Page 48 of Finally Home
I heave a deep sigh and rest my head on the steering wheel. I just want her to be happy, but that’s not going to happen unless we figure this out. “Okay,” I concede. “How long do I give her before I hop on a plane? Because I can’t just sit here and do nothing while Wren deals with this on her own, Jamie. It’s not gonna happen.”
He snorts. “I wouldn’t expect you to just sit there and twiddle your damn thumbs, Rhodes. Why don’t you go see Archie and get his opinion. Part of her concern is her career, so you could try and help her find a new job. Because Jeremy just called me and her chances of getting out of her contract early are looking pretty good after all this.” His voice goes somber at the end, but something he said snags my attention.
“Wait… what do you mean, getting out of her contract early? She didn’t mention that.” Hope blooms in my chest. She was already trying to quit her job? An idea forms in my head.
Jamie clears his throat awkwardly. “Oops? I don’t think I was supposed to say anything.”
I chuckle, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. “I won’t say a word unless she tells me first. Call me if anything changes, yeah?”
We say our goodbyes and hang up, and I feel better with a plan of action and turn on my blinker to head back to the stadium, dialing Archie on my way. I’m pretty sure he’s got a class today, so I know he won’t be home. I don’t care what I have to do, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure Wren has something good to come back to.
“And have the police been notified?” Sarah asks. She’s been gunning to hire Wren since the day they met, so I’m glad she’s here.
I’m in a meeting with the Raptors’ manager and senior PR staff, trying to secure Wren a backup plan if she’s able to get out of her contract. I’m also trying not to snap every time someone asks another question about the video.
I’m flushed with anger, so I take off my hoodie, hoping to cool down before the heat makes me even more irritable. Sarah notices and tosses me a bottle of water, and I smile gratefully.
“This morning was a pretty big shock for Wren, so she hasn’t gone to the police yet.” I grimace, raking a hand through my hair. “To be frank, she’s not taking it well. Her divorce from the player in the video was only finalized last week, and now her privacy has been violated, and she’s embarrassed. Add in the rumors flying about her termination and not his,” pausing, I sigh and scrub my hands down my face. “It’s not good.”
Anna, our head of non-roster staff, has been quietly absorbing all the information along with everything Sarah has said. Anna handles every person in the building that isn’t a player or someone in management. She scoffs, and my mouth parts slightly in surprise at the look of annoyance on her face, but she waves me off.
“Sorry, that was uncouth of me. I find it absolutely abhorrent that her employers are protecting a now two-time media fuck-up over their prized employee. That woman has grown their socials by a margin of nearly two-hundred percent since joining the staff four years ago, so for them to even consider throwing that away over one maliciously-leaked video and the word of a player with obviously hostile motives and multiple accusations of harassment? It’s a tragic double-standard.”
“Accusations of harassment? I didn’t know there were any.” Surprise coats my words, but I really should have seen it coming. To do something like this isn’t the work of a stable person.
She nods, her brows pinched in anger. “He’s had two women come forward in the last two days with evidence that he was harassing them when they ended their respective sexual relationships. It seems both women chose to come forward only after they found out he had a sexually transmitted illness and didn’t disclose prior to said relations.”
My stomach sinks, and I’m so fucking thankful Wren got out of her marriage when she did.
The team’s general manager, Jack, finally speaks from the head of the table with thinly-veiled disgust in his tone. “If they would rather keep a media disaster like that on their roster than someone as useful as Wren Reid, then we won’t hesitate to scoop her up and make it worth her while, provided she interviews well.”
He glances at Anna. “Get a hold of legal and have a preemptive contract drawn up, and whatever her previous salary, we’ll match it with a fifteen percent increase and benefits. I would say that’s more than fair given her talent and track record.”
My eyes widen in shock, and I nearly choke. I don’t know how much she’s been making, but I do know it was more than Derrick, and his base salary isn’t anything to scoff at despite his bench-player status.
Even Anna looks surprised, but her smirk is telling. Wren is getting a hell of a deal, and she’s earned every bit of it with her talent and kindness.
“I already liked Wren when I met her last month, so I made some calls after you scheduled this meeting and from everyone I’ve talked to in the league, she’s a dream to work with. Her direct supervisor Jeremy was highly complimentary of her and her skills. Not a single person on the Sirens team or ours has a negative word to say about her aside from our intern Whitney, but I’ll let y’all puzzle that one out on your own,” Sarah says with a flat look. I try really hard not to laugh, covering my mouth to hide a grin.
Jack nods and a small smile pulls at the corners of his lips when he turns to me. He shakes my hand as he stands. “Give my regards to Miss Reid, and feel free to make her aware of our intentions at your discretion. I would love to have her in for an interview in the next two weeks, but from what I’m hearing, it sounds like we would be honored to welcome her to the Raptors family.”
I may not be able to exact revenge on Derrick for what he’s done, but at least I could help set Wren up for success despite this minor setback. Right now, my job is to make her see that this is just a blip on the radar, and I’ll be by her side no matter what.
CHAPTER 29
WREN
The guys let me wallow for two days before they interrupt my self-imposed isolation. On the third day, I’m woken up rather abruptly when Wesley unlocks the door and rips open the curtains, nearly blinding me.
“Gah! What’d you have to go and do that for?” I grumble, tossing the blankets over my head so I can burrow further into my cave of fabric.
“Alright, Wren. I know you’re embarrassed, and I know you’re hurt, but it’s time to get up and rejoin the rest of us in the real world. You need to turn your phone back on and communicate with the people who love you because you left them with no explanation, and they’re worried sick. This isn’t the girl I know and love.” Wes sits on the edge of the bed and gently pulls down the covers, brushing my tangled, greasy hair back so he can look in my eyes.
I sigh because I know he’s right. “I can’t face the world when I know they’ve literally seen me naked, Wes. This is like the dream where you stand up in front of the class and realize you forgot to wear pants, but, ya know, real.” My words barely come out as more than a croak, and I have to clear my throat several times. Apparently not speaking for two days steals your voice.
He kisses my forehead and grabs my hands until I’m standing. Then he pulls me into a hard hug. “I know, honey. And that’s why I’m here. That’s also why I brought reinforcements.” The last part is whispered into my hair as he rests his head on mine. I cringe thinking about what I probably smell like right now.
Then his words register, and I blink owlishly at him. “Reinforcements?”