Chapter 17: Three Things

Lena's POV

By the time the owner's assistant came for me, my mother had put her own cardigan over the green silk.

She had found me sneakers, too.

"Walk in like you're collecting a package," she said.

"What does that mean?"

"It means nobody in that room is doing you a favor."

The owner's box was on the fourth floor.

A wall of glass looked down on the ice, where a crew was rolling up the red carpet.

Travis stood in the middle of the room with his jacket off and his tie pulled loose.

"She doesn't know what she's saying," he was telling the owner. "She's fainted. She's sixteen weeks along. Anyone would say anything."

"She said it on a live microphone," the owner replied. "Anyone would not."

Nate stood at the window with his arms crossed. He glanced at me when I came in, and for a moment the whole room felt smaller.

I did not look at his mouth.

I looked at the owner, a small straight-backed woman with white hair.

"Mrs. Holloway," she said. "Sit, please."

"I'll stand."

"Then we will be the two people here who are comfortable standing."

Travis turned.

"Lee. Thank God. Tell her this is a misunderstanding."

"It isn't."

He stared.

The owner folded her hands.

"I have a sponsor who has been watching my franchise for a week."

She held up a second finger.

"I have a general manager who altered a trade list at a player's request."