He’s wearing a collared shirt and a pair of casual dress pants, and he’s clipped a hospital security badge to his belt. He looks calm, composed, and completely unbothered by the crisis unfolding around him.
My mood sours further.
Coach excuses himself, and he and Banks speak briefly, their voices too low for me to hear. When they’re done, Banks steps into the hallway, pulling out his phone.
I excuse myself from Frank and follow.
The hallway is quieter, but that just makes it more unnerving. Banks is typing something on his phone, his back to me.
“Did Ollie come see you?” I demand.
He doesn’t even look up. “I think you’re forgetting your place, Ms. Washington. I don’t report to you, and I certainly don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“No, but you had an ethical responsibility to Ollie Davis, and now he’s laid up in that ER and he might never play hockey again.” My voice rises despite my best efforts to keep it level. “Because what? You had a tee time at the club?”
Banks finally looks at me, his expression cold. “I told him to make an appointment, just like everyone else. Whatever he did after is on him, not me.”
My stomach drops. “So hedidcome to see you. He came to you for help and you turned him away?”
“He didn’t have an appointment.”
“But I told you he was in distress. You knew—”
His jaw hardens, as if he’s just realized his mistake. “You’re way out of line, Ms. Washington, and I will not tolerate this combative, insubordinate behavior any longer. Consider yourself fired.”
The words hit me like a slap.
“You don’t have the authority to terminate my contract,” I say, voice wavering.
“As a matter of fact, I do. I’ll be talking to Jonathan about it first thing Monday morning. You’re done here.”
“You can’t do this. This isn’t my fault. I warned you. I told you to have Ollie benched, but you didn’t listen.” I may nothave enough on Banks to make a formal complaint to the state medical board, but that doesn’t mean I can’t warn the Gliders GM. “I don’t care if Jonathan Towers is your friend, he deserves to know you’re a snake and that you absolutely do not have his players’ best interests in mind.”
Banks steps closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Ms. Washington. I suggest you accept your termination with grace and move on. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to disclose that you are in breach of contract, and that you’ve violated the fraternization policy for personal gain.”
Blood rushes to my head, and the floor tilts under my feet. “Excuse me?”
“Do you really need me to spell it out? Your relationship with Knox St. James is a direct violation of your contract.”
How could he possibly know about Knox and me? I haven’t told anyone. And we’ve been so careful.
Obviously not…
“I saw you two canoodling in the parking lot a few weeks ago,” Banks continues, his tone almost conversational. “You probably thought no one was watching, but the thing about living in a city is that someone is always watching.”
Of course. The kiss in the parking lot was a brief moment of weakness. Knox was leaving for an away game, and we got carried away.
Stupid. So freaking stupid.
“You knew?” My voice comes out strangled. “And you didn’t say anything?”
“A wise move, as it turns out.” He sniffs. “Walk away quietly, and your little indiscretion goes no further. But if you make trouble for me, I’ll bury you. Jonathan won’t be the only one hearing about your professional conduct—or lack thereof. I’ll make sure every team in this city knowsexactlywhat kindof coaching services you offer. You’ll never work in this town again.”
It really would be that easy.
I don’t have any connections here, and as a woman in a male-dominated field, I already have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. Rumors of sexual misconduct would kill any chance I have of landing another pro contract.
He’s bluffing.