The Contract We Never Wanted

Chapter 6: Suspended

Kieran Hayes

"The league just suspended you."

The words didn't make sense.

Not at first.

My brain refused to process them.

Suspended?

Me?

"No."

Rowan's expression remained grim.

"It's official."

I laughed.

A short, disbelieving laugh.

Then I grabbed his phone.

The announcement was already online.

STAR CAPTAIN KIERAN HAYES SUSPENDED PENDING INVESTIGATION

My blood ran cold.

This wasn't a rumor anymore.

This wasn't gossip.

This was real.

My career had just taken a direct hit.

I read the statement twice.

Three times.

The words didn't change.

Temporary suspension.

Investigation ongoing.

Further action pending.

I couldn't breathe.

For years I had sacrificed everything for hockey.

Birthdays.

Relationships.

Vacations.

Sleep.

Everything.

And now someone was trying to take it away.

Again.

"Those bastards."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

Rowan watched me carefully.

Like he expected me to explode.

Honestly?

I was close.

Very close.

"What happens now?"

My voice sounded hollow.

"The investigation continues."

I slammed the phone onto the desk.

"That's not what I asked."

The billionaire's jaw tightened.

For several seconds neither of us spoke.

Then—

"The media will tear you apart."

I looked away.

Because he was right.

The media loved heroes.

But they loved fallen heroes even more.

By evening, every sports channel was talking about me.

I sat alone in my apartment.

Watching my career burn in real time.

"Kieran Hayes has denied all allegations."

"The suspension raises serious questions."

"Will the Wolves remove him as captain?"

"Sources suggest more evidence may be released soon."

I switched the television off.

Silence filled the room.

For once, I welcomed it.

My phone buzzed continuously.

Friends.

Teammates.

Reporters.

Unknown numbers.

I ignored them all.

Every single one.

Then the doorbell rang.

I frowned.

Nobody should be here.

Especially not tonight.

The bell rang again.

Longer this time.

More impatient.

With a sigh, I opened the door.

And immediately regretted it.

Rowan Wolfe stood outside.

Looking annoyingly handsome.

As always.

Dark coat.

Dark hair.

Cold gray eyes.

The city's lights reflected behind him.

For one ridiculous second, my stupid heart remembered exactly why I'd fallen in love with him.

Then common sense returned.

"What are you doing here?"

He looked past me.

Into the apartment.

"You live like this?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"What does that mean?"

"It means your apartment is depressing."

I blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"It looks like a prison."

My jaw dropped.

The billionaire walked inside without permission.

The audacity.

The absolute audacity.

"Get out."

"No."

"Rowan."

"No."

I closed the door harder than necessary.

"Why are you here?"

He looked at me.

Really looked at me.

And suddenly the teasing vanished.

The room felt heavier.

More serious.

More dangerous.

"You're not staying here."

I stared at him.

"What?"

"The media already knows your address."

My stomach dropped.

Damn it.

I hadn't considered that.

"Reporters will be outside by morning."

He was right.

Again.

I hated that.

"I'll manage."

"No."

"Stop saying no."

"No."

I glared.

He glared back.

Some things truly never changed.

Then Rowan reached into his coat pocket.

And pulled out the marriage contract.

My eyes widened.

"You brought that with you?"

"Yes."

"You're unbelievable."

"So I've been told."

I groaned.

This man was impossible.

Completely impossible.

He placed the contract on the kitchen counter.

Then looked directly at me.

"The board approved it."

I froze.

"What?"

"The engagement announcement."

My pulse accelerated.

No.

Absolutely not.

No chance.

No way.

Not happening.

"You didn't."

"I did."

"Without asking me?"

His eyebrow lifted.

"You already said no."

"Exactly!"

His expression remained calm.

Infuriatingly calm.

"The situation has changed."

I laughed bitterly.

"Because my life is falling apart?"

His eyes softened.

Just slightly.

And somehow that made everything worse.

Because it reminded me of the Rowan I used to know.

The Rowan I used to love.

"The opposite."

I frowned.

"What?"

His gaze held mine.

Steady.

Intense.

Dangerous.

"Because someone is targeting us both."

The room fell silent.

Us.

Not me.

Not him.

Us.

The word settled somewhere deep inside my chest.

A place I hadn't allowed myself to visit in years.

I hated that it still mattered.

"You think this will protect us?"

"No."

The answer surprised me.

"What?"

Rowan moved closer.

Not touching.

Never touching.

Just close enough to make my heart misbehave.

"I think it will draw them out."

My breath caught.

And suddenly I understood.

The fake engagement wasn't just damage control.

It was bait.

A trap.

Whoever was behind everything wouldn't stay quiet if Rowan and I publicly reunited.

They would react.

They would make mistakes.

And Rowan intended to catch them.

The realization sent a chill down my spine.

"You've been planning this."

"Yes."

"For how long?"

A brief silence.

Then—

"Since the moment I saw you walk into my office."

My pulse stumbled.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

Much warmer.

Dangerously warmer.

For one second, neither of us looked away.

And for the first time in five years...

I felt the pull between us again.

The attraction.

The history.

The unfinished feelings.

The problem was...

I wasn't sure either of us had ever stopped feeling them.

Then Rowan's phone rang.

The moment shattered instantly.

He answered.

Listened.

And went completely still.

A terrible feeling settled in my stomach.

"Rowan?"

He slowly lowered the phone.

His face had gone pale.

"What happened?"

His eyes locked onto mine.

And for the first time that day...

I saw fear.

Real fear.

"The person who leaked the story..."

My heart pounded.

"What about them?"

Rowan swallowed.

Then said the last thing I expected to hear.

"They just sent us a message."

To Be Continued...