He shrugged. “Not sure.”

“Why aren’t you nervous?”

“’Cause there isn’t anything I can do until I get in there.”

“I understand that, but what could this be about?”

“I have no clue,” he said, looking up at her. His body was stretched out in the chair while she was wound so tight she could scream. “But, I mean, I’m sure it’s fine. Elli isn’t an asshole.”

That was true, she knew that. Yet, it didn’t calm her at all. When the door opened to Elli’s office, Brie almost came out of her seat as Elli filled the doorway. While she looked like a billion bucks in a pair of jeans that were rolled up at the ankle with a long, expensive-looking blue sweater along with gold jewelry and gold pumps that probably cost more than Brie’s apartment, when Brie made it to her face, her stomach dropped.

Elli was not happy.

Vaughn must have noticed it too because he turned on the charm quickly. “Ever so gorgeous. Have you lost weight?”

She scoffed. “Actually gained it, but thanks, come on in.”

“Are you sure?” he asked as he passed her. “You look thinner than when I saw you a couple weeks ago.”

“I’m sure. It’s the sweater, hides the weight.”

“Pfft, you don’t need to hide anything.”

“Ha. Have a seat, Vaughn. Brie.”

Brie was silent as she walked in, sitting beside Vaughn as he leaned on his knees, looking over at her and sending her a wink before looking back at Elli. “Is that a new picture of Quinny? He’s so cute. Though, Shelli is growing into a little lady.”

Elli smiled as she sat slowly. “Stop, Vaughn.”

Vaughn choked a bit. “Excuse me?”

“You’re rambling.”

“Oh, am I?” he asked, looking to Brie, and she nodded quickly.

“Just a bit.”

“Oh. My bad.”

Folding her hands together, Elli looked out at the both of them. “I’m sure you two are wondering why I called y’all here.” When they didn’t answer, she went on. “I’m actually surprised I didn’t walk out there to you two taking digs at each other.”

Brie pressed her lips together as Vaughn glanced over at her and then to Elli. “I guess we’ve worked out our differences.”

“Oh, have you?” she asked, leaning back in her seat as Brie’s heart went insane in her chest.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“You know,” she said, sitting up then, “I think so too, and let me explain why. I was in the editing room when they were cutting the special on you two. To my surprise, there was digging on both y’all’s parts, which was expected, but then I actually listened to the digging and discovered there was quite a story to tell. Or was I reading too much into it?”

Brie couldn’t speak. Her heart was in her throat, and she was pretty sure she was getting fired.

Still blasé, Vaughn shrugged. “Not sure what you read.”

“Oh, let me tell you. That you two obviously had something going on, or still do, and decided to act like fools in front of all your colleagues.”

“You read it right, then,” Vaughn confirmed, and Brie’s eyes widened. She didn’t expect him to lie, but hell, he could have been a little more evasive about it.

When Brie looked back at Elli, she was glaring. “You two should know better.”

“I mean, it was heat of the moment stuff. You’re right, we shouldn’t have been fighting in front of everyone.”

“That and you know better than to get involved with an employee.”

Everything stopped. Brie’s mouth hung open as Vaughn leaned forward. “Excuse me?”

“You know you can’t start anything with an employee, and the employees can’t start anything with the players.”

Vaughn held his hand up. “Um, you know that Reeves and the photographer girl are not only doing it on every flat or not flat surface they find, but they’re also getting married.”

“I hired her after they were together. The rules don’t apply to them.”

Brie felt the tears burning in her eyes as she looked over at Vaughn. He shrugged. “Well, the rules aren’t going to apply to us either, then.”

Elli’s head cocked to the side as her eyes widened. Brie was speechless. This was his boss. “So you are still together?”

“Hell yeah, we’re together, and we’re going to stay together. I don’t care about some rules. Fine me if you need to, but I don’t care.”

“You’re not getting fined for me,” Brie tried, but he shook his head, holding her gaze.

“Yes, I am. I will. Fuck that,” he said before looking back to Elli.

“You signed a contract, as did she. And since it’s easier for her to be relocated—”

“Hold the phone,” Vaughn laughed, holding his hands up. “I respect you, you know I do, but no way. Trade me.”

“Vaughn!” Brie shrieked, but he waved her off.

“I can come back on breaks, we’ll make it work. But there is no way in hell I’m having you uproot your life and worry any more about Rodney, either moving him or letting him stay here. No fucking way, because we’re staying together. I don’t care about some stupid rule.”

Elli gave him a dry look. “Vaughn, you know I won’t trade you.”

“Then I’ll start sucking. I’m coming up as a free agent in two years. I will ruin my play, my game, because I’m not uprooting her. I’m the one who went after her. I am irresistible, and she couldn’t resist me.”

“You are unbelievable,” Brie muttered, but his gaze was locked with Elli’s.

“I don’t care about these rules, and I’m pretty sure there is a way around them. And being the owner, you need to find it because you won’t have another Vaughn Johansson, nor will you find another reporter like her. She is the best you’ve got. She’s smart, she knows her game, and she engages anyone she talks to. She brings a grin to your face just watching her. You can’t get rid of that all because of who she chooses to be with. That’s stupid.” Brie’s heart couldn’t take it, and when the tears started down her cheeks, he did a double take before throwing his hands up. “Why the hell are you crying? I told you we’re fine. This is fine. Calm down.” Reaching over, he took her hand and squeezed it. “Did I say we’re fine?” She nodded, unable to speak. “Then stop.”