Chapter 6

Evie

I quickly pull myself together, laughing at her imagination. “Do you know how many people are named Evie in this city, Aria? Like

hundreds of thousands. Obviously, he wasn’t talking about me.”

“How amazing would t hat be though,” she laughs, falling back against the couch.”! know its crazy to dream about that stu pid

cheesy romance, but I can’t help it with him.”

I groan. “You need to take a break from men,” I tease.

“And you need to get off the sidelines, girlie,” she teases right back.

The rest of the night, my thoughts were solely consumed with his very public apology.

Timothy thought about that day too. I knew I still couldn’t trust a single word out of that man’s mouth, but the thought was nice. To

be thought about and longed for was once the highlight of my dreams. Now, I hated the very thought of being reduced toa

feeling of hopelessness.

I felt sick again.

“I mean, out of all the names for unrequited lovers,” she sighs dreamily. “It’s like a fairytale.”

I winced. I gave up on fairytales the day I found out I was a bet.

groan.

“Fairytales aren’t real, Aria,” I groan. “If you want something you actually have to put in work. Not just wish upon a star and hope

it comes true.”

“Boo,” she shouted, throwing a french fry at me. “You need to loosen up and live at little.”

I threw a french fry right back. “You need to stop throwing food at me when I don’t agree with you,” I laugh.

It turned into a fry fight.

“You're helping me clean this up,” I mutter, picking a french fry off my lap and

IA

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popping it in my mouth.

She yawned. “Thanks for making it up to me, Evie,” she grinned, sprinting to the door.

“Hey,” I shouted. “Come back here- ugh. Fine. Whatever.”

The next morning, I was back to my anxious self. I turned on the tv and every single news station was covering the breaking

news story of a hockey star who, all but admitted, he had some unresolved feelings for a girl he had once known.

None of them had a single clue who I was and I was grateful. I was actually finding the hunt pretty entertaining. The gossip

surrounding this mystery girl had taken so many wild twists and turns.

It started with a Belarusian model named Evelyn. Apparently, Timothy had dated her for a few months a while back. It ended very

badly. And very publicly. Several sources claim she had thrown a bottle of champagne at his head.

Honestly, I didn’t blame the girl. I probably would’ve done the same thing.

Now, another source claims that it was the team manager and close personal friend who just recently got married, that’s why he

kept her full name out of the apology.

I was never one for gossip, but I was truly finding an entertaining hobby to keep my mind off of the impending doom, which is my

career.

It was pretty funny walking down the street and knowing the dirty little secret of the city’s beloved hockey captain. I feel powerful.

Untouchable. I could ruin him if I wanted, but I didn’t care enough about him to do anything nasty like that.

I pick up a magazine from one of tabloid stands.

Apologetic Hockey Pro Lawyers Up

I frown, picking it up. I started reading the first couple sentences.

... Thunderbolts captain, Timothy Hayes, was spotted walking into Law offices of Brooke and Payne later that evening...

No way. How did he find my place of work?

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b

Chapers 6

I slam down a five-dollar bill on the counter, tucking the tabloid away. Once I got back to my apartment, I read it all the way

through.

There were some pretty outrageous claims in this article. Nearing defamation. He was a jerk to be sure, but to be an absolute

monster?

I hear my phone go off. I knew it was Aria.

Why does your location say you’re at home?

I started to type, but her knock came first.

“Open up,” she shouted. “I know you're in there!”

I shut the article, hiding it beneath a stack of unopened envelopes on my kitchen table, and open the door. Aria walks right in like

she owns the place.

“Well, hello to you too.” I laugh.

“What are you doing at home? You should be at the office right now,” she says, dismissing my greeting.

“My boss told me to take a day off, I lie.

Aria scoffs, heading towards the kitchen table and plopping down on a chair. “Yea right. You'd never accept that.”

“I'm taking your advice,” I shrug. “I need to relax.”

She rolls her eyes. “Since when do you actually take my advice,” she chuckles. “Who are you and what have you done to my

Evie?”

“I'm turning a new leaf,” I say with a cheeky grin.

Aria starts ruffling through the pile of unopened letters. “You really have to start opening these,” she sighs, continuing to sort the

mail.

“I'll get to it,” I groan, hoping to divert the conversation. “It'll be fine.”

“What's this,” Aria asks quietly, pulling out that tabloid. “Evie, What is this?”

I shrug. “I picked it up for you,” I laugh awkwardly. “I thought you would enjoy at little gossip-”

“This is your firm,” she says, confused. “Why aren’t you there? This could be huge!”

“Interns don’t get the initial meeting with clients. The partners do,” I lie again.

“So what? You would have found a way to get yourself into that meeting,” she says, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “That's it.

I'm giving them a call-”

“No,” I shout frantically. “No, don’t!”

“Why not?”

“Because I was let go,” I cringe. “I wasn’t able to prove that I was attorney material.”

Aria stared at her in shock. “Evie,” she says softly.

“It's fine,” I reply, laughing quietly. “They were right. Maybe it’s just not for me-

“Absolutely not,” Aria gasps. “You did not just give up on your dream!”

“Maybe it just gave up on me-'

Just then my phone rang. I sigh, looking back at the screen.

Boss

My heart jumped into my throat as I scrambled to pick it up.

“Hi, yes,” I answered quickly. “This is Evie.”

“Congratulations, Evie,” he says simply. “You just booked yourself a client. He would like to meet you at our offices. Can you get

here by two pm?”

I stood there dumbstruck. How had I even pulled this off?

“Evie?”

“Oh-uh- yes,” I answer suddenly. “Yes, I can get there by two.”

“Good. Don't be late to your first client,” he warned.

“No, sir,” I swallowed. “I'll be there.”

“See you soon,” he says before hanging up the phone.

“Well,” Aria asks, a slow grin spreading across her face.

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aq

“I did it,” I whisper, still shocked by the sudden plot twist. “I actually did it.”

Forty-five minutes later, I sat in the meeting room, pulling out my pad of paper, pens, all of my necessary tools for success.

Mister Erikson sat next to me, talking me through what happens next in a client acquisition meeting.

Then the door opened, and I was faced with my actual nightmare. Timothy Hayes stood at the doorway to the office space, a

manilla file clutched in his hand.

“Hey, Evie. Long time no see.”

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