The Game Changer: A Novel

by Sterling, J.

  Tossing my long hair into a ponytail, I stared at the bags under my eyes before dabbing some concealer on them. I hurried through the rest of my makeup routine as Jack hopped into the shower.

  “Do we have a new driver, or should I just call us a cab?” I cringed at bringing up the whole Matteo and driver situation.

  “I never hired a new person. I’ve just been using random drivers.”

  “So, do you want to call the car company or grab a taxi?” I pressed my lips together to spread my lipstick.

  “Whatever you want. I don’t really care.”

  I frowned to my reflection at Jack’s apparent indifference. “We’ll just take a cab.” I finished getting ready as Jack got dressed and disappeared into the living area. I hated how it took him absolutely no time to look gorgeous.

  By the time I got ready, I caught Jack reading online, a sour look spread across his face. I crept up behind him and tossed my arms around his shoulders before looking on the computer screen. A nasty article titled a “Home-Wrecking Floozy” was on the screen. Obviously, it was about me.

  He shook his head, his hand reaching up to grab mine. “I’m so sorry, Kitten. I had no idea these were the kinds of things people were saying about you.”

  I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “It’s not your fault, babe.”

  “Yes, it is. This whole thing is my fault. No wonder you flipped out. This shit is horrible.”

  I shrugged. “None of that matters. It’s all lies anyway, and we both know it.”

  “You really don’t care?”

  “I care about how you feel about me. Not a bunch of people I don’t know. At least I’m trying not to care what they think,” I admitted honestly.

  I pulled Jack by the hand into the magazine offices. He had never been up there before. “Where’s your desk?” he whispered as my coworkers turned to eye us before saying hi and excitedly introducing themselves to Jack. I spotted Joey in the kitchen, hanging back and looking clearly uncomfortable, and I offered him a slight smile. He smiled back but stayed put.

  I pointed toward the far wall. “Over there. I’ll show you after.”

  I rapped on Nora’s oversized door. “Come in,” she called out.

  We closed the door behind us. Nora stood up and came around her desk to introduce herself to Jack. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

  “You too. I’ve heard a lot of great things,” Jack said respectfully, and I was impressed.

  “So, I know we were supposed to shoot the puff piece today,” she began, and my heart raced.

  Supposed?

  “But this just came up, and I wanted you to be the first to read it.” She handed us each a copy of our magazine with a cover photograph of a girl I didn’t recognize.

  “That’s Vanessa,” Jack said as he opened the magazine and flipped to the article.

  “Chrystle’s best friend, Vanessa?” I asked and he nodded.

  “Read the interview. I think you’ll find it quite illuminating,” Nora insisted.

  I skimmed through it before my jaw dropped and I was forced to stop. “Holy shit, Jack. Do you see the part where Vanessa says that Chrystle planned this whole thing from day one?”

  I read directly from the magazine copy:

  “Chrystle knew every player who got drafted and had the potential to eventually play on our team. She researched Jack and learned everything about him before he even played here. She was obsessed. She knew he was raised by his grandparents, that he had a younger brother, a girlfriend, what kind of car he drove. She found out his parents weren’t in his life, and she said no one could live through that unscathed. Chrystle believed that everyone had a weakness and she was convinced she’d just stumbled upon Jack’s. When I mentioned that he had a girlfriend, she didn’t care. Unless Jack moved to Alabama with his girlfriend, Chrystle considered him fair game.”

  My stomach turned. “Jesus, Jack.” I looked at him, his eyes still scanning the magazine in his hands.

  “And the minute Jack arrived, sans girlfriend, she put her plan in motion. She practically stalked him, waiting for the opportunity to seduce him. She knew where he lived and who he lived with. Some nights she would wait outside their apartment in case they all went out somewhere. She wanted to follow them and make it look like a coincidence when they all showed up at the same place. She was relentless. I feel like Jack didn’t stand a chance against her. He had no idea what he was up against because most normal people aren’t that manipulative and determined. She wasn’t going to stop until she had what she wanted. And what she wanted was Jack.”

  The interviewer of the magazine asked, “Why? Why Jack?” And Vanessa responded:

  “Because he was going to make it all the way to the major leagues and she knew it. Anyone who watched him play and knew anything about baseball knew it. Most of the guys on the team would never get that far, and she once said that she refused to be saddled with any of them. That they were all just loser head cases waiting to happen. She wanted the money, the celebrity, and the lifestyle that went along with being the wife of a major league ballplayer. It really is as simple as that.”

  Reading all of Vanessa’s words horrified me. Anger, sadness, and pain all raced through my body. I wanted to go back in time and protect Jack from this nightmare ever unfolding. No one deserved to be treated this way.

  I reached out my hand, placing it on Jack’s thigh as he turned to me, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”

  Nora clapped her hands together and leaned her chin against them. “The rest of the interview basically talks about how she faked the pregnancy, the miscarriage, and then how she dragged out the annulment.”

  “Oh, I want to read the part about the faked pregnancy,” I said a little too enthusiastically. I scanned the questions and answers, searching for it.

  “She got a local doctor to go along with her plans by basically framing him. She told him that she knew he had an affair in the past and she threatened to tell his wife if he didn’t help her. She claimed to have proof and numerous witnesses. The poor guy was terrified of losing his family so he did whatever she asked. He falsified paperwork and prescriptions for her. She came home from that first doctor’s visit with a confirmation of pregnancy, a due date, a calendar, prenatal and extra iron pills, and a chart that showed the baby’s growth in terms of weeks. Anything from the doctor’s office looked completely legit. There’s no way Jack would have known she was lying. None of us did.”

  “She is really a piece of work, that girl,” I breathed out.

  Nora leaned over and tapped the magazine meaningfully. “All in all, the article paints an extremely unflattering picture of this Chrystle person and makes you and Jack out to be the victims, without looking stupid.”

  I nodded. “So, with Vanessa’s interview, ours would sort of be redundant?”

  “I believe so. My suggestion is that we wait and see how this plays out. I can’t imagine there will be any more questions after people read this interview, but it might not hurt for the two of you to make a joint statement.” She tapped two of her fingers along the side of her jaw. “Maybe we do a more upbeat article and photo spread on your new apartment, your lives, how happy you two are here in New York. More like a public image, life, and style piece. But there’s no rush.”

  I smiled. “I like that. I think it’s a good idea.”

  Jack barely smiled, possibly still in shock over everything Vanessa’s article revealed. “I do have one question, if you don’t mind, Nora?” Jack asked.

  “Of course.”

  “How did you get in touch with Vanessa?”

  My eyes grew wide as I realized I hadn’t even thought about that. Nora smiled and looked at me. “This one’s best friend.”

  I narrowed my gaze. “Melissa?”

  “She’s a little firecracker that one,” she breathed out. “I think she got Vanessa’s phone number from Jack.”

  Jack tilted his head back in recollection. “She did ask me for her number. But that wa
s months ago. After the annulment.”

  “She did? That’s weird,” I said.

  “I swear she told me she wanted to thank her. Knowing her, she probably did.”

  Nora spoke up. “Well, she passed along Vanessa’s contact information to me and I was prepared to reach out to her when Melissa let me know I didn’t need to. She said that she had spoken to Vanessa, and she was only too obliged to give us an interview for the magazine. Apparently the poor girl has been sick over Chrystle’s publicity stunts and Melissa convinced her to talk to us.”

  “She’s the only reason Chrystle signed the annulment papers. Otherwise, I’d probably still be technically married to her.” Jack winced, giving my hand a quick squeeze.

  “She’s come through for us twice now,” I said.

  “So as I mentioned, there’s no need for us to do the interview we had intended. We’ll schedule the upbeat piece for later, and this article will run in both the online and print versions starting Wednesday.” Nora smiled. “You can keep those copies. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow, Cassie?”

  “I’ll be here. Thank you so much.” I stood and walked over to her desk to give her a hug.

  Nora straightened her jacket and skirt when I released her. “It’s nothing. Just good business.” She tried not to smile.

  Jack reached across her desk to shake her hand. “We really appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

  Her face softened. “You’re welcome. Now, go win some games.”

  I hated to admit that I was relieved about the tell-all interview being canceled. I would have gladly done it, but part of me was thankful we didn’t have to. All the same information was going to come out, but it didn’t come from me or Jack. I assumed there would be fewer accusations that way.

  Once we were in the back of the taxi, Jack threw his arm around me and asked, “How do you feel?”

  “I’m relieved we don’t have to do that kind of interview. I’m angry at hearing all those things, and I’m sad that it all happened. But I’m happy that it’s all going to be over soon.” I leaned my head against his shoulder as he pulled me close against him. “How do you feel?”

  “I’m pissed off at reading all that shit. I’m mad at her for being crazy. I’m mad at me for being stupid. I just want it all behind us once and for all.”

  “Soon,” I promised.

  While Jack paid the fare, I exited the cab and headed into the lobby of our apartment building. My legs almost folded on me when I saw a familiar petite brunette at the front desk talking to our concierge. I bolted through the revolving door, ignoring our doorman as my insides raged. She turned toward me, and I screamed, “What the fuck are you doing in here? Antonio, she’s not allowed in here. She’s not welcome.”

  “Oh look,” Chrystle said in her honeyed accent. “It’s Cassie, the home wrecker.”

  “Why don’t you go back to Whore Island already? What are you doing here?” I screeched at the last person on earth I wanted to see.

  She placed her hand on her hip and leaned toward me. “Did you know that people will pay thousands of dollars for a juicy gossip story? They don’t even really check their facts anymore.”

  My hands balled in and out of fists as she smiled at me triumphantly. “The truth will come out soon enough, and then everyone will know what a lying, psychotic bitch you are,” I spat out.

  “I don’t think so. People love little ol’ me. I’m just a victim in all of this and they feel so sorry for me.”

  “I think you overestimate your ability to deceive.”

  “It’s gotten me this far, hasn’t it? And it got your boyfriend to marry me. Remember that?” Her mouth twisted into a wicked grin as she pointed in Jack’s direction.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled my arm back. With as much forward motion as I could muster, I slapped her wretched, conniving, evil face. The sound echoed through the lobby as she gasped, a red handprint outlined across her cheek.

  “You bitch!” She glanced outside, where I hadn’t noticed a lone photographer standing before. Flashes of light bounced off the windowpanes.

  She set this up.

  I refused to be her victim any longer. “Next time it won’t be a slap. Don’t come near me again and stay the fuck away from Jack.”

  Adrenaline made my heartbeat thump in my ears as Jack suddenly appeared at my side. “What the hell are you doing here?” he shouted at the unwanted trash.

  “Oh, Jack!” she whined. “Your girlfriend just hit me. Do something!”

  He puffed out his chest, looking down at her. “I’ll hold your ass in place if she wants to do it again. Now get the fuck out of my apartment building, you stupid bitch.”

  She gasped, her face scrunched in horror. “You’ll regret that. Both of you. You just wait,” she threatened as she shuffled in her high heels toward the door.

  “Are you OK?” Jack’s voice turned caring and concerned.

  I released a quick breath, still shaking from my actions. My hand vibrated and pulsed from the impact. “I can’t believe I did that.”

  He smiled. “I can’t believe I missed it!”

  “Oh, don’t worry. Someone was taking pictures, so I’m sure you’ll see it soon enough.” I gestured toward the photographer trying to keep up with Chrystle, and Jack bolted out the door.

  I watched him shout until the photographer slowed down. Jack pulled him aside and talked to him, while Chrystle looked on from a short distance away. Jack smiled and then jogged back in to our building.

  “What did you say to him?”

  Jack smiled. “I told him that it would be in his best interest to not publish those photos. Chrystle was a stalker, I was filing a restraining order against her today, and everything that comes out of her mouth is a lie. And I mentioned that if he published anything that further damaged your reputation, I’d hunt him down and shove that camera so far up his ass he’d need a doctor to remove it.”

  “Um, babe.” I shook my head, knowing full well that threats don’t work on paparazzi types.

  “Then I bought the pictures from him and demanded exclusivity. If they show up anywhere, I’ll sue him. Looks like I will get to see you hitting her after all.” He kissed the top of my head and turned toward Antonio, who looked confused and unsure what to do. “That woman is a stalker. I’ll be filing a restraining order against her this afternoon. Please see to it that she does not come in here again.”

  “Yes, sir,” Antonio responded.

  Jack joined me at the waiting elevator, and I whispered, “Are you really getting a restraining order?”

  “She’s stalking me, she threatened us, and I think she’s unstable,” he said with a smile.

  “She’s definitely something, alright.” I leaned up to plant a kiss on his cheek before pulling out my phone.

  I typed out a quick text to Melissa:

  Thank you for getting Vanessa to do the story. It’s unbelievable. You’re unbelievable! :) PS. Chrystle was just here. In our building. And I slapped her! LOL

  Melissa responded immediately.

  You did? THAT FUCKING ROCKS! HAHA I heard she was in NY trying to shop around a potential book idea. As soon as the article hits, she’ll be dead in the water. No one will touch her. And you’re welcome. Vanessa was scared at first, but she really pulled through.

  I quickly typed back:

  Yeah, she did. If you talk to her again, which I’m sure you will because you’re like that… please tell her I said thank you.

  “Are you texting Melissa?”

  I looked up at Jack. “Yeah.”

  “Tell her I said thank you.”

  “I will.”

  A Proposal

  SEVERAL WEEKS LATER

  Cassie

  Things changed once the article came out with all of Vanessa’s revelations. The public’s desire to know everything didn’t ease up, but at least Jack and I were no longer viewed as the bad guys. Melissa told me that the online message boards were filled with commen
ts about how much I must have loved Jack to forgive him for everything, and how strong we must be as a couple to have endured it all and still be together. True to my word, I hadn’t been online to read any of it since the night I broke down. And Melissa had been right, I did feel better. I guess sometimes ignorance is bliss.

  I also attended Jack’s games without the fear of being ridiculed or mocked… unless he lost, then the fans were still unforgiving. Even a few of the mean wives commented about the article and what a horrible thing happened to me and Jack. They still didn’t go out of their way to talk to me, but at least they acknowledged my existence. Which I’ll admit was hard at times, considering I knew what some of their husbands were doing behind their backs.

  Work got busier for me, and I was assigned to my first on-location shoot after a tornado practically destroyed an entire town in the Midwest. It was harder than I imagined, shooting the devastation and witnessing people’s pain up close and in person. My heart literally ached with each shot I captured.

  Sometimes I questioned if what I was doing held true value. And I wondered how I was any better than the paparazzi, invading people’s personal space for the sake of a photograph.

  But when one of my photos was chosen to solicit donations and another was used to focus on rebuilding the town, my fears were eased. I convinced myself that my pictures did good and helped bring to light the true devastation, so others could see it and be called to help.

  I walked the short distance from the subway station to our apartment, excited to see Jack. His team had an afternoon playoff game that day and I didn’t attend partly because I knew Jack wouldn’t be pitching and I was also under a deadline at work. It was embarrassing how excited I got at the idea of coming home to Jack. He wasn’t normally home before I was, and I liked walking through the door and into his waiting arms. I looked up at our apartment building, the shadow casting halfway across the street, and grinned. I allowed myself to get lost in the sounds of the traffic rushing past me, finding comfort in their constant accompaniment.