Chapter 4

• Elena's POV
• They were the Glaciers' sworn enemies.
• Their captain, Noah Blackwood, was the complete opposite of Liam. If Liam was the golden "Ice Prince," Noah was the "Dark Knight." Brutal, efficient, and notoriously difficult to work with. He had fired three team doctors in the last two seasons.
• Rumor had it he hated incompetence.
• I opened my email. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. I didn't need a resume; my reputation in the league spoke for itself. I typed a simple subject line:
• Subject: Dr. Elena Vance - Availability.
• I sent it to the general manager of the Titans. I expected a reply in maybe a few days, or a week.
• I closed the laptop and went to the kitchen to make coffee, then remembered the pregnancy. I poured a glass of water instead.
• Buzz.
• My phone lit up on the counter.
• It was a text message from an unknown number.
• [Unknown: "Teterboro Airport. Private Hangar 4. Be there in an hour."]
• I frowned. Who was this?
• Another text followed immediately.
• Unknown: "Bring your passport. - N. Blackwood."
• My breath hitched. Noah Blackwood? He had my personal number? And he was in New York?
• It was insane. It was dangerous. If anyone saw me meeting the captain of the rival team, it would be considered treason.
• Perfect.
• I grabbed my purse, my passport, and the medical bag I always kept ready.
• Forty-five minutes later, I parked my Audi in the shadow of Hangar 4.
• A sleek, black Gulfstream jet sat on the tarmac, its engines idling with a low whine. A man stood at the bottom of the stairs, flanked by two bodyguards in suits.
• Even from a distance, Noah Blackwood was intimidating. He was taller than Liam, broader in the shoulders. He wore a charcoal suit that cost more than my car, no tie, the top button of his shirt undone to reveal a hint of tan skin. His dark hair was swept back, sharp and severe.
• I got out of the car and walked toward him. The wind whipped my hair across my face, but I didn't flinch.
• As I got closer, his eyes locked onto mine. They were a piercing shade of grey, like storm clouds over the ocean. They didn't scan my body like Liam often did; they stared straight into my soul.
• "Dr. Vance," his voice was deep, a baritone that vibrated in the air. "You're punctual. I like that."
• "Mr. Blackwood," I nodded, clutching my bag. "I sent an email to your GM twenty minutes ago. How..."
• "I have alerts set for your name," he interrupted simply. "We've been trying to poach you for two years, Elena. Can I call you Elena?"
• The intimacy of my first name on his lips made me shiver, but not from the cold.
• "Elena is fine," I said. "But I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm still under contract with the Glaciers."
• "A contract that is contingent on a visa sponsorship," Noah said, his gaze dropping to the ring on my finger. "And rumors say Marcus Kane is threatening to pull the plug if you don't play nice."
• My eyes widened. "How do you know that?"
• Noah smirked, a dangerous curve of his lips. "I know everything that happens in this league. I know Liam is a fool. I know Kane is a snake. And I know you are the only reason Liam's knees haven't shattered into dust yet."
• He gestured toward the open door of the jet. "Come inside. It's freezing out here, and you look... pale."
• I hesitated. "I have an appointment at 2 PM. I can't leave the city."
• Noah paused. He looked at me, really looked at me. His gaze softened for a fraction of a second, as if he sensed the turmoil swirling inside me.
• "We won't leave the tarmac," he promised. "Just a talk."
• I followed him up the stairs.
• The interior of the jet was pure luxury, cream leather, mahogany wood, the scent of espresso and expensive cologne. He motioned for me to sit, and he sat opposite me.
• "Cut to the chase," I said, my hands trembling slightly on my lap. "I need a job. I need a visa sponsor. If you hire me, I can bring all my research, my rehabilitation protocols, everything. But I need it done fast. My status is... complicated."
• Noah leaned back, crossing his long legs. "I don't just want your protocols, Elena. I want you. My team is strong, but they break easily. We need the best mechanic in the world."
• "So, you'll hire me?"
• "I can do better than that."
• He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a velvet box. He placed it on the table between us.
• I stared at it. "What is that?"
• "A solution," Noah said calmly. "A work visa takes months to process, especially if Kane tries to block it. He has connections in immigration. He can drag your application out until you're forced to leave."
• He was right. Marcus had threatened exactly that.
• "There is only one way to bypass the wait times and make you untouchable," Noah continued. He opened the box.
• Inside sat a ring. It wasn't like the modest diamond Liam had given me. This was a massive, radiant-cut sapphire surrounded by diamonds. It looked heavy. It looked like royalty.
• "Marry me," Noah said.