Chapter 1 #2
Since Maddie seemed perfectly at ease in his office, I thought perhaps Daddy’s objections were for my sake. I watched her smirk flirtatiously up at him as she arranged her own laptop and notes, as he eyed her with interest in return.
Perhaps I wasn’t necessary here.
But she’d asked for me specifically, and so I swallowed a sigh—I’d grown up watching my father’s charm work on women and men—and took the farther seat, opening my notebook, crossing my legs, and plastering on a look of professional interest.
Maddie launched into an explanation that seemed to focus on the funding of the youth league. It was a more in-depth look at expenses and support needed, complete with graphs and charts on her computer. I nodded along and took notes in my four-years-of-afterschool-calligraphy-lessons handwriting.
Daddy, on the other hand, wasn’t shy about his objections.
He was still perched on the edge of his desk, and now interrupted Maddie to ask—as I had— “What does this have to do with Fairbanks Enterprises? I already sponsor the league, and since they’re paying the company for rink time, I’m dangerously close to conflict of interest. At least that’s what my accountant tells me. ”
I took the opportunity to ask what I wondered earlier. “And what does this have to do with the Terrors?” I nodded to the logo on Maddie’s laptop. “I know you partner with the youth league for public relations, but…?”
The shorter woman’s lips twitched, and I read victory in the way she lifted her chin. I suppose I’d walked into her trap.
“I have a suggestion on an event to raise money for the youth league.”
I should have known Daddy would understand, judging from the way his gaze sharpened. “A charitable event?”
Ah, so that was why I was here.
“You’ve heard of the popular TV shows that pair up celebrities in a dancing contest, right?
” Maddie launched into her spiel as my father—listening curiously—moved around his desk to slide back into his leather chair.
“The show follows the pair as they rehearse, then the big competition. I’m proposing something similar, not a contest, but a performance.
Before the preseason begins. An event here at the ice complex, rather than the arena, to show off the skills these kids are learning. ”
I’d begun to jot notes as the excitement took hold.
“An exhibition game, perhaps, of the best of the youth players?” I mused as I wrote as quickly as possible.
“Not a full game, perhaps only one period. And ice dancing from the most talented of our skaters?” I glanced up at Maddie, ideas swirling in my mind.
“We could draw in backers from as far away as Denver and Albuquerque, if we presented it well enough. Rented some more comfortable seating—”
“There’s nothing wrong with the bleachers,” my father interrupted, and I sent him an acknowledging nod.
“For parents and fans of youth hockey, they’re fine.
But if you want to attract tuxedos and gowns, we need to call this a gala, and bring in fancy catering and opportunities for our guests to feel good about being seen here and doing good.
” I softened my correction with the polite smile I’d perfected.
“It’s my job to make Fairbanks Enterprises—and you—look good, so I understand what these people need. ”
Something crossed my father’s face, but he looked away before I could place it. I turned to Maddie.
“We’ll figure out the cost, then double it for the ticket price, and donate that to the league. Fairbanks will look wonderful because of our support of the children.”
“And the Terrors will look great because we’re going to market the hell out of them at the gala,” she agreed with a nod.
My father cleared his throat. “So this is just a performance? A gala with ice entertainment? You think that will be enough to draw in backers from the cities?”
“They’ll be begging for the opportunity to buy tickets when they hear about the main attraction.
” Maddie’s grin turned wolfish as she leaned in, as if inviting both of us into her confidence.
“A paired skating performance from two of our most famous, who will have to work together to impress the crowd.”
Daddy scoffed. “From what I know of those celebrity dancing shows, half the attraction is watching people fail.”
“True.” Maddie shrugged. “But we’re not going to be televising the rehearsals.
The pair will have a few weeks to choreograph, rehearse, and get fitted for costumes.
We start the performance with some exhibitions like Lila suggested…
” Her grin grew in anticipation. “But the main event will be our paired celebrities.”
“Figure skating?” My father glanced at me. “You’re going to have to do some kind of audition if you’re going to only invite two celebrities. Why not invite a bunch and see who accepts? It’s been our experience that most brands are interested in improving PR through charity work.”
I didn’t look up from my notes, knowing he was talking about me. After all, it was my job to make Fairbanks Enterprises look good, both through our charity work and by…well, by always being perfect. Prim. Proper. Not a hair out of place, not a misspoken word.
Daddy had invested a lot of money—schooling, tutoring, classes—in me to ensure it.
Maddie’s fingers were flying over her keyboard. “We’re not going to hold auditions. We’re going to invite two celebrities everyone already recognizes, two people who are well-loved, and who will draw attention just by being paired up.”
“Why?” Daddy asked blandly. “What’s so special about them?”
Even I glanced up in time to see Maddie’s mad-scientist grin. “Because they’re both adored, but complete opposites. A figure skater and a hockey player. Controlled grace and primal chaos.”
I felt the cap of my rollerball pen pressing against my palm and realized I’d squeezed my fingers into a fist around it as my heartbeat had sped up.
Primal chaos. Hockey player.
Perhaps my father was becoming suspicious too, because his eyes narrowed. “A graceful figure skating celebrity? Who, Madison?”
With a triumphant flourish, Maddie clicked a button and a familiar photo popped up on her screen.
Me, mid-layback spin, in the middle of the finals for the US Women’s Competition, the year I’d narrowly beat out America’s sweetheart, Kristen Cole.
I was wearing that pale pink chiffon costume I still kept in my closet just so I could admire it occasionally.
I looked beautiful in it.
I’d felt beautiful in it.
Oh, the years had curved my hips and boobs more, now that I was focused on doing good in the world, rather than my exercise regimen, so I couldn’t fit into it any longer…but it was still my favorite costume.
Daddy blew out a breath. “You want Lila to skate for the charity exhibition gala?”
And I blinked, realizing he was right; that was Maddie’s proposal. My brows went up. “I only skate for fun now.” I’d moved on to making my father look good in different ways. “It’s been years—”
“You are famous in this area, Lila,” Maddie said sternly. “You know most of the girls who sign up for lessons here want to be the next Lila Fairbanks, a pretty princess on ice.”
That had been the nickname the media had given me, and at the time, it had made me proud to be called such a thing.
“Still, I—”
“You can still skate, Lila,” Maddie interrupted my protest. “You are still incredibly talented, poised, and beautiful. This is a PR dream, trust me.”
The chance to skate again? To do what I loved, while wearing another sparkly costume made just for me? I glanced down at my gray pencil skirt, suddenly realizing how much I’d missed that aspect of floating around the ice.
Despite my worry that too long had passed since I’d last danced with a partner, I could feel excitement building in my blood.
My father, on the other hand, was more practical. “And her partner? You said you’re going to pair her with a hockey player, right? Primal chaos, you called him. I assume you’re talking about one of the players? The captain, Bardon, maybe?”
Maddie was already shaking her head as she typed. “In order for this to be really compelling, we need to pair Lila with someone as different as possible.”
“Assuming she even agrees to do it,” Daddy cut in, then gentled his voice when he spoke to me. “You don’t have to do it just because it’ll look good, Pumpkin.”
Don’t be silly, of course I have to do it.
Besides… I took a deep breath. I wanted to do it. “It would be fun. I’m used to pressure, and although I’ve never worked with a hockey player, I know they’re good skaters. We could work up a simple routine—I do a few jumps, no throws.”
“The costumes are what will sell it,” Maddie murmured, still bent over her computer. “An orc in a sparkly figure skating get-up? Backers will come just to see that. And to see if he falls on his face attempting the more technical spins.”
Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure about this idea. I forced my fingers to relax as I felt my stomach begin to sink. I didn’t want to humiliate anyone, and I didn’t want to be humiliated.
But to my surprise, my father spoke in support. “Lila can teach him what he needs to know to knock the backers socks off. She’s wonderful at choreography and can organize the hell out of anything.”
Flattered, I felt my lips curling softly.
He wasn’t done yet, though. “So you pair her up with someone as big and brutish as you can imagine, she’ll have him doing loop-de-loops or whatever before the big performance.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Maddie finally looked up with a satisfied nod. “Because Lila’s only half the equation. Our hockey player needs to be just as beloved, and just as desperate to look good.”
It was something about the way she said it…something which made me think of the Teal Terrors’ disastrous last game, and the reason for that final goal. My stomach sank all the way.
With a flourish, Maddie turned the laptop to show us the screen.
“We need a player with a reputation for primitiveness even in the OHL, so people will pay an arm and a leg for the chance to see him civilized.” She grinned down at the screen.
“And I have one who thinks he needs to find redemption, even if he doesn’t know it yet. ”
I stared, wide-eyed, at the publicity photo on the screen. The teal jersey with the wide-mouthed wicked leer, the gloved hand gripping the stick, the gleaming tusks. The ridged tongue.
Kardok.