Chapter 50 Cassie
Cassie
My heart is beating hard in my chest as I push open the door to the cocktail bar.
Rick wouldn’t tell me on the phone what this was about. All I know is that Rick pulled Cole into a meeting after the game, and now Rick wants me to come meet him at this bar because the office is closed for the night.
I quickly spot Rick sitting at a table with—Cole.
Surprise ripples through me. What is Cole doing here too?
I walk over, and Cole’s eyes glint in the dim lighting. He’s wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, his dark hair all fresh and clean from the post-game shower. His eyes search mine.
“Hey, Cass,” he says. His voice is rough, low, and warm. A slight smile raises his lips.
“Hey, Cole.”
He looks at me like he wants to eat me whole. Even now, I forget where I am for a second.
“Have a seat, Cassie,” Rick orders like this bar is actually his office, and I quickly snap out of it. “Drinks on me. We’re going to need them for this goddamn conversation.”
My stomach jitters. What does that mean? Is he firing me officially?
Rick slides a glass over to me, and I stare down at the amber liquid. In Rick’s language, whiskey always accompanies serious business talks.
“After the game today, I gave Cole an offer that I negotiated with the Nor’easters’ GM. A contract extension with the team before he goes into free agency this off season. They want him long-term, and they want it bad. Six years. In total, forty-two million dollars.”
I let out a soft little gasp of joy.
My head spins at the thought of that kind of money. But mostly it’s the fact that Cole will get to stay on the team. This is everything I’ve dreamed of for him. As his fan, as his agent’s protégé, as his girlfriend.
I want to cover him in kisses. I’m basically beaming with pride. “You did it, Cole,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “You get to be with the Nor’easters for the rest of your career. Just like you always wanted.”
“He said no,” Rick adds casually.
I blink. All the good feelings rush to a crashing halt.
“What do you mean… no?”
“I said the same thing,” Rick grumbles. “But he had a particular stipulation and wouldn’t agree to signing without it being delivered on.”
“Yeah, yeah, enough agent-speak.” Cole sits forward in his chair. His hand comes to clasp mine, sending a shiver along my skin. “Cassie, you can come back to Legacy Sports.”
What?
“I—I don’t understand.”
Rick raises an eyebrow. “He refused to sign unless I offered you your job back. Who would’ve thought Cole over here would turn out to be Mr. Chivalry?”
Understanding rolls over me.
“You gambled losing your future with the Nor’easters for me?” I murmur, my head spinning. “And forty million dollars?”
“Forty-two, to be exact.” Rick takes a swig of whiskey.
My heart swells. I meet Cole’s stare across the table. Deep, dark green. Just like the wild forests of Maine.
“You’d be worth every penny and more, sunshine,” he says, and I nearly melt.
I can barely hold myself back from throwing myself over the table and kissing him hard. I’m pretty sure Rick wouldn’t appreciate that, so instead I just laugh in happy, giddy disbelief.
My whole career I was terrified of being told I don’t really belong. But here is the star goalie of the New England Nor’easters willing to throw away his future with the team just to make sure I can achieve my dream.
Rick exhales, topping up his whiskey. “Truth is, Cassie, I’d been delaying deciding how to proceed with your job because I don’t want to let you go from Legacy Sports.
You’re a future agent if ever I’ve seen one.
I saw no choice but to suspend you, but I didn’t want to.
But thanks to this asshole”—he elbows Cole good-naturedly—“I’m willing to overlook that.
Especially because according to Cole over here, this is serious between you two.
You won’t be able to work on Cole’s account any longer, but I guess we can deal with a junior agent shacking up with an NHL player.
” A wolfish smile breaks the scowl on his face, and his voice lowers.
“As I understand it, you two are in love. And from the way Cole talks about you, he’s not letting you go anytime soon. ”
I blush. Discussing my love life with Rick was not something I had ever planned on doing. Cole doesn’t seem to be bothered, though. He’s too busy smiling that crooked, perfect smile.
“So,” Rick claps his hands. “You can have your job back. We’ll forget this whole thing ever happened.”
“What do you say, Cassie?” Cole says.
I lock eyes with Cole. A feeling is spreading through me.
The feeling of being loved like I’m a precious, once-in-a-blue-moon miracle.
The feeling of being protected. The feeling of giving my heart to a man of ice and strength and depth like Cole, and him keeping it safe forever in his gentle, fiercely loving hands.
I never dreamed of having a man who would support me like this, who would see my dreams as equal—or more important—than his own.
I think there’s only one single better feeling in the world.
And it’s the feeling that I’m the one who saves myself.
“Counter offer,” I say.
Cole’s eyebrows knit together. Rick chokes on his whiskey.
“Counter offer?! What the hell are you talking about?” Rick sputters. “This isn’t a negotiation.”
“As you once told me, everything is open to negotiation,” I say to him. My smile spreads wider, and for the first time in a week I feel my old self coming back. I sit up a little straighter, and it feels like sunshine spreads through my whole body. Tingling and warm.
“Cass,” Cole starts, “what are you saying?”
“What I’m saying is…” I pause for effect. “Noah Roy.”
Rick stares at me. “I don’t follow.”
I cross my legs, smoothing down my jeans. Though I’m not in my usual office armor of a cute skirt and heels today, I still feel like I can take on the world.
“I just came from a meeting with Noah. Turns out, his agent was crossing some professional lines, by which I mean he was a manipulative, blackmailing asshole. Noah was in the market for a new agent, and I strongly advised him to consider you, Rick. But he was insistent.” I take a sip of my drink, trying to seem nonchalant, though my heart is racing.
“I’ll be representing Noah Roy going forward. ”
“He wants you to be his agent?” Rick’s mouth falls open. “But you’re… you’re…”
“NHLPA certified—is that what you were going to say?” I smile. It’s definitely not what he was going to say. “Okay, yes. I know I’ve been stuck at the junior agent level for years now. But Noah believes in me, and I believe in myself.”
Cole laughs, a look of pure joy on his face. “Holy shit, Cassie. You’re incredible.”
I grin back at him before turning back to Rick. “So, that’s my offer… if you’ll have me back.”
Rick runs a hand over his face, wide-eyed. “Jesus. Roy would be a once in a generation get for Legacy Sports. The kid is the future of hockey.” I can practically see the dollar signs light up in Rick’s eyes. “How the hell did you pull this off?”
“Sometimes a little kindness goes a long way. Especially in a world where everyone’s obsessed with cold, hard numbers and cash.”
Rick’s face breaks into a smile, and he offers me a handshake. “Cassie Wells. You’re officially Legacy Sports’ newest agent.”
Fireworks explode through my chest.
The way Cole is grinning at me right now, it looks like he’s holding back from leaping across the table to pick me up. “I’m so proud of you, Cass.”
“Cheers!” Rick clinks his glass against mine.
I take a sip and try to savor the burn down my throat, but I can’t help make a face, and Cole laughs at my expression. Maybe whiskey is the official drink of dudes who make power moves, but I’ll take a sugary pink cocktail over it any day.
Rick starts talking a mile a minute about getting all the contracts signed, but I quickly interrupt him.
“Actually… there’s one more thing.” I pause, my heart battering my ribs.
This is it. The moment I stare it all in the face and take a leap of faith.
“I know who sent you the photo of me and Cole,” I continue. “Someone’s been out to destroy my career. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before now. But I was terrified.”
So, Rick listens as I tell him. I tell him about my father. About all of it.
When I finish, there’s silence for a second. My heart is in my throat. I half expect Rick to look at me with some mix of pity and judgement.
Instead, he just runs a hand over his face in shock and shakes his head, his voice soft. “I’m sorry, Cassie. What a goddamn asshole. You don’t deserve to be treated that way by your own family. Or by anyone.”
I let out a sigh of relief, tension easing that I didn’t even know I was holding.
Rick stands, a grim smile on his face. “John Novak can throw his worst at you. But I’ll back you up. And kid, I have a lot of sway in this industry.”
My boss grins at me, and I feel a lightness like I’ve never felt. “Thank you, Rick,” I say, my voice brimming with joy.
Cole stands up too, and before I know it, he’s wrapped me in his arms. His hands come up to cradle my face.
“You’re amazing, you know that?” He kisses me, and I can’t even bring myself to care that it’s right in front of my boss. “Come on, agent,” Cole murmurs in my ear. “Let’s go celebrate.”