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So instead of responding to his threats via text message, I decide to confront him in person.
He’s sitting in Marcus’s office like it’s his own now, and I slam the door shut behind me when I walk in.
I hold up my phone and realize my hand is trembling. “Really, Ryan? Issuing threats to print a story you know will ruin my reputation? You know blackmail is illegal, right?”
“It’s not blackmail,” he says dismissively.
“It’s the fucking definition of blackmail!” I screech at him.
He sighs. “It’s business, Bailey. Get over yourself.”
“If you run this story while Marcus is gone, you know he’ll fire you.”
“Which is precisely why I wouldn’t be so stupid as to run it myself.” He rolls his eyes like he’s dealing with an amateur.
“I will not be intimidated by you,” I hiss.
“I’m not trying to intimidate you. I’m just trying to strike a deal.”
“Well I sent the photos to Marcus along with a screenshot of your texts,” I say.
He calls my bluff. “Right. Like I believe that for a second.”
I pull up Marcus’s contact. I don’t want to bother him with this when he’s dealing with personal issues, but Rivera is leaving me no choice.
“Are you gonna tell on me?” he asks, mimicking a child’s voice as he mocks me.
I blow out a frustrated breath. “I will if I have to. Stop threatening me or you will regret it.”
“Resign or you will.”
I storm out of his office at his flippant words. He doesn’t give a single fuck about me or my reputation, but the truth he hasn’t really thought about is what yanking me will do to the team. I’ve gained their trust over the last couple months, and it’s not like Rivera has an open line to Jack Dalton the way I do.
In fact, I sort of get the impression Jack doesn’t care for Rivera at all. He seemed happy when I scored the position over my nemesis, and for good reason. Ryan is a douchebag.
He hasn’t done anything with those photos just yet, but I have zero faith he’ll keep them to himself very long. I just need to lay low, and I probably need Lincoln to take Sam out again, or at least to be seen with her.
I text Ellie.
Me: Do you have time to chat?
Ellie: Busy day today, but I can swing over after I get the kids down. Around nine?
Me: Perfect.
I text Lincoln, too, to see if he can come, but he doesn’t reply right away. I know he’s busy with meetings and practice and running a football team, so I don’t expect him to answer right away.
Which is why I’m sort of shocked that he shows up on Sam’s doorstep at the same time as Ellie.
I double check the boys are sleeping, and I meet them in the kitchen. “Ryan Rivera has photos of me going into Lincoln’s place last night,” I blurt.
“That dumb motherfucker,” Lincoln mutters.
“Is he going to use them?” Ellie asks.
“He told me I need to resign my position if I want him to keep them private.”
She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Okay, implications. One,” she begins, looking at me. “You lose credibility since your best friend is supposedly with him. Two, both your families will find out. Three,” she says, turning to Lincoln. “You look like a cheater since you’re with Sam.” She sighs and taps her chin. “Goals…for you both to keep your jobs and keep your reputations clean. Lincoln, I’ll need you to be seen with Sam. No arguments.”
