Chapter 81 Irritated

Chapter 81 Irritated
Kayla’s POV

The energy in the locker room was still buzzing long after the race ended. Sweat mixed with perfume and the synthetic smell of the rubber track that clung to all of us. Everyone talked over each other, replaying their laps and laughing as they hurried to change before the next events crowded the stadium.

Our coach stood in front of us with his stopwatch still hanging around his neck. He waited until everyone settled and looked his way. His expression was strict at first, but then it softened.

“Good work today,” he said loudly so we could all hear him well. “All of you pushed hard and kept your heads straight. Especially on that second lap. That could have gone badly.”

The women nodded and murmured their agreement.

His eyes moved to me and his voice raised a little. “And Kayla, you were the major game changer. You set the pace. You kept the team alive. That first lap changed everything.”

My teammates clapped lightly and a few nudged my arm as they passed me. I felt a small swell of pride but also a strange heaviness in my chest. I forced a polite smile.

“Thank you,” I replied.

Our coach continued, pacing slowly in front of us. “This was good, but do not relax yet. We have the next match coming up and I want you all sharper than today. No more distractions. No more careless stunts. You know what I mean.”

We all knew he was referring to Vivian without needing to say her name. Eyes flickered around but nobody said anything.

“We will all meet again soon,” he reminded us. “Rest, hydrate, and get your heads right. Dismissed.”

Bags zipped and benches rattled as everyone began packing up. The woman who did not like me very much lingered behind as she tied her hair back. She rarely spoke to me unless she wanted to throw bad remarks. So when she walked past me near the exit and paused, I looked up in surprise.

She cleared her throat and kept her gaze forward. “Good run today.”

It was short and stiff, but it was the closest thing to a compliment I had ever gotten from her. Before I could reply she was already walking away. I stared after her for a moment and then shook it off.

When I stepped outside the locker room, the sound of the crowd swallowed me instantly. People leaned over the rails waving programs, phones and cameras. Voices rose over each other:

“Kayla, can we get a picture!”

“Kayla over here!”

“Kayla, how do you feel about second place!”

“Kayla one selfie please!”

My heart tightened. I was still catching my breath and already the questions were coming in hard.Thank goodness my personal bodyguard already arrived. He moved in front of me, forming a buffer between me and the crowd as he guided me forward.

“Make way please,” he said firmly while raising a hand. “Let her through.”

I appreciated his presence more than ever as people reached out, trying to touch my arm or grab my jacket. I gave small waves and kept walking, forcing small smiles to avoid appearing rude. But inside, my stomach was twisting with anxiety.

Because once I reached the parking lot, the real tension waited for me.

My nerves had already started swirling as I approached the cars. I kept replaying the awkwardness that was bound to unfold between Steven and Ashton. Neither of them had ever interacted well around me before, and today of all days had to be another scene. I hated that I cared about how it would go, but I did.

When I finally reached the edge of the parking lot, I spotted Steven leaning against his car. He was dressed casually in a white shirt with a jacket hanging loosely off one shoulder. He looked up immediately when he saw me approaching.

His face lit up in that rare warm way that always surprised me. “There you are.”

He pushed off the car and walked toward me. “You were incredible out there. I am not even pretending to be humble about it. That was insane.”

I forced a small laugh, trying to push away the tension in my chest. “Thanks. It felt good until it did not.”

“You still carried the team,” he said. “That counts for a lot.”

He paused and looked me over like he was checking if I was hurt. “I was thinking… Maybe I can take you home. You freshen up, then we go get something to eat. You deserve to celebrate after that performance.”

I opened my mouth to answer him, but another voice cut through the air.

“Kayla!”

My entire body tensed. I turned and found Ashton walking across the lot with his hands in his pockets. He had that relaxed confidence that made people notice him without him trying. When he reached us, he flashed me a grin.

“I saw everything,” he said. “You killed it. I mean, wow.”

“Thank you,” I replied quietly.

He walked closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “I was going to take you to celebrate. I have a surprise for you. You will love it.”

My throat tightened. Steven shifted slightly and I realized he had been waiting for me to reply. Ashton’s timing could not have been worse.

I glanced at Steven. “Uh… just give me a second.”

Steven nodded, but his jaw ticked slightly. He looked like he did not appreciate being put on hold, especially not in front of Ashton.

I turned to Ashton. “Hi. And thank you. But why did you have to show up now?”

“So we could leave together,” he replied. “And supporting you. Obviously.”

Before I could figure out what to say next, Steven called out from behind me.

“Kayla, we need to go,” he said in a tone that sounded rushed. “I do not have all day.”

Ashton’s smile faded. He looked over my shoulder at Steven and his voice hardened. “She is talking to me.”

Steven walked closer and the air instantly shifted. He was calm, but there was steel beneath it. “She can talk to you later.”

“Funny,” Ashton replied. “Because she was talking to me first.”

I stood between them, watching the two men silently size each other up. The tension thickened so fast it became suffocating. There was no yelling, no insults, just this quiet tug of dominance between them.

“She already has plans with me,” Steven said coolly.

“I think that depends on her,” Ashton countered.

They looked at me, waiting for an answer, but instead of feeling flattered, I felt irritated. The situation reminded me of how childish men could get when they wanted to test power around women. I hated it.

“I actually have a conference meeting to attend,” I said suddenly.

Both men blinked.

“I have a conference meeting,” I repeated. “So I cannot go anywhere right now. I need to get home. Both of you please excuse me.”

Without waiting for any response, I turned around and walked off. My bodyguard moved beside me and we headed for my car which he came with. I refused to look back at either of them.

By the time I got home, I wanted nothing more than to stand under a hot shower until my skin wrinkled. I dropped my bag by the door and walked upstairs to freshen up. After changing into something comfortable, I sat on the edge of my bed with a towel still wrapped around my head.

I reached for my phone and stared at Maya’s name for a moment before dialing.

She picked up on the second ring. “Hey Kayla.”

“Hi,” I said softly. “How are you?”

“I am alright,” she replied. “With my parents right now. They kidnapped me with food and movies.”

I smiled faintly. “That does not sound bad.”

“It is not. They have been trying to cheer me up. They will not let me think too much.”

“Do you want me to come visit? I’d like to come over.” I said feeling the urge to see her.

“No,” she said quickly. “Not now. I am fine. Really.”

I nodded even though she could not see me. “Okay. Take all the time you need. Do not worry about work. Just focus on you.”

“I will be back soon,” she promised. “Thank you.”

After we hung up, I placed the phone on the bed and stared at the wall. The day replayed in my head like a badly edited film. Vivian’s stunt. The silent sabotage. The stupid power contest between Steven and Ashton. Everything felt messy and exhausting.

My mother walked into my room without knocking, still carrying her handbag from the stadium. She looked really excited until she saw my face.

“You ran beautifully today,” she said as she sat beside me. “But right now, you look troubled.”

“I am just tired,” I muttered.

“Tired or bothered?” she asked gently.

I sighed and leaned back against the pillows. “It is a lot. Vivian acts like she owns the track. And then Steven and Ashton acting like teenage boys. It is ridiculous.”

She nodded slowly. “They are acting that way because they care.”

“That does not make it less annoying.”

She chuckled softly. “True.”

We went quiet for a moment before she continued. “Kayla, I know you think I want you to end up with a responsible family man like Steven. And yes, that is true to an extent. But I cannot control your heart. No mother can.”

I turned my head to look at her. She gave a sad little smile.

“I foolishly fell for Thomas Wade,” she said. “My heart betrayed my intelligence. That is what hearts do. They choose what they want, not what makes sense.”

I swallowed. I knew she was right.

“So listen to your heart,” she whispered. “But also use your intelligence. And please do not drag both men along aimlessly. It is not fair to them or to you. You have to choose someone soon.”

After she left, I stared at the ceiling. Steven felt safe. Husband material. Protective. Logical. But distant. Distant in a way that reminded me too much of Adrian. And I was terrified of repeating that kind of heartbreak and mistake again.

Ashton was charming, attentive, handsome, and he knew how to treat a woman. But charm did not always equal longevity. And desire did not always equal love.

Nobody was perfect, but perfection was not what scared me. What scared me was choosing wrong again.

My phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen and saw Hayley’s name. I answered.

“Hey stranger,” I said.

“Hey yourself,” she replied with a bright voice. “Long time. Anyway, I am hosting a surprise party for my husband in two days. Balloons and everything.”

I smiled. “That sounds fun.”

“I want you to come help me,” she said. “You are good at event stuff and I need someone who will not ruin the surprise.”

“I can do that,” I replied. “Where?”

“Los Angeles. I will text you the address.”

“Alright. I will be there.”

After we hung up, I opened my contacts to call my secretary to book a flight. Before I could dial, my phone lit up again.

My private investigator…

I didn’t hesitate and answered almost immediately.

“Miss Kayla,” he said. “I have news.”

My heart jumped at the sound of news. “What did you find?”

“I found something,” he said. “Something incriminating against Vivian.”