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She smirks up at me. “Oh, I know. Didn’t think you had it in you, Penelope. But then again, you always were—”
“I’d be very careful about how you finish that sentence. Woman to woman, you have no idea about the details of my life, so I’d tread carefully,” I seethe just as Charles comes out of his office.
“Penelope. Come in, please.”
Shooting a glare at Julie as I walk past, I take a seat in one of the chairs across from his desk and wait for him to settle in on the other side.
“Well, nothing like a scandal to start off a Monday morning, right?”
“Charles, I know this looks bad. And I’m sorry. But I’m not sorry for falling in love with him.” His brow lifts, but I continue, wasting no time explaining everything. “Maddox and I connected the night of the Zio’s Vodka party, so when you made him a client of mine, we already had a history.”
“I see.”
“And I tried to keep the working relationship strictly professional, but sometimes, you can’t control the connection you have with someone. I know I should have come to you sooner, but after the faith you put in me to handle the Bolts account, I didn’t want to let you down. We planned on coming clean to you and the Bolts franchise after training camp, but it seems someone else was intent on exposing this story and ruining all of the work I did. I’m sorry, and if you have to fire me, I understand. But like I said, I’m not sorry for falling in love. What we have is real, and I can’t regret that.”
Charles purses his lips. “Is this why you had that no-athlete rule?”
“No. That had to do with some personal history that isn’t relevant right now. And contrary to what I said, I’ve really enjoyed working with the team. It’s been some of my favorite work I’ve done.”
“Penelope, I’m disappointed.” His words have me slouching in my chair.
“I know, but—”
He holds up a hand to cut me off. “Let me finish.” I nod and zip my lips. “I’m disappointed because for the past three months, you became the PR rep I always knew you could be, and now all of your hard work looks like it was nothing but a personal mission to romance Maddox Taylor. I’m disappointed because now one of my best agents is caught up in a scandal of epic proportions. And I’m disappointed that you didn’t feel that you could tell me this before it got out of hand.”
“I know, Charles, but if it’s any consolation, I barely came to terms with how I feel about Maddox until a week ago. It’s part of the reason I took some personal time. I needed to figure out what I wanted.”
“And did you?”
“Yes. I want him. And if that means I lose my job, then so be it.”
He hums and then sits up taller in his chair. “What I’m about to say may surprise you, but your personal life should always come before your job, Penelope. Other people in this line of work might disagree, but I’m not them. I’m proud of you for choosing love. Now the question is: Are you willing to fight for it?”
I let out a sigh, my whole body relaxing. “Yes, I am.”
“Good. Get ready to go to battle. The first person we need to take down is Liam Nelson. Because he’s the one who leaked the photo of you two to the press.”
* * *
“You and Maddox Taylor?” Jeffrey shrieks as he opens the door to Amelia’s house.
“Well, hello to you, too, Jeffrey.” I step to the side so I can walk past him, but I can feel him hot on my tail.
“You’ve seen him naked? You were dating him this entire time and didn’t say anything to us?”
Damien comes to my rescue at this moment. “Do you honestly think she could trust you, the gossip king, with something like this?” he says, directing his gaze at Jeffrey. But then he twists to me. “You could have trusted me, though, Penelope. I wouldn’t have told a soul.” He crosses his heart with his finger. “But tell me this: Did you two hook up the night of our wedding? Please tell me it was our nuptials that finally made you two give in to the underlying attraction between you.”
Placing a hand on his shoulder, I burst his bubble. “Sorry, Damien. I was enjoying every part of Maddox Taylor long before your wedding.”
He snaps his fingers. “Damn.”
“There she is! The world’s most hated woman!” Charlotte jokes as she comes out of Amelia’s kitchen, holding a glass of champagne.
It’s Wednesday night, two days after my relationship was leaked to the press, and the girls called an emergency dinner so we could catch up after my trip home and then to see Maddox. I didn’t realize all of the guys would be here, too, but whatever. The more the merrier. I love our little group, even Jeffrey.
“You think so?” I ask for clarification.
“Oh, yeah. You snagged one of the NFL’s most eligible, sought-after bachelors.” And then I see a light bulb come on in her head as her eyes widen. “Oh my gosh! Penelope, you have to letRevisiondo an interview with you and Maddox about your relationship when you’re ready. If you don’t, I don’t think we can be friends anymore.”
