Chapter 18

The room was quiet save for the fading hum of Sienna’s phone call ending. Her finger lingered on the screen a second longer than needed, her mind still tethered to the words Joseph had said. She blinked, exhaled slowly, and set the phone down on her desk like it had suddenly grown too heavy. Her office was still, the muted light from the overcast sky filtering in through the windows. It gave the space a soft, melancholic glow.

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to center herself, when the door creaked open gently. Her assistant, Camryn, peeked her head in, her ever-sunny expression dimmed slightly by whatever news she carried.

“Hey S,” Camryn said, voice kind but cautious. “I just came to tell you that the boss is calling you into her office.”

Sienna managed a small, appreciative smile, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks, Ryn.”

Camryn gave her a quick nod before stepping out, the click of the door shutting behind her sounding too final. Alone again, Sienna let out a sigh-not loud, not dramatic, but quiet and tired, like a breath she’d been holding all day.

She stood, legs moving before her thoughts could catch up, and walked slowly out of her office. Her heels made a dull, rhythmic tap against the hallway floor, each step a countdown to whatever conversation lay ahead.

She was just about to knock on Jodi McKinley’s office door when it swung open abruptly.

Pike Jones stormed out, his shoulders hunched and jaw tight with visible anger. His eyes caught hers-and narrowed. There was no mistaking the loathing in his glare. He looked furious. More furious at the sight of her standing there, calm and unbothered. With an indignant huff, he shoved past her, shoulder brushing hers roughly, the scent of his cologne clinging to the tension he left behind.

Sienna turned her head, watching his retreating back until he disappeared down the hallway. Only then did she face the open doorway again and take a step inside.

Jodi’s office was its usual minimalist aesthetic-sharp angles, clean lines, and the large window framing her like a silhouette. She stood facing it, arms crossed as if contemplating the cityscape. Her posture was neutral, but Sienna could sense something brewing beneath it.

Sienna cleared her throat and lowered herself into the chair across from the desk, smoothing the fabric of her skirt in a nervous motion. “Um, Mrs. McKinley,” she began, voice soft but steady. “You wanted to see me?”

Jodi turned then. Her eyes, always sharp, pinned Sienna in place with a look that said she was already ten moves ahead. “Well, Sienna, I have another assignment for you,” she said, her tone casual but edged. “Pike wanted it, but I couldn’t give it to him. That’s why he looked like an angry buffalo when he left. You saw him, right?”

Sienna gave a short nod, but her mind was elsewhere-caught on the word “assignment.” There was a gnawing feeling in her chest, her intuition whispering warnings. Somewhere deep inside, she already knew what this was about.

Her throat tightened.

She hadn’t spoken to Caitlin in a week. Not since the last game. Sienna’s thoughts flickered back to that one morning-the way her feet had slowed when she saw him, Connor McCaffrey, standing there in line at the coffee shop. Tall. Comfortable. Familiar. She had turned the other way before he could see her, but that one moment had stirred something in her-something uneasy.

Jodi continued, as though oblivious to the storm building in Sienna’s mind.

“Well, Sienna,” she said with a small smirk playing on her lips, “your Caitlin Clark stories have been a hit lately. Fans are eating it up. Our stats have been up for a month straight-all thanks to you.”

Sienna didn’t reply. She couldn’t. Her breath had hitched at Caitlin’s name, but she forced herself to listen.

Jodi’s tone shifted, slow and deliberate. “Now, a source of mine told me something interesting-Miss Clark and her boyfriend, Connor McCaffrey… have parted ways.”

She drew out the last few words like a line of thread, twisting it slowly. Sienna’s lips parted in disbelief, but she quickly masked the shock. Inside, her heart dropped.

Caitlin broke up with Connor?

Her brain whirled. She tried to hide the ripple of emotion, tried to stay neutral, but the room suddenly felt too warm. Sienna knew where this was going-every cell in her body knew it. But still, she asked the question, as if part of her still hoped she was wrong.

“So… is this assignment about writing Caitlin and Connor’s breakup story?” Her voice was calm, but her heart was hammering.

Jodi grinned. Wickedly. “Bingo, Sienna. I knew you were smart. I’m glad I chose you for this assignment.”

The words sank like stones in her stomach.

Write about Caitlin’s breakup…
Fuck.
I don’t want to do this.
Why did I have to make friends with her? Why couldn’t I keep it professional?
Now it’s affecting my job and I don’t want to write about her anymore. I don’t want her to hate me.

Her mind was a battlefield of regret and dread. The woman she was supposed to report on wasn’t just another story anymore. She was Caitlin. The same Caitlin who had teased her, called her “Sunshine,” made her laugh during press conferences, and sent her heart into a spiral of emotions she wasn’t ready to name.

“Sienna,” Jodi said sharply. “Callaway, are you listening?”

Sienna blinked, snapped out of her spiraling thoughts. She looked up at her boss and nodded quickly, her voice shaky. “Y-Yeah, I’m listening. So you want me to write about Caitlin’s breakup. Got it. But… why can’t Jones do it? I’ve got other articles to finish.”

Jodi narrowed her eyes, her voice low but firm. “Jones would ruin our reputation if he touched this story. I’m trusting you not to disappoint me. Got it?”

Sienna swallowed, her mouth dry. Her head gave a small nod. “I-I’ll do it, Mrs. McKinley. I’ll write the article.”

Jodi nodded, seemingly satisfied, not noticing the waiver in her voice or the way her fingers trembled slightly in her lap.

“Well, Callaway, you’re dismissed. Now go write me that article.”

Sienna stood on unsteady legs and exited the office without another word. Her steps were slower this time, weighed down by the burden she now carried.

Back in the safety of her own office, she closed the door quietly behind her. The click echoed louder than before. And then she sank-back pressed against the door, sliding down to the floor like her bones had turned to liquid.

She drew her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them, and lowered her head into her hands.

All she could think about was Caitlin. About her smile, her laugh, her gentle teasing. About the betrayal that would follow when she saw Sienna’s name at the top of that article.

She didn’t want to do this.

She didn’t want Caitlin to hate her.

From the hollow of her hands, a single word slipped out-a whisper, raw and aching.

“Fuck.”

Authors Note :

Hey Guys another chapter yayyy, Anyways it’s a bit short and I hope y’all enjoy it, this chapter isn’t proofread and please excuse the grammatical errors, I wrote this in a rush so I’m sorry and I don’t know what to name this chapter so deal with it, Anyways until next time loves.

P.s. Should I change the cover for this book??

XoXo V 💜💜💜