Chapter 8: The Price of Trust

"Found you." The words from that text message still burned in my mind as I stalked into the conference room. I'd spent the last hour locked in the bathroom, trying to control my breathing, washing away any trace of tears. Robert's threat couldn't matter right now. I had bigger problems sitting across the polished conference table.

Caspian looked up as I entered, concern flashing across his face. "Are you okay? When you left earlier—"

"I'm fine." I cut him off, slamming my portfolio down harder than necessary. "Let's focus on your contract situation."

"Sage, if something's wrong—"

"What's wrong is your career hanging by a thread." I met his eyes, letting him see nothing but cool professionalism. "So unless you want to discuss why Victoria Palmer's father just called my boss to threaten me, I suggest we stick to business."

His jaw tightened, that familiar muscle jumping the way it had before big games in high school. "They're trying to intimidate you."

"No shit." My laugh came out sharp as broken glass. Six years ago, I'd been worth five hundred dollars to Caspian Drake. Now I was about to become his lawyer. Life really has a sick sense of humor.

"You know," his voice still had that deep, warm quality that made my skin tingle, "I specifically requested you as my attorney."

I kept sorting papers, grateful for the excuse not to look at him. "Was that before or after you used my name in your little PR stunt?"

"That press conference wasn't a stunt, Sage." He leaned forward, his custom suit stretching across shoulders that had only grown broader since high school. "Everything I said was true. I've regretted that stupid bet every day for six years."

"Spare me." I shuffled contract pages with more force than necessary. "Five hundred dollars bought you quite a story, didn't it? The star quarterback and the bookworm - bet your teammates still laugh about that one."

"It wasn't like that!" His fist hit the table, making me jump. "You never knew the whole truth."

"Truth?" I finally met his eyes, letting him see six years worth of rage. "The truth is I heard you laughing with your friends about how easy it had been. How the nerdy valedictorian actually believed someone like you could want someone like me."

"That's not—" He stood up, taking a step toward me. The scent of his cologne - expensive but subtle, just like in high school - made my head spin with unwanted memories.

"I heard every word, Caspian. Every joke. Every laugh." My voice cracked despite my best efforts. "Do you know what that did to me? To hear the first person I ever trusted talking about me like I was nothing but a bet?"

His face twisted with something that looked like genuine pain. "I was trying to tell you that night. The bet... it started that way, but things changed. You changed me."

"Changed you?" I couldn't stop the bitter laugh that escaped. "Into what? A better actor?"

"Into someone who finally saw beyond the game, beyond the jersey." He moved closer, and this time I was too angry to retreat. "You were the only one who ever saw the real me, Sage. Not the quarterback, not the team captain. Just me."

"And look how well that worked out." I turned back to the contracts, needing something solid to focus on. "But hey, at least you got your money's worth."

"I never took that money." His words hit me like a physical blow. "I couldn't. Not after..."

"Not after what?" I whirled to face him. "After you realized you might need a lawyer someday? Is that why you're here, trying to manipulate me again?"

"I'm here because the Warriors are trying to destroy my career, and you're the only person I trust to help me." He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture so familiar it made my chest ache. "These photos with Victoria - they're not what they look like."

"Let me guess." I forced my voice to stay professional. "She's the one pursuing you? The team owner's precious daughter just can't take no for an answer?"

"She shows up everywhere I go. The clubs, the restaurants, the charity events." His jaw tightened. "Her father's using her to control me. If I don't play along..."

"They'll use the morality clause to void your contract." I flipped through the documents, my legal mind already cataloging angles of attack. "The photos make you look like a playboy more interested in partying than playing. An expensive liability."

"I need your help, Sage." The vulnerability in his voice made me look up. "Not just as a lawyer. As someone who knows me. The real me."

"That's the problem." I met his gaze steadily. "I thought I knew you once. Cost me everything I believed in."

"Let me prove you can trust me again." He stepped closer, close enough that I could see the flecks of gold in his green eyes. "Give me a chance to make things right."

"This isn't about making things right." I gathered my papers, needing to escape before my walls crumbled completely. "This is business. I'll help you fight the Warriors because it's my job. But anything personal between us died that graduation night."

"Did it?" His hand caught mine as I tried to leave. The touch sent electricity racing up my arm. "Because every time you look at me, I see the same fire in your eyes. The same passion that made me fall—"

"Don't." I jerked away like his touch burned. Because it did - it burned through every defense I'd built. "We're not doing this. I'm your lawyer. That's all."

"For now." The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. "But we both know this is bigger than a contract dispute, Sage. Some things can't stay buried forever."

I walked out on steady legs, my heels clicking against marble like armor. Six years ago, I'd run from him in tears. Now I was walking away on my own terms.

As the elevator doors closed, my phone buzzed with a text from Diana: "Victoria Palmer's father just called. Said we might want to reconsider taking Drake's case. Things are about to get interesting, Miss Winters. Don't disappoint me."

Really? Is the game starting already?