Owens

as stuck in my head. He never mentioned sendin

cing a new piano piece when my ph

then answer

e other end was cool and elegant, laced wi

e. Christian's mother. I'd only heard her spe

beat. "Yes, this is

ree o'clock. Mike will pick you up." She wasn'

about, but she gave me no chance. "

ned. Why did she want to see me so

teraction with the Carlisle family made m

put on some light makeup, trying to l

apartment building. The driver, Mike Tucker, one of the f

he said with

burbs. I watched the city streets blu

iving past manicured lawns and a massive fountain before sto

long hallway lined with

oom. The maid led me to a glass

ing a rose bush. She wore a perfectly tailored Chanel s

ust gestured with her chin t

fly, my hands c

shears. She wiped her hands on a damp towel, then

renda Walsh?" sh

as the cleaning lady who used to come to our ap

missed," Meredi

hocked.

't keep her mouth shut. She told people your relationship with Christian

cold. How c

landed on me like a physical blow. "Not from our staff, and not

e had called me

hristian look settled, stable, untouchable. Instead, our stilted, hollow performance had become the very thing peopl

been stripped naked in public. My role as a "con

o explain, but my throat was dr

absurd decision. An athlete should be focused on his c

PR strategy she

d said in a tone as casual as if she were discussing