Cassie flicks her eyes between Liam and me. “They’ve published material stating that you both met in a bar and had a one-night stand. They claim now that Ellis is pregnant, she wants a cut of a new contract – if or when Liam signs one.”

Her words hang in the air, an unwelcome presence as Liam continues to pace. My jaw open and closes, but I can’t find any appropriate words. I don’t know where to begin: between my anger, my shock, and my frustration, I’m completely lost.

Of course, nobody knows our history. It was such an important part of my life, but to everybody else it doesn’t even exist. I was his long before he was their favourite player. We loved each other before he was number eight on the Spears. But to the fans, to the blog runners, I’m a nobody.

I might have even thought the same if I were on the outside. A woman suddenly pregnant and clinging to a hockey player. It’s a fucked-up but valid theory – one we are conditioned to believe, despite whatever the reality might be.

“That’s bullshit. I want a press conference now, Cassie,” Liam demands. Every part of him looks ready to burst.

“Not happening,” she tells him. He stops in his tracks, turning to face her directly. Seeing his anger now directed towards her, Cassie doesn’t even blink. She just raises her eyebrows at him before explaining: “We aren’t going to give them the satisfaction of knowing they rattled you.”

“I’m not going to sit here and let them say shit like that about Ellis! No chance!” Liam is yelling now. “They think my baby is a trap,” he emphasises painfully. I try to catch his hand when he stands beside me, but he barely notices, the hairs on his arm raised.

“Of course they are wrong, but will you let me do my job?” Cassie asks, frustration starting to edge into her tone.

“You’re right Cassie. He’s sorry, aren’t you Liam?” I manage to grab his hand then. Pulling him back down into his chair.

He inhales deeply. “Yes – yeah, sure. Sorry.” He mumbles, fumbling his fingers against mine.

“Do you have any pictures of the two of you from college?” Cassie continues, to which we both nod in unison. “Good, I want you to post one on Instagram.” She instructs Liam.

“That’s it?” Liam laughs, unsure. I can’t say I understand either. I hate that people are thinking such despicable things of me and all she wants is a social media post.