15. Mikayla

CHAPTER 15

MIKAYLA

We’re meeting one of my least favorite clients today. Ryan’s convinced he’s going to be the next big thing in baseball, but I find him to be an arrogant prick who thinks the sun shines out his ass, and every time I’m around him, I feel like I need to be wearing sunscreen—creep factor one billion.

He always sits across the table, watching me like I’m something to eat. It grosses me out.

Ryan signed him when I first started at the company, and I don’t even know why I have to be at these stupid meetings, but he makes me come to every one of them.

I could be finishing off the stack of filing he gave me this morning and actually leave on time for once, but a gopher does what a gopher’s told, and I ended up having to leave all that work in order to attend this meeting. Ryan probably still expects me to go back and finish it after the meeting, though. Oh joy.

He said these sessions are good training for me, so I should be grateful, but I don’t know… I guess I’m not feeling it today. Or any day that I have to meet up with Axel Wayens.

It’s been a shitty week, and I know I should be getting pumped for Tammy and Baxter’s wedding, but I’ve got so much work on my plate. It’s stressing me out and making me grumpy, and that’s making Ethan grumpy, and… grrr. Life is just hard right now.

Straightening my cutlery the way Dad always does, I spin my wineglass around and tut when I realize I’m not wearing my rings again. Dammit! I must have left them on my nightstand. Ethan is going to be so pissed. I’ll have to make sure I get home before him so I can slip them back on.

I’ve been making an extra effort to wear them since he’s home more, now that the season has ended, but I was rushing out the door this morning and…

“Shit,” I murmur, rubbing my ring finger and picturing my husband.

He’s helping his dad with some overdue renovations and has been keeping busy being a handyman. He seems to be loving the time with his dad and comes home pretty happy. He left before I was awake this morning, wanting to fit in a workout before driving up to Denver.

The apartment felt cold and quiet without him… but that’s nothing new either. During hockey season, I feel like he’s never home. He is, but it just feels like he isn’t, you know?

I wince and shake my head, wondering if he feels that way with my demanding job. I know it’s pissing him off, but we’ve been making an effort to keep things upbeat and civil when we’re around each other.

He still thinks I should quit, but he doesn’t get it, and I don’t want to keep arguing with him about it. He just has to accept that this job will take me places and?—

“Hey, there.” Axel—a.k.a. Mr. Baseball—saunters up to the table, giving me a cheesy smile.

I stand and greet him, shaking his hand. His palms are sweaty, and he always holds on for a beat longer than I like.

His eyes glint as he eyes me up and down, then shoots Ryan a grin. “You brought her.”

“Just like you asked me to.” Ryan smooths down his tie as we all take our seats.

“Excuse me?” I whisper to him.

Ryan lets out an awkward laugh, then gives me a pointed look and murmurs out the side of his mouth, “He likes you. Just go with it.”

I don’t even have time to gape at him before Axel’s brushing his fingers over the top of my hand.

“So, how’s it going?” He rests his elbow against the table, pushing his cutlery askew as he watches me.

“Good.” I slide my hand away, tucking it under the table and trying for a smile. “How are things with you, Mr. Wayens?”

He tips his head back with a laugh. “Please. It’s Axel. Come on, girl. Don’t treat me like that. We’re friends, you and me. You’re my agent.”

“Actually, Ryan’s your agent, and I’m his assistant.”

“Which makes you my agent.” Axel bulges his eyes at me like I’m stupid.

I can’t believe I’m being made to feel like a fool by this dipshit.

Shifting in my seat, I pull out the folder Ryan made me bring and flip it open. “So, let’s get down to business.”

“What’s the rush?” He leans back in his seat, picking up his menu and taking forever to peruse it.

I shoot Ryan a side-eye, frowning at him as soon as Axel’s phone rings and he gets distracted.

He leans across to me. “I knew you’d get all pissy if I told you at the office, but I need you here. I really want Axel to sign with this new sporting goods company, and since he likes you so much, he’ll probably do it if you ask him to. I sent him the pitch, and he said he’d get back to me, but he’s taking forever to make a decision. The offer’s only on the table for a short time before they look elsewhere.”

I frown at him. “What do you mean, he likes me?”

“Ever since he saw you at the office that day, he’s been gaga over you. He asks about you all the time.”

What the fuck?

“So that’s why you make me come to all of these stupid, uncomfortable meetings?” I glare at him, darting my eyes to make sure Axel’s still distracted.

“Well, duh. You’ve got to be useful for something.” And now a second man is looking at me like I’m stupid today.

I growl in my throat and go to lean away, but he snatches my shirt sleeve and pulls me back.

“Hey, this is a great opportunity for you. Think of these meetings as tutorials. You’ll be doing this on your own one day, and you need to know how to sway a client in the direction you want him to go.”

I wrinkle my nose but am slightly appeased by the fact that he thinks I will eventually get somewhere one day. The thought of being an agent and having my own clients who I can support gives me a little thrill.

“Now, you sell him on this deal, you hear me? We need this. Remind him about the presentation. Tell him we need an answer by the end of this lunch.” I clench my jaw, my nostrils flaring as Ryan adds in another punch to the gut. “Be flirty. Make him think he’s the best thing since Babe Ruth.”

Okay, thrill killed, good feelings gone. I want to strangle Ryan right about now.

Be flirty?

I’m a married woman!

I want to hold up my rings and show him, but of course I’m not wearing them. Fuck!

It’s tempting to call Ethan and have him crash this meeting, but that would make me look so unprofessional, and I have to prove to him that I can handle this job.

Axel finishes his phone call, and all I can feel is Ryan’s laser beam gaze as I force another smile at the baseball player and try to be charming.

“You’re a popular man.”

He holds up his phone with a grin. “The ladies love me.”

“I’m sure they do.” Shit, keeping this smile in place is hurting my chin… and cheeks… and lips!

I brush my teeth over my bottom lip and try to get straight to the point.

“So, this deal that we pitched to you last month is really promising. You remember the presentation, right? I mean, these guys are going to make you look good.” I draw out the last word, half singing it, and add in a laugh that sounds cringingly plastic. Hoping he doesn’t notice how fake I’m sounding, I rush forward with my pitch. “They’re willing to throw a lot of money at you too. And all they’re asking in return is a photo shoot and one appearance at their new store opening.”

He wrinkles his nose, slumping back in his chair. “Yeah, I don’t know. They seem kind of small-time, you know?”

That’s because you’re kind of small-time, dumbass!

The guy is hoping to make the majors next season, but that all depends on how he plays this summer. If he can have a killer minor league season—which he’s on track for—then the majors are a given. The MLB is already showing interest, and he would have been plucked right out of college if it hadn’t been for that DUI incident his senior year. He’s had to pay his dues and got picked up by a minor league team instead, much to his angst. He should have been grateful, the little shit, but he bitched and moaned until Ryan persuaded him to have a killer season that will make the MLB so jealous, they’ll regret not drafting him immediately.

I tilt my head and catch his eye, my smile bright and no doubt nauseously cheesy. “There’s nothing wrong with getting a little sponsorship to help you through the rest of this year. The fact that companies are interested in you reflects well, you know? The league will notice the fact that you’re already getting sponsorship deals.”

He purses his lips. “I don’t really like their clothing.”

I shoot a glance at Ryan, but he nudges me under the table. His little foot tap is ordering me to sell this… to prove myself.

“Axel, come on.” Shit, I sound like a used cars salesman. “We all know you’ll look good in anything. Your pretty face is gonna be plastered all over the shop and their socials. Plus, you’re bound to get a bunch of fans showing up to the opening of their new store. You could take some selfies, sign some baseballs… it’ll be cool. Great PR.”

He tips his head, his shoulder hitching. “It’s no Nike or Adidas.”

You’re not Babe Ruth, you little fuckwit!

Leaning over the table, he reaches for my hand, and my skin crawls as I let him take it, let him brush his thumb over my skin and smile at me like I’m his favorite treat. “You really think I should do it?”

“Yeah. I think it’d be good for you. Your career.”

“Will you come to the opening with me?”

I swallow, resisting the urge to rip my hand out from under his. “As your agent’s assistant, I will make every effort to be there.”

“She’ll be there.” Ryan grins, resting his elbows on the table and looking hopeful.

Shooting him a glare, he ignores my silent fury and prattles on about how great Axel is and how beneficial a partnership will be with this company.

I finally get my hand back, using the excuse to go to the bathroom. I don’t need to pee, but I wash my hands with soap and rest against the vanity, gazing at my reflection with a hopeless sigh.

My phone starts ringing and I fish it out of my pocket, my insides jumping with comfort when I spot Ethan’s number.

“Hey, Tall Man.”

“Lil’ mouse.” He’s smiling. I can hear it in his voice. “How’s it going?”

“Yeah, all right,” I mutter.

“You at the office?”

“No,” I grumble. “I’m at this stupid lunch with one of Ryan’s clients.”

“I thought you liked meeting clients. Isn’t that the best part of the job?”

“Usually, but not all clients are created equal.”

“Oh.” I bet he’s nodding with understanding right now. An ache for him blooms inside me. I want to be there with him at his dad’s house, getting covered in sawdust and paint and— “So, what’s wrong with this client? Can you say, or are they right there?”

“I’m in the bathroom.” I spin around, resting my butt against the edge of the vanity. “He’s a bit arrogant, and… I don’t know.” I shrug. “It’s not the fun, cocky arrogant that you are.”

He snickers.

“This guy thinks he’s God’s gift to all women.”

“Well, at least he knows you’re taken.”

I glance down at my hand, guilt riding through me. “Yeah.” I rub my thumb over my ring finger and wince, forgetting myself as I mumble, “Not sure it’d make a difference, though.”

“What?” Ethan’s voice sharpens, and I instantly register what I just said. “Is that asshole making moves on you?”

Shit! I snap my eyes closed. “Not really. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Which means he is, and you’re hiding in the bathroom to get away from him!” he growls. “Where are you?”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Ethan, you can’t come in and disrupt this meeting.”

“I can if that guy is putting hands on you and making you feel uncomfortable! You shouldn’t be tolerating that shit, Mikayla!”

“I’m not!” I argue back and cringe at what a fucking lie that is. “I just have to get him to sign this deal, and then I can leave. I can handle it.”

“He better not fucking touch you.”

I sigh. “Stop acting like such a caveman.”

“I thought you liked my caveman side.”

A soft snort pops out my nose. “I don’t mind a little growling and you throwing me over your shoulder, but I have a big issue with you storming into a restaurant and disrupting a work meeting.”

He huffs, and I can picture him running a hand through his hair. “I hate that you’re having to put up with this shit, Mick.”

“Look, this is what it takes, okay? I have to schmooze and cajole and?—”

“I wish you would quit.”

Anger fires through me, and I ping straight. “Would you stop asking me to do that!”

“Well, I’m sorry, but any job where you have to play nice with some asshole just so he’ll sign a fucking piece of paper is dumb. You shouldn’t have to flirt with some moron to get what you want. You’re married to me, and I know how much you hate this shit. Just quit already.”

“And do what?” I snap back. “Just give up on my dream?”

“It’s not your dream,” he mumbles.

“I told you when we first met that I wanted to be a sports agent. If I quit, what the hell am I? Some heinous hockey wife whose biggest concern is getting her nails done in time for the game?” Okay, great, now I’m shouting, and my voice sounds so scathing that even my skin’s starting to crawl.

Ethan sighs, and I can sense him reining it in. His father must have just walked into the room or something, because his tone lowers to a soft, husky whisper. “You say this is your big dream, but it’s not. You didn’t want this. You wanted to be a sports agent who represents athletes who deserve a shot, not arrogant fuckwits who think they’re God’s gift. Why are you compromising?”

“Because reality kicked in, and this was the only job I could get, okay?” I spin and catch my reflection, my eyebrows dipping into a sharp V. “Everywhere I wanted to go said I needed experience, so that’s what I’m getting. Life isn’t always handed to us on a silver platter. I know you can’t relate to that, because everything you touch turns to gold, but it’s not like that for the rest of us.”

He lets out a scoff that makes it abundantly clear I’ve insulted him. Shit. I need to end this call before I say something else I’ll regret.

“Look, I’ve got to go and finish this deal. Everything going okay with your dad?”

He’s silent for a painful beat and I brace myself for another attack, but in the end, he sighs and mutters, “Things are tracking great here. I’ll be back home by six. You gonna be there for dinner?”

“That’s the plan,” I murmur, wrapping my arm around my waist and trying not to notice how my lips are trembling as I say goodbye to my husband and brace myself to meet with Mr. Baseball again.

Ugh.

It takes me another hour of convincing before he finally caves—thank fuck!

As soon as I step back into the office, Sean is on me to finish the work I hadn’t completed because he needs it ASAP.

I work my ass off, forgetting time until Ryan flicks off his office light and tells me to have a good one.

Glancing at my clock as he walks out the door, I feel my entire body deflate.

I’m two hours late… and Ethan never called to find out where I am.

He probably tracked me on my phone, saw I was still at the office, and is sitting at home, fuming because once again I’m letting him down.

I rush to finish up the contract, slamming it onto my boss’s desk before running for my car. I’m the last person here, so I have to lock up and alarm everything, which makes me even later, and by the time I burst through our apartment door, I’m a frazzled mess.

“I’m here, I’m here, I’m here!”

I’m met with stone-cold silence.

“Ethan?”

The bag slips off my shoulder with a thump, and I check each room before finding the table all set. Dinner for two is laid out beautifully—there’s even a bunch of red roses on the table—but the burritos are cold, and sitting next to the vase of fresh flowers is a note.

I waited for two hours and couldn’t do it anymore.

Hope you got that contract signed.

I’ve headed up to Nolan to hang with the guys for a bit. They’re having a bachelor party for Baxter, and I don’t want to miss it.

It’ll give you a chance to focus solely on work until the rehearsal dinner.

Love you xx

Plunking into my chair, I gaze at the note and don’t even know what to think… or feel.

Why didn’t he call me?

Because he’s pissed and hurt and ? —

I snap my eyes shut, crumpling the note in my hand and throwing it onto the floor. No one said married life would be easy, but does it have to be this fucking hard?