WRECKING THE CRUEL HOCKEY GOD

Chapter 2: The Hyde Mansion

"I've been calling your phone since seven this morning," Garrett says while rubbing the back of his neck. "You didn't pick up. I thought you were still asleep until I walked up to the building and saw Finn carrying that bag to his car."

I wipe the side of my face, looking at the door as if Finn might still walk back through it. But I know he won't.

"My phone was on silent, Garrett. Just stop avoiding my question and tell me what news you've got for me.”

He looks at me for a second, wearing a carefully quiet expression.

"Look, Mara... are you in the right headspace to hear this right now? You just got dumped in the worst way possible. If you need me to tell Mr. Zester you're sick, I will."

"I don't need a sick day, friend. My heart is ripped in half, not my ears. Just tell me what Zester wants."

Garrett leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Okay. Well. He doesn't want you in the office today. In fact, he gave us the rest of the day off to prepare."

"Prepare for what?" I ask, the impatience eating up my soul.

"An in-house tour," Garrett says, watching my face carefully. "A full month. Living at the new Gunner Wolves facility. The Hyde Mansion."

I stare at him. "The Hyde Mansion?"

"Yep."

"As in living in the same house? With Zykiel Gunner and his teammates?"

"Exactly."

"You and who exactly? Because if you say my name, Garrett, I swear to God I'm throwing my tripod at you."

"You and me, Mara," Garrett says quickly, holding his hands up. "Zester specifically picked you to head the media coverage for the whole month."

"Is the boss out of his mind? Tell him no. Call him this second and tell him I'm declining."

"Mara, listen to me…"

​"No, Garrett, you're not listening!"

​I walk straight up to him, clutching my hair in frustration. "Are you serious right now? That psychopath paid a man to fake a whole relationship with me for a year! He planned all of it just to break me, and you want me to go live under the same roof as him and his team? Absolutely f*****g not!”

"Mara, you’re not a weak-ass girl!" Garrett yells back, standing up from the bed. "You don't take bullshit from anyone, so if Zykiel does anything stupid during this tour, I'm gonna make sure we both sue him. I promise you!"

"Look at my rug, friend! Look at my ceiling! We don't have the money to sue Zykiel Gunner. I checked my account this morning and I have forty-two dollars. You have even less!"

"So stop dreaming about suing him if he does anything stupid. I'm just not doing it!"

"The pay is ten times our usual rate, Mara," Garrett pleads. "Plus a guaranteed promotion to senior editor when we get back. That is the exact raise you've been begging Zester for since February."

Garrett takes my hand and rubs it. "Think about it, Mara. After that blog post ruined him two years ago, Zykiel spent every single day rebuilding his whole reputation through his channel videos."

"He built the most wicked hockey team from his underground rink. His team is so terrifying it actually intimidates top-tier players. And now? Those same top players are slowly begging on their knees just to get a spot on his team."

“Think about what you're gaining just by being the one covering his first tour.”

Deep down, I know every single word Garrett said is true. And that’s the part that scares me to death.

Two years ago, I had the stupidest, most embarrassing crush on Zykiel Gunner.

I was so utterly obsessed with him that I'd stalk his profile and zoom in on his pictures to steal a kiss.

But all that crushing and hyper-focusing on him led me to a secret he was hiding. I couldn't just ignore it, because no matter who it is, I will always report the truth.

I wrote the article, and it made national headlines overnight, starting from my socials.

I just never thought things would take such a drastic, ugly turn. I never expected it to completely destroy his career and gain me a massive, trusted followers on my blog.

People aggressively burned his jersey in the streets. Companies snatched away every single endorsement deal he had.

His name became total trash in the hockey world within twenty-four hours.

I spent the last two years praying he wouldn't come for me, but after what Finn just did today, it’s clearly obvious he didn't forget a damn thing.

There’s just no way in hell I'm taking a gig that puts me anywhere close to that man.

"I know you're scared of him," Garrett says softly.

"I'm not scared of him!" I fire back, snapping my head up.

Garrett gives me ‘that’ look. He sees exactly what's going through my head.

"Mara, just think about it. If you decline this gig, Zykiel wins. He gets to know that throwing cash at Finn broke you so badly that you couldn't even show up to do your job."

"How am I supposed to walk into his house and act normal when I feel like s**t?"

Garrett slaps his hand against mine. "You hold your head up. You walk in there, you do the journalism, and you take that money. You show him that what he did with Finn didn't destroy you."

Before I can answer, my phone on the bedside table starts buzzing loudly.

The screen shows: MR. ZESTER.

I quickly pick it up. "Hello, Mr. Zester."

"Kensley! I assume Garrett gave you the news already?"

"He did, sir. And with all due respect, I really don't think I'm the right person for this assignment. Given my past history with Zykiel Gunner…"

"I don't give a damn about your history, Kensley. I need someone with an eye for gossip. The Gunner Wolves are the hottest story right now and this is the first time they're allowing an interview. It's an honor they chose our company."

"So you go in, you capture the exclusive in-house scoop, and you bring me five solid features by the end of the month. You hear me?"

"Mr. Zester, I don't think I can…"

"The company is paying you five grand for every week you spend there, Mara." He drops the words like they're supposed to shake me up, and they actually do.

Five thousand dollars weekly? That pays off my back rent, my credit card, and leaves enough for actual groceries.

"Why me?" I ask quietly. "You know what happened two years ago."

"That's exactly why I'm sending Garrett with you. He stays by your side, keeps you out of trouble, and makes sure Gunner doesn't throw you out on your ear. Their bus leaves at eight tomorrow morning. Don't be late!"

I slowly lower the phone from my ear and look over at Garrett.

"Five grand weekly? You're gonna be rich!" Garrett laughs. "Well... rich and heartbroken, but hey, I'm coming with you! You won't have to deal with that psycho alone."

“Where exactly did Zester get such amount of money to…”

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

A heavy, aggressive knock almost rattles my door to the floor. God I know it's Hargrove.

"MARA KENSLEY! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! THE TWENTIETH WAS YESTERDAY! WHERE IS MY RENT?"

My stomach flips with absolute dread. "Oh God!"

I look at Garrett, and he's staring down at the hundred-dollar notes scattered on my rug.

"Okay... so maybe we finally hug the cash on the floor?" Garrett suggests.