Chapter 10 #2
She scrolls to the bottom of the page, showing me every single email with my name in the subject line. Some of them are particularly… crude. Fuck. Men can be pigs.
“Fuck. That’s… disgusting.” Embarrassing, shameful, unnecessary, damn near catastrophic if we can’t make the harassment stop.
I know if I asked Dad, he’d just tell me to shut up and sit pretty.
I’m not doing that again. Or worse, he’d somehow manage to convince me that going back to George is my only option. And I’m not doing that either.
The inbox pings again—another subject line with my name and the words rugby goddess let me comfort you.
“If I do nothing?”
She shrugs. “I’m not one hundred percent sure because I called you in to get ahead of it. But if I were to guess? Statements made, disciplinary reviews, maybe even a temporary benching until this dies down.”
My worst nightmare.
“Absolute worst case? Team sponsors could threaten to withdraw funding because of off-field distractions.”
Fuck. I could cost my teammates jobs and sponsorships.
Her phone lights up, and she studies the screen for a beat before her face falls. “It seems George has already gotten ahead of it.”
I reach for it, but she shoos my hand away. “What does it say?” My pulse races, there’s a bead of sweat slithering down the back of my neck, and my leg is bouncing so hard under the table my knee cracks on the wood.
“He’s the victim, as expected.” There’s something in her eyes that makes me push harder.
“What else?”
She shakes her head. “You don’t need to know the details.”
Like that’s going to work. Despite the swell of nausea in my gut, I jerk my chin at her to continue.
“That’s the main narrative of the article, but there are other pieces scattered in to make it salacious enough that people cling to every word.
” Her voice softens. “He says you can’t date a woman who’s tougher than you because she treats sex like a training session.
That you asked him to do things no normal man would do.
That everyone in the locker room walks on eggshells around you because you think you’re better than everyone else.
That you undermine Elizabeth’s leadership because you think you should be captain. ”
Each sentence feels like a slap across the face. “Oh my God. He didn’t.”
“Made it as juicy as he could. Talk about throwing petrol on the fire. It’s no wonder half the country are looking for your number in the emails…”
My whole body is covered in a sheen of sweat. My head’s spinning. I didn’t think this would escalate. How fucking na?ve was I? The first sniff of drama in my entire career, and I thought they’d what? Just let it be?
There’s no way I’m going back to that fucker. There’s no way I can stay quiet, because if I do, someone else’s voice will fill the space…
Trapped. I’m fucking trapped.
Her face turns sympathetic. “Look, I know being rugby royalty wasn’t an easy cross to bear for most of your life, but you just stood up in a room full of people and took the spotlight for the first time. Sure, it didn’t go quite the way you expected.”
Talk about an understatement.
She looks at me like I should definitely have known better about how the fallout would land.
“But you’ve always stayed in line behind your father and brother.
With your dad being a player, then a coach and your agent, and Taranis being one of the top players in the league, it’s hard not to live in their shadow.
Whether you meant to or not, you stepped out from under that shadow when you outed George and Isla, and you doubled down by kissing Robert in the bar.
Now it’s up to you how to handle it all going forward. ”
órlaith’s not saying anything I don’t already know.
For as privileged as my life is because of my father’s success in Northern Irish rugby, it’s always come at a cost. And maybe she’s right.
I’ve never really had control over my own life, and whether I meant to or not, whether I wanted them or not…
I did just take the reins. It’s on me to tame this wild bronco that has bolted from the stables.
“Why would dating Robert make any difference to them trashing me? Wouldn’t they just trash both of us? Everyone hates a celebrity love story. I’ll get hate mail.” More hate mail. Thankfully, I don’t get it often, but Jesus, when I do, it smarts.
I’ll probably get more dick pics too… My dick’s bigger than his. I shudder at the thought, pushing it all the way out of my conscious brain. I can’t dwell on what I can’t control.
She smiles. “Everyone loves a love story. And as disappointing as it is, it makes you look dependable, reliable, committed, not flaky and unhinged. A relationship is likely not what you need emotionally considering you’re fresh off the heels of… George.”
She swallows like his name tastes bad in her mouth.
“But in all honesty, there’s every chance it’s the one thing that’ll get them off your back.
Strong, independent woman learns her fiancé is cheating on her with her best friend and goes and finds a hotter, more successful replacement—and let’s face it, Robert McAllister is hot, and who knew?
From his stories, I always thought he was an old, wrinkly man who couldn’t get it up. ”
“What about him accusing me of cheating first?”
She waves a hand. “Nothing worse than a man scorned.” I don’t think every PR manager is like this one, but órlaith’s unconventional approach to handling me in this situation is putting me at ease. It’s like talking a problem through with a friend.
“Anyway, when said woman finds a hottie to date, why wouldn’t she jump into a relationship?
He’s successful, respected—albeit unorthodox and somewhat radioactive right now—and you’ve known about George for months now, so you’ve been able to grieve your loss.
It’s not like Robert’s actually a rebound.
” She seems to be talking more to herself now, rationalizing things out loud.
She mutters to herself for another moment before she nods.
“I can’t see a downside to it. Give it a few months of dating, smiles and love hearts for the cameras, and when the press gets their teeth into something else, part ways with Robert and move on. ”
She nods, grinning. “I think it’s the easiest way to get through it.
” She stands like she’s dismissing me, like it’s all been decided.
“Think on it for a few hours before making your decision. If you opt not to date him, we’ll figure out an alternative.
We’ll put out a statement either way. And you should think about rebutting some of those claims that dumb fucker made.
Then hope they find something other than the princess of rugby’s double whammy of Saturday Scandals to write about and fast.”
I blink. Is this woman leaving? Is that it? Talk about emotional whiplash. Go get Robert to date you and attempt to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes? She can’t be serious. Is she really a PR manager? Surely this can’t be the resolution.
“Wh-what if he won’t date me?”
órlaith actually rolls her eyes at that.
“Have you seen yourself? Any man would be lucky as hell to go out with you. And if he says no, tell him he fucking owes you. He knew exactly who you were when he kissed you in the bar, and he did it anyway. If he’s in any way a decent man, he’ll want to make it right.
This is how he does that.” She shrugs. “It’s only a few months of his life. ”
I leave her office on shaky legs, feeling no clearer about my path forward through this potential shitstorm, but one thing is more than clear.
I need to talk to Robert.