Page 73 of Landing Liam

“Which leaves power,” I say, sliding into the chair across from him. “But what kind of power could a trainer want? He’s just a guy living on a small mountain, coaching snowboarders.”

Jack drums his fingers on the table, his gaze sharpening. “Power doesn’t always mean running the world, Maggie. It can be about control—controlling a narrative, controlling someone’s future. Or maybe Zach feels like Liam has too much power and he resents it.”

I mull that over for a moment, chewing on the idea. “So, fear, revenge, anger, or jealousy. Which one do you think it is?”

Jack clicks his tongue thoughtfully. “My gut says it’s a combination. Fear, maybe—if Zach thinks his role in Liam’s career is coming to an end. Anger? Possible, if there’s been tension between them. And jealousy—absolutely. Liam’s at the top of the world in his sport, while Zach’s just a shadow in the background. People don’t always handle that well.”

The truth of his words sinks in, and I sit back, rubbing my temples. “If it really is Zach, then Liam needs to know. But we can’t go in accusing someone without solid proof. We have to be sure.”

Jack leans forward, his expression serious. “Then we dig deeper. Look for patterns, anything that links Zach to the media or the timing of these leaks. If Zach’s our guy, we’ll find the thread that ties him to this.”

I nod, determination settling over me like armor. “Let’s do it. Liam deserves to know who’s been stabbing him in the back.”

Jack smiles faintly, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. “You’re good at this, Cooper. Now let’s find that thread.”

I dive into Zach’s business social media pages, scrolling through countless photos of his clients mid-training. Unsurprisingly, Liam dominates the majority of his posts. There are sponsored advertisements featuring Liam lifting weights in the background, his name tagged in nearly every caption. He’s clearly making more than his fair share of money off of Liam. Both in the weight training room and through advertisers wanting a glimpse of snowboarding’s bad boy.

I skim the comments on posts with Liam featured, noting the flood of praise from fans and clients alike. Then something catches my eye—Lyla Goldberg.

She left a comment on a sponsored post about protein powder from a year ago: Best trainer ever!!!

My curiosity piqued, I start combing through Zach’s older posts. Sure enough, Lyla’s name pops up repeatedly across various platforms. She hasn’t posted anything blatantly inappropriate, but her presence is impossible to ignore. It feels calculated, like she’s staking a claim.

“What can you tell me about Lyla Goldberg?” I ask Jack, leaning back in my chair.

He smirks. “You jealous?”

I roll my eyes. “No, but she’s all over Zach’s social media pages. Something about it feels... off.”

Jack scratches his chin thoughtfully. “She chased after Liam hard for a while. Wore him down, if you ask me. He never seemed all that into her. You know, now that I think about it, she never stepped foot in this house. If she did, I wasn’t here. And she certainly wasn’t invited on family vacations or trips.”

“That is odd,” I say, tapping my pen against the desk. “But it’s also odd that you noticed.”

Jack grins. “I notice everything. Comes with the territory. It’s probably why I’m such a damn good editor.”

“You think?” I tease, raising an eyebrow.

“No,” he replies confidently, “I know.”

We share a laugh before a new thought nudges its way into my mind. I bite my lip, hesitating before asking, “So, uh... do you really have an opening for a senior writer?”

Jack’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Yeah. You interested?”

I let out a dry laugh. “Let’s just say I’m on the brink of unemployment. And I kind of, sort of, maybe... like it here.”

“The pay’s crap,” Jack warns, deadpan.

“I’m used to crap pay,” I reply, grinning. “I drive a car that has to be started with a screwdriver.”

Jack laughs harder at that. “You’re kidding.”

“Not even a little,” I say, shaking my head.

“Well, if you want the job, it’s yours,” Jack offers. His sincerity catches me off guard, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I might have options.

“Can I let you know in a few days?” I ask.

Jack nods. “Take your time. And I’m guessing you’d prefer I keep this between us until then?”