The Deal

MAYA

Julian pulled me away from the paparazzi and towards the closed curtains of the hall leading to the VIP rooms.

'My fiancée and I would appreciate some privacy.'

His words echoed in my head. I pulled my hand from his grip, but he pushed me into an empty room and turned on the light.

"What is wrong with you?!" I snapped.

"What is wrong with me? I just saved you from the worst embarrassment of your career, and you're asking me what's wrong with me?"

A laugh escaped me.

"Oh no, that's not what you did. You announced to the world that I'm your fiancée in front of the paparazzi. What do you think this is? A showcase?"

"Would you let me speak?" He raised an eyebrow, but I continued glaring.

"I never held your mouth."

"You might as well have."

"I'm not doing this. Get outside and fix this before it dooms us all."

I reached for the door, but he pulled me back, pinning both my hands against the wall above my head.

"Listen to me."

"You bet I am."

I stepped on his shoes with my heels, and he grunted.

"Stop being stubborn, Maya, and just listen to me!" He snapped.

"Let go of me."

"How am I supposed to know you won't run? Stay put and listen."

I glared at him, feeling the familiar irritation bubbling inside me.

"Ten minutes. That's all I'm giving you."

"Let's date for six months. Hear me out before you go feral. It's a fake relationship. Your promotion needs a PR campaign, and the team needs all the publicity and public support it can get. You're the PR manager for a reason. We need people behind the Wolves, and we need to maintain the image of a team that represents this country well."

He paused, watching my reaction.

"I need to fix my reputation and get my mother off my back about marrying a certain girl. Six months. You can do whatever you want with whoever you want, but we maintain this image publicly. You'll attend events with me and meet my parents at a gala or two. That's it. Public appearances."

"With all due respect, and I owe you none, that is not going to work. We're going to get caught."

"No, we're not. You're the PR manager. If you can't handle a simple campaign, I see no reason for your promotion."

I kicked his stomach, making him release my hands.

"Don't you ever question what I do! And I'm talking about the paparazzi. I definitely can't control them!"

"I'll deal with that. You don't have to worry. Do we have a deal?"

He extended his hand, and I stared at it.

No thanks.

"Deal. But any funny business, and I'll make sure you regret ever picking hockey to play, let alone becoming captain."

He shrugged before opening the door.

"After you."

I frowned at his sudden politeness but walked past him.

He took my hand as soon as we stepped into the hall, leading me back towards the guests. Everything seemed to have settled, and the paparazzi had moved away.

"I need to sit with my parents." I looked towards their table, where Liam and Clara were now sitting. My grip on Julian's hand tightened instinctively.

"You don't need to."

"Oh, I do."

I released his hand and walked towards them, ignoring the curious glances that followed me.

I took the empty seat at the table.

"When were you going to tell us that you had a fiancée?" Father questioned, his eyes fixed on the presentation of awards.

"You never cared about what was happening in my life. Why do you care now?"

"That is not how I raised you to speak to your father, young lady. Apologise to him!" Mother snapped.

"Apologise? How about he apologises for all the years he abandoned me in college? How about he apologies for putting his hands on me since I was a child? How about..."

"Are you really going to guilt-trip him for something he didn't do?" Clara interrupted, swirling her drink. "You really need to stop lying to yourself, Maya. It's pathetic."

"Do not put your mouth where it doesn't belong, Clara. You seem to be doing that a lot."

I glanced at Liam, who was sitting beside her.

"It's not my fault you couldn't give a man what he needs."

"Last I checked, you don't even know what you need. You insist on leeching off people around you. The test answers, the exams, the highest scores that weren't yours. Do you want me to continue? Because I believe..."

She flicked her hand, splashing the wine in her glass all over my face. My glasses were smeared, and I sat frozen for a moment.

"Guess your mouth is full."

Her giggle followed, accompanied by my mother's.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and reached for my glasses, wiping them with the napkin on the table.

Of course. Why would I expect anything different?

"Seems to me like your family are just grown bullies. Let's go, Maya."

Julian's voice came from above me.

I looked up, but before I could respond, Father's stern voice stopped him.

"And who might you be?"

My body stiffened.

I knew that voice. It was the same one he used before he hit me.

The scars on my back seemed to burn at the memory, and I instinctively lowered my eyes.

"Julian..."

"Just be pretty, sweetheart, and stay out of this."

He leaned down and kissed my forehead before turning to my father.

"I'm Julian Prescott, captain of the Washington Wolves, three-time Stanley Cup champion and one of America's most decorated hockey player. I've been winning championships since my high school days, and I've spent years building a reputation that people across this country respect."

His expression hardened.

"Now, I don't like the way you spoke to my fiancée, and I certainly won't tolerate it happening again."

Father stood, almost matching his height, but Julian was an inch taller.

"Stay out of family business, boy. This is between me and my family."

"Last I checked, she's my fiancée, which technically makes her my family. And from what I've seen so far, you don't count as one. Let's go, Maya."

He grabbed my hand and pulled me from the chair.

To my horror, Father's hand shot out, grabbing Julian by the biceps.

"Don't make me get the authorities, son," Father warned.

"Go on. I dare you. You'll find out exactly who America will stand behind. The man who takes their money and destroys their honour, or the man who brings home championships and represents this country? Take a wild guess, Mr. Sinclair."

Father's jaw tightened.

"We're going home."

Julian's grip on my hand tightened.

"No, she isn't. She's staying with me from now on."