Chapter 20 #2
While Marcus read, Katie appeared in the doorway. "More bad news," she said, apologetic. "The story's been picked up by non-sports outlets. TMZ, People, Page Six. They're framing it as 'Hockey's Fake Romance.'"
"Great," Ryan muttered. "Just great." Like he wasn’t warned.
"Thanks, Katie," I said, as I thought about my hard-earned reputation and a decade of 70-hour weeks circling the drain.
"Lana," Marcus's voice broke through my spiral. "You okay?"
"Fine," I lied, passing him my tablet. "Draft statement for your review."
"Lana," Cam said suddenly, standing up. "Can I talk to you outside for a minute?"
Every instinct told me to refuse, to maintain professional distance. But all eyes were on us, so I nodded stiffly and followed him into the hallway.
Once the door closed behind us, Cam rubbed his forehead with his fingers, agitation evident in every movement. "I'm so sorry. This is... I never thought this would blow up like this."
"It's not your fault," I said automatically, though part of me wanted to blame him, to blame anyone but myself. "Someone violated the NDA, or there's a leak. We'll figure out who."
"That doesn't matter right now," he said, his blue eyes intense. "What matters is that you're bearing the brunt of this. The comments online, they're making it sound like you manipulated me, like you masterminded everything."
"Welcome to being a woman in sports management," I said, more bitterly than I'd intended. "No matter what happens, I'm either sleeping my way to the top or manipulating players for publicity. This time, it’s both."
"It's not right." His voice was tight with anger. "I'm going to make a statement."
"We'll coordinate messaging – "
"No," he interrupted. "I'm going to tell the truth. That I asked for your help, that this was mutual, that if anyone's to blame, it's me."
I shook my head. "Cam, you can't. Redline is already wavering on the deal. Montreal might pull their offer. You can't risk your career for –"
"For what? For you?" He stepped closer. "Lana, this isn't just about the deal anymore. This is about your reputation. Your career."
"I'm the PR director. It's my job to take hits for the team, for the players."
"Not like this." His voice dropped, suddenly vulnerable. "Not when it's my fault. I'm the one who asked for the fake engagement. I'm the one who insisted on staying at your parents' place. I'm the one who..." he paused, swallowing hard. "I'm the one who took it too far."
The pain in his voice matched the ache in my chest. Even now, even after everything, part of me wanted to reach for him, to find comfort in his arms. But I couldn't. Not anymore.
"We both made choices," I said quietly. "Now we both have to live with the consequences. But your career, your future – that matters too."
"So does yours," he insisted.
"Let me just..."
"No," Cam interrupted, pulling out his phone as he headed back into the conference room. "I'm doing this now. My way."
"Cam, no – " I said, trailing behind him, "not without a strategy..."
But before anyone could stop him, he was dialing.
"Josh? Cam Murphy. I want to go on record about this relationship story. Exclusive. Right now."
He was calling Josh Winters, the most respected hockey journalist in the country. The one reporter everyone in the NHL trusted to tell the story straight. The one whose nationally-syndicated hockey podcast was streaming live. Right now. Shit.
"Cam," Ryan warned, "Think about Redline. Think about Montreal."
“Cam!” I pleaded. “Don’t.”
Cam's expression didn't waver. "Some things are more important."
There was a pause, and Cam took a deep breath.
His eyes found mine across the room. "I want to make a statement about the reports regarding my relationship with Lana Decker," he began, his voice clear and steady.
"First, the facts: Yes, our public relationship began as part of an image rehabilitation strategy ahead of my Redline deal.
That's true. What's false is the narrative that Lana Decker orchestrated this or manipulated anyone. "
He continued, each word measured but tinged with emotion.
"If anyone is at fault here, it's me. I approached Lana for help after my reputation, which I willingly participated in building, threatened a deal I wanted.
I asked her to attend the NHL awards with me and play it up for the press.
I pushed for it to continue even when she had reservations.
Any criticism should be directed at me, not her. "
I stared at him, stunned by his willingness to fall on his sword, potentially sacrificing millions in endorsements and a career-making trade.
"Furthermore," he added, "I don't know who HockeyInsider's source is, but they were not present for any discussions about this arrangement and have no firsthand knowledge of how it came about. The so-called source's statements are speculative at best and malicious at worst."
There was a pause as Josh asked a follow-up question.
"Let's put it this way, Josh," Cam said confidently, "I'm professional hockey player at the center of a major trade negotiation, the Slashers are a Stanley Cup-winning team, and Lana Decker is the best PR Director in the NHL – do you really think they'd agree to let me start any relationship, even one with her, without the protection of an NDA?
" Cam continued, a hint of protective outrage in his voice.
"We work together. You think management and the coaching staff didn't have to sign off on this before Lana and I appeared in public together? "
Another pause as Cam listened intently to Josh's follow-up question.
"That's between Lana and me," Cam answered, his eyes never leaving mine across the room.
"Our relationship plans are our business.
But what I will say is that Lana Decker is the most professional, ethical person in this organization.
She deserves better than to be dragged through the mud for doing her job and helping a player who asked for it. "
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Couldn't process that Cam was potentially setting fire to his own career to protect mine.
After a few more questions, Cam ended the call. The room fell silent.
"Well," Ryan Keller finally said, "that was either incredibly noble or incredibly stupid. Possibly both."
"It was the right thing to do," Cam replied simply.
"Thank you," I said gratefully, my eyes holding his a beat longer than I should have. "We'll schedule a formal press conference for Monday at 9 am," I said. "That gives us the weekend to track down the source and prepare our messaging."
"Monday?" Ryan protested. "The story will be completely out of control by then!"
"If we rush out half-cocked, we'll only make it worse," I countered. "Trust me on this. It's literally my job. We're playing Saturday in Boston, the team is traveling Friday and Sunday, so that gives us cover -- we're focusing on winning games, etc."
"Lana's right," Marcus affirmed, surprising me with his immediate support.
I nodded my thanks in his direction, "Going forward, no impromptu interviews. We are the Slashers and we do not employ a 'ready, fire, aim' approach to media communications. We make a plan and execute it."
"This looks good, Lana," Marcus said, pushing my tablet to Sully for review. "Coach, you want to take a look?"
Before he could respond, Marcus's phone rang. He answered, listened for a moment, then put it on speaker.
"You're on with the Slashers management team," he said.
"This is David Hughes, GM of the Montreal Canadiennes," came the response. "I'm calling about the trade discussions for Cam Murphy."
The room tensed. This was it. Montreal was pulling out. Everything was falling apart. Shit.
"In light of recent events," Hughes continued, "we wanted to express our continued interest in bringing Cam to Montreal. Any player with the integrity to stand up for a colleague the way he just did with Josh Winters is exactly the kind of leader we want in our organization."
My eyes widened. Well, that was... unexpected.
"We'd like to move forward with discussions as planned," Hughes finished. "Our offer stands."
After the call ended, Coach Sully stood up. "I'm scheduling a press conference for this afternoon," he announced. "Just a brief statement of support from the organization. Nothing detailed. We'll save that for Monday."
"Sully," I began, "maybe we should – "
"No," he cut me off, his expression determined. "We're not letting you swing in the wind, Lana. You're part of this team too." I nodded my head in thanks, speechless.
“Agreed,” said Marcus.
Two hours later, I stood off to the side as Coach Sully addressed a small group of local media. Cameras flashed as reporters shouted questions, the atmosphere electric with scandal.
"The St. Petersburg Slashers organization stands firmly behind both Cam Murphy and Lana Decker," Sully stated, his gravelly voice commanding respect. "Ms. Decker has served this organization with distinction for ten years. Her integrity is beyond question."
He continued, his measured tone belying the anger I knew he felt.
"We are investigating the source of confidential information that was shared without authorization, and we're gearing up to play in Boston on Saturday night.
That is all we will say at this time, pending a full press conference on Monday morning at 9 am. "
As the short press conference ended, I remained in the shadows, overwhelmed by the unexpected defense. I'd spent so long feeling like I had to prove I belonged in hockey, in this organization. And here they were, standing up for me when I needed it most.