Page 87 of Ice Devil

I’d use them wisely.

CHAPTER 19

Beck

“So you’re telling me you’re not having an affair with that reporter.”

Abbott Young of Creative Sporting Enterprises was a no-nonsense kind of man. You didn’t bullshit him and get away with it. I liked his straightforward attitude and take no shit from anyone manner of handling business. What I didn’t like was his attitude.

He truly believed his shit didn’t stink. However, as my agent, even though I’d come along as a package deal with Ford, he thought he owned me. Right now, the last thing I needed was his attitude.

“Those pictures are fake as shit.” They were. I knew a thing or two about AI. I wasn’t an idiot. What tripped me up was the fact we were involved.

“That’s not what I asked you.”

“We’re friendly. She did an in-depth interview, which you already know about. That’s it.”

Abbott’s heavy sigh was screaming that he didn’t believe me. Maybe because my tone wasn’t overly convincing. “Yeah, okay. Not that it should be any big deal, but given the circumstances and accusations involving cheating and aggressive violence, including from that asshole you decided to take out your anger on, I have some fires to put out. Quite frankly, I’m surprised the Cruisers’ owner didn’t file assault charges.”

“That’s bullshit. I tried to break up the fight.”

“Not according to a couple people involved.”

The picture of me supposedly beating Bronco to the point of him being unconscious was also horrific. Someone was out to get me and sadly, my mind continued to shift to Sloane every time. She’d been there standing near the fight. She could have taken that picture. I wasn’t certain what the hell to think at this point.

“Then they are lying. Ask any of the other players. I had nothing to do with Bronco’s injuries if he has any.”

The silence was a telling statement. He didn’t necessarily believe me.

“I’m going to take your word for it and I’ll go to bat for you and for Ford. However, the shit you’ve seen in the news isn’t going to die down quickly just because the Hellions are out of the playoffs.”

Tell me something I didn’t know. “I get it.”

“Then sit tight. I’ll get back to you.” Abbott also wasn’t a man for ceremony, ending the call because he was finished.

And I was furious. I held the phone to my head, squeezing until I caught myself. Purchasing a new iPhone wasn’t going to make anything better.

Right now, I needed to calm down and get back to work.

Boom!

“Jesus Christ.”

I lifted my head, chuckling in hearing Samantha’s exclamation. She was fanning her face while staring out the window at the dark, swirling clouds.

“If you hate storms so much, why do you pay attention to them?” I moved to the next desk, dropping underneath to connect the wires. New computers, new software. A lot of money spent that I was worried Pops didn’t have. However, I was here to help, which would save the company money. After this, I’d need to check on the upload with the new accounting software package.

It should be finished. Unless there were additional issues.

At least I’d been able to save my dad some heartache, time, and money. He was still recuperating from his heart attack and I’d found myself out of a job. Granted, I usually worked at the sawmill every summer, but this time, doing so felt bittersweet.

For a lot of reasons.

“Because it’s good to know if and when we’re going to die in a tornado.” The serious tone of her voice indicated she wasn’t kidding.

At least my sister was still capable of providing me with a laugh or two. No one else.

Another deeper rumble of thunder echoed in the office and she finally moved away from the window. “Are you almost finished? I have some payments to send out later today.”