All In_ Paying to Play(33)

"No. Not for touching you." His words hangs in the air and the sympathetic look on his face makes my heart race.

"So-so who did he touch?" I make myself ask the question.

"I'm sorry, Addison. I know you've grown...fond of the man for some unknown reason. But I warned you this would happen."

He didn't answer my question, so I ask it again. My throat burns with unshed tears as I wait for his response.

"My assistant Holly."

All the air rushes out of my lungs. Holly. Thank God, it's just her. "So what?" I ask. "That was weeks ago, before we had an agreement-"

"It was yesterday," he interrupts.

"Yesterday!" I exclaim. Yesterday? The day we woke up in bed together and he had to have me before I left for work? Yesterday when he was waiting for me in bed when I got home? My stomach does a shaky cartwheel and I suddenly feel sick, knowing that he was with another woman and then came home and fucked me. How could he? I thought he actually gave a shit about me. Actually I was almost certain he did in his strange macho way. Maybe...maybe this is all a mistake. She could be lying. I need to confront him, ask him point blank to hear his side of it.

"And you just believe her? How do you know she's telling the truth?" I ask, trying to give Jake the benefit of doubt.

"There's a video of them in the conference room." His words puncture deep into my chest before slicing it wide open. "Do you want to see it?"

See the man I've been with? The one I can't get enough of? Can’t stop thinking about with another woman? I choke out a sound of disbelief and try to blink the moisture in my eyes away. "No, I don't want to see it."

"I'm sorry he hurt you. But don't worry. He's going to get what's coming to him. I have an appointment with Jerry in the morning. He's finished."

"What? No, dad. You can't do that to him," I say in a panic, surprising myself. At the moment I absolutely hate him, but football is everything to him. His parents...losing his contract would destroy him. Even if he is an asshole I don't want to do that to him.

"He was under strict orders and he broke them."

"Please don't," I beg.

My dad crosses his arms over his chest. "I don't have a choice-"

"Yes you do!"

"Fine," he mutters after several seconds of silence. "We'll terminate his contract with you and I'll give him one last warning."

I nod my agreement. "Okay. Thank you."

"I'll make sure your compensation is deposited into your account by the end of the week."

"Compensation?" I ask in confusion.

"The one-hundred thousand dollars as agreed upon."

I shake my head before I can respond. "No, I don't want it. I don't want a penny from him," I say before I leave the office in tears.





Chapter Seventeen


Jake

Practice today was brutal, but thinking about seeing Addy when I get home perks me up. And remembering this morning...I sure as shit could get used to waking up with her underneath me, her nails clawing my back as I thrust deep inside her.

My smile that’s been a permanent fixture on my face all day slips when I see him waiting for me. Fucking Satan.

"What do you want?" I ask with an annoyed huff when I come to a stop in front of the smarmy lawyer.

"I warned you to keep your hands off of her," he answers with narrowed eyes. Eyes the same whisky color as Addy’s.

"Last I checked she's a grown-ass woman who can make her own damn decisions about who puts their hands on her," I respond through clenched teeth.

"Stay away from her or I'm ending your career in the NFL."

It takes all of the self-restraint I have, every last ounce, to not pound this man's head in with the helmet I'm gripping to death in my fist.

"Fuck you," I snarl because I'm not buying his bullshit. He may not like me with Addy, but I could care less. After I walk past him he hurls his last threat at me.

"If that's your decision, then I'm meeting with Jerry tomorrow morning to show him the videos. You're done, and for what exactly? Addison already said she can't wait for it to be over. She just wants you to pay her as agreed.”

“You’re lying,” I respond immediately. After the last few days…Addy wouldn’t just up and leave me. Would she?

“Why do you think she agreed to do this? For the money. It’s the only reason. She's going to use the hundred grand to open her own clinic.”

No. That’s impossible. She wouldn’t. I need to call her, to go home and see her. Maybe she can tell her dad to fuck off.

I rush to the locker room and change, not even bothering to waste the five minutes it takes for a shower. As soon as I’m in my car I try to call Addy but it keeps going to voicemail. She’s probably just busy or left her phone in her purse.