6. January 17, Monday
Chapter six
Zoey
Zoey expected that seeing Nina at work would be…well, not this.
She’d imagined the PR department’s conference room to be minimalistic and coldly professional…
like Nina herself. Instead, Nina Fontaine’s conference room looked like a tech startup and an anthropology museum had a very tasteful baby: sleek glass table, bright natural light, matching colorful water bottles, and an entire wall of framed charity event posters; each one sharp, vibrant, and almost aggressively successful.
Nina stood at the head of the table, tablet in hand, and her hair swept into one of those glossy buns that somehow looked both effortless and like it required a PhD to execute.
The woman radiated calm authority. No raised voice, no mania, no chaotic “sports organization panic mode.” Just quiet and confident control.
“Okay,” Nina said, tapping her tablet. “We’re expecting numbers back from the Baxter Foundation by Friday. Until then, what can we prepare on our end?”
Pens clicked. Staffers leaned in. And just like that, a volley of ideas launched across the room.
“What about a giveaway partnership with Baxter’s youth program?”
“We could do a photo op with their foundation families and a couple of players.”
“Or the execs and the players.”
“Or a behind-the-scenes reel at the training center with some of their staff…something inspirational?”
Nina nodded as each person spoke, thoughtful rather than indulgent.
“The giveaway works. Photo reel… not yet. We’d need clearance and coordination from legal for the photo release.
The behind-the-scenes idea has legs, but it’ll require buy-in from Coach Montgomery, and a certain captain, which means we’ll need to approach them diplomatically. ”
A few people laughed knowingly.
No one hesitated to jump in. No one looked afraid. Some ideas hit the floor but Nina said so gently. Others she elevated with quiet precision. Zoey found herself trying not to gape.
This woman could convince a dragon to donate its hoard. And get it to sign a media waiver.
Where was this supportive and warm demeanor during her freaking interview?!
While Nina organized the conquering of several small nations with zero casualties, Mrs. Perry steered Zoey and herself into some plush velvet chairs at the back of the room, content to watch the masterclass unfold without disruption.
Which was fine with Zoey. The fewer eyes on her, the better.
But, as was her life lately, the universe sensed her silent wish…and decided to make her suffer.
Nina glanced up mid-sentence, her gaze landing on Zoey like a spotlight snapping on. “Actually, I’m going to let Zoey answer this one. Management brought her on to spearhead some of our youth partnerships and community outreach. So, her arrival is perfect timing.”
The heads seated around the conference table all pivoted to face her.
Zoey froze. “I—sorry?”
Nina smiled, but it did nothing to slow Zoey’s skyrocketing pulse.
“In your interview, you mentioned that you had a ton of new ideas on how to strengthen our community outreach after the community disaster from last year…” The staffers groaned and winced in unison at the esoteric reminder of the botched youth programs from the prior year.
“So, given that we’re on that part of the week’s agenda now, we’d love to hear your plan for your first community outreach project and what you’d need from any of us to get that started. ”
Oh, sweet baby Jesus.
Oh, she absolutely did not just do that!
Nina did not throw her under the bus this early!
Given the expectant faces now watching her, pens hovering, Nina absolutely-fucking-did.
Mrs. Perry’s soft, peppermint-scented breath hitched as Zoey floundered in the screaming silence.
Zoey’s brain emptied like someone upended a purse.
“I…well…I…” She blinked. Words? What were words? “I was thinking about… something with… kids… And the community. In the… outreach… sphere?”
A couple polite smiles surfaced around the table. One man mouthed you’re doing great, which only made it worse.
Heat flashed across her cheeks.
Could she crawl into Nina’s stylish rug and die under it?
Nina stepped in smoothly. “We’ll circle back to Zoey later once she’s had the chance to settle in and review our current slate of initiatives.” She gave Zoey a quick, reassuring wink; professional but kind. “It is her first day.”
The room shifted back into motion as if the moment never happened, but Zoey stayed locked in place, heart thudding, feeling like someone had just used her soul as a pinata.
Wow. Cool.
Humiliating and efficient. Great combo.
Mrs. Perry patted her wrist. “Dear, relax. She does that to everyone.”
Zoey whispered, mortified, “I almost said ‘outreachy outreach.’”
Mrs. Perry stifled a laugh. “Oh, she would’ve rolled with it.”
Her stomach, still twisting into nauseous knots, didn’t believe the older woman.
Her first chance to shine, and she’d just stuttered in front of her coworkers—and her boss—like a sleep-deprived intern.
Fucking peachy.
Zoey looked down at her hands and let out a huge breath, trying to find some sort of positive from this situation.
Well, even if Nina wasn’t glad she was here…Ilya was.