Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

“The charity ball? You're still upset about that?” Mr. Hayes looked over at her, his mouth agape. He stared at her as if she had grown a second head. "I can't believe you'd stoop to this level. I didn't think you'd be jealous, especially after how much fun you were last night, but apparently you are."

"I'm not jealous!" she practically screamed. It sounded untrue, even to her. "I’m actually concerned for your well-being. I just don't want you to go with her to the ball. I don't trust her," Jenna responded.

His patronizing tone grated on her. If only Mr. Hayes knew about Tracy's dream connections, he wouldn't dismiss her so lightly. Then again, he'd probably dump her immediately. There wasn't a good way to tell him how she knew. She wished he would just trust her on this.

"Tracy, I didn't want to bring this up until later, but I am going to the charity ball with Jenna. It's already been arranged," he said, having the decency to look at least slightly embarrassed.

"WHAT!? No! You can't go with her!" Tracy nearly screamed. It took all of her willpower not to completely lose her cool. There was no way that she could allow this. Jenna was going to kill him.

"I'm sorry, Tracy. Jenna's father insisted. I owe too much to that man not to do this," he said.

She decided to use the one phrase she knew had worked before. "Going to the ball with Jenna would displease me greatly and I know how much you want to please me," Tracy tried desperately to hold onto her composure. She hoped this tactic would work again.

"Tracy, this has already been arranged. I can't change it now. I am going to the ball with Jenna whether it pleases you or not. Please, don't let your jealousy ruin this for both of us," Mr. Hayes said, using his authoritarian billionaire voice. It made Tracy's blood boil.

"I don't want you to go with her. You can't. Bring anyone else. Anyone. I know you have a book full of beautiful bimbos who would do anything to be seen with you. Bring one of them. Anyone but her," Tracy pleaded.

"No, Tracy,” Mr. Hayes said coldly. “I am going with Jenna."

"She is going to kill you," Tracy enunciated every word as carefully as she could.

"Jenna is not going to kill me. You’re just jealous and had a bad dream. Don't make wild claims you can't support." Mr. Hayes took a quick look over at her, as if to make sure she was okay. "This isn't like you, Tracy," Mr. Hayes said, and Tracy couldn't tell if it was concern or anger starting to creep into his voice.

"You aren't listening to me at all. I just told you that I think Jenna is going to murder you, and you shrug it off and tell me you’re going to go to the social event of the year with her. You know what? You can just drop me off here," Tracy replied angrily. This wasn't how she had envisioned the day going.

"I am not dropping you off h

ere. Your apartment’s only a few blocks from here." Mr. Hayes rolled his eyes. Tracy gave serious thought to hitting him.

"Fine. Just know that I am incredibly displeased," Tracy growled and slammed her body into the back of her seat. She refused to look at him or answer him after that, staring out the window until he pulled up at her apartment.

As soon as the car stopped, she unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out of the car.

"I'll have the paperwork for the restaurant drawn up. Do you want to talk about it over dinner?" he called out hopefully after her. She didn't say a word to him as she slammed the door shut and headed up to the front door.

Chapter 14

"Who does that!?" Tracy yelled at the empty apartment. She wasn't sure if she was referencing herself or Mr. Hayes. She flung her shoes on the floor near the door, feeling a perverse satisfaction at the way they banged the floor. He had paid for this apartment, not her. The scuff didn't bother her at all. She knew in the back of her mind that she would regret it later, but for the moment it felt like a small way to get back at him.

She pulled the dress over her head and threw it on the floor. She went in the bathroom and slammed the dials until hot water came out. She wanted to break everything she touched just to get the frustration out of her system. She stepped into the steaming water and let it wash over her.

Hot tears poured out, her frustration and pain finally releasing in the hot water. How could he do this to her? She screamed at the water, wanting to know why he would choose to hurt her like that. He knew that Jenna sparked a small jealousy in her, but to keep throwing it in her face was just mean. She had given him his greatest desire: a threesome, with a girl he had lusted after for a long time, and yet he refused to listen to her.

Slowly, the pain started to recede, leaving Tracy feeling hollow and worn out. I should just let him go with her. Won't he be surprised when he's dead, she thought to herself. The lack of warmth in the thought surprised her. Why do I have to do anything anyway? Her mind asked her coldly.

The question made her stop. Why did she care what happened to him? She had gotten everything she wanted out of him already. She had her bills paid, the apartment was in her name and completely paid for, the restaurant was days away from being transferred into her name, and she had enough extra funds to pay for everything she could possibly want. She didn't need him anymore.

Tracy ran a handful of shampoo through her hair. She didn't need him anymore, but she didn't want to lose him. The idea that he could choose someone else over her suddenly made her grow cold. Their relationship had started out as a business transaction, but she was feeling an odd amount of tension over losing him if that was all it was. It wasn't just the idea of Jenna poisoning him, it was the fact that Jenna was stealing him away from her. She leaned back and rinsed the soap out of her hair, trying to process her emotions.

Sudden understanding hit her hard and she nearly went to her knees. I think I love him, Tracy realized. She wiped the water out of her eyes. Maybe she did love him. Despite her best efforts to stay distant and aloof, she had finally fallen for him. The idea that he would chose Jenna over her cut deeper than she thought possible. He was supposed to trust her. He was supposed to want only her. Tracy had been taking his desire to please her for granted, and now that it was in danger of being taken away, she realized how much she needed him.

"I have to do something," she whispered into the water. A need to do something, to save him suddenly filled her. She was not going to let a pampered little rich girl steal her man, and she definitely wasn't going to let her kill him. Jenna turned off the shower and grabbed her towel. She picked up her phone and dialed Mr. Hayes' secretary.

"Hi, Ms. Wolf. What time is my dress fitting for the Ball?"

Tracy opened her car door. The valet waited while she put her high heels on, managing to look disinterested at the beautiful cherry red sports car Mr. Hayes had given her. She buckled the last strap and tucked the pair of flats she'd worn for driving under the seat. No way she would have driven her car up these windy mountain roads in heels – she might never have made it. She stood up and smoothed her off-white satin gown, then handed the keys to the valet.

She looked at the structure in front of her. At the top of a long and windy road, the mountain chalet was gorgeous. The view from the balcony would be spectacular, she knew. This far out of town, she might even be able to see stars tonight. It was the perfect fairy tale place to hold a ball.