Chapter 11 #2
"Nothing," Libby replied quickly. She wouldn't burden Jane with her suspicions until she was certain. "I'm just trying to make sense of Chase's sudden change of heart."
"That's just it—I must have misread the situation," Jane said, her eyes reflecting genuine bewilderment. "I thought he was interested, but clearly I was projecting. From the beginning, he's always been friendly and professional. I'm the one who interpreted it as something more."
Libby felt anger rising in her chest—at Chase for hurting Jane, but mostly at Liam for what she was increasingly certain was his interference. "I'm so sorry, Jane," she said, focusing on her sister's feelings rather than her own building rage.
"Maybe he's right," Jane said with forced reasonableness that broke Libby's heart. "The timing is complicated. The team is facing Montreal in the conference finals. Professional focus should be the priority."
"That's ridiculous!" Libby exclaimed, indignation rising on her sister's behalf. "I've never met two more professional people in my life. At no point have you and Chase been anything but completely appropriate. Everyone on the team has been absolutely delighted watching you two together."
Jane looked up, surprised by Libby's vehemence. "You really think Liam was involved? Liam wouldn't do that. Chase is his friend, and he's always been so supportive of the team."
"The language, the timing," Libby said. "The fact that I can practically hear Liam's words coming out of Chase's mouth."
Jane was quiet for a moment, processing this.
Then she straightened slightly, a flicker of dignity appearing through her hurt.
"You know what? It doesn't really matter if Liam was involved or not.
If Chase can be so easily swayed by someone else's opinion, then he's not the man I thought he was.
" She smoothed her hair back with a trembling hand. "And I deserve better than that."
Libby squeezed her sister's arm, proud of her resilience even as her own anger at Liam continued to build. "You absolutely do."
"But I still don't understand why," Jane admitted softly. "I'm a nobody. And it was months before Chase ever pursued me. What possible conflict could there be?"
"I don't know," Libby said, her jaw set with determination. "But I'm going to find out."
Jane looked alarmed. "Lib, please don't make this into something bigger." Her expression was utterly miserable even as she tried to minimize it. "Chase and I barely knew each other, really. It probably would've fizzled out in time anyway."
"I'm not going to cause a scene," Libby promised, though the fire in her chest suggested otherwise. "But this isn't right, Jane. No one gets to make decisions about your relationship except you and Chase."
"I should get going," Jane said, straightening with visible effort. "I've had enough of this celebration."
"Let me at least get you a car—"
"Already ordered one." Jane showed her phone screen. "Two minutes out."
They walked back through the bar to wait outside.
The car arrived quickly, and after ensuring Jane was safely on her way home, Libby returned to the celebration with a single-minded purpose.
She scanned the room for Liam, a mixture of confusion and indignation fueling her search.
It was one thing for him to maintain his careful boundaries with her, but Jane?
Jane was the kindest, most pure-hearted person Libby knew.
The thought that Liam would interfere in her sister's happiness made Libby's blood boil.
"Libby! Just the woman I was looking for."
Calvin Middleton's voice cut through her thoughts like nails on a chalkboard. He materialized beside her, drink in hand, the atmosphere suddenly thick with expensive cologne and the unmistakable scent of a man who considered his opinions a gift to everyone in earshot.
"Calvin?" she said, momentarily distracted from her mission. "What are you doing here? How did you even—" She shook her head. "Never mind. I'm actually in the middle of—"
"This will only take a moment," Middleton assured her, steering her toward a relatively quiet corner with a proprietary hand on her elbow that she immediately shook off.
"I've just gotten off the phone with my executive producer.
The network is officially extending an offer for you to co-host my new segment. The one we discussed at dinner."
"What? Calvin, no, I couldn't possibly—wait, what?" Libby said, still scanning the room for Liam.
"'Inside Edge with Middleton and Bennet,'" he pressed on, as if she hadn't spoken. "Tuesday and Thursday evenings, plus playoff specials. The contract includes exclusivity, of course, which means you'd need to leave the Herald, but the compensation is... substantial."
Her jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"
"Of course you need time to process," he interrupted smoothly.
"It's quite the career leap. But with your new.
.. connections," his eyes flicked meaningfully toward the D'Arcy family group across the room, "and my established platform, we could become the premier hockey commentary team in New England. "
Fury lit her bloodstream like fire to a trail of dynamite. "My journalism stands on its own merit," she said stiffly. "Any decision I make about my career will be based on professional considerations, not personal connections."
Middleton smiled indulgently. "Of course, of course.
Your analysis pieces are quite... detailed.
But television requires a different approach.
More accessible, less technical. With my guidance, you could develop a style that appeals to the average viewer while still showcasing your hockey knowledge. "
"My current style seems to be working fine for ESPN," Libby pointed out.
Something flickered across Middleton's expression before he recovered.
"Ah yes, the interview. Well, Bristol is quite a commute from Boston, isn't it?
" He lowered his voice with performative discretion.
"Though I suppose the distance might be a blessing in disguise given the.
.. situation. I understand how awkward it must be, with Anne Davenport expected in town for the Montreal games. "
Libby kept her expression neutral despite her irritation at hearing that name again.
"Ah, I see you recognize the name," Middleton said with obvious satisfaction. "He visited her in Paris this summer, you know." He paused, savoring the moment. "Oh, you didn't know? My apologies. I assumed since you two are so... close."
The information hit like ice water, but Libby refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
"Between us," Middleton continued, leaning closer conspiratorially, "I hear Kate has some concerns about Liam's current.
.. romantic situation. Having you established with a legitimate broadcasting position rather than just newspaper coverage would certainly improve the optics, should things not work out. "
Before Libby could formulate a response that wouldn't involve publicly embarrassing both of them, she spotted Liam exiting the main room toward what appeared to be a service hallway.
"I need to go," she said abruptly, already backing away.
"Wait—what about dinner to discuss—" Middleton called after her, but Libby was already weaving through the crowd, her confrontation with Liam now flavored with this new information about his summer in Paris.
The service hallway was dimly lit and blissfully quiet after the celebration's noise.
Libby followed it around a corner, where it opened into a small alcove clearly used by staff for breaks.
Liam stood alone, phone pressed to his ear, his back to her.
His posture was rigid, his free hand clenched at his side in a rare display of visible tension.
"—unnecessary complication during playoffs," he was saying, his voice tight with controlled frustration. "Yes, I understand your position, Kate, but these matters aren't subject to your approval."
Libby hesitated, not wanting to eavesdrop but riveted by this glimpse of Liam pushing back against his aunt's interference.
"The ESPN opportunity is not our concern," Liam continued, making Libby freeze in place. "No, I haven't discussed it with her. These decisions are hers alone."
He paused, listening, his shoulders tensing further. "Anne's travel plans are her own business. If she chooses to attend the Montreal games, that's her prerogative. It doesn't change anything."
Another pause. "No, there's no need to continue this discussion. I've made my position clear."
Something made him turn suddenly, and his expression shifted from irritation to surprise to careful neutrality in the span of seconds as he spotted Libby. "I have to go," he said into the phone, his tone final. "Goodbye, Kate."
He slipped the phone into his pocket, his public mask back in place with impressive speed. "Libby. Is everything all right?"
"No," she replied, her voice steadier than she expected given the storm brewing inside her. "I need to talk to you about Jane."
Something flickered in his expression—wariness, perhaps, or resignation. "I'm not sure this is the appropriate time or place."
"For a conversation about how you interfered in my sister's relationship? When would be convenient for you?"
Liam's jaw tightened. "The situation between them required careful consideration."
"Required whose consideration? Yours?" Libby's voice rose. "What gives you the right to make that call?"
"Team dynamics during playoffs are delicate," Liam replied, his voice controlled but with an underlying tension. "The relationship between an assistant coach and medical staff could create complications."
"Complications," Libby repeated, her voice dangerously quiet.