Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Evie

I sit there dumbfounded as Timothy Hayes laid down the facts. He told me how he had all but been sidelined for the longest time.

He had been wanting to break the contract for the longest time until one of the team members was out with a

dislocated shoulder. And then another got sick from some exotic stomach flu in his off-season trip to Bali.

That’s when things got worse.

“To be fair,” I spoke thoughifully, “lots of professional athletes don’t really get their big break for a while.”

“That’s not the issue, Evie,” he says grimly.

“Okay,” I reply. “Then what’s the issue? Is it because you're dating the manager's daughter?”

He lets out a bitter laugh. “God no. Stella is basically a sister to me.”

“You might want to tell her that,” I mumble.

“I did,” he says firmly. “Several times. But I’m running out of ideas. And my position on the Thunderbolts is jeopardized because

of it. He told me that I would lose my starting position if I continued turning her down.”

I look at him. There is desperation in his eyes. Worry filling his posture.

“It's going to be alright, Mister Hayes,” I say, trying not to sound awkward as I comfort him.

“It will now,” he says, a tired laugh escaping. “I’ve got the city’s best lawyer on the

case.”

I laugh, giving him that slight victory. “I'll do my best to get you out.”

“I'm sorry about how Stella acted the other night,” he says apologetically. “Like I said, I keep telling her it will never happen

between us and still, she thinks a fancy dinner will win me over.”

“It's not the first glass of wine that’s been poured over me, Timothy,” I shrug. “I

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actually think its good for the skin. I read that online somewhere.”

He snorts. “Sure,” he teases. “Hopefully you don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m actually glad that night happened too. If it

weren't for that terrible behavior, I wouldn’t have found you again.”

My skin tingles at his words.

“lam surprised though,” I say curiously.

“What?”

“Why didn’t you just accept it to begin with,” I ask. “I mean, considering your history-”

“Do you really think that little of me, Evie,” he asks, his voice lowering. “I’m not the same guy I was in high school. I don’t want

some shallow fan who just wants me for my fame or my body. I want something real. For the first time in my life, I don’t care

anymore.”

“I get it,” I agree. “I understand. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I was just trying to understand.”

“I want out of this contract because I know my talents will be better appreciated. somewhere else,” he says. “I’m not just a face to

plaster on merchandise.”

I had never seen him so intense before. There was so much passion that I had never seen before.

“I get it,” I sigh.

“You're right, you know,” he says quietly.

“About what?”

“I shouldn’t have been so quick to accept this contract,” he answers.

“You're not the first professional athlete to get carried away with their career. dreams, Timothy,” I say. “And you won't be the last.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “The only reason I was out with Stella was because I know the kind of sway she has on her dad.

Not to mention the swarm of insane propositions from my female fans. I’m swimming in perfume—scented fanmail. It

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13:00 Wed, 20 Mar

feels like my entire career is sitting on a fishing line, being dangled over a swarm of piranhas.”

“Quite the vivid description,” I chuckle. “Huh.”

“The executive offices don’t deserve my abilities. They would rather use me as a figurehead than an athlete,” he breathes. “I’m

tired of it.”

“The Timothy I knew, would have been drooling over the idea of thousands of women worshipping the ground he walked on,” I

tease.

Timothy stood up from his chair, stepping around the table and behind me. He placed his hands on either side of my seat,

leaning down towards my ear.

“I already told you, Evie,” Timothy says grimly, “I’m not the same high school brat. I used to be. You still seem to think of me the

same way.”

I look away from him, guilt had started to tighten my stomach. No. Not guilt. I would never feel guilty for Timothy Hayes again.

No, this was different.

“You shouldn't care what the news says about other me and other girls,” he sighs.

I look over at him, butterflies bouncing around my stomach. Timothy just has this wolfish smile on his face. Smug Bastard. He

knows exactly what he was doing to me right now.

“Mister Hayes,” I swallow nervously. “This is highly inappropriate-”

“You're not jealous are you, Evie? “he asks smugly.

I stand up quickly, pushing him away. He looked a little caught off guard. “Hey!”

“I'm your attorney, Timothy,” I snap angrily. “I could lose my job, which, by the way, is already hanging by a very thin thread.”

“But,” he chuckles, “After this is all over, we can try again?”

This time, the blow knocked the air from my lungs. “No, Timothy,” I rasp. “Whatever happened, is done. It’s not like you're

missing out anyways. There are plenty of women who would kill to have a chance with you. Most of them are much more fitting

for you and your lifestyle.”

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4l4

13:00 Wed, 20 Mar S.

He nods, swiping his thumb quickly across his nose. “Right,” he says tiredly. “Congratulations by the way.”

“For what,” I ask, frowning at him.

LE

“For making it here,” he answers, laughing softly. His eyes wander around the meeting room. “This is what you always wanted,

right? To make it as a hotshot

rookie lawyer?”

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