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When I opened the door, Orion and Bruce were in the main office area standing at the drink station.
“Coffee’s fantastic, Barb,” Orion said, sipping from a paper cup.
“I made that coffee,” Nicole said, stomping off.
Orion gave me a questioning look. I rubbed my temple and went over to pour myself a cup of coffee.
“I’m ready,” I said half-heartedly. “You can head in. I’m right behind you.”
Orion and Bruce went into my office and I stirred cream into my coffee. I took a fortifying sip and looked at Barb.
She pointed at me. “I’m tellin’ you right now, Sid, if that girl tangles with me again, I am going to whoop her ass.”
I tried not to smile. Barb was a consummate professional and I’d never seen her so rattled.
“I can hear you!” Nicole cried from inside her office, still sounding tearful.
“That’s good!” Barb called back. “I hope you caught the words whoop and ass.”
Nicole’s silence told me she’d caught every word. I needed to address things with them more thoroughly, but for now I had to focus on the business of my three enterprises. The inner-office drama would have to wait.Killian
It was after five o’clock, but when I walked into Sid’s main office suite, I saw that Barb was still at her desk. Nicole’s door was open and I could see that she was still at her desk, too. It was a couple of hours until game time, but I wanted to deliver some news to Sidney in person.
“She’s free,” Barb said, not greeting me as she usually did.
“Thanks, Barb,” I said as I approached Sid’s office door.
I knocked softly and walked in, giving Sid a confused look as I closed the door.
“Everything okay with Barb? She’s not her usual self.”
Sid gave a weary sigh. “Yeah, it’ll blow over. How are you?”
I shrugged and sat down, elbows on my knees, feet spread wide apart. “I’m sure you already know, but I found out the league’s fining me a grand for the fight with Brotz.”
“I got a call about the fine this morning,” she said. “I tried to fight them on it, but I got nowhere.”
“I don’t expect you to fight it. I can fight my own battles. The fine is excessive, but I don’t know if I’ll appeal. I haven’t decided.”
She knitted her brows together in a serious look. “Do you need the money? Because I can—”
“No, I don’t need money,” I said defensively. “You think that’s why I’m here?”
“No. I’m just saying that if you do . . .”
I shook my head. Her assumption that I was too broke to pay the fine pissed me off. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Please, don’t get mad at me right now. It’s been a hell of a day.”
My anger drained away. Sid was rarely overwhelmed.
“What’s going on?” I asked. I’d leave the conversation about her lending me money for another time.
“Oh, Barb and Nicole are at each other’s throats,” she said in a low tone.
“Why? What happened?”
“The bottom line is that Barb’s capable of doing most everything for me, and Nicole is threatened by her. She wants to assert her place here.”
“Remind me why she still has a place here?”
Sid covered her face with her hands. “I know. I should have terminated her a few weeks ago. I just . . . haven’t had time to deal with it.”
I got up and walked around the desk, putting my hands on her shoulders.
“Yes,” she said softly. “That. Please.”
Her shoulders and neck were tight with tension. I massaged her with my thumbs the way I knew she liked best. The coconut scent of her hair made me want more of her, but I couldn’t have it right now.
“I can’t stay long,” I said, as much to myself as to her. “I’ve got to get back to the locker room soon. You’ll be in your box watching?” I asked.
“Always.”
The door to her office swung open and we both froze. I didn’t bother taking my hands away from her shoulders, because it was too late. Nicole was openly staring at us.
“Uh . . . hi, uh . . . sorry” she said, biting her lip nervously. “I . . . I just wanted to say I’m leaving for the day.” Realizing she had walked in on a private moment she quickly closed the door before Sid had a chance to respond.
“I’m sorry,” I said, taking my hands away from her. “I wasn’t thinking. It was really fucking stupid. I should have left the door open knowing they’re still here.”
Her shoulders dropped and she sighed deeply. “I don’t even care anymore. I really don’t. You’re the only thing keeping me sane. Orion makes all the decisions about the roster anyway.”
The fact that she’d let it go helped me do the same. The guys could give me all the shit they wanted. Being with Sid was well worth it.
