long, especially if they felt disrespected. Many of them had poured a lot of time and effort and self-sacrifice into maintaining their ballplayers’ careers and finances, and they were willing to throw down to protect themselves and their families. Their men were warriors on the court, but these ladies battled it out in high heels in the back rooms, doing their part in making sure status quo remained status quo.
As the game progressed, both Charles and Derek were shining stars, pure grace on the court. O’Donnell had not shown up in the suite, much to Hara’s relief, but the other owners in attendance were vocal in support of their rookie, happy to see him slinging hash now that he was finally off the bench.
Hara wrote down everything they said. Who was she to look a gift owner in the mouth? Tina had only made her promise to not say anything about the WAGs.
The halftime buzzer rang. The game had been going at a breakneck pace, and ended with a lobbed shot to tie it.
Thank God she hadn’t decided to fly out that day. This was a great game to cover.
She stared at her notes, surprised at her feelings. Earlier, she’d been wallowing in self-pity, but now that she was embracing this time and doing what she loved, she felt good again. She would continue to prove herself. No one else was going to do it for her and that was okay.
The women and men in the suite turned their attention to food, drinks, and the weather. The news stations reported scattered road detours and unrelenting rain.
Kitty’s phone rang. She argued in Italian for a few minutes and then hung up. “Bella, I am sorry to abandon you, my father says I must go.”
Hara, bewildered, asked, “Your father?”
“Si. He says my driver is waiting for me and that I am to come straight home. He fears I will be trapped here.” She snorted. “If the players are trapped here, I’m not sure I’d mind.” The heiress wrapped herself in a Burberry cloak. “You can come home with me. Or would you stay?”
Once again, Hara wanted to ask Kitty just how old she was, but bit her tongue. She’d never had a dad around to make decisions for her. But, if she were worth millions and millions of dollars, Hara probably would have someone paying close attention to her, too. She looked back down at her notes. Would she give up on this story? Or see it through? “I … I guess I’ll stay. I’m sure I can get an Uber, or even walk if I have to. Naomi’s is only a few blocks away, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Ciao, then.”
At the end of the third quarter, Hara shivered, a chill running up her back. She glanced away from the game, checking out the room behind her. And froze, a deer in the headlights.
Madeline and O’Donnell had come in and were now talking to the men who were part of the owners’ cooperative. She shrank down into the seat but before she could turn away, Madeline glanced up and locked eyes with her. The assistant’s mouth shaped a surprised O, which would have been funny if Hara didn’t feel so much anger crawling up out of her stomach, a feeling that increased exponentially as the assistant approached and then stood over her.
“What are you doing here?” Madeline asked with a constipated grimace. “I thought you’d flown home.”
“Umm.” You are a hateful woman. “Flight was canceled due to weather. I’ve been staying with a friend.”
“No offense, but how did you get in here?”
No offense. Right. Hara sat up straight, tapped her shoe with her middle finger. “I walked in. The planes aren’t working, but my feet are.”
“I’m sorry, you are going to have to leave.”
“I—”
Tina surprised them both from a few seats down, yawning loudly and stretching her arms out dramatically. Then she said, “Unclench your pearls, Madeline. She’s fine. I invited her.”
“Ah, Tina.” Madeline crossed her arms and smirked. “From what I hear, you might not be the best person to be handing out passes to our VIP room. Didn’t Charles dump you?”
Tina tossed her hair and hooted, but then leaned back, stretching her legs out in front of her. The WAGs around Tina angled in, but she just said, casually, “You are treading on some thin ice, little miss secretary.” She twiddled her fingers lazily in the air by her head. “Buh-bye.”
Madeline rolled her eyes and stomped off in three-inch heels,