Page 96 of Set Play

The crowd sounds louder, forcing me to flinch back into the doorframe. I want to clap my hands over my ears but worry that they’ll spin it to say I’m crazy.

Niamh steps up beside me, taking one look into my eyes and definitely seeing the panic swelling. “Okay, listen up ye bloody eejits!” Her banshee holler rings through my ears and this time, I do cover my ears, unconcerned about being called crazy when others close to her do the same.

“Get the ‘ell off our yard! Yer trespassing on private property. I already called the police and will press charges against each and every one of ye. So, move yer asses, NOW!”

Several reporters scramble for their vehicles, peeling out of the neighborhood on threat of arrest. Others only move far enough to no longer be considered trespassing.

“Éllie,” Niamh says, pulling my hands from my ears. “Ye need to get in yer car and go to the stadium. If anyone can help right now, it’s Mateo.”

My eyes search hers for the calm she’s holding onto, but she’s selfishly hoarding it. Meanwhile, I can barely breathe right now. “Éllie, look at me. Go find him. One step at a time. Take a breath and then take it one step at a time. Step one, get in yer car. Step two, drive to the stadium. Step three, find Mateo. Okay?”

I give her the tiniest of nods before she helps me up. Weird, I don’t even remember sitting down on the porch. She hands me my keys and nudges me toward the car.

Numbly, I follow her directions and get in my car. After a twenty-minute drive that I don’t fully remember, I reach the stadium, relieved at the lack of reporters lurking in the parking lot. I’m almost to the locker room to check off step three when a voice rings out behind me. “Ah, Miss Clement. A moment, if you don’t mind.”

When I turn around, I don’t recognize the suited man in front of me, although the mispronunciation of my name in that voice is distinctly familiar. I’m pretty sure it’s the guy who called to offer me the job.

What was his name again? Something Hughes. Johnny? Jerry? No…aha! Geoffrey, it’s Geoffrey Hughes!

“Mr. Hughes,” I reply, nodding at him to proceed.

He doesn’t say anything, just motions for me to follow him with a wave of his pudgy hand. We walk through the halls in uncomfortable silence and eventually, my panic overrides the desire to impress the man in front of me. “Sir, may I ask what’s going on? Is this about the press accosting me at my house this morning?”

Still, he doesn’t grace me with an answer, instead entering a conference room where Brenda, Mateo, Garrett, Ryan, and Sarge are all seated around a large oak table. Only two seats remain open: one between Mateo and Sarge, one next to Brenda. Geoffrey eliminates the illusion of choice, collapsing into the chair next to Brenda. It creaks under his rounded frame, but no one’s lips even twitch. As I sit in the other chair, a warm hand slides onto my thigh, squeezing in a sign of solidarity.

“Now that everyone has arrived,” Brenda begins, looking down her nose at me. “It has come to our attention that Miss Clement was appointed to the medical staff under false pretenses. As such, we are rescinding our offer of employment, effective immediately.”

My stomach drops to the floor. “What? No, please. If you’d let us explain—”

Geoffrey’s hand flies up, cutting me off. “Miss Clement—”

“Clément,” Mateo corrects, not taking his eyes off of Geoffrey and Brenda.

The older man blinks, startled by the interruption. “E-Excuse me?”

“You both called her ‘Miss Clement.’ Her name is Clément. The least you can do is take two seconds to say her name properly. Clay-MOHN. Got it?”

Both Brenda and Geoffrey turn red at that. “Yes, well,” Geoffrey sputters, pointedly not using my name or apologizing, “as Brenda said you were appointed under false pretenses. We hired you despite initial reservations because Mr. Reyes assured us that the two of you were serious about one another and that you would do everything possible to avoid negative press. As the best suited candidate, we were eager to have you on staff, but now we learn that it was all a lie. And to make matters worse, this all has brought a lot of negative attention to the organization because they think you were given special treatment during the hiring process.”

“Sir, I—”

“This decision is final,” Brenda retorts, tapping a red acrylic nail on the table with each word. “You have an hour and a half to clear any personal items from the premises before security escorts you out.”

She turns to Garrett and Ryan next, “We will have a discussion regarding Reyes’s role in this whole charade at a later time.”

The two executives stand and leave the room, leaving the rest of us in stunned silence. Silent tears stream down my face as Ryan and Sarge stand next. Sarge stops next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder, “We’ll work something out, Cadet. I’m not losing the best medical assistant I’ve ever had over this bullshit.”

Ryan grunts in agreement and adds, “Hell, I’ve known since before they even offered you the job, Élise. It was hard to tell at first but as soon as Reyes told me the name of the girl he met at the bar, I recognized you. I knew you’d interviewed and that you were the best candidate, and I kept my mouth shut. So, management is going to have one hell of a fight on this one. They’ll have to dole out punishment to a lot more than you two if they want this firing to stand.”

The two men each give me one last smile and nod before they leave, discussing plans as they go. “Garrett,” Mateo pleads, not taking his eyes off my tear-stained cheeks, “tell me that there’s something you can do.”

The man in question sighs, leaning back in his seat, “It depends on you two. I can set up a ‘tell all’ interview but you two need to figure out what you’ll tell everyone. Mateo, you should also know that a few sponsors have reached out with concerns over this recent news.”

Mateo doesn’t blink, just nods his understanding. “Set up the interview. Text me the details. We’ll figure the rest out.”

Chapter 56

Istare at Élise, waiting for her to look at me again, but her chin stays tucked to her chest as her shoulders tremble with her silent sobs. I feel useless as I wrap my arms around her, giving her a chest to cry into. I wish there was more I could do to help. “We’re going to figure this out, Chispita. I swear to you, we’ll figure it out.” I repeat the words like a mantra until her sobs turn into soft sniffles, and she pulls away.