Chapter Fifty-Seven

Darcy’s eyes tracked Natalie walking down the hall away from the conference room. Only when she disappeared into the bathroom did Darcy realize Hank was talking to her.

Darcy blinked. “I’m sorry, can we go back a second? You really want me to do this without Natalie? You do realize that she could give you incredible insight into the U.S. team, right?”

Raquel shot her a warning look. But Darcy realized she didn’t care about being warned. This was a stupid decision even if it was good for her. Yes, she wanted this job. A lot. But she knew she’d be better at it with Natalie there, too.

Hank gave her a patronizing smile. “I applaud you for standing up for your coworker, but I assure you we have the Team USA angle covered. What we need is you with your star power and knowledge of the Canadian team, of course.”

Darcy’s stomach dropped. They wanted her last name. That was the only reason they were offering her a job she’d been working toward for years. When it came down to it, it wasn’t her hard work, her knowledge of the sport, or how good she was on camera. All this guy cared about was that she was Marty LaCroix’s daughter.

It didn’t matter that she turned down the Canadian network who wanted her because her dad called in a favor. It didn’t matter that she came to New York to work for a network full of people who knew nothing about hockey. It didn’t matter that she’d done everything she could think of to avoid this exact situation. She was getting the chance she’d always wanted but only because her dad was such a big name that even people in the United States knew who he was.

“You and Natalie only have two more segments to film before the end of the Games. We’re hoping you can film one today and one tomorrow and then you’ll be free to concentrate on getting up to speed for the hockey game. How does that sound?” Raquel asked.

Darcy nodded slowly. How did they have so few segments left to do together? It didn’t feel like they’d been there long enough to be done. At the same time, it felt like a year since this started. “Right. We have biathlon today.” She forced herself to smile at Hank. “Giving us guns seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Raquel nodded. “And then we’ll have you finish up with hockey, which will segue nicely into your debut in the studio for that game.”

“Raquel and I talked about you having a chance to talk to some Team USA players in your final segment and you could get some information from them to bring to the game broadcast. I think it will work out quite nicely.”

Darcy cringed internally. It might work out nicely for him. But how would Natalie feel about doing the goofy segment with her and then knowing that Darcy was going to continue on without her? What a fucking mess.

Darcy leaned forward, her elbows resting on the cool tabletop. “I’m thrilled with this opportunity. And I’m very appreciative, but I think you’re making a mistake not considering Natalie for the show, too.”

“Darcy,” Raquel said, her tone a warning.

Darcy held her hands up. “I know. It’s not my place.”

Hank crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you saying you won’t do it without Natalie? Raquel assured me this was your dream job. Are you sure you want to pass up a chance to make your dream a reality? If Natalie is truly your friend , surely she’d want you to seize the chance.”

Darcy caught the emphasis on “friend” and didn’t like the look on his face when he said it. But she’d pushed as hard as she dared. When it came down to it, she wanted the job. This was her dream and she’d worked too hard to make it happen to let it pass her by.

She only hoped Natalie would understand that, too.

“The game’s only a few days away. Why don’t you fill me in on everything I need to know to be prepared.”

After the meeting ended, Darcy went looking for Natalie. She weaved her way through the cubicles, checked the bathroom, and finally found Natalie sitting in the makeshift kitchen.

“Hey,” Darcy said, immediately realizing how stupid that sounded.

“Hey?” Natalie said, spinning around. “That’s it?”

“Are you okay?” Darcy really meant are we okay , but she couldn’t bring herself to ask that. What if the answer was no?

“I’m great,” Natalie said, her voice filled with sarcasm. “I love it when my, Jesus, I don’t even know. Are you my girlfriend? I thought you were but it doesn’t matter. I love it when I get casually tossed aside. It’s truly my favorite thing.” She pushed past Darcy and headed back toward the cubicles.

Darcy trailed behind her, stunned but growing increasingly pissed off. Her sister was right, Natalie didn’t give her a chance to explain anything before storming off. Dammit, she hated when Kit was right.

They reached the cubicles they’d been assigned but never used. Darcy looked at the conference room. Raquel was still in there, talking on her cell phone.

She rested her forearms on the partition between the cubicles and looked down at Natalie. “Are you going to ignore me all day?”

Natalie looked up. “Seriously?”

Darcy stepped closer, her eyes darting to the other folks in the area. “Can we go talk somewhere?”

Natalie shoved her chair back, sending it spinning across the floor. “Sure, LaCroix. We can talk all about how you dropped me as soon as they offered you something better. I guess some things don’t change.”

Darcy took a step back when Natalie pushed past her. “Have you lost your mind?” Everyone looked at Darcy. She grabbed her coat off her chair and rushed to catch up with Natalie.

Natalie made it to the front door of the offices before Darcy caught her.

“Were we in the same meeting? I asked them if we could do the segment together. After you stormed out of there, I told them they were making a mistake not having you do it, too. What the hell else do you expect me to do?”

Natalie crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you’re fine taking a job even if you’re only getting it because of your last name? What happened to you always telling me no one cared who your dad is?”

It felt like the air had been sucked out of Darcy’s lungs or forced out with a stick to the gut. She blinked at Natalie. How fucking dare she? “Do you think I like being told they’re giving me a chance because I’m Marty LaCroix’s daughter? Do you think that makes me feel good about the years of work I’ve put in? Yeah. I came to the U.S. to work my ass off for an opportunity only to have people like Hank tell me the only reason they will even consider me isn’t my work, it’s my name? Yeah. That’s super. And imagine how I feel when my girlfriend throws it in my face?” Darcy gulped air as she rapidly unraveled in front of Natalie.

“Now I’m your girlfriend? Convenient since back in the meeting you couldn’t be bothered to stand up for me.”

“Fuck you, Carpenter. I fought for you in there.”

“Not hard enough,” Natalie grumbled like a petulant teenager.

“Jesus Christ. All this time you’ve been giving me shit for getting stuff I didn’t deserve because of my dad’s name but now you’re pissed that I didn’t push hard enough to get you an opportunity based on my hard work? You’re the worst kind of hypocrite. God forbid I get a chance at something I’ve worked for years for if you can’t just waltz right in and have it too without doing a fraction of the work. You haven’t changed a bit since college.”

Natalie’s mouth twisted, and her face was frighteningly red.

“Ladies!”

Natalie and Darcy turned and found Raquel striding toward them, looking nearly as angry as they were.

“Do I have to remind you that other people work here, too? If you want to have a fight, go outside. But may I remind you that you have to be up at the biathlon training center in an hour. So, whatever your problem is, fix it now because no one will be on any segments or doing any commentary if you can’t put on a happy face and do your current jobs.”

Darcy and Natalie looked at each other like they were fighting for a gold medal all over again.

“Fine,” Natalie said, sounding like a petulant fifteen-year-old. She stormed back toward her desk.

“Understood,” Darcy said, putting her coat on and heading out the door. If Natalie cost her a chance at doing the hockey broadcast, she would never, ever forgive her. She walked out to the waiting van and climbed in the front seat. She didn’t so much as glance back when Natalie got in and slammed the door.

This segment was going to be so much fun.