16. Keke

Chapter 16

Keke

T he fluorescent lights of Whitney's office flicker overhead, casting an eerie green on the polished floor. My heels tap sharply, an echo of my spiraling thoughts. My stomach churns as the gravity of the situation settles in, dragging my mood down like an anchor.

I feel like I might drown.

Whitney knows we slept together. She has to, why else call the meeting when she knew I was in the middle of something? I try to breathe, distract myself from the impending panic attack. I pinch the back of my hand in my lap, trying to spell what I see around me backwards, I count to ten… I reach forty-six by the time I realize she had stopped speaking.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Luke is under threat of trade,” Whitney says, her voice heavy with concern. “Management believes he brings too much drama to the club. He's been their Golden Boy for a while, but they're starting to question whether it's time for a change.”

“So it's official then?”

“He's officially under their microscope. Whether that translates into an actual trade, I can't say yet. I don't know.”

Her words sting. “That can't be right. He loves this game, he loves the team. He's not ready to retire.” The thought of him being uprooted, losing everything he’s worked so hard for, is unbearable.

Whitney sighs, twiddling her pen in her hand. “As much as hockey is about the team, it's also about the individual players. This isn't personal, it's business. If they think he's too much of a liability, they will trade him.”

“He's not a liability anymore. That drama is behind him.”

“It hasn’t been long enough, and our work may be too little too late for their liking.”

“I won't let them take the team away from him.”

Whitney's brow furrows as she examines me, skepticism clouding her perfect features. “That's not really up to you.”

“I am not a quitter, Whitney. I'm going to prove to them that Luke is more than what the tabloids say. He's a great player and a decent guy who loves what he does.”

Whitney crosses her arms, her expression softening slightly. “What do you have in mind?”

The gears turn as I ponder the situation. My remedies took time to rehab a tarnished brand in my previous assignment but Luke is quick on his feet. What will happen if he gets traded?

“We can throw a fundraiser for his favorite charity, Happy Harbor. That will make him impossible to trade or fire. Who would dare trade the guy who helped save puppies and kittens? You can't fire him. You can't trade him.”

She sits back and crosses her arms, thinking. “It would have to be a colossal success to change their minds. This isn't just about throwing a party and raising money.”

“Trust me, it will be a success, I just need to figure out how to make it happen.”

As I leave Whitney's office, determination fuels my steps. The bustling hallways of the arena feel electric, but my mind is swirling with worrying thoughts. Players walk past me like a tide, their camaraderie evident in the way they banter. Each one handsome in his own right, a different flavor of masculine good looks. I watch as they tease each other, the true affection among them. A real team.

It reminds me of my ex-boyfriend, Jason, who was always surrounded by friends, always at the center of the party. The same easy charm, the same cheeky attitude. But with him, I was merely an accessory in his life. A trophy, not a partner. I still can’t shake the memory of how he had smirked at me when I confronted him about the rumors.

“You're overreacting, Keke. She was just a little fun.”

I can still hear the echoes of his and his friends’ laughter as I ran out of the frat house, and it sends a chill down my spine. Back then, I had told myself I was done with guys like him. Too charming, too good at weaving webs of deceit. I had sworn I wouldn't fall for that kind of man ever again.

But here I am, fighting for another man with the same spark in his eye, the same undeniable charisma. Luke might have a reputation, but beneath it I sense something deeper in him. Something worth protecting. Even if it goes against my promise to myself.

I round a corner and nearly collide with him. Luke stands there looking troubled, his brow furrowed. “Hey, Keke,” he says, his voice low. “What’s going on?”

“You're going to be okay, I promise, but we need to talk.”

His eyes widen slightly and I notice the tension in his jaw. “Trades?”

I nod, steeling myself. “But I have a plan.”

“I hope it's a good one because I could use one of those right about now,” he mutters.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course. I'm in your hands. Why do you ask?”

“Because we are going to sell your coworkers.”

His eyebrows shoot up then he shakes his head rapidly the way a dog shakes off fleas. “I'm gonna need you to say that again because it sounded like you said we're going to sell my coworkers.”

“We're going to use the team to create buzz for a charity event. If we can rally your teammates to get involved, it'll show management how much support you really have. Plus, who doesn't love cute animals? All of this will benefit the shelter.”

His expression shifts. “You're talking about a bachelor auction, right?”

“Do you think it could work?”

“Maybe. But how do we get them on board?”

“We pitch it as a team building exercise. Everyone loves a good cause, and if they're involved, the media will eat it up. We could even make it a competition who can raise the most money for the shelter.”

The tension in his shoulders fades. “That could definitely work. The team loves a challenge. What’s the plan?”

“Leave that to me. I will reach out to the shelter and get all the details sorted. We can make this into a big black-tie event. Food, activities, maybe even an adoption drive. I'll handle all of it. You just need to be the charming face promoting it.”

For a moment, I catch a glimpse of the man behind the playboy facade. “And you really think this will work? For management, I mean.”

“I know it will.” My words are full of conviction that I hope is not false bravado. “This is your chance to show them that you're more than just a pretty face who stirs up drama. You care about the community, you care about the shelter, and you care about the team.”

He nods slowly. “Okay, let's do it. But you have to promise me you'll keep me in the loop. I want to help.”

“Absolutely. I couldn't do this without you.”

As we stand there, the energy in the hall shifts, the vibrant chatter of the players fading into the background, and for a brief moment, it feels like it’s just the two of us against the world.

He reaches out, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You really care about this, don't you?”

“I do. I'm not letting them take this away from you.”

He smiles, and a warmth spreads through my chest despite everything going on.

“I appreciate you, Keke. You're not like anyone else I've ever known.”

His words linger between us, but I quickly push them aside. I have to or they might mean something. “Okay, we have a plan. Let's get started.”

As we walk through the halls together, players call out to Luke, teasing and joking. Immediately, Jason’s smirking face comes to mind, but I squash it. I can’t allow myself to get swept up in useless memories.

This is a family that Luke has built, and I mean for him to keep it.

As we reach the exit, I pick up my pace, ready to dive head first into the planning. “Let's hit the ground running. I'll start with the shelter and gather ideas. We need to make this event as appealing as possible.”

“Thank you. Really. It means a lot.”

I wave it off, trying to dismiss the flutter of emotion in my chest. “Don't mention it. This is about you and your future.” Easier to think of it that way than the multitude of ways that are bubbling up in my head. This is all about my client, it has nothing to do with me. Or so I keep telling myself.

As I head for my car, I can’t shake the feeling this is something more than just a mission to save his career. It’s also an opportunity to prove to myself that I can trust someone again. It’s a strange feeling to want to put your faith into someone else, someone who is still more or less a stranger. Doing so has always bitten me in the ass in the past.

And Luke's past tells me that it will happen again. But I still want to try. Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment.

Regardless of what I am, I have to focus. This is a chance to change the narrative. To prove that he’s more than just a party boy. I will do everything in my power to protect Luke and his future.

This is not about our screw ups or our dramas. Not about my past, or his past. We dictate our own future.