“Yes.”
“Multiple sources tell us you’re dating Victor Lane, is it true?”
Craig gives me an incredulous look. I flush from head to toe.
“Um…I’m working right now,” I say.
“Oh, I know, I don’t need long. I’ve got footage of you working and just want some comment about how a woman working in Concessions became the girlfriend of a Blaze player. Did he order food from you?”
“No.”
“She gave him advice on hockey,” Ari says from behind me.
I give her a wide-eyed look of horror and she cringes.
“Sorry, was I not supposed to say anything?”
“Come on,” the female reporter urges. “I really want to tell this Cinderella story for our readers.”
“I’m working.” I give her a pleading look, just wanting her to go away. “I can’t talk now.”
“Okay, later? We can wait until after the game.”
“No, I--”
“What’s going on here?” Bruce interjects.
“She’s dating Victor Lane and we want to share this great story with our readers!” The woman offers her hand to Bruce for a shake. “Are you her boss? I’d love to interview you on camera, too.”
Bruce’s expression is a cross between shocked and annoyed.
“I’d love for you to get out of the way so my customers can order,” he says crossly. “Either order or get out of my line.”
“Lindy, are you in love with Victor?” the woman asks me, undeterred.
Bruce scowls at me. “Boring, I’m gonna have you work on stock in back so we can get this circus out of here.”
I’m out of there as fast as my feet will take me. I breathe out a sigh of relief when I get to the supply room, grateful to be out of the spotlight.
I never anticipated anything like this. Victor and I are in such a good place since he shared his past with me. We’re getting closer in every possible way. The last thing I want is publicity about him taking up with someone from concessions. I may not be super successful, but I’m offended by being labeled “Cinderella”.
I turn on the game, listening to it and watching as I combine supplies, break down boxes and organize. I do my own little silent celebration when the Blaze win 4-3 thanks to a last-minute goal by Luca.
To think Victor is so close by, celebrating with his team. All sweaty. There’s a fluttering sensation in my stomach as I imagine getting all sweaty with him. He’s transforming me from an ambivalent virgin to a bitch in heat.
Since he shared his deepest secret with me, I feel closer to Victor than I’ve ever been to anyone. I want to be his shelter when he’s hurting. His peace when life is chaotic. We started as friends, but what we have now is so much more.
Bruce comes into the storeroom, glaring at me, his clipboard under one arm.
“I can’t believe that you, of all people, would do this, Boring.” He shakes his head with disappointment.
“I had nothing to do with that. I didn’t know they were going to be here.”
He narrows his eyes. “Uh huh. Figured you could just keep your little secret forever, I guess?”
“It’s not a secret.”
“So you are, in face, dating Victor Lane?”
“I…yeah, I am. Why does that matter?”
“I can’t imagine how you pulled that off,” he grumbles, looking at his clipboard.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I think you know.”
I cross my arms. “I think I don’t.”
He looks up at me with an agitated expression. “Anyway, you’re suspended.”
“Suspended?” My mouth gapes open in shock.
The store room door starts to open and Bruce barks, “Not right now!”
The door closes and he turns back to me. “Fraternizing with other employees is against policy. It’s in the handbook.”
“Are you kidding me? I work in Concessions, not the front office.”
“I don’t make the rules, Boring, I just enforce them. I’ll cover your shifts, you don’t need to worry about that. I’m gonna file the necessary paperwork with HR and someone will be in touch.”
I drop into a chair, too stunned to speak.
“Obviously, this is an unpaid suspension,” Bruce says. He flips several pages on his clipboard. “I just need you to sign this form stating you understand the terms and conditions of your suspension.”
My head is swimming. I know this isn’t a great job or anything, but it’s my job. I never even imagined dating Victor could get me suspended and, apparently, fired.
Bruce sets the clipboard down in front of me. “If you’ll just sign here, and--”
“I’m not signing anything.”
He hikes his brows up in surprise. I’ve never said no to Bruce. In all the years I’ve worked here, I’ve been a diligent employee who put up with his bullshit. But not this time.
“I’ll need to ask you to leave the premises immediately, then.”
“Gladly.” I go to the break room, open my locker and get my handbag and coat, then walk out without another word.
My face is flaming, but this time it’s from anger, not embarrassment. That quickly changes, though, when a group of people, some holding video cameras, starts running toward me.