Chapter 18
653words
My life had imploded in forty-eight hours.
I sat in the office of Marcus Kane, the Glaciers' owner. Usually, Marcus offered me scotch and cigars. Today, he didn't even offer me a seat.
"You are a liability, Liam," Marcus said, tossing a newspaper onto his desk. The headline screamed: STERLING'S DECEPTION: THE TWO WIVES.
"It's a misunderstanding," I pleaded, my voice hoarse. "Elena is vindictive. She faked those emails. I can fix this, Marcus. Just let me play."
"Play?" Marcus laughed, a cold, barking sound. "The League has suspended you indefinitely pending the investigation. Nike dropped you. Gatorade dropped you. Even the local car dealership pulled your commercials."
He leaned forward. "And the worst part? You suck. Your knee is garbage. Without Elena keeping you together, you are a slow, limping liability with a PR problem."
"I need surgery," I said quickly. "I can get surgery."
"On whose dime?" Marcus sneered. "We are voiding your contract, Liam. Morality clause. Section 4, Paragraph 2. 'conduct detrimental to the team.' Bigamy and tax fraud cover that pretty well."
"You... you're firing me?"
"I'm erasing you," Marcus said. "Get your stuff. Security will escort you out."
I stood on the sidewalk outside the arena, holding a cardboard box with my jersey and a few trophies. It was raining.
My phone buzzed. A notification from my bank.
Alert: Joint Account Frozen due to pending litigation.
I had nothing. No team. No money. No fame.
And my knee... god, my knee felt like it was filled with broken glass.
I needed help. I needed someone to fix this.
Elena.
She was the only one who could stop the bleeding. If she issued a statement... if she said we had an open arrangement... if she treated my knee...
I hailed a cab. " The Four Seasons Hotel," I told the driver. That's where the Titans were staying.
I didn't think. I just reacted. I needed my wife back.
I limped into the hotel lobby, wet and pathetic. The receptionist looked at me with recognition, then disgust.
"I'm here to see Dr. Vance," I demanded, leaning on the desk. "Room number."
"Dr. Vance has a 'Do Not Disturb' order specifically for you, Mr. Sterling," the receptionist said coldly.
"She's my wife!" I shouted, slamming my hand on the desk. "Tell her I'm here! Tell her I'm sorry! Tell her I'll give her whatever she wants!"
"Sir, you need to leave."
"Elena!" I turned and screamed toward the elevators. "Elena! Come down here!"
Two massive security guards materialized out of nowhere. Titans security.
They didn't ask nicely. Each one grabbed an arm.
"Get off me!" I struggled, but my bad knee buckled. I fell to the marble floor.
The elevator doors opened.
Noah Blackwood walked out. He looked impeccable in a grey suit. Beside him was Elena.
She looked... holy. She was wearing a white coat over a Titans dress. She held a coffee cup. She looked at me on the floor, wet, broke, and broken, like I was a bug she didn't want to step on.
"Elena," I choked out, reaching a hand toward her. "Babe, please. They fired me. My knee... it's over. I need you. I'll leave Sophia. I promise. Just come back."
Elena paused. She looked at Noah.
"Do you hear something?" she asked him.
Noah smiled. "Just the trash being taken out."
Elena looked back at me. Her eyes were empty.
"You don't miss me, Liam," she said softly. "You miss your servant. But she resigned."
She turned her back.
"Throw him out," Noah commanded the guards.
They dragged me across the lobby. People were filming with their phones. I kicked and screamed, begging, humiliating myself.
They threw me onto the wet pavement outside. My cardboard box landed upside down in a puddle.
I lay there in the rain, staring at the revolving door that kept me out of her world.
I had lost.
