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#Chapter 55 Public Speaking
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Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 56 Wrong Place, Wrong Time
I had been sitting on the floor for five minutes—maybe ten? I couldn’t keep track—when I heard two sets of shoes coming down the hall. One sounded like Barnett’s, but the other sounded lighter, like a smaller person’s footsteps.The door to the women’s restroom opened.“Hello? Ms. Leonard?” a woman’s voice called.I wiped my mouth with some toilet paper before I answered.“Yes?”“Are you all right? Mr. Cogsworth told me that you were not feeling well.”“I-no, I’m not all right. My stomach is very upset.”“Do you have to…do anything else?”I didn’t answer for moment, trying to assess the state of my stomach.“No, I think I’m done.”“Can you stand up?”I pulled myself up onto wobbly legs. I cursed my high heels as I nearly slipped onto the toilet. I slipped off my heels and walked out of the stall.A woman in a white blouse, black slacks, and white nurse’s shoes greeted me. She rushed forward to support one side of me.“Don’t worry, I have you,” she said. “My name is Claire Smith,
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 57 The Talk Show
I was so sick of the exploitation. All that these media vultures wanted to do was to start rumors and feed off my misery. The idea made me queasy all over again, despite the anti-nausea medication.I looked to Barnett.“What should we do?” I whispered.“I don’t think we have a choice,” he whispered back. “We’ll have to do it.”“Why? Your reputation will survive this.”“But yours might not.”Barnett turned to Thaddeus.“We’ll do it,” he said. “We’ll appear on your little show tomorrow.”Thaddeus’s eyes fixed on me, as if to say, “Oh, will you?”I nodded.“Yes, we will.”“Very well,” Thaddeus replied. “I will keep a hold of this picture until after the show, for insurance. You understand, right?”Barnett breathed deeply through his nostrils, the muscles in his neck tight.“Yes,” he said through clenched teeth, “but after the show, I will be there to personally ensure that you delete it. You understand, right?”I watched Thaddeus’s Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallowed.“Yes
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 58 The Truth Be Told
“Anna? Anna, are you okay?”I looked up as Barnett approached me. The concern in his tone and facial expression touched me, but I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks.“No,” I choked out.He wrapped me up in his arms and pulled me close.“I’m so sorry,” he said, rubbing my back. “That was a low blow of him, bringing up your brothers like that.”“Why do people even think that?” I sobbed into his chest. “There’s no way that their deaths could have been my fault.”“People just love to sensationalize everything—”“But why? Am I such a bad person that people would assume that even as a child I would do something so horrible?”“No, no, of course not.”“Then why?”“Because tabloid reporters are jackasses just looking to make a quick buck, no matter who it hurts. All we can do is learn to ignore them.”“But-but I can’t. I could ignore what they say about Charlie because it’s so ridiculous, but Michael…”I couldn’t finish that thought.“What?” Barnett asked. “What happen
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 59 Friction
I felt like a deer in the headlights. Even Bob seemed to take renewed interest in the conversation. Funny, considering that he didn’t care to know about my diagnosis when the doctor wanted to tell him. I knew that I had to give an answer, soon. The longer I waited, the more suspicious it would seem. I slipped my hand out from beneath Barnett’s and gave my full attention to Thaddeus. “Yes and no, Chuck,” I began. “Yes, in that I did have a health scare that night when some stomach pains from stress became too much for me to handle. No, in that it turned out to be nothing.” “Are you sure?” Thaddeus prodded. “The timing is awfully coincidental—” “It did happen at the same time that Bob and I decided that we were going to divorce, which led to many life-altering changes for me. However, the stomach pains themselves were nothing to worry about. I am perfectly fine.” The corner of Thaddeus’s lip faltered, as though that wasn’t the answer
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 60 Dinner with the Devil
I hardly slept that night, thinking about how I had lied to Lily and Barnett. By the time my alarm went off the next morning, I had only gotten a collective three hours of sleep, if that. Fortunately, I was able to cover up my lack of sleep with makeup. I walked through the door to Arthur’s office just in the nick of time. “Cutting it close, my little fan girl,” Arthur teased as I approached him. I rolled my eyes but smiled. “I had a rough night.” “I bet. After the first time I did Chuck’s show, I couldn’t sleep for a week. All I could do was think about everything I did wrong.” “You, the wonderful Arthur Stardust, did something wrong?” “Oh, trust me, I did a lot wrong. My outfit was only the beginning.” I laughed as I set out Arthur’s makeup for the day. “Remind me to look that clip up.” Arthur groaned and covered his face dramatically. “Please, don’t. That first episode was nearly career-
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 61 Just Desserts
I watched as Barnett scooped a bite of the Spanish almond cake into his mouth, smiling at Julia. My blood boiled. I could not believe that Barnett had gone to dinner with that she-devil, just because he and I had had another disagreement.I all but leapt to my feet and charged over to their table. I would not let this afront go unanswered.“Anna, where are you going?” Arthur called after me, but he did not dare follow me.At the sound of my name, both Barnett and Julia raised their heads. Julia smirked around a bite of Tarta de Santiago. Barnett lowered his fork back to the plate.“Anna, what are you doing here?” he asked as he wiped cake away from the corner of his lips.“I could ask you the same question,” I replied, my hands on my hips.“I’m just having dinner and a little dessert,” he said. “Nothing wrong with that, is there?”“There is when you’re eating with the ex that you swore you had nothing to do with anymore.”Julia swallowed and huffed at me.“I don’t think that’s any of
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 62 Unexpected
Everyone stared at me as the vomit dripped from my mouth and onto the floor at Arthur’s feet. I watched, mortified, as Arthur slowly stood up, hands at his side. He walked over to me, and I closed my eyes just as he put his hand on my shoulder.“Anna, are you okay?” he asked, his words quick and panicked.I opened my eyes to look up into his. He stared at me with genuine concern. I nodded my head, only for more vomit to attempt to make its way up my esophagus.Fortunately, I was able to swallow it back down.“I’m fine,” I croaked.“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because I just asked if you were fine, and after you said that you were, you threw up all over me.”He laughed in an attempt to lighten the mood, but I could tell that he was in way over his head.“I’m fine. We need to get you cleaned up and changed for The WWWs—”“I’m not going to The WWWs.”I gawked at him, and everyone around us stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to elaborate or say that it was a joke. His expression sho
Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 63 Anna’s Answer
“I love you, Anna,” Arthur repeated.He stared at me expectantly, waiting for an answer. His eyes widened, and they reminded me of the doe eyes that my brother Michael used to give me when we were children and he wanted to get something from me. It made my stomach churn, and I almost vomited all over again.How was I to respond to that? He saw how I responded to Barnett being with Julia the night before; did he think that my feelings could be changed so easily? Or was he really so blind to what all that had meant?I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Arthur was not just my boss; he was one of my closest friends. I didn’t want to lose what we had.At the same time, I couldn’t lie to him and say that I returned his affections. I loved him, but like a brother—like the brothers that he reminded me so much of. I couldn’t lead him on.I could tell by the way his brow furrowed that my hesitation was already causing him doubt and upset feelings. I had to give him an answer, and quickly. I plac
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- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 79: Journey's End
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 78: The Father
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 77: Lovers Meeting
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 76: Setting Things Straight
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 75: The Nursery
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 74: Unhealthy Obsessions
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 73: Miscommunications
- Hockey Billionaire's Hat Trick #Chapter 72: Anna’s Letter
