, unsure she’d heard correctly.
“High-performance sport is stressful. Not everyone makes the grade.”
Her mouth fell open, shock making her faintly nauseous.
“Are you sleeping?”
Maia met his gaze despite her horror. She had to take care, or she’d increase her troubles. Keep your temper. Answer calmly. “Yes, I sleep well.”
“Are you taking any drugs? Drinking more than usual?”
“No,” Maia said firmly.
The bastard. He was in league with management and wanted her off the team. Her contract was clear on this point. She was to conduct herself in a proper manner.
“We’ll do bloods. We can do them here,” the doctor said.
Maia knew her rights, thankful that she’d read the contract carefully.
“Please provide a list of acceptable labs. I’ll do it later this afternoon.” There was nothing in her system that shouldn’t be there. Gavin had assured her the drugs he’d given her were common painkillers.
“It would be a simple matter to do the tests now.”
“I have another appointment,” Maia said. “Sorry, but I thought this one would be the standard length.”
The doctor made a tutting sound, and Maia ground her teeth together. She should’ve let Henry come with her, but stupidly, she hadn’t thought she’d require a witness.
“The list,” she reminded him.
He grumbled but produced a list from his drawer. “We’ll need the tests today,” he said. “I want you to make an appointment to visit this doctor.” He handed her a card.
“A psychiatrist?” Astonished he would want this, she gawked at him.
“Yes, it’s a pity you have another appointment because I believe one of his patients has canceled.”
Alarm bells peeled loud and clear. “Is there a list of accepted psychiatrists, too?” she asked.
“I believe so, but this man is on the list and in the same building.” He smiled, a crocodile smile full of pretend charm and caring.
Maia forced herself to accept the medical lists and stood, offering a smile of her own. “Thank you. I’ll make an appointment as soon as I can fit it into my schedule.”
She left the doctor’s office in a trance, starting when the receptionist called after her. “Miss Jacobs, we require payment today.”
Maia halted, anger flooding her. They weren’t even paying for this debacle. “Fine,” she said. “I will require a tax receipt.”
By the time she reached Henry’s vehicle, she’d passed shock and plunged into fury. They were playing dirty, trying to force her hand. She loved rugby, and this would’ve been a disaster six months ago. It was horrific now, but she had Henry and his family for support.
“How did it go?” Henry asked.
“They want me to see a psychiatrist. Management has decided I have significant mental issues, but that’s not the worst thing. The doctor wanted me to see the psychiatrist in his building.”
“They’re trying to force you to drop the charges.”
“Yeah, and if I don’t, they’ll wreck my rugby career.”
“Maia, I’m so damn sorry. There must be something we can do.”
Maia exhaled. “The blows keep coming. The doctor gave me the list of team-approved medical labs and doctors. I’ll get the blood tests done to prove I’m not on drugs.”
“But what if your management tampers with the results?”
“They probably will,” Maia said, “but I have to play their game while I’m under contract.”
“Pick a lab, and we’ll get the tests done. I don’t know if it will help, but I’ll stay with you, so at least you have a witness that the test was done.”
“Thanks. I’ll have to decide about the psychiatrist, too.”
“Not right now,” Henry said. “We’ll do the blood tests. I’ll ask Gavin if he knows any of the names on your list.”
“Good idea.” Maia closed her eyes and listened to Henry’s conversation with Gavin on speaker.
“Hell,” Gavin said. “Read the list, and hopefully, I know a name or two. Have them draw and test an extra vial of blood. Keep the results separate.
“Right, we’ll do that,” Henry said and started reading.
“That one,” Gavin said, interrupting Henry. “I know the people there and went to university with one of them. A shifter. I’ll call and let her know you’re coming. Is it okay if I explain the circumstances?”
“Yes,” Maia said, hope driving away the black cloud hovering over her head. “Do you know any of the people on the psychiatrist list?”
Henry read them off.
“That one,” Gavin said, and a grin sounded in his voice. “I used to date that guy. We’re still friendly and run into one another at medical conferences. He’s not a shifter and unaware of the world, but he’ll give you an honest assessment.”
“Is there any chance they could falsify his report?” Henry asked.
Yeah, good question. She had no trust in the rugby club management since it had become increasingly clear Amanda had inside contacts. None of the surnames matched hers, but something shonky was happening, and it wasn’t in Maia’s favor.
“Do you think that’s possible?” Gavin asked, sounding surprised.
“The management team is trying to force Maia into dropping the charges against the woman who attacked her,” Henry said.
There was a brief pause. “You could ask Tony to send you the report. I’m sure it’s normal for patients to request a copy. Ask him.”
“I’ll do that,” Maia said. “Thanks for your help.”
“Any time,” Gavin said before disconnecting the call.
“Your friends are amazing,” Maia said.
“They’re your friends, too,” Henry said.
They’d accepted her, thanks to Henry. Learning about shifters had stunned her, and although she shouldn’t, she was looking at them differently. They hadn’t done anything to warrant this, generous with their help and support, and this contradiction was tossing her off balance.