Life on the Edge (41 page)

I returned with a tall glass of water and settled back into my favorite chair. Across from me, David
Rebman
and Maria Snyder, the Director and Assistant Director of Athlete Performance, shifted their notepads on their laps.

“Emily, you said you and Sergei began spending more time together after you started assisting him with Courtney and Mark.” David glanced down at his notes. “In your conversations at the coffee shop, did Sergei ever invite you to his apartment or to another private location?”

“No, never.”

“Did he make any comments or suggestions that made you uncomfortable?”

“No,” I stated with even more firmness.

Maria removed her slim reading glasses and gave me a pensive look. “Did you ever get the sense Sergei was pursuing you? That he offered to let you assist him in order to get closer to you?”

“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “When we realized we had feelings for each other, he was the one who insisted we put distance between us. He didn’t plan for anything to happen.”

“But he ultimately decided to enter into a relationship with you,” Maria said. “What changed?”

“We just wanted to be together. It was too hard being apart.”

“Did you discuss how it could impact your work as coach and student?” David asked.

“We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we were willing to work through whatever issues we might face. And we’ve proven we can do that.”

I touched the empty spot on my left ring finger. I hadn’t been able to wear my engagement ring since the public still had no knowledge I was dating Sergei, much less marrying him. According to federation policy, the hearing and all our meetings must be kept confidential. With the Olympics kicking off in less than two weeks, discretion was especially important.

David cleared his throat. “Since you’ve been together, have there been any instances where Sergei has used his position of power in your personal relationship? Has he made demands of you, made you feel like you needed to comply with him in order to keep your training situation intact?”

“No, he would never do anything like that.” I could hear my voice getting shaky, so I took a long drink of water. “I told you up front he’s never pressured me in any way. I came into this willingly and have stayed in it willingly.”

Maria leaned forward and clasped her hands. “Even as a willing party, you could still be under Sergei’s control and not realize it. I know this is very personal, but I have to ask about your physical relationship. It’s important we understand all the dynamics of the situation.” She softened her voice. “We need to know the level of your intimacy.”

I dipped my head, my face on fire with mortification. I’d done nothing wrong and yet I had to submit to this cross-examination. I couldn’t imagine the harsh questions Sergei would be asked when David and Maria met with him later.

I kept my head down and picked at the fleece blanket covering the thick arm of the chair. “We’re not having sex, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Was that a mutual decision?”

I wanted to laugh at the surreal nature of the conversation. The most private details of my life, discussed so openly as if we were talking about the weather.

“I have very strong beliefs, which Sergei has respected because he loves me. Is that enough information for you?”

“Emily, I’m sorry we have to ask these questions, but we’re only looking out for you and Sergei’s other students,” Maria said. “We have to be thorough and find out everything we can.”

“I know you’re doing your job, but Sergei is a good man, and he doesn’t deserve to be put through this. He would never hurt me or any of his students.”

David fiddled with the cap on his pen, making a repeated clicking noise that didn’t help my agitation. “Sometimes good people make poor decisions. Sergei’s judgment regarding your relationship has brought up serious questions about his credibility.”

I set down my water with a clang on the glass end table. “If you speak to his students, you’ll find out all you need to know about his credibility. They trust him because he respects them and genuinely cares about them. He gives his heart and soul to his job. You have to see that.”

David and Maria both looked down at their papers, avoiding the desperation I knew must show in my eyes. David coughed and cleared his throat again.

“We just have a few more questions.”

****

Despite the confidentiality of Viktor’s hearing, everyone at the rink knew something was up. Viktor remained on staff while the panel spent a few days deliberating, but Aubrey and Nick stopped taking lessons from him. And after learning of Viktor’s behavior from Aubrey, Marley and Zach also cut ties with him. The rumor mill churned among the skaters in our club, spitting out a variety of theories on why Viktor’s top team would leave him on the eve of the Olympics. None of the rumors included my name, however; no one had any idea I was smack in the middle of the drama.

Aubrey and I checked our cell phones after our morning training sessions, and we both had voicemails from the chairman of the panel requesting us to call him. A ruling had been issued. Because of the expedited nature of the hearing, the chairman said he could deliver the ruling verbally as opposed to the standard written decision.

We scrambled from the locker room to look for an area of privacy. On the way to our rink manager Alex’s office, we ran into Viktor in the lobby. His phone was pressed to his ear, and a furious storm raged in his eyes.

He ended the call and glared at us, nostrils flaring. Aubrey and I folded our arms and stood tall, sensing we had won.

Viktor focused his contained anger on Aubrey first. “You know I’m the best coach you could ever have. You set your career back years by doing this.”

Aubrey raised her chin. “Nick and I will be fine.”

Viktor swung his sneer over to me next. “You think you’ve won, but I got what I wanted. I know the federation is investigating Sergei, and I have a feeling he won’t be so lucky for once.”

“Sergei doesn’t need luck,” I stated. “He has integrity, something you know nothing about.”

Chris walked up to my side, joining our line of opposition. Viktor inhaled and gave me one last chilling leer before he stalked to the exit.

“I’m guessing the verdict was good?” Chris asked.

“We had messages to call for the decision, but we saw Viktor first,” I said. “From his reaction, I’d say the news must be good.”

Alex was out to lunch, so the three of us crammed into his cramped office and crowded around the speakerphone. The panel chairman read the official ruling–Viktor had been expelled from U.S. Figure Skating for life.

“Wow,” Aubrey whispered.

After the chairman debriefed us, I hugged Aubrey and together we shared tears and sighs of relief. Aubrey’s tears soon became a quiet sob.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She nodded and wiped her eyes. “It’s hitting me now how huge this is. Viktor’s never going to coach again.”

“We did the right thing. You’re not regretting it, are you?” I peered at her.

“No, he deserved this.” She sniffed and put her arms around me. “I’m so glad it’s all over.”

But it wasn’t over for Sergei and me. My relief over the verdict was quickly dampened by the knowledge that Sergei and I still had a battle to fight.

“Now, if we could get Sergei cleared,” I said.

Chris pushed aside a few papers and perched on the desk. “He hasn’t heard from David or Maria?”

“No, they said they’d need a few days when they got back to Colorado to meet with some of the higher-ups and decide what to do next. They should be calling any time now.”

“I thought they’d
wanna
talk to me since I’m around you and Sergei all the time,” Chris said.

“I know, my parents wanted to talk to them, too, but they blew in and out of town so fast.”

Sergei peeped through the small square window on the office door. He came inside and shut the door behind him. “Did something happen?”

“We got the call.” I glanced at Aubrey, who plucked a tissue from the box on the desk. “Viktor’s been expelled for life.”

“Good,” Sergei said adamantly. “They got it right.”

Aubrey blew her nose and pitched the tissue into the trash can. “The federation better stick to their promise and handle all the questions about Viktor when we get to Salt Lake. I just want to stay out of it and skate.”

“Sergei, do you think the rink will bring in a new dance coach to take Viktor’s place?” Worried lines creased Chris’s forehead.

“I hope so,” Aubrey interjected. “I don’t want to move.”

“Neither does Marley,” Chris said.

“I definitely think they will,” Sergei said. “There are too many good teams here they won’t want to lose.”

Aubrey dabbed once more at her eyes with her fingers before opening the door. “I have to tell Nick the news.
Em
, come find me for lunch.”

Chris stood to follow her, and Sergei held up his hand. “I need to talk to you and
Em
. I was looking for you when I saw you in here.”

Sergei made sure the door was closed before he continued, “David called. They’re turning everything over to the Ethics Committee, but since we’re leaving for Salt Lake next week, the committee is postponing any further action until after the Olympics.”

“What does further action mean?” I asked warily.

“They want to do more interviews before they decide if I should be suspended.” He lowered his eyes to the concrete floor.

I sucked in a breath. “Suspended?!”

Chris returned to his spot on the desk. “I thought there weren’t any specific rules against coaches and students of legal age dating.”

“There aren’t, but if they determine I violated the code of conduct by having a relationship with a student, then I could face suspension.”

I braced myself against the tall file cabinet. “For how long?”

Sergei pressed his lips together, holding in his response for an unnerving number of seconds. “Possibly five years.”

“Five years?” I exclaimed.

“That’s ridiculous,” Chris said.

I struggled to speak, the words catching in my throat. “I can’t believe this.”

Sergei brushed his hand down my arm. “We need to stay focused on preparing for the Olympics. That’s the most important thing.”

He was maintaining such a calm, strong façade, but I knew he had to be teeming with emotion on the inside. A five-year suspension could kill his career.

“Chris, can you give us a minute?” I asked.

“Sure.” He patted Sergei’s shoulder as he left.

“I don’t want you to feel like you can’t talk to me about this,” I said softly. “You have to be worried about what could happen. Five years out of the sport . . .”

He met my gaze and held my shoulders. “We can’t do anything about it until after the Olympics, so worrying right now is useless. We have to stay positive and put all our energy into this competition.”

Resolve flowed from his strong hands, and I nodded. “Okay.”

But the stakes had been raised higher. If Chris and I didn’t win gold in Salt Lake, we’d have to work four more years for another chance. Four years we might be without Sergei–a scenario I couldn’t bear to think about.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Our van stopped in front of the Olympic Village’s massive security checkpoint, and the large sign above the guards sparked smiles on all the passengers’ faces.

Chris bumped my shoulder. “We’re really here.”

His big excited grin got me laughing. One of the thousands of Olympic volunteers opened the van door, and I jumped out. Snow flurries stuck to my brand new navy Team USA jacket, embroidered with the five Olympic rings.