Chapter Eighteen
My nosy best friend is rubbing off on me.
Most days while walking around Permian, I overhear my coworkers talking about me.
Their favorite topics revolve around my flowery perfume that’s too distracting, my pink and overly professional outfits, and my off-putting intensity.
Their words have never affected me, but the conversation happening in Trevor’s office hooked me like a fish to bait.
“Garrett Blane won’t choose her,” Trevor bites out. “But she thinks she’s special because she’s taking him to the golf course today.”
A grating wheeze from Jonah, a fellow junior agent, slips into the hallway. “Everyone has been to the golf course with a client except her.”
“It’s a waste of time,” Kyle adds. “Just tell her no.”
“I would, but I don’t need shit from Winston today. He’s already upset because another client didn’t re-sign with me last week, which wasn’t my fault.” Trevor pauses for validation from his fanboys. “And for some reason, he likes Turner.”
“We all know why,” Jonah says, and it’s easy to imagine the suggestive raise of his brows as they all burst into laughter at the implication of me sleeping with the CEO.
As if that’s the only reason Winston isn’t a dick to me.
Pressing my back against the wall, I cover my mouth.
I’ve covered for Jonah and Kyle more times than I can count—stepping in for Jonah’s clients when he took two weeks off for his grandmother’s funeral, and handling Kyle’s workload when he went away for his sister’s wedding.
I do half of Trevor’s job because I’m the only junior agent he trusts.
All I do is try so hard to earn their respect. And for what?
As I creep away, the door opens.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“Turner?” Andy’s eyes dart between me and Trevor’s office. I should’ve known he was in there. He’s one of them too. “It’s not what you—”
I barrel down the hallway without waiting for him to finish his sentence. Once safe in my office, I close the door, and press the heels of my palms against my eyes.
No. You will not let these assholes make you cry.
But it’s too late. Warm tears slide down my cheeks as I grab my phone and open the calendar. Garrett’s in town for the three-game series against the Pilots, and I’m meeting him at the golf course in an hour.
Does Garrett see this as a joke? A big waste of time?
The knock at the door makes my phone slip from my fingers.
Fixing my mascara, I bend down to pick up my phone. “Come in.”
Frankenstein entering my office would be less surprising than seeing Andy standing in the doorway, looking like a sad puppy.
His shifty gaze lands on me for half a second. “You ran off before I could say anything.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Wasn’t in the mood to hear anymore lies about myself. It’s not fun listening to people joke about me sleeping with the boss. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to prepare to waste Garrett’s time.”
Andy winces at my sarcasm. “Turner, please. Can we talk?”
“There’s nothing to say. I heard everything.”
“But that was Trevor, Kyle, and Jonah. I didn’t say anything.”
My laugh is harsh. “Which is almost worse.”
Cade was the first person to speak up for me as a female agent when someone railed against me. Is it fair that my hard work wasn’t enough, but Cade’s words were?
No, but I’m thankful for him.
Andy’s jaw twitches and he turns around, but instead of leaving, he closes the door and locks himself inside.
In the crappy light, he almost looks familiar.
More like the person who studied negotiations with me over mozzarella sticks in the break room.
The only person who didn’t laugh when I told him about my dreams as an agent.
He treated me like an equal. An adversary.
“You’re right, and I’m sorry.” Andy takes a seat and drops his voice to a whisper. “You deserve to know the truth. Trevor’s pissed because he reached out to Garrett and got ignored, but you didn’t.”
I blink hard at his unexpected confession. “What?”
“Right after you talked to him about throwing your hat in the ring, he tried to schedule a meeting with Garrett before you could.”
My knees buckle, and I collapse into the chair. Trevor tried to steal Garrett from me.
“Why are you telling me this?” I ask, refusing to let my guard down. “You’re one of Trevor’s guys.”
“Because I fucking hate being one of them! And I hate the way I’ve treated you.
You knew more than every intern, and instead of being smug, you were kind enough to tutor me.
You were my friend, but the moment we got our contracts, I saw you as a threat.
Trevor didn’t help that fear, but I can’t blame him.
I’ve had plenty of chances to speak up.”
I peer at the door, waiting for the camera crew to burst in. “Am I being punked?”
“Nope. I’m just an idiot trying to make amends.” He falls into the seat across from me and shakes his head. “I’m done watching Trevor treat you like shit. And I’m sorry for everything, Turner. Henrietta was pissed when I told her the real reason we stopped talking.”
Andy’s long-time girlfriend’s name makes me pause. “You told her?”
“Every bit of the truth,” he says. “Slept in the guest room for a month.”
It feels good to laugh, but it fades quickly. “I don’t know what to say, Andy, but thanks for telling me the truth.”
“I don’t deserve your gratitude.” Patting my desk, he stands. “Now go golfing and get Garrett on a sweet contract.”
I eye the golf clubs in the corner of the room. “Golf is hard.”
“It is, but you can do it. I’m here if you need anything, okay?” Then, without waiting for a reply, he leaves my office.
My head spins from the whiplash of that conversation, but I don’t have time to waste.
I’ve got forty-five minutes to pull myself together and get to the golf course.
The gold polo shirt and black golf pants match the Permian brand, but the pink bow earrings Cade picked out the day we got our ears pierced are in the first hole.
I touch the cool metal, feeling a bit more like me.
When my phone chimes, I expect it to be Garrett, but a smile takes over my face before I can stop it.
Cade
Good luck today, Agent Shay.
“If I were a betting man, I’d be dirt poor right now.”
My lips curve into a sly smile as I sink a ball into the fifth hole. “I’m full of surprises.”
“I see that.” Garrett flips his hat backward. “You were so spooked when I asked if you golfed, so I was expecting to whoop you.”
I send Jo a silent thanks. It’s not great, but I’m better than him.
The man who could alter the projection of my career walks up to his ball. Concentration tightens itself between his brows as he draws an imaginary ten-foot line with his eyes from the ball to the hole. Pulling back his putter, he sinks the ball.
“Nice,” I say, holding my fist out.
He bumps my knuckles. “Sure, but you’re still five strokes ahead.”
Shayzilla didn’t come to play; she came to win. After almost letting one group of men beat me today, I won’t let this one get close. Even if he is nice.
“Only a few holes left. Then you can hide in shame at the stadium this evening.”
A boisterous howl escapes him as he hikes the golf bag over his shoulder and leads us to the sixth hole. “This is why I like you, Turner. You’ve got that athlete spirit inside you.”
“It’s hard to let go of,” I admit. It’s why I loved playing in the preprofessional soccer league. Even if there were no stakes, I loved every second of competition.
I miss it every day, but my job is number one. It has to be.
“My fiancée loves golfing with me.” Garrett’s strong features melt at the thought of her. “She’s got crazy luck with a club in her hand.”
“That’s adorable,” I say. “How is Layla doing?”
He gawks at me. “You remember the name of my fiancée from a month and a half ago?”
Has it really been that long since I pitched myself to Garrett in the lounge at Pilot City Stadium? It seems as if time is flying by.
Readjusting my bag, I smile. “She’s important to you, and I told you that those important to you are important to me.”
“Yeah, but everyone says that.” The proud crinkle around his eyes tells me I’ve gained another point in the running. “She’s in town for the series and is dying to meet you. Will you be at any of the games?” He beams when I nod. “Great, and congrats. I saw you started working with Cade Owens.”
My cheeks warm, and I can’t blame it on the weather because it’s perfect out. The clouds and slight breeze have kept me from nervously sweating through my shirt.
“Thank you. It’s going well.”
“Would you feel comfortable juggling multiple baseball clients?”
“Definitely.” Fishing a tee from my pocket, I hand it to him. “I work with multiple basketball and soccer clients too. As someone who values quality, I’ll always make sure every client gets their own unique partnership with me.”
He sticks the tee into the ground and places a yellow ball on top. “Do you practice these answers in the mirror?”
“Sometimes, yes. But today you’re getting answers straight from my brain.”
Garrett hums his approval but keeps his eyes on the ball.
It gets lost in a forest of trees, and he laughs.
I love that he doesn’t let it get him down.
“Well, that brain of yours is definitely helping my decision. Now hit the ball. I need to figure out a way to beat you by the end of the ninth hole.”
Shayzilla roars from deep inside me. “We’ll see about that.”