Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

13. Mia

13

MIA

The morning after my date with Ford, I had a meeting with Tallie to brief me on the public’s reaction. At this point, I knew better than to go rogue and read headlines about myself. Tallie reviewed them daily and passed on the info, withholding some of the harsher, more personal critiques.

I sipped on my coffee, answering a few emails nested in a never-ending inbox, until a knock sounded on my glass office door. Tallie and Vanover waited for me, side by side. Both of them had worn charcoal pantsuits with green button-down tops.

I had to grin as I waved them in. “Didn’t know we instituted a dress code.”

Tallie and Vanover glared at each other, and Vanover said, “Unhappy accident.”

“You didn’t call each other last night to prep?” I teased.

Tallie glared.

Chuckling, I said, “Van, can I please get a refill on my coffee and whatever Tallie wants?”

Vanover nodded. “I’m drinking a matcha latte, so I’m assuming you’d like to copy that too.”

“Latte,” she huffed, and when Vanover didn’t move, she added a “please.”

Seemingly satisfied, he left us in my office, where we met at the big glass desk overlooking all of Dallas. It was a beautiful view, and I tried not to get lost in it too often. Especially not when I was dying to hear Tallie’s take on the news.

“Well?” I prompted.

Tallie opened her folder, tugging out a glossy photograph of Ford and me. My lips parted at the image—how Ford and I looked together, him pressing his lips to my cheek, my eyes closed softly, dark lashes fanning over my pale cheeks. His hand rested comfortably on my arm, like he’d done so a dozen times before.

We looked like... a couple.

When I glanced back up at Tallie, her eyes were alight with excitement. “This image—or some version of it—has circulated every major newspaper and gossip column in the country, several major sports outlets, as well as most local papers in the state.”

I looked down at the image again. “The headlines?” I had to brace myself for her answer. Even though I knew I was a strong, successful woman, there was a part of me that also knew I would forever be judged harshly for my weight, my looks, far more than I would ever be praised for any of my accomplishments. Especially when dating a man known for his physical abilities.

Tallie waved her hand. “Doesn’t much matter. People are talking, speculating, which was the goal at this stage any?—”

The door to my office opened, and we looked up. I’d expected to see Vanover entering with our coffee. Instead, Thomas opened the door without knocking and oozed in like an oil slick in his black Armani suit and gelled-back hair.

“I’m in a meeting,” I said pointedly.

He glanced at the photo on the table, and I hurriedly swept it away.

“Seems very important,” he drawled.

“Yes?” I asked, letting impatience color my voice. I knew he never would have barged in on a meeting when Gage was in charge. “Something better be on fire.”

“It’s this damn company that’s on fire,” he said. “While you two are gossiping over a picture, I met with a potential acquisition in the retail sector earlier and we could hardly talk business around all the questions they had about your new fling with this quarterback.”

I got up from the table and stepped closer to him, slowly, letting his impatient ass fume while I approached. When we were nose to nose, I narrowed my gaze and said, “Are you having trouble steering a meeting? Sounds like a personnel issue.”

He sneered. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s an observation. Much like I’m also observing you, in my office, interrupting a meeting and throwing a tantrum like a toddler.” I enunciated each word, letting them hit him one after another. “Toddlers have no place in this office or this company, Thomas. Do you understand me?”

He stared me down until my office door opened again. This time, it was Vanover—with a troop of flower deliveries behind him. There were at least a dozen people carrying two arrangements a piece of all different styles. From small and rustic to lavish and gaudy, they had them all.

“What is...” I began while Thomas grumbled something indiscernible.

One of the delivery people stopped, passing me a note. Before opening it, I gave Thomas another glare.

He clenched his fists like he was about to stomp his foot, then turned on his heel, muttering something about, “God damn circus...”

Shaking my head, I looked around me at all the people in my office, waiting on me.

Eyebrows drawn together, I flipped open the paper, seeing a handwritten message.

When we’re together, I’ll be the one buying you flowers. Let them know which one you like best and toss the rest. – Ford

My gaze did a double take between the note and all the people filling my expansive office.

Ford had done this?

Vanover cleared his throat. “Where would you like these, Mia?”

His voice drew me out of my shock long enough for me to look at all the bouquets surrounding me. They really were stunning, all on their own. I walked through the room, seeing them all, until I found an arrangement of sunflowers and lavender. The bunch was so bright and pretty and reminded me of my childhood.

My mom used to grow flowers in our garden and pick wild bouquets to bring to the neighbors. “Ford wants me to pick one,” I explained, then gestured to the sunflowers. “I’ll keep this one.”

Immediately, the room whipped into a frenzy as the sunflowers were set on my desk and then the meeting table. The other delivery people began to leave with their bouquets.

“Wait,” I said.

They paused.

“What are you doing with the other arrangements?” I asked.

The one in charge shrugged. “Bring them back to the shop, see if we can sell them?”

“Can you deliver these to a different location? I’ll cover the cost, and Vanover will give you the addresses.”

The person in charge of the delivery nodded, and then they marched out of my office, going to Vanover’s desk. I asked Vanover to send them to the people at the assisted-living center where my parents were and then sat back down, staring at the arrangement on my desk. Hayden’s gaudy delivery was gone.

When I finally met Tallie’s eyes again, she was grinning. “Does Ford remember that this is fake?” she asked.

My heart stutter-stepped, because I had been asking myself the same question.

“It’s all for show,” I reminded us both. “We wanted to impress the people here in the office too.”

Tallie didn’t look convinced but also didn’t argue. “Let’s plan for the next phase.”

“And what is that?” I asked, my eyes drawn again to the flowers.

“Your first real date.”