The Hockey Player's Hardest Challenge

Chapter 1

STELLA

Even on a soggy, gloomy day like this, the view out the floor-to-ceiling windows of our boardroom in downtown Vancouver is beautiful.

Today, the panorama of the waterfront, harbour and North Shore mountains is like a watercolour painting, the sharply carved peaks of the mountains shrouded with clouds in shades of charcoal, smoke and silver, the water of the harbour a flat slate grey.

“I’ve done some preliminary research.” Adam taps on the open laptop on the table, drawing my attention back to him.

Adam is the acquisitions consultant my business partner Troy and I retained to help us find another company to acquire.

“We’re looking for profitability, positive cash flow, low levels of debt, and an experienced management team.

We also consider company culture, brand value, and customer loyalty. ”

I tip my head. “Company culture.” I’m glad he said that. That’s important to me.

Adam nods. “A company’s culture is the shared values, goals, attitudes and initiatives that characterize an organization. It sets the tone for how managers lead employees and shapes the overall philosophy of the workplace.”

Did he really just mansplain corporate culture to me? I pull in a slow breath through my nose. “Oh hey, it’s great you know that. Good job, Adam!”

Adam freezes, his eyebrows snapping together. He eyes me suspiciously, then mutters, “Thank you.”

I think I hear a soft snorting noise from Troy.

Adam takes us through the list of potential target businesses, giving us a high-level rundown on each. “Since the legalization of single-game sports betting, there’s been a surge in companies that provide sports betting, data, and analytics services in Canada, including international companies.”

I stroke the smooth wild maple top of the boardroom table, custom made for us from a twisted, gnarled piece of maple, as I listen. I hate sports betting. I know there’s growth there, but I don’t want to do it. This is a heated discussion between Troy and me right now.

“These companies offer real-time data feeds, predictive analytics, in-play wagering, and odds management.”

“Which fits in perfectly with the kinds of services and products we already offer,” Troy says.

He’s not wrong. I still don’t like it. But I keep my expression bland for the rest of the meeting.

After Adam has been shown out, Troy and I stay in the boardroom with the door shut. Our employees can see us through the glass windows of the room but can’t hear us.

“I’m not sure if this is a good move.” I fold my arms on the table and lean forward. “There are risks acquiring another company.”

“Of course there are risks. But buying another business gives us immediate access to cash flow, customers, existing infrastructure. And it’s a lot quicker than starting from scratch.”

“We are not starting from scratch with betting.” I frown.

“Then this is our only option.”

Is it? I give him a narrow-eyed look. “You know my feelings about gambling.”

“Yeah.” He leans back in his chair. “I know. But it’s business.”

“What about the initial investment this is going to take? It’s going to be a fuckload of money.” I’m always the one who’s hesitant about spending money.

He laughs. “We’ll have no problem getting financing.”

“Merging two different business cultures can be complicated.”

“That’s why we have Adam doing the research.” He grins. “By the way, that was smooth when he was mansplaining to you.”

I can’t help but grin back. “Thanks. I trust him, but that annoys me.”

“Oh, I know it. Some of us just can’t help it.”

“You’ve learned over the years.”

He laughs. “Yeah, thanks to you.”

Troy and I met in university when we were taking many of the same classes. We got to be friends and went our separate ways for a couple of years after we graduated, but when I wanted to expand the business I’d started, he was the only one I wanted to come on board. Now we’re equal partners.

Much as I’d like to be in total control, I recognize that I need him and his skills. And his money. Well, not anymore. We’ve grown my little stats business into something really exceptional. And it’s nice to have someone else to lean on and bounce ideas off.

And yes, the competitor inside me, the desire to achieve, wants to keep growing. We can be bigger. Better. But not only am I clashing with Troy, I’m battling internally with myself. How far am I willing to go to be successful?

I sigh. “Well. We’ll see what Adam comes back with. Maybe there isn’t an appropriate target.”

Troy shrugs and pushes his chair back. “That’s entirely possible.” But he gives me an astute look. “And you have time to come to terms with the idea.”

He knows me too well.

I have other issues that need my attention for the rest of the day. It’s nearly six when I leave the office and hustle to the bar where I’m meeting my friends.

They’re sitting on the sidewalk patio at Nightowl, a cocktail bar in Gastown. Every table is full since it’s happy hour and a beautiful autumn day.

After I’ve greeted them and ordered a cocktail, I tell them about my day. “Troy says we have to do this if we want to continue to scale our business.” I sigh. “I don’t want to.”

“I know you don’t,” Gracie says with sympathy.

“But you do want to grow your business,” Alexis adds.

“I do.” I pick up the daiquiri the server places in front of me. There are complicated reasons for my ambition. Yes, I’m competitive. But also, I live with a lowkey dread inside me that one day, I’ll lose everything and be broke like my family was when I was younger. “But not like that.”

“You and Troy have always seen eye to eye,” Lauren says. “That’s probably why you’ve been so successful.”

“We have been on the same page, mostly,” I agree. “And we have different talents. He’s a good salesperson. I’m the one who makes things happen.”

“True.” Gracie sips her negroni. “You have the head, he has the heart. Which is why it’s so unusual for you to be taking a position that’s based on emotions.”

My chin jerks back. “I have a heart!”

“Of course you do.” Gracie smiles. “But you’re the one who always says business decisions should be based on data and evidence.”

She’s not wrong. “You make me sound cold and ruthless.”

“I know you’re not.” Her blonde curls bounce as she shakes her head. “You care about the people who work for you.”

“Is it wrong to care about society as a whole?” I ask. “Businesses need to make ethical decisions, too.”

“I agree.” Alexis nods.

“Absolutely,” says Lauren.

“I think you’re being influenced by your past, though,” Alexis adds.

Ugh. Also not wrong. “Well. I told Troy I’ll think more about it. Consult my advisors. That means you.”

They laugh.

“I need another daiquiri. Who else wants another drink?” I open my phone to scan the QR code on the table.

They all do, so I order another round on my credit card.

“So are you going out with that guy tomorrow night?” Gracie asks me.

I have to think about that. “You mean the guy I met at the Pilates studio?”

“Yeah. You said he was hot.”

“He is hot. But no.” I sigh. “Tomorrow night, I have big plans.”

My friends’ eyebrows all fly skyward.

“You do?” Lauren says. “Tell us!”

“I’m going to deep clean my condo, spend some quality time with my orchids, put on one of those foot masks that peels your skin off, and order sushi.”

“Bahaha. That sounds amazing,” Alexis says. She smiles, although her full lips are naturally lifted at the corners, giving her Filipina features a perpetually cheerful expression.

“Right?” I sip my drink. “He wanted to go to a comedy show at the Revue Stage on Granville Island. It sounded fun, but…”

“I get it.” Lauren shrugs. “Sometimes, it just feels like too much work.”

“My mom doesn’t get it.” I wrinkle my nose. “She says I need a man.”

“Women do not need a man,” Alexis says.

“Nope,” I answer cheerfully. “Although a little fun and sex once in a while is good.”

“Things have changed,” Alexis says. “Women used to need a partner to affirm their womanhood. It was considered an achievement to find a husband.”

“And a failure if you didn’t,” I reply, again thinking of my mom.

“Right?” Gracie says. “Women were rewarded for being able to find and keep a man.”

“These days, it’s more of a flex to be single.” Lauren, the only married woman in our group, tucks her long chestnut hair behind one ear.

We all make noises of agreement.

“You need a man like a kitten needs a dishwasher,” Gracie says to me. “Nice to have but totally unnecessary if it makes noise and does a bad job.”

We all crack up laughing.

“I don’t think that even makes sense,” I say. “But I agree. Nice to have once in a while.”