AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She sits down next to me at the bar, her movements graceful and sure. “Thank you for meeting me here. I know you’re busy.”
“I doubt I’m anywhere near as busy as you. You have your hands full.”
A small smile graces her lips at that as she waves down the bartender in the swanky downtown KC bar. “You have no idea.” She puts in her drink order and shoos the bartender away before her eyes narrow on me. “Did Waylon tell you why I needed to meet?”
I shake my head. I know Waylon and Jenny are the best of friends, having met when Waylon’s rockstar client Grady Bell hooked up with Jenny’s professional baseball client Ryan Bailey. But that’s about all I know. “It was a quick text exchange.”
She nods and takes a drink of her martini. “I need your help.”
My right brow shoots up in curiosity. I don’t know what the hell I could ever help her with. I’m just a sports reporter and social-media influencer. She’s the high-powered and likely highly paid agent.
“I need you to do a story on Royal Dutton.”
My jaw hits the damn floor when she says that name. Obviously, I knew he was one of her clients running through my mind earlier. He was at the top of the list. His arrogance and recklessness are frequent topics of mine.
“The Hotshot?”
She gives a curt nod. “Yes. I want his reputation modified. I don’t want him to be the arrogant hotshot anymore.”
I think my brow is now touching my hairline because she’s got to be kidding. “Yeah, I don’t work miracles. I think you have the wrong guy.”
“No. I have the perfect guy.” Her eyes show no playfulness or mirth. Only seriousness. “You hate him.”
“I don’t know him.”
“You hate him.” A devilish smirk falls over her lips. “And that’s why you’re perfect.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about, and I don’t hate him, for the record. I don’t know the man. I just hate everything he stands for. The macho, toxic, arrogant fucks of the world who assume everyone owes them everything.
“I...” I struggle. “What exactly do you want me to do? I won’t lie. My articles and posts are always 100 percent honest.”
“I know that. That’s another reason you’re perfect.”
“I’m not following you.” I hate the way my voice shakes, but this has to be a mistake.
“Listen, I need you to do a whole series of stories on him. Really get to know him. Find the lighter side of Royal Dutton.”
I don’t want to piss her off, but is she kidding? “I’m not sure thereisa lighter side to him.”
“If there is, you’ll find it,” she says confidently. “And the fact that you’re honest and you hate him just adds to the story, if you do find any redemption in him. It could be an epic turnaround.”
“This is Royal Dutton you’re talking about. There’s no redemption.”
She sighs heavily and plays with the toothpick in her drink. “There has to be. Or his career is over.”
I don’t believe it’s that dire. Despite his personality flaws, the man knows what he’s doing out on the track. Still, there’s something about Jenny that makes it difficult to say no.
“I don’t see him welcoming me.”
“No.” She shakes her head with a slight laugh. “He’s a total shithead and will be a pain in the ass, but we’ll wear him down. He has to do this, Soren.”
I study her calmly for a moment, contemplating every possible angle. I have no idea how I can make him look like a decent man.
Sure, he volunteers with a lot of the other racers, but he’s always on. Playing up his charm and being a cocky asshole.
I don’t see any redeeming qualities whatsoever.
“Maybe you should just play the hot angle,” I say, totally serious because as repulsive as his attitude is, the man is beautiful. Dark golden hair and bright hazel eyes that mess with my head.
