Mac bit back a smart retort. It wasn’t her fucking fault Veronica was running late.
Veronica ushered her into her swanky office with a view of Lake Washington and pointed at a chair. “Sit down.”
Mac sat and waited for the interview to begin. And waited. And waited. Five minutes of uncomfortable silence passed while Veronica stared at her computer screen. Maybe she was looking at Mac’s scholarship application, but Mac doubted it. Seething inside, she longed to retaliate for every little insult and slight Veronica had heaved on her over the past few years, but Mac wanted that damn scholarship.
Veronica was once again wielding her power like a narcissistic dictator.
Finally, the woman sat back and speared Mac with a gaze that said she saw everything and didn’t like what she saw. “I do have an issue with staff fraternizing with players.”
Mac squared her shoulders and sat up straighter. She returned Veronica’s accusatory gaze with one of her own. “I’m here to be interviewed for a scholarship. My personal life is none of your business.”
Veronica arched one perfectly shaped black eyebrow. “Everything that happens between my players and staff is my business.”
Damn hard, but Mac bit down on the words, leaving them unspoken. She’d like to see Veronica mow perfectly straight lines regardless of the weather. “Could we start the interview? As you pointed out, you’re running late.”
Veronica nodded. “Fine. Why should I give you this scholarship?”
Mac ran through her rehearsed answers, while Veronica stared at her computer screen, yawned, and then picked up her phone and tapped out a couple text messages.
Mac stopped talking. The woman had already made her decision. It didn’t matter what Mac said or how qualified she was for the scholarship, Veronica had made her choice, and it wasn’t Mac.
“Are you going to devote time to finish your education? You quit once.”
“There were extenuating circumstances.”
“And are those circumstances gone now?”
“Not exactly.” The last nail hit the scholarship coffin.
“Okay, that’s all. We’ll be in touch.” Veronica stood, effectively dismissing Mac. “Oh, and one more thing: be careful with Bruiser. He’s not serious.”
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Simms.”
“Don’t forget what I said.”
Mac bit back a smart retort and escaped with her hope in shreds.
At least she still had her job.
* * * * *
“You need to lose her, and fast.”
Bruiser glanced up from the weight machine he’d been battling. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and squinted into the bright overhead lights at Veronica. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Get rid of Mac.” Veronica stood a few feet from him, legs braced apart and hands on her hips, her typical fighting stance.
“Since when do you pick my friends?” Bruiser ignored her concern. Veronica didn’t worry him one bit.
“She’s not a friend. You’re screwing that woman.”
“Who I choose to spend time with is none of your fucking business.”
“I built you, mister. Don’t you forget it. I’ve been with you every step of the way, getting you great endorsements, helping you with your charity work, and asking nothing in return.”
Bruiser laughed. Veronica never did anything that did not benefit her or the team. “I can smell your bullshit a mile away. Our relationship has been mutually beneficial. I use you, you use me. Business partners and nothing else.”
“As your business partner, I don’t like the message you’re sending to your sponsors and your fans if this gets out. Not to mention you shouldn’t be banging the staff.”
“Since I have no power over Mac and her employment here, I can’t see where that’s a problem.” A muscle twitched in his jaw, and judging by Veronica’s shrewd smirk, she noticed.
“Until she sues the team’s ass off or someone else does claiming she’s getting special privileges.”
“Who would do that?”
Veronica stared at him as if he were a dumb shit. “Seriously? Anyone who’s passed over for a promotion in favor of Mac.”
“And anyone who’s applied for the same scholarship.”
“There you go; I always knew you were more than a pretty face.”
Bruiser almost growled, but Veronica threw back her head and laughed, or more accurately cackled like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz.
“So, pretty boy, you understand the problem?” Veronica rarely called him that. She knew how much he hated it, which said a lot, and none of it good.
“There is no problem. Mac and I are just friends. I took her to a few charity events so she could get close to you, that’s all.”
“Yeah, and you salivated over her like a dog over US prime beef. Bruce, you’re naïve if you think anyone with eyes hasn’t picked up on the sexual electricity arcing between the two of you.”
“Arcing? Seriously?” He laughed.
“Deadly serious. Think about it.” Veronica patted him on the shoulder as if he were a pet. Maybe that’s all he was to her, a pet who performed tricks for a well-paying audience.
He understood Veronica—usually. Veronica breathed every breath for the team; her entire existence revolved around the team. Team members and staff alike despised Veronica. While Bruiser didn’t exactly approve of her methods at times, he understood her dedication to the Steelheads. He felt that same dedication to his cause.
People never guessed that underneath Bruiser’s polished exterior lurked the sharp mind of a savvy businessman, Veronica knew. She also knew he had an MBA in finance.
People accused him of being greedy and money hungry, but Bruiser knew his good looks wouldn’t last forever so he had to milk every penny possible out of them while he was still marketable. Of course, no one suspected all those pennies didn’t go in Bruiser’s private bank account but to his secret charity. A charity he started and supported as atonement for his tragic childhood mistake.
Lots of people assumed he’d had a long-standing affair with Veronica, yet they’d actually never slept together. Bruiser just didn’t feel it with her any more than she felt it with him.
Nothing like Mac and him.
Mac. What the hell was he going to
