At two-thirty, I pull into the stadium parking lot. The main entrance is already swarming with press—cameras, reporters, news vans with satellite dishes.
My heart hammers, but I force myself to breathe. To remember Ralph’s words.You’ll be brilliant.
I park in my usual spot and take the back entrance to avoid the press. Inside, staff members I haven’t seen since yesterday stop me, offering support, apologizing for doubting me, promising they knew I didn’t do anything wrong.
I accept their words with grace, even though I want to ask where they were yesterday when I needed them most.
Ralph meets me outside the conference room. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Good.” He hands me a printed statement. “This is what we’re releasing. Mark will read it first, then open the floor for questions. You don’t have to answer anything you’re not comfortable with, but I’d recommend addressing at least a few. Show them you’re not afraid.”
I scan the statement. It’s clear, factual, damning to Jake Martinez without being vindictive.
“Okay. I can do this.”
“I know you can.” Ralph squeezes my shoulder. “We’re all behind you, Olivia.”
At two fifty-five, we walk into the conference room. The press is already seated, cameras rolling, journalists ready with questions.
Mark stands at the podium, looking every inch the powerful team owner. When he sees me, he nods once.
I take my place beside him, spine straight, hands folded, expression calm.
Even though inside, I’m screaming.
Mark steps up to the microphone. “Thank you all for coming. We’ve called this press conference to address yesterday’s article in Sports Insider regarding Olivia Rivers and Carter Storm. We have new information that completely exonerates Ms. Rivers and exposes the article for what it was, a fabrication based on lies and manipulated evidence.”
He proceeds to read the statement, laying out everything. Jake Martinez’s confession. The fabricated sources. The lies about me leaking information. The evidence Carol Martinez provided.
The room erupts with questions before he’s even finished.
Mark holds up a hand. “Ms. Rivers will take a few questions. But I want to be clear, she did nothing wrong. The Dakota Dragons stand fully behind her, and we deeply regret the way this situation was handled initially.”
He steps aside, and suddenly, I’m at the podium, dozens of faces staring at me, cameras flashing, recorders held out.
For a second, I freeze. Feel the panic rising.
Then I think of Carter. Of Maya. Of everyone who believed in me.
And I find my voice.
“I’ll take your questions now.”
Chapter Twenty
Carter
The closest place to watch the press conference is in the player’s lounge. Half the team are here to show their support for Olivia.
Derek sits beside me, arms crossed. Tank’s pacing behind the couch. Marcus perches on the arm rest, eyes glued to the screen. Even some of the coaching staff filter in, standing along the back wall.
Everyone wants to see Olivia clear her name.
“She looks terrified,” Derek mutters.
“She’s not.” I lean forward, studying her face on the screen. “She’s focused.”
