Chapter 2 #2
I shake his hand, thanking him for meeting with me.
We sit down, and I get straight to business without wasting any of his time.
He likely has a lot on his plate, so I decide to avoid chit-chat and small talk. I’ll hopefully get to know them better as time goes by.
“I went looking for your social media profiles and couldn’t find any. Is there a reason you don’t have any social media accounts? It’s not a problem if you don’t want to; I’ll work around whatever you prefer,” I say, and Caleb relaxes into the chair he’s sitting in.
I’ve always known hockey players are massive, but seeing them up close makes me feel petite.
“I’ve just never had an interest in them. I keep up with my friends and family by text and calls, but I’m willing to set up some profiles if you think it could help my professional image,” Caleb tells me, and I beam.
This is perfect.
I’m happy he’s open to ideas and creating profiles.
We discuss my suggestions and agree to start with Instagram and work our way from there.
I will manage his account at the beginning to get it up and running, and we will focus on the hockey aspect rather than his social life.
When everything is set, Caleb will have access to post whatever he wants, but he told me he’d like to observe first before jumping right into the world of social media.
We wrap up our meeting, and I make my way back to the PR department.
I sit down at my desk and start writing the notes and strategy for Caleb right away, while it’s fresh in my mind.
I took notes in my notebook, but I also like to have everything on my computer. It helps with organizing everything.
Time ticks by, and before I know it, it’s time for my next meeting, this one with Noah Hughes.
When I get to the lounge, several players are hanging around.
“Well, hello there, and who do we have here?”
No other than Noah stands up from the couch, wearing a smirk and the confidence of a man who can get anything he wants.
I hold out my hand and smile right back at him.
“That would be Sarah Parker for you. Working in PR and ready for our meeting.” Noah loses some of his confidence, cursing under his breath, whilst the other players shake their heads and throw some digs at their teammate.
“Of course you would hit on the new girl.”
“Must suck actually to have to behave around a lady.”
“Keep it in your pants, Hughes.”
I chuckle, grateful for the team’s playful atmosphere.
“You go fuck yourselves. I have a meeting with the beautiful Sarah.” The other players snicker at him and walk away.
He motions for me to follow him deeper into the lounge for some privacy.
“Sorry about that, I didn’t realize you were Sarah. I promise to behave if you want that.” He winks at me, making us both chuckle again.
He really is a charmer.
We sit down, and I pull out my notebook before we go over some general questions about his social media presence and what he wants to achieve going forward.
“Well, I prefer to keep it hockey-related, as a lot of my personal life is already being plastered all across the media. If we’re able to continue with that, I’d appreciate it.”
His honesty is refreshing, and I’m glad he told me straight away.
That will make this job much easier.
I tell him that posting some from his personal life could also be a way for him to gain control of the narrative, but that he’s in charge, and whatever he decides will go.
Sometimes, when athletes post more about their social lives, it takes away some of the power from gossip sites.
He considers that, telling me he’d never thought of it that way. Nevertheless, he’s free to do what he favours.
We review all the questions I have for him before I thank him for the meeting.
We stand up, he takes my hand, kisses the top of it, then gives me a charming smile.
“If you ever want to go down the hockey player route, you know where to find me.” I shake my head at him, such a flirt, but it’s all very playful, making me think he’s not that serious.
Samantha is waiting for me with lunch when I get back to the office.
“Oh my god, you have no idea how amazing you are,” I tell her as she chuckles.
“I know how these athletes can be, draining all the energy out of us. Figured you’d need some fuel. Tell me about the meetings.”
We eat while I tell her about the morning I’ve had. When I get to the part about meeting Noah, Samantha laughs and says there’s no surprise there.
“He’s always ready to check up on a lady, and the rest of the team likes to make fun of him, but they all know Noah could probably get with anyone, so I think a lot of them also envy his confidence,” she says, and I agree.
Even though they may tease him a little, I bet he could get with most women he sets his sights on.
“Yeah, it makes sense.”
We finish our lunch before heading back to work. When I finish my meeting notes, I start preparing for the rest of the week.
～
When I’m done with my workday on Friday, I’ve completed half of my meetings with the players.
I’ve met people with all kinds of personalities and preferences.
Some prefer to be in control of their own social media platforms but would like input on what to post and not to grow their audience.
Then there’s the player who prefers we, or their PAs handle everything, so they don’t have to deal with it.
I’m happy with both.
“Want to go out for a drink?” Samantha asks me as we’re packing up for the day.
“Yeah, sure. You know any good places?” I ask her, and she tells me that several from the team will head to a bar called The Rove.
We meet up with Miriam and Wayne before heading into the lively streets of Chicago.
The elevated train rattles overhead, its metallic rhythm echoing between tall brick buildings.
The smell of fresh pizza wafts from corner vendors, and we decide to grab a few slices before going to The Rove.
When we arrive, I see a sprawling bar space that exudes a refined elegance.
Tall wooden shelves rise toward high ceilings, carefully lined with a striking array of bottles, each softly lit by warm, ambient lighting.
Plush, leather-upholstered bar stools suggest inviting comfort, arranged along a sleek, polished counter that exudes understated luxury.
Thoughtfully placed cozy alcoves and lounge areas provide moments of intimacy amid the space, while the bar’s centrepiece—an artfully lit, beautifully stocked display—anchors the sophisticated, inviting atmosphere of the room.
This space is designed for slow, elegant evenings. It’s both upscale and intimate.
The four of us settle into a large booth, and a server approaches to take our order.
“So, newbie, how has the first full week been?” Miriam asks me, and I chuckle at the nickname.
I figured I’d be the new girl, and since the team is small, I don’t see anyone else taking over the title anytime soon.
“It’s been great. Learning from the best and all that,” I say, and everyone laughs.
It’s truly been amazing.
The team has welcomed me with open arms, and even though it’s only been a week, I feel like I’m becoming part of their group.
I’ve never really understood the idea of people talking about their jobs and colleagues feeling like extended family, but with this team, I can totally see it.
We’re in the middle of a debate about whether the team will make it into the play-offs or not, when several players enter the bar.
I spot Noah and a few other players I’ve met this week, and Wayne calls them over.
The hardest part is learning all the new names in such a short time.
Luckily, I was familiar with most of the players from my research and interest in the team before arriving here. But with all the staff and people I’ve met during the week, it can be a little tricky.
The guys gather around, finding a place to sit, and I introduce myself to those I haven’t met yet.
There is the goalie, Liam Clarke, with his short haircut, framing a face marked by a neatly maintained beard and moustache that gives him a rugged, self-assured appearance.
When they first arrived, I noticed the way he did a double take on Samantha.
Interesting.
Besides Liam, we have Aaron Malik, another defenseman, with his dark skin and sharp features. A close-cropped haircut frames his face, while a well-groomed beard adds depth and maturity.
These hockey players definitely look like every girl’s dream, and when they make their way through the bar, all the female and some male gazes follow them.
When all the introductions are finished, the group naturally splits into several conversations around the table.
“Sarah, on a scale from one to ten, how much trouble have these idiots been giving you?” Aaron asks me, making me chuckle.
I haven’t had my meeting with him yet, but I know he’s one of the most influential players, along with Noah and the notorious captain, Alexander McGregor, whom I still haven’t met.
“Apart from Noah and his flirtatious personality, they’ve all been very good,” I tell him, and Aaron gives Noah a look, who raises his hands, then gestures over to me.
“Man, just look at her. You would 100 percent make a pass at her if you didn’t know who she was. Which was precisely what I did.” Aaron shakes his head at his teammate, giving him a light tap on the back of the head, which Noah makes a big show of.
“Careful there, this head is worth millions.”
We laugh, and once again, I’m reminded of the fun and carefree atmosphere in the team.
I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.
We spend the evening talking, and it’s nice to see the guys in a more relaxed setting.
At the arena, everything is all work and focus.
Here, we can unwind a bit more, which is nice.
～
The upcoming week is busy, and on Thursday, I’m lying in bed, researching for my meeting with Alexander McGregor.
I’ve almost met with every player; those who’ve been traveling or out of state are lined up and ready to go when they return.
McGregor, however, has been a challenge.
Whenever I’ve scheduled our meeting, his agent calls to say we need to reschedule.
This has been happening all week, and I’m starting to get frustrated.
I understand he’s busy and has a lot on his plate, but so do his teammates, and each one has shown up for their appointments.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to finish this meeting tomorrow, even if it means I’ll have to travel a bit longer to see him.
All the other players I’ve met with have been at the arena.
Alexander, on the other hand, only agreed to meet if I came to his hotel room.
Why he’s even staying in a hotel room is a question mark for me, since the team’s home rink is here, and most of the guys own apartments, but decide that it’s none of my business.
If he prefers to live in a hotel, that’s his choice.
I’m nervous about meeting him, not only because he’s clearly a busy man with little time for chit chat, but also because I’m afraid he’ll think our meeting is a waste of his time.
There’s also the fact that he’s drop-dead gorgeous, and I worry I’ll feel intimidated by him and his presence.
I take a deep breath, reminding myself that I can do this. It doesn’t matter that he’s 6.4 of pure sin and muscle—I’m here to do my job, and I’ll make sure I do it well.