“Forever.”
“Nothing is forever in business.”
“In writing.”
Monique became quiet.
“And if I lose?”
Henrik sighed.
“Tanner wants you to sweep his driveway on livestream.”
Malik heard from across the room.
“No.”
Monique looked at him.
“For the Sunday team?”
“No.”
“Malik.”
“He humiliated you already.”
She sat beside him.
“This isn’t about Tanner.”
“It is to him.”
“That’s his problem.”
Malik looked at her.
“You really think you can beat him?”
Monique smiled faintly.
“I think your mother would tell me not to do something stupid.”
Malik smiled back.
“She’d tell you to keep your elbows up.”
Monique laughed.
Then called Henrik.
“I’ll do it.”
Across town, Tanner heard the news and smiled.
Because he had already arranged for Monique to lose.
Skills Night sold out in forty-three minutes.
What had begun as humiliation became the hottest ticket in Harbor City.
Tanner Voss versus Monique Tate.
Current Wolves superstar against a former national captain who had spent six years anonymously driving the resurfacing machine.
Briella sold sponsorships around the event.
Tanner loved that part.
“See?”
He told Monique before warmups.
“People like me fill the seats.”
Monique was sitting on a bench lacing old skates borrowed from the equipment department.
One blade had a nick.
The boot leather was cracked.
Tanner pointed.
“Nice skates. Did they come with a museum ticket?”
Monique ignored him.
Malik stood behind the bench.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’re lying.”
“Yes.”
Henrik entered carrying a pair of professional skates.
“Use mine.”
Monique looked up.
“They’re too big.”
“Extra socks.”
She laughed.
Henrik handed them over.
“Six years you kept this ice perfect.”
He looked toward the rink.
“Tonight, use it.”
Monique touched the boards.
“Okay, Mom.”
Malik heard.
He squeezed her shoulder.
In the hallway outside, Briella intercepted Tanner.
She handed him a white envelope.
“What’s that?”
“Five thousand.”
“For?”
“You’re going to offer it to her.”
Tanner frowned.
“Why?”
“Lose quietly. Take the money. Everybody goes home happy.”
Tanner laughed.
“She won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
Neither noticed Malik standing around the corner.
Minutes later, Tanner approached Monique near the tunnel.
He held out the envelope.
“Five thousand.”
Monique looked at it.
“What for?”
“Walk away.”
She almost laughed.
“You’re bribing me?”
“Call it appearance money.”
“If I leave, Sunday loses the ice.”
“I can talk Briella into one more month.”
Monique pushed the envelope back.
“Keep it.”
“Five grand.”
“Buy the families some skates.”
Tanner’s face tightened.
“Don’t say I didn’t help you.”
“You poured a drink on me.”
“That was content.”
“No.”
Monique looked him in the eyes.
“That was character.”
The arena announcer called them out.
The crowd roared.
Five shots each against Henrik.
