The Contract We Never Wanted

Chapter 4: Damage Control

Rowan Wolfe

Someone had made a mistake.

A very expensive mistake.

And they were about to regret it.

I stared at the article on Kieran's phone.

Every instinct I had screamed that this wasn't random.

This wasn't journalism.

This was an attack.

The same attack that had started five years ago.

Only this time, they weren't coming after me.

They were coming after Kieran.

The sight of his name dragged through the mud made something ugly twist inside my chest.

Anger.

Pure anger.

"Kieran."

He didn't answer.

His eyes remained fixed on the screen.

Another notification appeared.

Then another.

Then another.

The story was spreading faster than wildfire.

Within minutes, every sports outlet in the country would be talking about it.

"Kieran."

This time, he looked up.

His face was pale.

Not scared.

Furious.

Good.

Fear could break a person.

Anger kept them fighting.

"Tell me you didn't leak this."

The words came out sharper than intended.

His eyes widened.

Then narrowed.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

"You think I leaked a story accusing myself of fraud?"

Fair point.

"I had to ask."

"No, you didn't."

The hurt in his voice landed harder than any punch.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Because we both knew what he was really saying.

You believed lies about me once before.

Are you doing it again?

I looked away first.

Thirty minutes later, the emergency meeting began.

The Wolves' board members filled the conference room.

Lawyers.

Executives.

Sponsors.

People who only cared about numbers.

Not people.

Never people.

A giant screen displayed the headline.

HOCKEY CAPTAIN LINKED TO FRAUD INVESTIGATION

The room erupted into arguments.

"This is a disaster."

"Our sponsors are already calling."

"Who leaked the information?"

"We need damage control immediately."

I tuned most of it out.

Because my attention remained fixed on one thing.

Kieran.

He sat across from me.

Silent.

Watching.

Listening.

While strangers discussed his future like he wasn't even in the room.

His jaw remained clenched.

His shoulders rigid.

He hated this.

I couldn't blame him.

I hated it too.

One board member finally stood.

"We have one solution."

The room quieted.

I already knew what he was going to say.

"The marriage announcement."

There it was.

Kieran's head snapped up.

"No."

The answer came instantly.

The board member ignored him.

"If the public sees unity, stability returns."

"I'm not marrying anyone."

The executive sighed.

"As far as the public is concerned, you're already involved with Mr. Wolfe."

Kieran looked ready to commit a felony.

Honestly?

I understood.

The board member continued.

"A public engagement announcement would shift media attention."

"That's insane."

"It works."

"No."

"It works."

"No."

The argument continued for ten straight minutes.

Eventually everyone turned toward me.

Waiting.

Of course.

The final decision was mine.

The room fell silent.

I looked at Kieran.

He looked back.

The same fire.

The same stubbornness.

The same beautiful eyes that had ruined my life years ago.

And somehow still had the power to ruin it today.

"We'll do it."

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

The room erupted in approval.

Kieran looked ready to strangle me.

"Absolutely not."

The approval vanished.

I almost smiled.

Some things never changed.

"Kieran."

"No."

"We need—"

"No."

The room stared openly now.

Wonderful.

Exactly the professional image we needed.

The hockey captain stood.

"I'm leaving."

A board member immediately panicked.

"You can't."

"Watch me."

"Kieran."

This time it wasn't me.

Everyone turned.

An older man had entered the room.

Silver hair.

Expensive suit.

Cold eyes.

The moment Kieran saw him, all color drained from his face.

My stomach dropped.

Because I recognized him.

Richard Hayes.

Kieran's father.

The man who had never approved of our relationship.

The man who had hated me from the moment we met.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

"Kieran," Richard repeated.

His voice carried authority.

Control.

Power.

The kind fathers use when they're used to getting their way.

"We need to talk."

Kieran's expression hardened instantly.

"No."

Richard ignored him.

His gaze shifted toward me.

And something dangerous flashed behind his eyes.

Something calculating.

Something familiar.

A strange feeling crawled up my spine.

For the first time, a memory surfaced.

A memory from five years ago.

A phone call.

A warning.

A threat.

A voice telling me that Kieran wasn't who I thought he was.

My pulse quickened.

Because for the first time...

I realized I knew that voice.

And it belonged to the man standing in front of us.

To Be Continued...