Chapter 35
April
April had only made it to the quarterfinals in Montreal. The morning of the match had started out wrong and proceeded to go further downhill as the day went on. She tried to shake it off as the first tournament after some downtime, and hoped Cincinnati would prove more successful for her.
The morning after the match, and a long comforting chat with Jade at a nearby coffee shop, April was feeling ready to work through what had gone wrong in the match and apply any changes needed ahead of the next tournament.
That was, until her dad arrived in her hotel room for a “talk”. April knew something was off when he arrived at the door without his face in his phone. It wasn’t even in his hand. What was worse, when he walked over and sat at the table, he didn’t take his phone out of his pocket.
Confused and concerned, April sat down opposite him waiting to see what this was about, knowing it wasn’t the usual pep-talk after a defeat.
Roland sat with his back ramrod straight as usual, hands clasped and resting on the table, fingers interlocked yet fidgeting. He seemed restless. But the pinched look on his face was what unnerved April the most.
“I wanted to put forward a proposition to you. This is not a comfortable thing for me to talk about with you, but things have been brought to my attention which I can’t let go unaddressed any longer.” Roland started.
April’s mind started to reel. What was he talking about?
Could he have heard about Jade? No, they’d been so careful.
Always. She knew she’d taken some risks recently, but never in public.
Any time they went out, she had made sure they kept apart at all times, never close enough to touch hands.
Even Jade had been so good to fight her nature and not always be the one to open doors or place her hand on the small of April’s back whenever she did. It had to be something else. Right?
“I realize that you are now no longer a teenager, and that we can’t continue to treat your career as such either.
Perhaps that was my fault. Keeping your social media accounts strictly business with very little of your personality was how we were able to give you some level of privacy. ” He continued.
April sat and said nothing, taking in her dad’s body language as much as his words.
She had always known him to be confident to the point of being cocky.
So self-assured that nothing could make him stumble.
Until now, as she watched him move in his seat and seem seconds away from wringing his hands.
“It seems the time has come to begin opening up a little more about yourself on your public social media. Perhaps sharing more photos of training, in the gym, perhaps even a short video involving your meals. Giving fans a glimpse at what you put in to becoming the top tier playing you are.” He said, notably uncomfortable with his own suggestion.
That was it; April couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself any longer.
“So, more of what we dabbled in earlier this year? That’s fine, I’m ok with that. But there’s obviously more.” She said warily.
Roland stood up and walked over to get two bottles of water from the crate of them that they received at every hotel. He sat them on the table and returned to his seat where he took a drink and cleared his throat before continuing.
“It’s time that you start posting a few images that aren’t tennis related,” he began.
“Some of your sponsors have asked for their products to be showcased in day-to-day settings over the years, and I’ve managed to push back.
Their rival products are getting more exposure, and they need you to showcase the everyday use more.
” He took another drink and refused to make eye contact.
“That’s fine, I don’t mind some shots of me in regular clothes with the watch on.
I don’t even mind shots in the kitchen with the sports drink.
” She knew there was more, and the only way to get him to answer directly was playing the dad card instead of the manager's card. “Dad, what aren’t you telling me?”
“The photos shouldn’t just include your products, but I think it’s important to start including other people in your life too.” Another gulp of water leaving the bottle nearly empty, and little left to distract him from the real reason for being here.
Wait, where is this going?
“While the focus of your social media accounts will remain to be about tennis, we need to widen the content type. Consider it future planning for when your competitive career eventually ends. The public - both fans and the media – are growing more intrigued by you each year. Likely a byproduct from keeping your personal life private. Many athletes document their entire lives on their social channels.”
“That’s not me though, I don’t want to put my whole life out there.” April argued. “I want to keep my privacy, but I’m happy to post more content if that’s what’s needed.” April stated.
He sighed. “It’s been brought to my attention that several other players and their coaching staff...”
April narrowed her eyes in confusion.
“...have made comments regarding you being seen multiple times with the same individual, at various locations during the past few tournaments.”
No, no, no!
He cleared his throat. Again. “It’s been suggested that including your doubles partner, Simon, in some of your social media photos would be beneficial.”
April’s heart dropped to her stomach. Was her dad really suggesting what she thought he was?
“They know it’s not Dani, everyone knows Dani, and they’re asking who this woman is.
” He took his last drink and held up his hand to stop April from saying anything before he’d finished.
“I’m not asking who she is, I’m not asking what she is to you.
As your manager, it’s my job to think of your career and look for ways to change the narrative of the comments to avoid any negative impact for you. ”
April could barely hear the words her dad was saying over the high-pitched ringing in her ears.
“I think the suggestion of posting images of you and Simon in each other's company will help. So, I think we should arrange for you to schedule a meet-up other than a standard training session together after Cincinnati. We can take some photos and post them to reduce any issues prior to the Open.”
April was in shock. Her Dad genuinely was setting her doubles partner up to act as a beard? To cover anything that may be going on with Jade from the public? Without directly asking her?
“No,” April managed to choke out.
“April,” her dad began but she cut him off.
“No. I won’t do what you’re asking, Dad. I can’t.” April stated.
He stood up from his chair and walked over to the door. Hand gripping the handle, he turned to her and said, “I’ll hold off, for now, but not forever.” With that, he opened the door and left the room.
April felt her heart pounding in her chest. Disbelief at what had just happened settled in. What was she going to do?
How am I going to tell Jade?