Page 210 of Just for the Cameras
“You know, I think I should just talk to Graydon alone,” Gretchen says.
“I would prefer to hear what he has to say and how he plans on handling this breakup.”
“Breakup?” I shout, looking at my dad, who had the audacity to evenmention such a stupid thing. “Where the fuck did you come up with that?”
“Graydon, you can have your fun with her, but we all know where this is headed and it’s why we’re getting in front of the crisis beforehand, coming up with an action plan. Gretchen already secured a breakup relationship NDA with Maple today—”
“What?” I stand, my heart pounding. “What the hell did you have her sign?”
Did she say she would break up with me?
Panic ensues because I know Maple. I know that she would just give in to make things easier. And I’ll be damned if she just signed away her rights to be with me.
I slam my fist on the desk. “What the fuck did you make her sign?”
Gretchen calmly says, “Just a document that says she will not comment on your relationship when it inevitably falls apart.”
“Inevitably?” I ask.
“We have to cover our bases, Graydon. And you haven’t had a serious relationship since, well…since you’ve been in the public eye.”
“Did it ever occur to you it’s because I haven’t found the right person?” I tug on my hair. “Jesus, fuck, what did you do? Just go to her work, corner her, and scare the shit out of her so she’d sign some bullshit NDA?” My eyes fall on Gretchen. “I would expect that from them, but you, Gretchen? I expected a little more from you.”
I need to get the hell out of here and go see Maple.
Turning away from them, I head toward the door, but my dad steps in the way, blocking my exit.
“Move,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Graydon, it’s important to hear them out. You’ve made a lot of progress and have brought the team forward in popularity. We don’t want to see that all go to waste.”
A sneer on my face, I look my dad in the eyes and say, “Because that’sall that matters, right? The public perception? That’s all you’ve ever cared about. You never even thought about visiting Mom in her care facility because it didn’t fit the image you were trying to create for yourself.”
His eyes widen just as I push him to the side.
“Get the fuck out of my way.”
I open the door and take off, fury firing off my shoulders as I make my way down the hallway. Heels clack against the cement floor behind me, but I don’t bother to pause. I have one thing on my mind, and that’s getting to Maple and making sure everything is okay. Making sure she’s okay.
I can’t believe they—
“Graydon, wait,” Gretchen says, pulling on my shoulder.
I turn to face her, blistering her with the anger in my eyes. “What?” I shout.
And for the first time since I’ve met this woman, I actually see a hint of fear crossing her features before she adjusts and straightens. “This is all to protect you.”
“I don’t give a fuck about protecting myself. I care about protecting Maple. She didn’t ask for this, for any of this, and yet…”
“She did when she signed onto the PR relationship.”
“Out of force. Out of the hope of bringing awareness to an animal she loves. Her motives were selfless, yet the Foghorns keep asking so much of her. And now this, a fucking breakup NDA? Jesus Christ, Gretchen, you’re not even giving this relationship a chance to succeed before you’re calling it dead.”
“We have to be prepared, Graydon.”
“If you want to be prepared, then figure out a way my girl can come to the games and be safe. Find her a seat up front with Scarlett, Hutton’s wife. Get her a goddamn jersey of mine, treat her like a queen, and give her a positive experience that she can lock away about the Foghorns rather than making her sign some disgusting contract about us breaking up.” I move close to Gretchen, and in a threatening tone, I add, “Because I cantell you right now, I have no intentions of breaking up with Maple. In fact, I see her as the endgame, so figure out how to deal with that and protect her. Not me. Got it?”
She swallows and then nods. “Of course.”
