Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
My stomach sinks as three years of tabloid headlines run through my mind.
Flavor of the Week for Sebastian Kemp: Actress Wynona Belle.
Sebastian Kemp wraps new Ferrari around a telephone pole.
Penalty Box or Jail for Sebastian Kemp? Star Hockey Player Caught In Another Bar Brawl.
There’s more. Lots more.
Lydia turns to me with a tight smile.
“You don’t become a billionaire by losing money,” Van Morgan says. “I like to ensure that my investments will bring me a return. And it’s hard for my investments to bring me a return if they’re stuck in some small town jail for fighting hillbillies or if they’ve driven themselves off a cliff after downing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.”
“Those days are over for Sebastian,” Lydia jumps in with a near-frantic tone. “He’s turned over a new leaf. He’s a new man!”
Van Morgan doesn’t look convinced. Probably it’s the bags under my bloodshot eyes.
“It hasn’t been announced to the press yet,” Lydia says with a deep breath. I give her the side-eye. “But Sebastian has a new girlfriend!”
“Who is it this week?” Van Morgan says in a flat tone. He doesn’t look impressed with my agent’s bogus surprise.
“It’s not like that,” Lydia says with a high-pitched edge to her voice. “She’s a smart, wonderful, capable girl that Sebastian is in love with!”
What is this woman going on about? I’m staring at her as if she’s gone completely mad.
“She’s keeping him in line,” Lydia says with a nervous laugh. “In fact, they’re engaged!”
Van Morgan looks skeptical. “Engaged?”
“Yup!” Lydia says. She turns to me with wide unblinking eyes. “Right, Sebastian?”
My chest aches as I stare back at her.
I really want to join this team. Even though it’s the Hyenas, this roster could be something special. And turning the worst franchise in the league into the best will really cement my legacy for all of time. I can reach the next level with this crew—the legendary level.
Isn’t that worth lying about a fiancée?
Hell, I can just say that the engagement fell through after I sign the contract.
“Yes,” I say, nodding along with a warm smile on my face. “I’m a new man. I’m in love and engaged to be married to the love of my life.”
Lydia takes her first breath in five minutes.
I imagine that not many people have successfully lied to this man, but he doesn’t call us out while he skeptically stares us down.
“Okay,” Van Morgan says without taking his piercing eyes off me. “I’m having a cocktail party at my house on Friday night. I trust you and your fiancée can attend?”
“They’ll be there!” Lydia says, jumping in before I can answer. “Right, Sebastian?”
It’s Tuesday, which means I only have three days to find a fake fiancée.
It’s going to be almost impossible, but I’ll have to try. I want to be a part of this team. Badly.
“We’d love to attend,” I say.
“And your fiancée’s name?” Van Morgan asks.
Lydia looks at me with wide eyes and a tight smile.
“Alina,” I say. “Alina Hoover.”
I have no idea why that name popped into my head, but it did.
She was my younger sister’s best friend growing up.
I haven’t thought about her in years, so I have no idea why that was the first name to come up. Weird.
“Perfect,” Van Morgan says with a nod. “If everything goes well on Friday, we’ll have the contract ready for you to sign.”
“Or, we can just sign it now,” Lydia throws out with a nervous chuckle. “Since we’re all here…”
“Friday will be fine,” Van Morgan says with a firm nod.
He stands up and everyone follows. I don’t know why he pays for these five people to be here if he’s just going to do all of the talking himself, but whatever. I guess when you have billions in the bank, saving money is the least of your concerns.
He shakes Lydia’s hand and then mine.
“I’m going to bring a Stoney Cup to San Antonio,” he says, his eyes brimming with intensity. “Multiple cups. I hope you can join us in the fun.”
“So, do I.”
“Until Friday then. I’m looking forward to meeting this fiancée of yours. It’s going to take a strong woman to keep the wild Sebastian Kemp in line.”
“Like I said, I’m a new man.”
“Good,” Van Morgan says with a dismissive nod. “Because I won’t have a liability on my team, no matter how talented he is.”
My stomach sinks as I head to the door. Fuck.
I walk with Lydia to the elevators in silence. We stare at the floor and ceiling until the doors open and we step inside.
Once they close, we both erupt.
“Why did you say I was engaged?!”
“Why did you give a name?!”
The elevator descends as we curse and shout some more.
“Who is this girl anyway?” Lydia says when we land on the main floor. “What was her name? Alina Cooter?”
“Alina Hoover,” I say in a sharp tone, already feeling defensive of her. “She was my sister’s best friend growing up.”