Chapter Eight
Emma
After Colton left, I sat in the kitchen, a hot cup of tea in front of me, trying to compose myself. I’d just booked the designer we used to come in while we were away next week to work her magic on the house.
I closed my laptop and wrapped my hands around the warm mug.
Perhaps I’d been a little too harsh by not sharing things in my personal life with him, but I was so used to never allowing my personal and business life to cross, it only came naturally.
It was a rule I’d lived by, and regardless of who he was, I planned to keep it that way.
I glanced at the clock. It was only six, and I really needed some fresh air and a neutral space to calm down in.
I booked an Uber and figured I’d head downtown and do some shopping.
I’d seen a bookstore downtown the other day, and it had been a while since I’d stepped foot into one. I could use a new book to read.
The car dropped me off, and I slipped inside, first grabbing myself a hot chocolate.
Then I slowly made my way to the back of the store, where I started browsing the romance section.
I was certain the girls at the office would laugh if they knew I read romance books.
It had been my best-kept secret to date.
I scanned the section looking for a couple of my favorite authors and grabbed two new releases from the shelves. I continued on, finally taking a seat in one of the oversized armchairs that they had in the store so you could read for a bit.
I took a sip of my drink as I looked out the store’s side window.
I watched as cars pulled up, dropping off passengers, and then I saw a very familiar black truck with a Dominators logo on the tailgate pull up.
As I watched out the window, Colton climbed out of the driver’s side and slipped into an unmarked building.
I glanced over to my left to see a woman quietly stocking shelves and waved.
“Yes, Miss, can I help you?”
“I hope so. I have a somewhat odd question.”
“Okay.” She smiled.
“I was just sitting here, looking out the window, and was wondering if you can tell me what the pink building across the street is? The one without a sign above the door.”
“Oh, that’s Miranda’s Miracle Foundation.”
I nodded as I watched Colton come back out, get something from his truck, and slip back inside.
“Oh, I’m not from around here. What do they do there?”
“No problem. My mom went there after she received her cancer diagnosis. There was no way she couldn’t afford treatments.
When that happens, the hospital directs them to the foundation.
They are the ones who help find sponsors for those cases.
They put her in touch with a sponsor who could fund her treatment.
She told me that a lot of actors and some players from major sports teams sponsor patients. ”
“That’s amazing.”
“Some think so. Did you see someone famous go in the doors?” she questioned, glancing out the window. “I always like to watch and see if I can’t see someone famous go in.”
“Oh no, it just seems like a busy place.” I smiled.
“Oh, yes, it is, sadly. My mom actually met Kacey Kabert, you know, the leading actress from the made-for-TV Christmas movie Christmas Stars that was such a hit last year.”
I did not know what movie she was talking about. I barely had enough time to catch the news most days, but I nodded and smiled anyway.
“My mother told me that while it’s great they donate, she’s heard that many of the actors and professional sports players are forced into sponsoring as some sort of penance.”
“Really?”
“Yes, unfortunately, but just as many if not more do it because they want to do good with their overabundance, or because someone they know or knew went through the same sort of thing, and they hated watching them suffer.”
“Wow,” I whispered, wondering why Colton was there.
“You know, I think of it often. If it hadn’t been for the woman who sponsored my mother, she wouldn’t be here today. I really should go over and make a small donation. I know it won’t make an enormous difference, but it’s what I can offer.”
“Never underestimate the power of a donation of any size. You never know who may get the treatment because of the donation you make and thank you for the information.”
“You are welcome. Thank you for your kind words. Is there anything I can help you find?” she asked, glancing at the two titles that sat on the table in front of me. “That’s a fantastic read,” she said, pointing to one title I’d picked up.
“Oh no, I think I’ve found what I was looking for. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the rest of my hot chocolate before I get going,” I said, watching as Colton came out of the building, grabbed something else from the passenger-side door, and then went back inside.
“Enjoy your day and your books.”
“You too,” I said, pulling my phone from my purse.
I quickly searched Colton Fox to see if there was anything in the media to do with Miranda’s Miracle Foundation, but nothing came up.
There was nothing listed on the Dominator’s website either, which told me he wasn’t there on behalf of the team.
I went to the foundation’s website and checked out their public donor page, where I saw many other sports players, along with actors and actresses, but Colton wasn’t listed there either.
Why would he keep something like this a secret? If he were in fact helping someone, that would build his image so much more. Something like this might also stop the media from writing the articles they were and focus on all the good he was doing.
I made a note to ask him about this first thing tomorrow, drank down the rest of my coffee, and headed to the checkout with my books.
Friday
While Colton was in the gym working out at the arena, I had a private meeting with Pamela.
I’d gone over how well the event went the night before and how well Colton had handled everything.
I wondered if I hadn’t been too harsh in thinking he was going to make things impossible for me, because he actually acted better than I’d seen since I’d gotten here.
“The team photographer got some great shots of the two of you at the photoshoot. We did use one of them for the article this morning. I hope that is okay.”
“Of course. Could I see them?” I questioned.
Pamela spun her monitor around and showed me some images they’d gotten. When she pointed out the one she’d submitted, it shocked me how much of a genuine couple we appeared to be.
“What do you think?”
“These are great,” I said, looking them over again. “Maybe keep a couple back for another event as well. Oh, and I think we should use these two for the Puck-Lit-Love account,” I added.
“Oh yes, I planned to, as well as this one,” she said, pointing to one picture where I was looking down at the ground and Colton was watching me while holding my hands in his. The look on his face was so real it looked like he was in love with me.
“That one is amazing,” I said. “For sure that one needs to be added to the Puck-Lit-Love account.”
“Noted. Now, did you have questions? Is everything going all right? Mr. Larson wants to make sure that everything is fine.”
“Everything is fine,” I said, hesitating. “I have one question that I’d like to ask.”
“Certainly,” she said, flipping her monitor back around and putting her full attention on me.
I’d wanted to ask Colton about the Miranda’s Miracle Foundation first, but he’d been so closed-off this morning, I decided Pamela would be the better one to ask. Plus, I really wanted to use this in an upcoming article, sooner rather than later.
“Yesterday afternoon, I was over at The Book Nook, and I saw Colton at Miranda’s Miracle Foundation. I am wondering if this is something the Dominators support or…”
An odd look came over Pamela’s face, and she shifted in her seat.
“That, I’m afraid, is something that you will need to speak directly to Mr. Fox about. I’m afraid I do not have the right to answer that.”
“So, you know what or why he is there?”
“Again, that is something you need to take up with him. However, I’m going to suggest to you that you broach the subject with care—and perhaps caution.”
“Does that mean you’re not going to tell me?” I questioned. “I figured it would be a good thing to get in the papers.”
Pamela looked down at her watch and shook her head. “Again, I’d talk to Mr. Fox first before you place any of that information in any article. Now, I’m sorry, but if there aren’t any more questions, I’m afraid I am going to have to go. I have another meeting in ten minutes.”
I frowned and nodded. “No other questions. I’ll be on my way.”
I gathered up my things and made my way down to the rink and watched the rest of the team’s practice.
Friday
While Colton was gone to get his hair cut for the event tonight, I ran to do some errands. I returned to the house first, put away the things I’d purchased, then sat down at the kitchen table and once again started searching for a room for next week’s away games when my phone rang.
“What do you want?” I barked into the phone.
“I just wanted to let you know I will have my lawyer look over your proposal next week.”
“Great, the quicker this is all dealt with, the better,” I said.
“Oh, would it be okay if I dropped in at the condo? I left something behind that I need.”
“I guess,” I said, not sure I really wanted him in my place unsupervised. “I can always have Chantal stop in and you can go then.”
“I’m not sure I really want her probing eyes there. Bianca will be with me.”
I rested my forehead in my hand, feeling my stomach turn. I didn’t want her in my space.
“Mark, I hate to break it to you, but I really don’t want that piece of work in my private space.”
Anger and hurt coursed through my veins. I heard nothing but the sound of my heart beating. I certainly didn’t hear the front door open, or Colton throw his keys into the bowl on the table.
“Why not? It’s not like we’ll be doing it in the bed or anything.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I can’t believe you’d say that to me.”
“I can’t believe you either, by the way. Which I thought I’d tell you how much I loved seeing the picture of you and Mr. Fuck-up in the sports section this morning. Looks like the two of you are very comfortable with one another. So, just cut the crap about Bianca, okay.”
I knew exactly the picture he was speaking of.
“You two looked at one another like you were together. Shocked the shit out of me, if I’m honest. Perhaps I’m the foolish one of the two of us.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Perhaps you used work as an excuse.”
Of course, it would look that way to him. I never had the chance to explain what I was really doing with this case because the moment he’d heard about it, he announced we were breaking up. He would have thought I was simply overseeing the project like I always did, not taking part in it.
“Using work as an excuse for what?” I asked.
“To leave. To be with him.”
“For the love of…Mark, this is my job. You have no right to say that to me. You announced the end of us the moment I mentioned getting assigned to a case.”
“Honestly, Emma, if you’d have stopped giving all your attention to broken men and focused on me, we’d still be together.”
Once again, anger flooded my body. I didn’t want to hear any more.
“I’ll let you know when you can drop by. I don’t want her in my space. I mean it. I’m going now,” I gritted.
I hung up and threw my phone down on the table and placed my head in my hands.
I could feel the tears burn my eyes, but I focused on my breathing, stopping the emotion from taking over.
I took one more deep breath, trying to center myself, and jumped when I heard someone clear his throat.
I looked up to see Colton leaning in the doorway looking at me.
“My God, you scared the shit out of me,” I said.
He looked at me, empathy in his eyes. “Everything alright, baby girl?” he asked, his voice nowhere near as harsh as it normally was.
I hated how he kept probing because I could feel myself breaking down again at his question, but I knew there wasn’t any way I could do that in front of him, so I straightened up in my chair and smiled.
“Just a little headache. Otherwise, yes, all is good. We need to be ready at five,” I said, turning my attention to the screen in front of me. “You have the address, right?”
He looked at me, concern lining his eyes, but said nothing regarding what he’d asked me. “Yeah, I have it.”
“Great, I think I’m going to go get ready,” I said, getting up quickly and gathering my things into a pile. “Give my eyes a break from the computer. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, but are you sure you wouldn’t rather talk about what’s really bothering you?”
“Well, if there was something to talk about, sure, but there is nothing,” I said, pushing past him, making my way to my room, shutting the door behind me.
I put my things down on the small table, placed the lamp on the floor, and then stepped on my mattress and leaned against the wall as tears slipped down my cheeks.
I could pretend all I wanted things were fine, but they weren’t, and I needed to talk about it. The worst part was I knew Colton had always been a great listener. I also knew he had a heart of gold, even if I didn’t want to admit it.
I slid down the wall until I was sitting on the mattress and grabbed my phone. I opened up the chat between Chantal and me and sent out our SOS message. Then I wiped the tears away and focused on the job I was sent here to do.