Off the Record

  I wish I could report that there was more depth to this wayward soul, but sadly, I cannot. The most I can offer you is that he is a damn fine goalie for New York. If you're looking for more than that, you might be a bit disappointed. I know I was.

  I print the article and read through it to check for any errors. After a few minor tweaks, I know I have it perfect. I know this will do nothing to change Linc's behavior, but if it embarrasses him even slightly, I'll feel vindicated.

  Attaching the article to an email, I pause before hitting the "Send" button to the lifestyle editor. For a brief moment, I again wonder if I'm overreacting. But no...I'm reporting the truth as I saw it. These are my opinions and I'm entitled to have them. I have my facts down straight.

  And I get it. I know I'm lashing out. I was totally helpless when my father crushed me. I was unsuspecting and undeserving of what Marc did to me. I let both of those go without so much as batting an eye. And then Linc Caldwell so quickly lumps me into a category with those other women and that makes me beyond furious. Now, I finally feel like I'm able to make a bit of a stand for all of those hurts that have been pushed upon me.

  I'm stepping off the elevator to my condo, having just finished my morning run. I freakin' love Sundays. It's the one day that I don't feel compelled to really do anything. Today, I think I may just lounge on the couch and play Call of Duty on my Xbox.

  As I juggle the keys to my door with the newspaper and coffee I'm holding, I glance up and see Nix standing there. He offers me an uneasy smile.

  "Morning, Sunshine. Just finish your run?"

  "Yeah. And not that I don't enjoy seeing your handsome mug, but what are you doing here?"

  Nix looks pointedly at the paper I've got tucked under my arm. "I assume you haven't read the paper yet."

  I glance down at it. "I was just getting ready to enjoy a cup of java on the balcony with my paper. Anything good in it?"

  He's silent for a minute and I feel a slight foreboding. Then Nix says, "The article that Ever Montgomery did on you is in there. It's not very nice."

  Not nice? Why wouldn't it be nice? We had a really nice interview and got along quite nicely. It should be a nice article!

  The tone of Nix's voice sets me on edge.

  I hand Nix my coffee and unlock my door. He follows me in and I throw my keys on the table. Nix takes a sip of my coffee and groans with pleasure. I just give him the evil eye as I open the paper, flipping through it until I find what I'm looking for. I recognize the small picture of Ever that is at the beginning of the article, and damned if her blue eyes don't pop even in black and white newsprint.

  Tearing my eyes away from the beauty of Ever, I read the title out loud, "RANGERS' GOALIE SCORES...A LOT! What the fuck?"

  "It gets worse, man." I had forgotten Nix was standing there. I continue reading the article and after every line I finish, I can feel my blood pressure rising incrementally. When I get to the end, I stare dumbfounded at the words, not sure if this is some type of joke. I notice my hands are clenched and the paper is crumpled in my grip.

  "Linc? Are you okay?"

  "Did Emily know she was going to do this?" I know it sounds accusatory but I'm hurt by the fact that Emily introduced me to this she-devil.

  "Of course she didn't know. She's just as upset as you are. She's been trying to call Ever all morning but she's not answering."

  I blow out a pent up breath of frustration. I could use some of Nix's deep breathing exercises he practices to help calm my own racing heart rate. I throw the paper to the floor and grab my coffee out of Nix's hand to take a sip. I realize my hand is shaking.

  I can't believe how much this fucking bothers me. I know I'm not a saint, but I am in no way a man-whore like she suggests. In fact, I'm pretty selective and limited on who I will take to my bed. The fact that she has published this bullshit for the entire world to see has me mortified. What about all of the kids that look up to me as a role model? What will they think?

  And just thinking about that causes my fury to launch out of the stratosphere. Without thinking, I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial my lawyer. When he answers, I tell him to get me an appointment with the Senior Editor for The New York Post and I want to meet him within the next two hours. And I tell him Ever Montgomery needs to be there. When my lawyer tells me that it might be difficult to get an appointment on such short notice, I snarl at him that if they aren't there at the appointed time, we will be filing a libel and slander lawsuit against The Post first thing on Monday. I hang up on my lawyer without giving him a chance to respond.

  "What are you going to do," Nix asks.

  "I'm going to make her fucking pay for this," I growl. "Where did she come up with that shit? She seemed so nice when we were talking. What a fucking bitch!"

  I am so mad right now, I want to punch a hole in my wall, but I can't do anything to hurt my glove hand. I start pacing the living room, subconsciously running my hand through my hair. Nix sits down on the couch and watches me with wary eyes.

  "What in the world did you say during that interview?" Nix asks.

  I look at him, my eyes wild. "Nothing. I mean, nothing that would have caused her to write that article. She makes me sound like a real douchebag. What the hell are my fans going to think about that? What is Kyle going to think?"

  My anger is starting to make room for an overwhelming sense of dread that is pitting in my stomach. For the lies that she has told about me, The Post had better be ready to do some serious damage control on my behalf.

  "So, she just made up that you were with several women that night?"

  I spin on Nix and glare at him. Is he believing what she wrote? He immediately holds his hands up in surrender before I can even lay into him.

  "I don't believe it," he says. "I'm just trying to help you figure out why she would say that."

  I let out a huge, frustrated breath of air. "I have no clue. None of that stuff is true. I mean...I was with Brenda that night, but that was in my bedroom. I have no clue how she knew about that. She's lying about any other women. The other stuff...she twisted my words."

  Nix shakes his head. "I only just met her at the party but she seemed pretty nice. I wonder what she was thinking?"

  Before I can answer, my phone rings. It's my lawyer. He tells me the meeting has been set pursuant to my demands. He also advises me that he'll have a draft lawsuit that he will fax to me within the hour. He offers to go with me, but I decline. I don't need him for something as simple as demanding that Ever get fired for her dishonesty. The lawsuit should work well enough.

  I plop down on the couch beside Nix and sigh. Staring at the wall, my mind is spinning with anger, disbelief, embarrassment and downright mortification.

  "Are you okay, buddy?"

  I glance at Nix. "Do I look okay?"

  "No, you look like you are ready to blow a gasket. What's your game plan once you meet with the Editor?"

  I shrug my shoulders. "I guess the only thing I can do...demand an apology, a retraction, and most importantly, demand they shit-can Ever Montgomery immediately. I want her career ruined before it can even get started."

  "Harsh, dude."

  "You think?"

  "Nope. Not really. Not for writing lies about my little bro'."

  I give Nix a smile. Besides my dad, he's the one person in my life I can always count on to have my back. Just the thought makes the pressure in my chest ease a little.

  My phone starts "dinging" in my hand. I look down and I'm getting a slew of text messages from my teammates. Just fucking great!

  Dude...you bagged four women at the party? Why didn't you share?

  UR the man! Horn dog!

  Those were some pretty awesome fireworks, huh?

  Man-whore! Linc's a man-whore!

  I groan. I can take the teasing from my teammates, because that's all it is. But I'm not going to kid myself. This is what most of New York will be thinking today after they read this article.

  Maybe getting a ret
raction isn't enough. Maybe I need to do something more proactive to rehabilitate my image after this brutal smackdown.

  A pounding on my door interrupts my thoughts. I walk to open it and Emily storms in.

  "I'm going to kill her, Linc. I swear it...I'm going to kill her. Then Nix will help me bury her body where it won't be found."

  I can't help but smile at Emily. She's so feisty and protective. My brother lucked out with this one. "I appreciate the offer, Em, but I'm going to handle it a bit more subtly."

  Nix snorts. "There's nothing subtle about what you're getting ready to do."

  Emily looks at me questioningly, even as she drapes herself across Nix's lap. His arms go around her to squeeze and my heart warms just looking at the love between those two.

  "What are you going to do?" she asks.

  Taking the last sip of my coffee, I head back to my room to take a shower. "I'm going to destroy her and when I'm through, she'll wish she never met Linc Caldwell."

  My stomach is in knots. My lifestyle editor just called me at home and told me that the Senior Editor, Glenn Selly, wants to see me in his office immediately. She wouldn't say what it was about, but I could tell by the tone in her voice she knew. And that sort of pisses me off that she won't give me any information that could help me get prepared for this impromptu meeting.

  It's a Sunday and no one gets called in to see the Editor on a Sunday unless trouble is brewing. I make it to The Post in record time and walk inside with lead feet, knowing in my heart of hearts that this has something to do with the article I did on Linc. I need to be tough and prepared to stand my ground though. I've done nothing wrong.

  As I near Mr. Selly's office, the glass walls reveal him in serious discussion with another man. His face looks grave and the other man's back is to me, but I can tell from his build and hairstyle that it's Linc Caldwell sitting in there.

  No surprise there.

  Mr. Selly waves me in. I throw my shoulders back confidently and enter the lion's den. Linc actually politely stands up when I enter. The look on his face is impassive and reveals no clue as to why he is here. But I'm sure he's pissed.

  "Sit down, Miss Montgomery."

  I take the seat beside Linc, who sits down after I do.

  Nice manners...for a pig.

  "Miss Montgomery...Mr. Caldwell is here because of the article you did on him. He's very upset and says your allegations are unfounded. He is threatening to sue the paper."

  Oh, boy. Here goes.

  "I stand by my piece, Mr. Selly. My facts are accurate and my opinion is my own. I made very clear that this was an opinion piece."

  I hear Linc snort beside me but I don't take my eyes off of Mr. Selly. I need him to stand behind me on this.

  Mr. Selly picks up the newspaper sitting on his desk and starts reading it out loud, "Just a few minutes before meeting me, I watched as Mr. Caldwell kissed on a half-naked woman. Then just a mere half hour into our interview, he had the temerity to hit on me, which I politely shut down. Not to be deterred, he moved on to a third woman who claims they got pretty down and dirty with one another. I finally witnessed him finishing off the night with a fourth woman in a very compromising position."

  He puts the paper down and pinches the bridge of his nose with this fingers. "Mr. Caldwell says this is completely untrue the way you spun it. And even though this article was an opinion piece, you still have to have your facts to support it."

  "What doesn't he think is true?" I ask.

  Linc finally pipes up. "Well, let's start with your first lie and I'll continue on from there. I kissed the knuckles of a woman who was wearing a bathing suit at a beach party. I did not hit on you but asked you out to dinner, which you declined and which I did not bother to follow up. I have no clue what you mean by getting down and dirty with a third. The fourth woman you reference is true. There was only one woman that night in my bed."

  I look at him with superior authority, knowing that I'm getting ready to crush his smug attitude. He may have me on the knuckle-kiss, but he can't deny the rest. "I clearly heard a woman say that she gave you a blow job not long after asking me out."

  I hear Mr. Selly curse under his breath. I don't know if he's offended by my language but I need to be adamant and strong. He needs to understand what I saw and that my facts are clear.

  Linc's eyebrows raise but he does nothing more than offer me a lazy grin. When those two dimples pop out, I want to lick my lips in response and that thought maddens me. I shake my head slightly to clear it and try to focus on what Linc is saying.

  "The woman who said she gave me a blow job is lying. That did not happen and you never bothered to check that fact with me. As to the other woman, that is my private business and you were intruding into the privacy of my bedroom, where you had no right to be. Unless...of course...you're into that sort of thing, Miss Montgomery. Watching other people, that is."

  Heat rushes up my neck and settles into my cheeks. I start sputtering. "Of course I don't do that. It was a mistake and I left as soon as I saw what was going on."

  "So you say," Linc responds sardonically, flicking his hand at me as if he was waving away an annoying gnat.

  I lose control of my temper. "I don't appreciate the insinuation you're making, Mr. Caldwell. You know nothing about me."

  That lazy smile on his face is replaced by a look of pure malice. At least there are no more lickable dimples to distract me. "Now you know how it feels to have someone judge you based on a misrepresentation of facts. Doesn't feel too great, does it?"

  I gasp but before I can retort, Mr. Selly cuts in. "Miss Montgomery, Mr. Caldwell also says it's untrue that he said he gets women by flashing his abs and bank account. He says that was a joke made in jest and that you recognized it as such when it was said."

  I groan inwardly because that is absolutely correct. I knew when Linc made that quip that he was joking, yet I turned those words against him. I don't know what to say because now I'm starting to realize that I may have let my anger get the better of me when writing this article.

  My lack of response urges Mr. Selly on. "Finally, Mr. Caldwell says the comment about an irate woman hitting him with a shoe was told to you confidentially and off the record. Is that true?"

  Busted, again. I nod my head slightly, too embarrassed to say anything. My entire career is flashing before my eyes, and it is taking everything I have not to throw up right now.

  Mr. Selly sighs and looks to Linc. "Miss Montgomery has obviously made a few mistakes for which we will issue a retraction and an apology, Mr. Caldwell."

  I give an internal sigh of relief that I'm not being fired outright. I believe the fact that I made the article an opinion piece may be saving me at this point. I look at Linc. He's rubbing his finger across his chin as if he's pondering something. He looks over at me and I wonder what he's thinking. There is no triumph in his eyes, which would be deserved if there was.

  Then Linc shocks the hell out of me when he says, "A retraction simply isn't good enough. I want her to write the original piece she was supposed to do. "

  I'm so startled, I blurt, "You just want me to write a nice article about you?"

  Linc's eyes turn cold. "I want much more than that, Miss Montgomery. I want something printed tomorrow that your article was written in haste and without full knowledge of the facts. Then I want you to write a genuine article about the real me. You know...one based on verifiable facts. And the only way you will be able to do that, with accuracy this time, is to get to know me."

  I don't know what that means. I don't know what to say. How do I know the real Linc Caldwell? But before I can ponder it further, Linc looks to Mr. Selly and continues, "It is my understanding that Miss Montgomery was going to be on an assignment for the next six weeks. I'd like you to reassign her to do another story on me. She will be with me 24/7 for the next six weeks. At the end of that six weeks, I expect her to write a truthful article about me. Oh, and I guarantee you, there will be an apology at the end of
it once she gets to know me."

  I stand up from my seat in a panic, placing my hands on the desk and leaning forward. "Mr. Selly, you can't take me off of the L.A. assignment. It's too important and we've already put a lot of work into getting ready for it." I cannot let this opportunity be taken from me. It's my means to get catapulted into newsworthy journalism.

  Mr. Selly takes in my words and I can see by the look on his face that he's analyzing the truth of what I've said from a business perspective. Too much has gone into this project already. He's a shrewd man and I can see by the way his brows are furrowed together that he's not inclined to take me off the project. I start to relax, relishing the fact that Mr. Caldwell will just have to settle for a retraction. But before Mr. Selly can put my mind fully at ease, Linc cuts into these thoughts.

  "Let me throw my two cents into your decision making process. If you don't assign Miss Montgomery to me for the next six weeks so that an accurate article can be written about me, I will instruct my lawyer to file a lawsuit against The Post tomorrow morning. His next stop will be to The Daily News and The Times to leak the story. Here's a copy of the suit that has already been drafted." Linc throws a thick document on Mr. Selly's desk and it lands with a resounding thwack. It is with dismay that I note Mr. Selly doesn't even bother to read it.

  Mr. Selly's shoulders deflate and I know I've lost. He stands from his desk. "I think that your proposal is more than fair, Mr. Caldwell. I'll print something up tomorrow retracting Miss Montgomery's story with my apology, and promising the public that she'll do a follow up piece in six weeks. And I appreciate your leniency in this matter."

  Linc stands up and so do I. I'm at a loss. I feel like I'm spinning out of control. I vaguely note that Linc shakes Mr. Selly's hand and heads toward the door. As he walks out, he calls over his shoulder, "Get your stuff, Montgomery. You're coming with me right now."