Chapter 21

A few days after Nova looked over the damning contents of the envelope that Liam brought her, Becket had decided it was time to talk to her father about the new budding relationship.

"Eric. Can I talk to you?" Becket stepped in Eric's office, closing the door behind him.

"Hey, Beck. How's my daughter getting along with the training?" He shuffled the papers on his desk and looked up at Becket with an upbeat smile.

"Good. She's ready to get in the ring. She needs a couple of weeks of being in front of the crowd before we throw her in anything big. I don't want to push her too fast, but I think she'll be fine moving forward. We're starting to get along better too. Actually, we've been spending a little extra time together in the last few days, and that's what I want to talk to you about."

Eric looked confused. "Okay? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. Nothing wrong between us. It just… I like her, Eric. I actually want to start seeing her. Nova's really been showing a different side of herself lately. I took her to dinner and we've been talking. I want to ask her out on a real date, but I want your blessing first. I know you hated us hanging out at WEC, but she's not a child anymore. We are both grown adults now, and it's not like it was back then. I don't have to ask your permission, but as her father, I want to show my respect. That's just how I was raised." Becket sat down across from Eric nervously hoping for his approval.

Eric sat back, crossing his arms behind his head with a sly smirk. "Humm? Interesting. I thought you said she was a spoiled brat."

"Don't be so smug about it. Once I had the chance to know her better, she's really not as bad as I thought."

"Hell, Becket. You spanked Nova like a child in front of everyone in catering. As my daughter, she deserved it. But if you want to be with her, you sure as hell better never touch her again or I'll kick your ass."

"I would never hurt her. You know that. I didn't even smack her butt hard, it was just a little tap. I just did it to prove a point and would never hit a woman, nor hurt her in any way. I was just trying to show her how ridiculous she was being. She was acting crazy with all her little tantrums when she got here. Can you actually say she didn't need to be knocked down a few notches?" Becket said seriously.

"Well, I know that she can be a hand full. I just want to know you have her best interest at heart. If anyone here wanted to be with her, I am glad it's you."

"I appreciate that."

"Listen, Becket. I agreed to team her with you for a reason. I trust you. You're not one of these party guys around here who would get her back into doing drugs or drinking. You're a good man. She needs to stay away from that life."

"Do you approve?"

Eric nodded. "Yes. You have my blessing. I know she has had a thing for you for years. I had a feeling it wouldn't be long before the two of you started getting closer anyway."

"Thank you. I'll get out of your hair. See you at the show tonight."

Eric rubbed his head thinking about his daughter. "Hold up just a moment. Let me ask you something. You two have been spending a lot of time together, right? Have you noticed something not completely right about all this?"

"What do you mean? You don't think she's committed?"

"No. I'm not saying she doesn't really want to be here. I know she does. It just feels like something is off with her personally. Nova's just not my sweet baby girl she once was. She was so full of life and it's like she's lost her spark. She hasn't been the same for a long time now. She's sober but still somethings wrong; I can feel it. I honestly don't know what happened to get her doing drugs, to begin with. She wasn't ever one to get into trouble like that."

"You feel it too? Ace, Jake, Kev, and I have been talking about that. You know how she used to follow us everywhere and would always joke around with us? She's different, even with Kev and he always took her under his wing like a little sister. I'm not sure what to make of it. I asked her to talk to me about whatever's bothering her, but she is so vague about things."

"Well, if you find something out let me know. I'm worried sick about her." Eric stood to shake Becket's hand. "Thanks for waiting until she was at least legal age."

"Haha, jackass." Becket laughed. "I wouldn't have messed with her back then. She was just a kid. We may not have been that far apart in age, but it was still weird that she was underage."

"You have my blessing, Becket. Good luck with her. You'll need it."

***

That night after the house show, Becket texted Nova to say good night telling her he talked with her father. He asked her on a date for the next night and to his surprise, she agreed.

Nova was getting ready for her date when a text popped up on her phone. She read it with a groan seeing Liam's name.

Liam: Times ticking, sweet cheeks. It's me or him.

Nova: Are you threatening me?

Liam: Now why would I do that? Meet me in the coffee house down the street in an hour.

Nova: Not happening.

A photo popped up on her text with a photo of her and Becket.

Liam: All this attention from the media must be annoying for him. He's always been a fairly private person.

She knew what he was implying. He would send a photo of them to the media.

Nova: Fine. You have five minutes.

Liam: That's all I need.

An hour later, Nova entered the coffee house finding Liam at the back of the room, looking self-righteous as ever. His eyes roamed over her like she was a piece of meat, making her skin crawl.

"What do you want?"

"What? No hello's or a hug?" Liam narrowed his eyes tauntingly as if he had everything under control as he adjusted his tie.

"Touch me and I'll break your arm."

Liam chuckled saying, "Such violence. Sit. We have things to discuss."

Nova sat across from him waving her head toward the door. "My security is outside. Don't think you are going to pull any crap here."

"I just wanted to give you an option to get out of this little situation we have ourselves in."

"You mean the one you made. Get to the point."

"Here's the deal, Nova. I know about the alone time you're having with loverboy. I'm sure he would not want to know about all the things you've done. It would put a little damper on your little budding romance, wouldn't it? Becket's always been know as a straight-laced guy I don't think he'd like to know what a dirty little slut his new girl really is."

Nova just sat glaring at him.

"Okay. So you don't want to talk. Then you'll listen." Liam leaned up. "I need some cash. Fifty grand by morning and I won't release these photos of you and Becket."

"So now you're extorting me for money? Is there any low that you won't reach, Liam?"

He laughed. "Eh. Not one that I've found. What you see as extortion, is just a business deal to me. Fifty G's by morning, sent to my account."

"How can I be sure you won't release them anyway?"

"You can't, but that's the fun of a gamble isn't it?"

"Fine. Just leave Becket out of this."

Liam sat back rubbing his cheek maniacally. "Well, who said anything about that? That would cost you at least another… oh, I don't know… say… another hundred thousand.

"One hundred and fifty thousand and you will leave Becket alone?"

"Yep."

Nova sat and thought. She cared too much for Becket for him to be stuck in the middle of this nightmare so it left her with no choice. "All right. I'll do it."

"I knew you would see it my way. Remember, this isn't over. We still have other matters at hand. You're not getting away from me, Nova. You belong to me."

"You don't own me."

Laughing, Liam stood up and straightened his suit. "As long as I know your dirty little secret, I do."

He started to leave and turned back to her. "Oh, and one more thing. It would be especially nice if you stayed away from your loverboy. I get jealous when other men touch my girls."

"I'm not yours. I never was. I never will be."

"Oh, Nova. Will you ever learn?"