Chapter 117

The air in the parking lot behind the ice rink was frigid, biting into Timothy’s skin as he trudged towards his car. Hockey practice had been intense, and the exhaustion gnawed at him. As he approached his car, he noticed Alex just a few feet away.

Timothy almost left it alone, but then he spotted another figure emerging from the car they were standing beside. It was one of Timothy’s teammates.

Timothy’s eyebrows knitted together in suspicion as Alex slipped some money in the younger man’s hands. The first time should have been the last time, because Alex’s deals were getting more obvious with time.

Alex, with a guilty start, looked up and caught Timothy’s gaze. His eyes widened briefly before he quickly pocketed the money. Timothy’s instincts kicked in, and he decided to approach.

The teammate had already gone by the time Timothy stode over to where Alex was standing, his anger simmering just below the surface.

“Alex,” Timothy began, his voice edged with a sharpness that cut through the chilly air. “What was that all about?”

Alex feigned innocence, his face a mask of nonchalance. “What are you talking about, Timothy?”

Timothy didn’t buy it for a second. “Don’t play dumb, Alex. I saw you. What are you up to?”

Alex sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his demeanor. “Look, Timothy, it’s nothing. Just some personal business.”

Timothy’s patience was wearing thin, and he had no intention of letting Alex off the hook so easily.

He leaned in closer, his voice low and dangerous.

“Personal business? In a dark parking lot? Money changing hands like some kind of secret deal?

I’m not buying it.”

Alex shifted uncomfortably, his gaze darting around as if searching for an escape route. “Timothy, you don’t understand. It’s not what you think.”

Timothy’s anger flared, and he took a step closer, his voice a menacing whisper. “I 175 40 Sat, 23 Mar G G suggest you start talking, Alex, because it looks like you’re involved in something shady.”

Alex hesitated for a moment, his resolve crumbling under the weight of Timothy’s anger. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and hesitant. “It doesn’t concern you.”

Timothy’s eyes narrowed. “Are you betting on games?

Alex scoffed, attempting to brush off Timothy’s inquiry. “You’re imagining things.

man.”

Timothy’s patience was wearing thin. He wasn’t about to let Alex off the hook so easily. “Don’t play games with me, Alex. If you’re into something illegal behind the scenes, I’ll make sure everyone knows.”

Alex shifted uncomfortably before responding, “Look, it’s not what you think. I’ve been helping out a friend with some financial stuff. It’s nothing illegal, I swear.”

Timothy’s anger flared again, and he clenched his fists at his sides. “You’re not just risking your own career, Alex. You’re putting our entire club in jeopardy. If anyone finds out about this, it could bring down the entire league.”

Alex merely smirked in response. This made Timothy’s temperature rise, almost to a breaking point, and he crossed his arms impatiently.

Before he could speak his mind once more, Alex finally spoke up, “Oh, by the way, your girlfriend’s here to see you.”

Startled, Timothy turned to see who Alex was referring to. His heart sank as he spotted Stella standing a few feet away, her presence an unwelcome surprise.

“Stella?” Timothy stammered, trying to hide his discomfort. “What are you doing here?”

Stella approached with a sly smile, feigning innocence. “Hi, Timothy!”

When she leaned in to give him a kiss, Timothy ducked away with a grimace. She laughed it off, though he caught the subtle glare she gave him.

“Lighten up, babe,” she said. “I’m just here to support you.”

He groaned and looked back at Alex, who was already sneaking away. “She’s not my girlfriend!” he insisted, hoping the other had heard.

Timothy’s face reddened with embarrassment as he glanced around, suddenly aware of the prying eyes of other hockey players. It seemed that they all knew his life more than he did at that point. His name never left the news.

He stepped closer to Stella and lowered his voice. “Stella, we can’t do this here. Let’s talk in private.”

They moved away from the curious gazes of the hockey players, finding a more secluded spot.

Timothy felt his anger simmer.

“What are you really doing here, Stella?” Timothy asked, his voice tense.

Stella shrugged, her eyes dancing with mischief. “I told you, Timothy, I’m here to support you. Is that so hard to believe?”

Timothy couldn’t contain his frustration any longer. “Don’t play games with me, Stella. You know why I’m upset.”

Stella’s smile faltered for a moment, and her gaze turned sharp. “Oh, Timothy, you’re always so serious. It was just one night. A little fun, that’s all.”

Timothy clenched his fists, his anger boiling over. “Fun? You drugged me, Stella! You coerced me into that bed!”

Stella’s expression hardened, but then her smile returned, albeit colder. “You’re exaggerating, Timothy. It was all in good fun, and I thought you enjoyed it.”

Timothy shook his head in disbelief. “You don’t get it, do you? I can’t have anyone find out about that night.”

Stella’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned in closer to him. “Why not? Afraid your precious Evie will think less of you?”

Timothy gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain his composure. “This isn’t a joke, Stella. You have no idea how much I care about Evie, and I won’t let you tarnish what we have.”

Stella’s gaze flickered with a hint of amusement. “Oh, Timothy, you’re so naive. You really think Evie cares about you? She’s just using you to climb the ladder.”

Timothy’s eyes blazed with anger. “Whatever. She’s not like that.”

Stella took a step back, her expression smug. “Believe what you want, Timothy, but Head Tan. La you should watch the news. You might find it enlightening.”

With those cryptic words, Stella turned and walked away, leaving Timothy seething with anger and confusion.

Nervousness gnawed at Timothy’s insides at Stella’s words. He knew he couldn’t ignore her, not when she was making such bold claims. He needed to find out what was going on. With a curt nod, he abruptly turned and left the sports center, his mind racing.

As he walked briskly toward his car, Timothy debated whether he should even dignify the tabloid rumors with his attention. He’d always despised the sensationalistic garbage that passed for news these days. But Stella’s insinuations left him curious about what the buzz surrounding Evie.

Once home, he kicked off his shoes and settled into his comfortable armchair. He stared at the television remote on the coffee table for a long moment before finally picking it up and switching on the news.

The television screen flickered to life, and Timothy’s heart sank as he saw Evie’s face pop up beside her boss, Mr. Erickson. The headline beneath the image read: “Scandal at Erickson Industries? CEO and Rising Star Employee’s Relationship Under Scrutiny.”

Timothy’s stomach plummeted as he listened to the anchor’s speculative words. The news report was a relentless assault of innuendo and insinuation. The anchor suggested that the close working relationship between Evie and Mr. Erickson had raised eyebrows in the company, with some sources claiming they’d been spotted together outside of work hours.

The anchor continued, “While there has been no official confirmation of romantic involvement, sources close to the pair have hinted at a more personal any connection behind closed doors.”

Timothy clenched his fists, anger simmering beneath the surface. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The news report cut to an interview with a so–called insider who claimed to have witnessed Evie and Mr. Erickson in compromising situations. Timothy’s jaw tightened as he listened to the salacious details being shared without any concrete evidence to support them.

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10:40 Sat, 23 Mar G G-

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Timothy snatched the remote off the couch and turned off the television.

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