Chapter 44
Lily
My palms are sweaty as I knock on Damen’s door. I’m a little concerned with what he’s about to say, my mind coming up with every scenario possible.
“Come in,” he bellows through the closed door, making me clutch my chest.
Jesus Christ.
Tentatively, I walk in, and he gestures for me to take a seat. He’s all smiles, which immediately should put me at ease, but doesn’t. His smile is… well, it’s just too big; it’s unnerving.
“How are you, Damen?” I say, sitting down and clasping my hands in my lap.
“Very good, Lily. And your work over in Spain has been exceptional.” My shoulders relax at his compliment.
Okay, maybe this will be fine. This isn’t the face of a man about to fire someone.
Unless he’s sadistic and fires people with a manic smile on his face, and then cackles as they cry whilst packing up their desk.
“I couldn’t have asked for any more from you or Marcus. ”
Okay, brain, chill out, we’re good, Damen’s a good guy for Christ’s sake. “It was a good trip,” I croak out.
Get it together, Chambers.
“I’ll say. You go to Spain single and come back with a hot footballer as your boyfriend.” My cheeks heat as he quirks his eyebrow at me.
“Well, that wasn’t planned,” I say quietly.
“Not by you.”
“I’m sorry?” I scrunch my nose, questioning, “What do you mean?”
He chuckles. “Sorry, it was a little bit of matchmaking on my side.”
“I’m sorry, what?” My hackles start to rise as frustration burns in my veins. “So, I didn’t get the job because of my talent, just you trying to matchmake?”
“No, no. You’ve got it all wrong.” He shakes his head.
“It was never in doubt that you’d be there, but in your interactions with Diaz, I thought I saw something, so putting you both in close proximity would either work—you’d grow together—or you’d continue to fight like cat and dog but still make amazing TV. ”
“Right.” Still not convinced, I fold my arms.
“You’ve done so much since joining the network.
I've seen the little things you do to make sure everything runs smoothly. The extra work you put in and never ask for anything. I’ve been watching you from when you were playing to now, and your work ethic is second to none.
It was a no brainer putting you behind that desk for the whole world to see what you can do.
Which is why I have a proposal for you.”
Okay he is good with his words; I’ll give him that. I relax slightly in my seat, uncrossing my arms.
“I’m listening.” Warily, I eye him over the desk,
“Thomas and Hunter have agreed to invest in my idea to branch out and widen our channel. We’re going to have a channel for individual sports, but also keeping the main show that everyone can access.”
“That’s incredible.” Butterflies flutter in my stomach. This really is a boost for the network, but I’ve got plans for how I could elevate women in sport.
“It is, and we’ve lined Diaz up for the football focus channel.” What the? Why has he brought me here to tell me this and rub it in my face? Rage has replaced the butterflies; it now feels like a tornado swirling inside me as my hands ball into fists in my lap.
Jesus, I’m being put through the ringer of emotions in this meeting. My head is spinning.
“Of course he will be amazing.” I force my face to remain neutral and not show my hurt at not being considered. I’m happy for Marcus. I really am. He deserves it, and I know he has ideas. He’s shared them all with me.
“He will, but that’s not why I’ve got you here.” He leans forward, his intense gaze fixed on me. “I want you, Lily, to be our lead reporter in the main show. No co-host, just you, showing the world that fire and passion you have for all sports.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I shriek.
“That’s right.” That manic smile from earlier is back, but if it's even possible, it’s bigger, and topping it off, there’s a glint in his eyes as he assesses me. “I want you to be the face of EBS sports.”
“Me?” I point to my chest, my jaw hanging open. Very ladylike.
“Yes, you. We can’t think of anyone better to sell our dream for the channel. You have this hunger and drive that will push us higher, this is going global, not just on UK screens.”
“Seriously?”
I think I’m malfunctioning
“Yes. How do you feel about the NHL?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me.
“I love it.”
He chuckles. “Great because we’ve got big things coming and you will be spearheading the lot.”
“I’m speechless. I actually don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll do it.”
“Of course I’ll do it.” I jump up from my seat, the news finally sinking in. I’m going to be the face of EBS Sports.
Holy shitballs.
“Atta girl.” He comes round to embrace me, and I can’t help but squeeze him back. A little inappropriate considering the man is my boss, but right now, I’m so happy I could burst. “Hugging me a little tight there, Chambers,” he huffs out.
“Oh, God, I’m so sorry.” Releasing him, I’m smiling so big that my face might crack. “This isn’t a joke, right?”
“I would never joke about something like this.”
“Thank you.”
“No, thank you, Lily, you’ve done amazing work, now it’s your turn to shine. Are you free Friday night to meet with Thomas and Hunter?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Great, I’ll email you all the details, but I’ll see you at Fluid, Friday night. Now go celebrate.” He ushers me out of his office, and I practically skip down the halls.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I go to dial Marcus, and it strikes me that for the first time, it isn’t my parents or friends who I want to be the first people I tell, but him.
He picks up on the second ring as I’m pushing through the lobby door onto the busy London street.
“Hey, you, how did your meeting go?”
“Fucking amazing.” I sigh dreamily.
“That good?”
“Yes, but I hear you have news for me too?”
“I do indeed. You’re now speaking to the main reporter for the new football-only channel for EBS Sports.” He sounds so professional and proud.
“Well, I best be on my best behavior then.”
“I prefer it when you’re not,” he says in that deep, sexy tone that makes me weak and needy for him.
“Me too,” I whisper, getting lost in his voice.
“So come on then, what’s your news?” he says excitedly, shaking me out of my lust haze.
“He offered me the main show. No co-star, just me leading it. He said I’m going to be the face of EBS Sports,” I practically squeal down the line.
“That's fucking fantastic.”
“I couldn’t believe it when he told me.”
“You deserve that spot, you know that, right?”
“I’m starting to.”
“Good, now get your fine ass over to my apartment now,” he demands. “We have a lot to celebrate, and I plan on doing it naked.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
“So this is what you look like when you’re getting fucked properly?” Trixie smirks over her margarita at me. She decided, as I’ve been away for so long, that we all needed to catch up, and of course, that means a stupid amount of tequila at our favorite bar on Wednesday evening.
“Jesus, Trix.” I giggle. “You’re too much.”
“Well, being fucked properly suits you. Look at you all smiley.”
“She’s not wrong, babe,” Jade chips in next to me. “You look so happy.”
“I am. And so do you.” I smile across at her. “And you, Trixie. Ezra treating you right?” She knows why I’m asking. He has a past. “Treating me like the princess I am, yes.” She smirks.
I lift my glass. “To living our dreams.”
“To living our dreams.” They both clink their glass with mine.
“And earth-shattering orgasms.” I continue my toast. And they both fall about laughing before raising their glasses.
“To earth-shattering orgasms.”
My phone vibrates next to me as I put my glass down, and I frown. Beck’s name flashes across my screen.
He’s at work; he never calls when he’s on shift.