48. Graciella
FORTY-EIGHT
GRACIELLA
KINDA WANNA GIVE TOMMY A STORY WITH LIKE A KNOCK OUT WHO LOVES NERDY GUYS. CAN YOU IMAGINE A “GLASSES STAY ON” MOMENT?!?!
It felt like it’d been a lifetime since I’d been in Tommy’s office.
The large glass desk stood in the middle, tidy like last time. The faint scent of coffee lingered in the air.
I folded my hands in my lap, keeping my face neutral. Or trying.
Tommy leaned forward, elbows landing on the clear surface. He always had a cheerful smile, which made him hard to read. Was he happy to see me? Or was he trying to lessen the blow?
He’d texted me: Come in when you get a chance, Graciella.
Which also didn’t do a damn thing to tell me what was about to happen. I mean, I’d caused a PR scandal rather than solving a slight image issue. Arguably, they had every reason to fire me.
“You look like you’re waiting to get fired,” Tommy said, like he’d read my mind. Maybe my face wasn’t as neutral as I’d hoped.
“Well, can you blame me?” I asked, ripping off the band-aid.
“Fair enough.” He chuckled, reaching for his coffee mug. He set it back on the ring-stained coaster before saying, “I meant what I said. On the air.”
I didn’t say anything, scared to get too hopeful.
“You’re welcome here, Graciella. That wasn’t just something for the cameras.” He held my gaze. “This organization doesn’t throw away people who face off for us. And you did that, more than once.”
The back of my throat tightened, eyes stinging at the corners.
“I appreciate that,” I said, because it was the safest thing I could manage without setting those salty little fuckers free from my waterline.
Tommy leaned forward slightly. “I didn’t call you here to tell you that.”
That made me sit up a little straighter.
“Okay.”
“We’ve been operating without a unified communications strategy for this team for longer than I want to admit. What I want,” Tommy continued, “is one person overseeing all of it. Public relations, media strategy, brand…for the entire organization.” He looked at me steadily. “I want that to be you.”
The room went silent. Nothing but the faint hum of the air conditioner.
I looked at him. “Tommy…you know I just had one of the biggest PR fails—”
He held up a hand, silencing me. “I beg to differ. When everything went sideways, you took the hit. You didn’t throw anyone under the bus, didn’t leak about the fake relationship or the team’s involvement…
” He gave me a pointed look. “Didn’t retaliate.
Do you know how rare that is? I’ve been in this league a long time.
I know what that kind of integrity costs, and I want to reward you for yours. ”
I jammed my thumbnail into my palm, hoping it’d stop the emotion from clogging my throat.
“I…that means a lot.” The words wobbled.
He smiled, pushing his glasses up his nose, before his mouth flattened. “There’s something else. I figured you’d want to know.”
I went still.
“Vincent Langley was pushed out by his team’s board. He was forced to step down. The NHL opened a formal investigation into his conduct, his use of organizational resources, the way he handled…well... several things.”
“And Tyra?” I asked, holding my breath.
“She’s been banned. Press access, arena access, and all NHL-affiliated events, pending the outcome of the investigation.”
I exhaled through my nose, looking down at my hands for a second, then back up.
“How long have you known?”
“The board’s decision came through a few days ago. The investigation’s been building longer than that.” He watched me. “I wanted to tell you in person.”
I nodded slowly. A weight lifted off my chest.
“Now.” He slid a paper across the desk. “Here’s the job offer and the HR packet.
You’ll note there’s a section in there to disclose any romantic relationship between a fellow employee.
” His eyes flicked up from where he’d pointed with his finger.
“I took the liberty of having them pre-fill in Josh Monroe’s name for you.
And, not that I think this would happen, but were you two to break up, there’s no weird rule like the Desperados have about being terminated. ”
I smiled wide, taking the pen he’d held out.
“Gave your cousin the same speech,” he said with a wink.
My mouth opened and closed a few times before pulling up at the corners, my pen gliding across the paper without hesitation.
“Yeah, I think these men are stuck with us.”