CHAPTER 42
When Jackie stepped off the elevator to the main suite of AMW-Elite, all conversation stopped. Bad news travels fast, she thought. Especially when the bad news was plastered all over social media. Fucking Sports Ragz.
Her early morning snuggle with PeeWee had been interrupted by a barrage of text messages. Tanika had asked her, urgently, to read an article she’d sent. When she finally opened the link to Sports Ragz and scanned the piece, Jackie’s heart nearly stopped.
As Jackie rounded the corner to her office, she could feel her colleagues’ eyes on her.
She wasn’t going to let the gossip get to her.
She held her head high. But before she could reach her door, she saw Donny heading her way.
The hallway was narrow, and there was no way she could avoid him or his shit-eating grin.
“Jackie,” Donny said, his voice laced with faux sympathy. “How are you holding up? Heard you got your voice back. That’s good. Tough break with Dawson.”
“Donny, if you are here to talk shit, I’d rather you not,” Jackie said, attempting to go around him. But Donny, as always, was terrible at picking up on social cues.
“I had no idea you and Steele were a thing. And Steele is actually Dawson’s father?” Donny let out a low whistle. “Talk about drama! Seems to follow you everywhere, huh, Miles?”
Jackie bit the inside of her cheek. “What do you want, Donny?”
“Well, since PJ is no longer your client, do you know if he’s going to stay with AMW-Elite or go somewhere else? I mean, since you and his father basically screwed the pooch. Wait, that’s probably a really bad expression to use around you.”
Jackie tented her hands in prayer the way she’d seen Antonio do to calm himself down. It seemed to help. She took a deep breath. “Donny, I’m going to say this one time and one time only. Stay the fuck away from me. And stay the fuck away from my clients.”
“But he’s not your—”
“I said what I said!” Jackie yelled, channeling her inner NeNe Leakes from Real Housewives of Atlanta. “Now get the entire fuck out of my face!”
“Jeesh,” Donny held up his hands, relenting. “Guess The Viper is back.” He eased out of the way to let Jackie pass.
As soon as she came into view, Calvin jumped up, a coffee in hand. “Heard the news,” he said sympathetically. “I’m really sorry Ms. Miles.”
“All good,” Jackie said, taking the coffee. “Thanks Calvin. I appreciate the pick-me-up.”
“I figured you could use it, especially since Patrick is waiting for you in your office.”
“Uhm, you could have led with that, Calvin.”
Calvin nodded. “I thought the Americano could ease the sting a bit.”
Jackie took a sip, enjoying the warmth as it enveloped her chest. “It helps.”
“For what it’s worth, I like you and Mr. Steele,” Calvin said, lowering his volume so he wouldn’t be overheard. “I mean, I know you don’t care what I think, but you seemed happy around him. Even when you couldn’t say a word.”
Jackie’s heart squeezed at Calvin’s words, which were spot-on. She was glad she hadn’t fired him after Mexico. She gave him an affectionate pat on the arm before entering her office.
“Morning, Patrick,” she said. Patrick didn’t respond. He looked tense, his typically coiffed blond hair all over the place. She placed her drink and bag down, shrugged out of her blazer, and sat at her desk, poised for whatever he had to say.
“Jackie,” Patrick began, forgoing a greeting. “You know I hate hearing news secondhand, right?”
“Of course,” Jackie said. She opened her laptop, trying not to seem rattled by his presence.
“I don’t have to remind you that having a client of PJ Dawson’s caliber on the AMW-Elite roster is a win for all of us. And as this merger closes, having any kind of unrest just doesn’t look favorable to potential clients and sponsors.”
“Unrest?” Jackie raised an eyebrow. “Patrick, seriously, I—”
“I’m not done,” he said, his voice prickly. “I don’t need drama. And it seems like drama is always following you, Jackie.”
“Drama?” Jackie was seething. “Me? Patrick, that isn’t fair. When is the last time—”
“Katrice Nixon,” Patrick reminded her. “I let that slide. But, let’s be honest, your attitude sucks most of the time. You’re unpredictable. There was the weird voice thing. Then the drama trying to sign Mo…”
“I signed Mo,” Jackie said sharply. “Not only did I sign Mo, but he also has a title fight in a couple of months that I arranged. I did that! And I did it with the ‘weird voice thing,’ as you call it. Me!” She pointed at her heart, because at this moment, it was the strongest thing she had.
Her nerves were shot, and her brain was misfiring.
“You signed Mo with Antonio’s help, right?” Patrick’s tone was so cold.
“I could have gotten Mo on my own. Antonio just tagged along as backup. He got a lucky lead, and I made the most of that luck.” Jackie saying that made her heart thump. She was lucky…his Lucky.
Patrick rolled his eyes. “A ‘lucky’ lead you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Is that how you landed PJ in the first place? Your relationship with Antonio?”
“Okay,” Jackie held up her hands, laughing bitterly. “Now you’re just insulting me. I didn’t know PJ was Antonio’s son when I signed him. I worked my ass off to sign PJ. Trying to convince Marilyn to take a chance on me wasn’t an easy thing.”
“And now, she has zero faith in you as PJ’s agent. Because you’re sleeping with his father.” Patrick shook his head. “How long has this been going on?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I knew Antonio socially way before I became PJ’s agent. Like ten years prior to him joining this firm. We were not in any kind of relationship. But why does it matter? I don’t recall a nonfraternizing policy here.”
“While that may be true, it doesn’t look good,” Patrick said.
“I know,” Jackie admitted.
“And PJ knew about this…special friendship between you and Steele?”
“Listen.” Jackie ran her hand down the nape of her neck, feeling beads of perspiration there. If her perm reverted, and this conversation left her with a nappy kitchen, she’d be even more pissed. “Are you done? Because this entire conversation is making me uncomfortable.”
“Very well,” Patrick stood, buttoning his suit jacket.
“Just know that you need to really think about your place at this firm. You’re good, Jackie.
No doubt your numbers and roster are impressive.
But decent agents come a dime a dozen. Especially agents with better…
optics. Clients appreciate agents who are drama-free. ”
“Or I could just leave. My clients would follow me to end of the earth.” Jackie believed what she said.
She couldn’t be one hundred percent sure her roster would show loyalty, but Antonio’s confidence in her rang in her head.
This was the first time she’d felt faith in her ability to stand on her own.
Patrick scoffed. “You wouldn’t.”
“What did you call me? Unpredictable?” Jackie shrugged. “You never know.”
Patrick opened his mouth, then shut it quickly before leaving the office.
As soon as the door closed, Jackie’s suppressed feelings bubbled to the surface in hot, angry tears. She wiped her face, then swiped the dying succulent on her desk into the trash. Her life was imploding right before her eyes.