Chapter One #2
“But we are losing players,” Louis snapped.
Rubbing a hand over his face in frustration, he had to get her to see sense.
“I have players that don’t want to be part of this team, nor do they want to go out and live life, because they can never relax.
Going out for a drink costs them ice time.
They can’t date, because guess what? You aren’t happy.
They are nervous when you are around, so interviews have gone badly. ”
Some of them stuttered when Harpy lurked in the background, waiting for them to say the script she got them to memorise.
“Who gets blamed?” Louis asked. “The player. Who looks bad? The player. Meanwhile, you work in the background covering it up. Unfortunately, that makes you stricter, which then makes it worse on the team as you add the pressure. It is a vicious cycle, and my job is to take care of them.” Standing up, he added, “I called the teams you left.”
Eyes wide, she stilled. Panic crossed her features.
Her reputation was well known to be very strict, and her methods worked.
But they did make enemies. She was not well liked at all.
Owners and managers didn’t care; it got them positive results.
It was the players that suffered. Not that she obviously cared, they were just her way of getting paid.
“They all said you were good at what you did, but you forgot the human aspect. We are humans, not machines,” he told her.
“We need an outlet. We can’t have one because every time we try to decompress, we get called to your office for the smallest of things.
We are getting angry. Aggressive. Snappy.
Our emotions are high, so we are making mistakes. ”
“Then you simply need to find other methods to cope then.”
“Both teams I spoke to said players left because of you. I have two players in this team threatening to leave soon because of you,” Louis told her.
“In fact, we are struggling to recruit because players know we have you here. You want them to find new methods, perhaps you need to do the same and meet us halfway.”
Pausing after that blow, Harpy’s expression became one of utter devastation. Good she may be, but she never stuck around long enough to see the consequences of her actions.
Louis didn’t like the hurt on her face. He wasn’t a bully, that wasn’t him, so he softened his tone and his words. “You are good at what you do. Really good. You’ve made us look amazing. But at what cost?”
The Harpy seethed. “My plan works.”
“It does, for many players. Especially rookies because they need that strict structure to get used to finding that balance between their social life and work life,” Louis admitted.
“The misbehaving ones learn quicker. But what about the ones that don’t step out of line?
They worry about doing simple, everyday things. That’s not fair. It’s soul destroying.”
That gaze went hard. “As captain, you should be better at controlling them and working with them, not me. It is your job to lead them and help them make the correct decisions.”
Oh, she did not just go there. They were still human beings with lives and emotions.
At least he had softened his words with positive comments in between.
The Harpy went for the throat. More specifically, his throat.
Giving up, he threw his hands in the air.
This was no good, and all it was doing was winding them both up.
“You are out for yourself, not for your team,” she tagged on. “You are in this for your long game, regardless of everyone else. They are just hurdles for you to get through.”
He swallowed. He had worked hard to get here. It took time. Money to train and get equipment. Skill. He’d made good friends along the way. Good decisions. This position, he had earnt, and she thought she could throw it back in his face?
“Enough.” He coldly stood up. “I have tried talking to you, but we are getting nowhere. Instead, I will be having words with Frederick, because this cannot continue. I have worked hard to be here. I love my team, which is why I am trying to discuss a change. They deserve respect and dignity in order to thrive and that is not being offered here, nor do you sound willing to compromise.”
With that, he walked out. She didn’t stop him.
That woman was so infuriating! He was the one in it for himself? Did she hear herself? The fact that she was willing to destroy morale, so she looked good? It was cruel.
Louis was about to scream when he closed the door, only to find his two closest friends outside and staring at him. Spencer was eating crisps like it was popcorn. Hank was happy as always with a big smile on his face.
In this corridor were the three players not afraid of the Harpy. Louis was too stubborn, Spencer just didn’t care about her opinion of him, and Hank was too friendly. Besides, Hank never had an issue with Harpy as he did as he was supposed to do.
“So how did it go?” Hank asked.
He’d known Louis had gone to find the two rookies earlier after excusing himself from training.
“As well as you would expect.” Louis felt defeated.
Her words had hit hard and now he was questioning himself. Could he do better?
“We heard everything. Get her!” Spencer cheered.
It was surprising how quickly Louis had become Spencer’s friend. Louis was the leader, the planner. Spencer was the hot head. Hank was the peaceful, cheery one. It worked very well between the three of them. On the ice together, they were almost unstoppable.
Hank rolled his eyes at Spencer and shoved him, then turned back to Louis. “Ignore her. You are a good captain, and we are proud to follow you.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate hearing that.”
And he did. It was not often he heard it, so he constantly felt like he was failing and letting the team down.
Frowning, he glanced between the two of them, suddenly realising they were there and not at training. “Why are you two here?”
“Spencer got into another fight last night,” Hank answered. “I am here to make sure he doesn’t upset Harpy more than necessary.”
Laughing, Spencer leaned back. Not fazed at all. “Good luck with that. Louis has fanned those flames really, really high. I am in for some fun.”
Louis groaned. Trying to help two of his players, he had ultimately made it worse for Spencer. At least the older player didn’t care.
Harpy opened her door slowly. Had she been crying? Her eyes were puffy and red. Louis stepped forward, not liking that. More specifically, he did not like that he had caused it. Hank pulled him back a bit and shook his head. Good idea, no doubt he would make it worse.
“Spencer,” she said. That was actually quite soft for her. “Come on in.”
Spencer was so unbothered as he smiled and waved to Louis, heading in to find out his fate. Hank walked in with him. When Louis did not follow, she glared.
“Going to tell me not to debrief him?” she goaded.
“Spencer is a doughnut who should know better,” Louis responded. “He has been doing this for long enough. He deserves to get shouted at. Besides, he was in a fight, not just dancing. Have fun.”
He loved his friend. He did. But Louis wasn’t getting through to him, and he had no idea what to do or how to help.
This wasn’t Spencer’s first fight in public since he had been on the team.
Maybe the Harpy could somehow reach him.
If the fighting didn’t get under control soon, Spencer ran the risk of losing his place on the team.
Surprised, she quickly covered it up. With a nod, she closed the door. Yet again, he was waiting outside and sat on the uncomfortable chair.
As captain, he had to look out for his team. Not make it worse. Instead of shouting at her, he needed to work with her and find a solution. That was what he was supposed to do, think quick and decide. Harpy was part of his team too, and if they kept fighting, it created tension for everyone.
Yeah, she had hurt him, but he had also hurt her and went behind her back. They were both angry. He couldn’t let that affect him when he had to prove he was a team player. Not just here for himself.
Now he just needed time to think of a way to compromise.