49: I’m not like her!

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• Let Me Go, Boss!   78: just business

  Riley’s povI’d never felt so many things at once—numb and exposed, hurt and furious. I sat in the velvet booth with my back straight and my hands clenched, waiting for the man who’d kissed me like I mattered to him… and then thrown me away like I didn’t.The air in the restaurant was warm, almost stuffy. Or maybe it was just my chest tightening as I thought of Jax.I caught Caleb’s reflection in the water glass, he was checking his phone, then scanning the doorway. “He said he’s five minutes away,” he offered.I didn’t respond. Just nodded like it didn’t matter to me, but honestly, it did. The last time I saw Jax Maddox, he was looking at me like I was a stranger. Like I didn’t mean anything at all, like he hadn’t taken me and kissed me like the world was about to end. It’s funny that now, I was nothing but a PR move.Maybe I shouldn’t have come.The door opened and Jax stepped in. I felt my throat tighten as he walked.God, he looked… handsome. And I hated that I noticed. He wore

• Let Me Go, Boss!   77: Not sorry

  Riley’s povI’d never felt so many things at once—numb and exposed, hurt and furious. I sat in the velvet booth with my back straight and my hands clenched, waiting for the man who’d kissed me like I mattered to him… and then thrown me away like I didn’t.The air in the restaurant was warm, almost stuffy. Or maybe it was just my chest tightening as I thought of Jax.I caught Caleb’s reflection in the water glass, he was checking his phone, then scanning the doorway. “He said he’s five minutes away,” he offered.I didn’t respond. Just nodded like it didn’t matter to me, but honestly, it did. The last time I saw Jax Maddox, he was looking at me like I was a stranger. Like I didn’t mean anything at all, like he hadn’t taken me and kissed me like the world was about to end. It’s funny that now, I was nothing but a PR move.Maybe I shouldn’t have come.The door opened and Jax stepped in. I felt my throat tighten as he walked.God, he looked… handsome. And I hated that I noticed. He wore

• Let Me Go, Boss!   76: Fake Girl

  Riley’s PovA knock came in just after I had forced myself to eat some silly food. The leftovers still sat on the coffee table: half-picked noodles, a glass of water, and the same flickering muted news channel that had been buzzing in the background all day.I stared at the door and another two soft knocks rang from behind it. My stomach sank. Please no more reporters. Not another neighbor with questions they were too polite to keep to themselves.I approached the door slowly and looked through the peephole.Caleb.I sighed out in relief. At least, this I could deal with. I opened the door partway. “What do you want?” I asked, placing my hand on my waist. He smiled a bit, “Can I at least come in?”I didn’t move, I just stared at him. “I’m not here to fight,” he said, holding up a folder like it was supposed to be a proof of peace. “Just here to talk. Give me five minutes.”I stepped aside without a word.He walked in like he’d been here before. Like the space didn’t feel too small

• Let Me Go, Boss!   75: Distractions

  Caleb’s POVThe hum of multiple screens bathed my office in a cold, ghost-blue glow. Tweets flew across one monitor. Emails pinged like gnats. My phone was buzzing again—probably another alert about the goddamn video.#Scandal.#JaxMaddoxExposed.#UndergroundKing.I exhaled through my nose and rubbed my temples. “They’re vultures.”On one screen, a gossip blog was running a blurry clip of Jax firing Riley. No audio, just a shaky video taken by one of the interns probably. Riley’s face—shocked. Jax’s expression—cold. Ruthless.On another screen: forums dissecting old footage of Jax playing tennis in some low-lit, shady underground gym. Conspiracy theories, think-pieces, timelines—people digging like their rent depended on it.I clicked over to my inbox. Journalists circling like sharks. A few asking for comment. Some demanding answers.This wasn’t just a PR

• Let Me Go, Boss!   74: illegal

  Jax’s povI was halfway through a video call with the sponsorship team when the door burst open.“I’ll call you back,” I said, cutting the Zoom without waiting for their reply.Caleb tossed his tablet onto my desk, screen up. “You’ve seen this?”I leaned over, frowning.The headline wasn’t from a major outlet—yet. But the blood in my chest ran cold anyway:“Underground Tennis Circuit: Which Prodigies Risked It All for Money?”The site was nothing more than a glorified blog, but the story had over twelve thousand shares. Reddit had picked it up. X too. People were talking. Which meant a bigger outlet would be sniffing around soon.“They haven’t named names,” Caleb said. “Yet.”I leaned back, the leather chair groaning under the weight of my tension. “Why the hell are they even digging this up?”“Apparently, someone’s talking. One of the old players, maybe. Or a coach. It’s all anonymous right now, but the timeline lines up with you. Everyone’s speculating already.”I raked my hand thro

• Let Me Go, Boss!   73: Should I suspect you?

  Riley’s POVIf there was one thing I’d learned in the past few weeks, it was this: never walk into a room looking like the wounded party. Especially when you’re still trying to figure out who’s actually on your side.So I put on my sleekest pair of trousers, a tucked-in blouse that said “professional but not trying too hard,” and tied my hair up like I meant business.Leo’s office was in a gleaming high-rise downtown, all exposed brick and soft lighting, like the interior was trying to convince you it wasn’t part of the cold, ruthless machine of the corporate tennis world. The receptionist smiled when she saw me.“Mr. Carter expecting you. You can go right in.”Of course he was.Leo looked up from his desk as I entered, smiling in that easy, charming way that made you forget he’d once threatened to hire you just to steal you from someone else. His sleeves were rolled up, and he stood the moment I stepped in.“Riley,” he said. “Glad you came.”“Still thinking about the offer,” I said a