Page 98 of Set Play

A round of scoffs and dismissive waves is my answer. Okay then. One is much more feminine than the rest and I peer around the guys to see a familiar head of blonde hair. “Gracie? What are you doing?”

“I’m not going back to working with Baxterd and Sarge by myself. I refuse. So, I’m joining the protest. Don’t you dare step foot in that room and pack a single item.”

Geoffrey, Brenda, and two security members, one of whom I recognize as Earl, choose that moment to round the corner toward the office. They all slow when they see the blockade. Earl gives me a regretful smile before ducking his gaze; he clearly isn’t excited about being forced into this.

“Really, Miss Clement? You couldn’t just leave with dignity?” Brenda sneers in my direction.

Surprisingly it’s Cillian who steps up first. “First off, Brenda,” he challenges, “Miss Clément still has thirty minutes before your deadline. Second, if you want her gone, I’m gone too.”

Gracie is next to step up. “And me. Do you have any idea how much testosterone I’m around all the time? Hell, I contemplated becoming a lesbian for a while there after being around these assholes all the time.”

Theo snorts into a fist at his sister’s dramatics, but I just smile at her. Who would’ve thought that bonding over Baxter’s misogyny would have led to such a great friendship?

“With the exception of the one game, Teo has played better this season than the previous two. The team is healthier, our injury rate is down, and honestly? Baby Hayes is a lot nicer on the massage table with Avispa around.” Lukas draws a few chuckles and some nods of agreement from the team before he steps toward the executives. “Half of us knew about them, including some of the staff. You gonna kick all of us out too?”

I look between the team, stunned tears filling my eyes. I didn’t do anything to deserve this kind of loyalty from them.

“She’s only here for the season anyway,” Mateo states. “Who cares how things started with us if we are serious now and, like Lukas said, your team is in the best health they’ve been in years?”

The executives stare down the team, Gracie, and me. No one moves an inch. Brenda’s nostrils flare and she opens her mouth, but Geoffrey’s voice cuts through the silence. Adjusting his tie, he drags his gaze through the crowd, stopping on me.

“This matter will be brought before the board. We will reach out to the parties concerned once a verdict is in place. In the meantime, Miss Clément’s belongings may stay put. However,” he turns his sharp gaze to the team and orders, “the rest of you will not skip practice or anything of that nature. Mateo has an excuse for today given his media obligations.” Without giving anyone a chance to respond, he turns in place and marches back toward his office with Brenda trailing behind him.

As thankful as I am for them leaving me be for now, his last words stoke a whole new panic inside me. Media obligations.

What the hell am I supposed to say that will make everything okay?

Shit. Is it too late to cancel?

I look up at Mateo who offers me a bright smile as he squeezes my hand. “Let’s go get media ready, gorgeous.”

But as I trail behind him, it feels more like he’s leading me to the guillotine.

Chapter 57

Élise

“Mic check!” A stagehand hollers while another hustles us onto the stage where our big interview is being hosted.

My knee bounces as the clock counts down toward the minute we go live. We’ve walked through everything twice already, but I can’t help but be nervous.

Am I sure I want to be in the spotlight like this? Am I sure he won’t change his mind a month from now?

Mateo’s hand settles over my knee, stilling it and my errant thoughts. I give him a thankful smile before I notice the figure now sitting across from us. Leonard Rivers, one of the most renowned league reporters, is even more imposing in person than he is on-screen. He nods to someone behind us and I hear someone start a ten second countdown.

“And 3…2…1…” The light on the camera turns red, just as Leonard turns toward it, giving his typical introduction.

“Today I’ve been given the exclusive chance to interview my next guests. Their relationship has been in the spotlight nearly from the start, but even more so now that it was revealed that they’ve been faking it all. Mateo Reyes and Élise Clément.”

The camera pans over to show the two of us, and we both give Leonard a polite smile. Just like we discussed, Mateo takes the reins. “Thanks for the opportunity to shed some light on our situation, Leonard. I’m just going to start with the truth. This relationship did start off fake, but it’s grown significantly since then. We both had our reasons for making the choice we did, and maybe it wasn’t the best one, but we can’t change that now.”

Leonard looks at me and I take a deep breath, preparing to tell the next part of the story. “As you all know, my brother has been Mateo’s biggest rival for many years. The pictures that emerged all those months ago, paired with their rivalry, spiraled into some extremely harmful articles being shared about both of us. I’ve never been one to love the limelight. I mean how many people even knew Henri had a sister?”

I pause for the “drama” of that question before proceeding, “Regardless of their issues, I knew that there was no way Mateo deserved to be slandered that way, so to clear his name and to hopefully kill the news around my own, I agreed to pretend to date him. His reasons involved more than just protecting his name, but also his legacy, as sponsors had dropped him simply for the allegations. This was the best and only path forward.”

Leonard nods, having heard all of this earlier when he asked us for a brief overview. “I see. And yet your brother is the reason the news of it being fake was brought to light. What do you have to say about that?”

He might as well have slapped me.