“Not outside.”
I pressed my lips together.
He followed up on his advantage, leaning forward until the gap behind us nearly closed. “Do you feel good about yourself, making mountains out of molehills? Costing these boys, this city, their future?”
I lifted my chin. “Why haven’t you cancelled the contract with Loft Athletics?”
He rocked slowly back. “You’re persistent.”
“When I care about people’s safety.” My gaze flickered past him, scanning the crowds for Abe. He stood against the wall, one amidst a circle of people, expressionless, eyes fixed on us.
Philip turned, as well, almost nonchalantly, hands tucked casually in his pockets. “Ah, the earnest Abraham Krasner. It’s his future you’re ruining, you know.”
The knot that had formed in my stomach as soon as Philip started speaking tightened. “Please don’t play games with me, Mr. Philip.”
He arched a brow. “Even though that’s what I do professionally?”
Game-masters never ended up in the healthiest positions. Not every berry contained antioxidants. “What I write shouldn’t affect him at all.”
Across the room, Abe turned to football socialite Lucinda Levine and leaned down so close that his lips brushed her cheek. My body, which had been numbed by cold, flushed hot.
Philip laughed. “Of course, maybe he’s moved on already. You’re not anyone’s favorite person right now, Ms. Rosenfeld.”
A movement alerted me to a new presence at my side. “Are you harassing my reporter, Philip?”
He smiled, and it looked slightly less like the awful mastermind expression he’d favored with. “Ah, Tanya. I’m thrilled.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Only when you’re making money or torturing souls.”
“And aren’t those your favorite entertainments too?”
She tossed him a disdainful look and steered me away. “Don’t listen to him,” she instructed in a low voice. “That man’s scum.”
Well, I hadn’t been going to say it, but yeah.
Abe was at my side in seconds, and I glared at him. “I told you to stay away.”
Tanya looked at him. “What are you doing here, Krasner?”
“Trying not to take a swing at the owner.” He tried to take my hand.
I took it away and frowned. “That’s like a fifty-thousand-dollar handhold.”
“I don’t care.”
Tanya shook her head. “You kids.” Then she frowned. “You get fined for talking to her? You two still together?”
“No,” I said quickly.
“Yes.” Abe remained staunch.
Tanya’s pencil-thin brows rose.
I shook my head. “No, you can’t print that. That’s not a story.”
“Come on. The Leopards trying to break up true love? People will eat that up like candy.”
“No, I don’t want to put Abe in the spotlight anymore.”