The Long Game (The Ledger Cousins #1)

Prologue

Rosemary

Rosie really should have felt nervous since this was her first day at her new job and she had so many people staring at her. Some were confused by her presence, clearly not knowing who she was. Meanwhile, others definitely knew who she was. Their expressions ranged from awe to downright anger.

Thankfully for her, she was in her element. If this ruffled her, then she wouldn’t be good at what she did at all.

As calm as could be, she kept her eyes moving to take everything, and everyone, in.

Many names she knew already due to research, but there were a few people she would have to find out about.

Part of her job was to know everyone in her team, what they did, their strengths, their weaknesses, and who was friends with who.

That way, if she saw a promoting opportunity, she knew the best people to talk to for specific things.

Her main role was to keep on top of the business’s public image. She had to make sure no one misbehaved, or at least make the situation appear better than it was, ultimately sweeping it under the carpet. As long as it was legal, illegal things were naturally dealt with differently.

She would find sponsors, talk to news people, post on social media, and get involved within the community, as well as getting the hockey team involved so they could make more connections with fans, future fans, and future players.

Her job was to make everyone look amazing, so more people would want to get to know the ice hockey team she now worked with and support them, buy tickets, buy merchandise, and partner with the players for their own branding.

On top of that, she had to help inspire others to want to play and be part of the hockey community.

It would be a tough but incredibly rewarding role. She had been successful with other sports teams including two basketball teams and a baseball team. This would be her first hockey team, and she was excited about getting stuck into the new challenge.

The owner of the Ice Hounds hockey team had called everyone in for a meeting.

Not just the team on the ice, but everyone that was involved in the business that could make it.

He liked to do it like this every so often apparently, so no one was seen as more important, and everyone was involved.

Everyone had the updates they needed. If people got missed, then not everyone was on the same page which was not fair when expecting success.

Those that could not make it would be updated promptly another way.

Yeah, the players were the faces of the business.

The name. The reputation. But the whole business was a machine.

Each person was a cog, and no matter how small that cog was, each one was needed to make sure the machine ran smoothly.

If one lacked the information they needed to work, it would seize up the machine.

Time was money, and inefficiency cost time.

Rosie respected that mentality. It also helped give everyone a sense of pride for their role.

Thankfully, they had an ice rink to fit them all in. The players had been training and warming up, so Frederick, Rosie’s new boss, thought it would be the easiest place to meet. Granted, their numbers didn’t fill the whole space around the rink, but a conference room wouldn’t have held them all.

More and more people came to sit down and wait.

A few even approached her to say hello, welcoming her to the team.

Rosie had never been good at small talk, but it helped her settle in and make new allies.

There was absolutely no need to upset people by ignoring them.

As a shiny new cog of this machine, she had to make sure she worked in sync with everyone else.

If she didn’t, her cog could slow down the process or even break it down.

Many simply came to stand in silence, watching the players move on the ice with the puck. Some of them had thought to bring hot drinks to warm their hands, the steam misting around them.

With more and more people arriving, the players were moved off the ice.

They took off their helmets and handed things to the equipment team in preparation of Frederick’s announcements to make sure they paid attention.

As soon as members of the team spotted her, their expressions changed.

Like those already sat down, some obviously knew who she was and their shoulders stiffened with dislike.

Others had no idea and glanced at her with interest, wondering who she was and why she was there.

Her reputation proceeded her. Excellent she may be at what she did, but she did upset people along the way.

She had to work well with them, but it didn’t mean she had to be liked.

Rosie preferred everything and everyone in their proper place.

Banter and nights out were great for morale, but problems caused by drinking and jokes were not.

Especially not with social media around where it could spread quickly.

However, she was not the only new member of the team.

Stood not far from her, leaning on the small wall around the ice so he could watch the players, was Spencer Nightingale.

Now that they were off the ice, the man stared at his phone as he tied up his blond hair out of his face into a messy bun.

Every so often he would smile. Most likely, he was looking at photos of his daughter, Maisie.

He was the new left defenceman for the Ice Hounds, ready to start playing in the next season which started very soon. Rosie had heard he had signed a contract for six years. That meant everyone’s attention was divided as they stared at the new people.

Most of the hockey team cheered when they spotted Spencer, since he was an excellent player. Fast on the ice, he was also built to take a hit. However, Spencer got into trouble. A lot. Rosie would have to keep an eye on him and make sure she kept on top of his adventures.

Keeping her eyes moving along the players now that she could see them properly as they were sat down, one man caught her attention the most. Louis Ledger.

He was a forward, and his position was as the centre.

Rosie had watched him play before a few times for research purposes, and his stickhandling skills mesmerised her.

Tall. Broad. His black hair had a wave to it.

A small beard covered his chin, and he seemed to rub it when he was nervous or thinking.

She had noticed it during the games she had watched, making notes about the team before she had started.

It gave her a headstart for ideas. He had been rubbing his beard just a second ago, before deciding to wipe sweat from his face with a towel.

Had it been nerves or his thoughts causing it? She thought.

While he did that, his gaze swept the crowd. That piercing blue gaze met hers. He knew exactly who she was. His jaw tightened, and he quickly glanced away to find the new member of his team. At Spencer, he sighed, knowing he was in for some fun.

Hank Ogden, one of the goaltenders, was beside him, elbowing him for his attention before stealing the towel to rub the back of his head.

Dark brown hair went all over the place.

His expression was far different to Louis’s.

He was smiling wide. Relaxed. Those brown eyes radiated excitement. The two laughed at something Hank said.

Rosie knew from her research those two were close friends ever since Hank had joined the team. Louis was the serious one. Hank was the easy going one.

From the corner of her eye, she tracked movement. Frederick Mason, the owner of the Ice Hounds ice hockey team, got everyone’s attention by clapping. He was standing on the ice so everyone could see him. How he could walk on the ice with just shoes mesmerised Rosie. She would fall flat on her face.

Someone handed him a microphone to make sure they all heard him.

Testing it, he poked it. They could all hear that nice and clearly.

A few laughed and cheered at the horrible noise.

While he was testing it, a red carpet was rolled out on the ice between Frederick and one of the little entrance doors for the ice from the standing area.

“I will make this quick as it is certainly cold in here.”

Most of them chuckled and nodded. The hockey players shrugged since it was normal for them.

Funny how Rosie hadn’t noticed until he mentioned it.

She shivered slightly and rubbed her arms a bit.

Feeling eyes on her, her gaze met Louis’s again.

Was the shiver from the cold, or the hostility in his expression?

Determined to ignore him, Rosie listened to the statistics Frederick shouted out.

There were mentions of players that had retired or moved to another team, as well as behind the scenes staff that had left.

Many were sad to hear this, but they were soon cheered up as they were reminded that they came third in the last season.

“We can still do better! But honestly, it was a fantastic season. I am so proud of each and every one of you in this room and what we can accomplish together,” Frederick stated, clearly thrilled with the result.

She could tell by the big grin and the proud stance.

“Now, before I finish, I have three more announcements.” The room quieted down again.

“We were without a captain, since Riley retired at the end of last season, however we have promoted Louis to take his place.

“Some of you may have already heard, since he has been in the role for a month or so now, but at least you all now know officially. This news will also be passed on to fans and the media.”

Taking out her tablet, Rosie made a note of that. That would be where she came in. It would most likely be her first task. Already, she was making a list of who to share the news to and wrote comments ready for a press release.