Page 8 of So Pucking Over You
She nods, repacks her backpack before changing out her sweatshirt for a light blue sweater then pulls on her coat and boots as I do the same. Grabbing her bag, she meets me at the door. I hold out my hand. “Give me your bag.”
“I can carry my own bag.”
I shake my head and smile. “Oakley, you know me. If I’m with you, you don’t carry anything.”
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, but hands me the backpack. Then pauses. “If anyone’s out there, let them film whatever they want. We don’t engage.”
She’s the expert. I wrap an arm over her shoulder, and we walk to the office then down the hall to the meeting room.
Coach and Phil are standing to the side, the owner is already displayed on a screen. Oakley slips off her coat and takes the chair directly across from the video screen lowered from the ceiling. Her hand trembles slightly as I hand her the backpack. My little hellcat isn’t as calm as she’s trying to pretend. That’s okay. I got her back. I’ve got a couple aces up my sleeve if we need them.
I take the seat next to her, coach sits beside me, and Phil is across from me.
“Good evening, Mr. Lee. I’m Oakley Wells.”
He raises his eyebrow, acknowledging that she knows who he is. “Your brother is Gordy Wells, my right winger, correct?”
“Yes, Gordy is my brother,” Oakley replies.
“I understand you’re a media specialist?”
“I have a master’s from NYU. I worked for the Times as an intern through college and did articles for magazines and other papers. I’ve been working for a paper in Buffalo since graduating. I recently created a social media test platform called ‘The Oakley’ where I’ve been talking about the Blades. It’s still in the infant stage where I’m measuring what works best and what will bring the Blades the most followers.”
Trevor saunters in, hands shoved into his team jacket and takes the seat across from Coach.
Mr. Lee’s gaze flips to Trevor. “Explain to me, Markel, the pictures of you and Sabrina White, the daughter of one of our biggest competitors, in Florida over the holidays.”
“I was invited to a party. I didn’t pay attention to who threw it.”
“So it wasn’t a recruitment ploy? They aren’t offering you a contract package?”
Trevor squirms in his seat before answering, “No.”
“And the fiasco from today that is putting the team in a scandalous light?”
“Bad timing.”
“The rag reporter just happened to know where you’d be when we haven’t disclosed any of the stops for the team bus?”
“He must have been following me. I missed the bus, so I drove.”
“I recommend that you revisit the morality and publicity clauses in your contract. There are substantial penalties for violating them.” He turns his attention to Oakley. “Ms. Wells, have you spoken to your brother? I’m sorry, but he can be a hot head.”
“Gordy’s fine, sir. He understands the situation. Dash has been a friend of my family for years. We’re all good.”
He pauses and turns his attention to me. “Dash?”
“Gordy and I have talked. We’re on the same page and he understands today’s unfortunate incident. The misunderstanding. However—” I make sure to have eye contact with Trevor. “We are both sensitive to how Oakley is treated. A second incident, accidental or not, will be handled swiftly and appropriately.”
“Which brings me to the publicity damage control. Ms. Wells, Coach and Phil passed on your suggestion for how we can handle this. I’ve approved your suggestions, and the board signed off on your employment contract.”
“What? What are you hiring her for?” Trevor exclaims leaning forward.
“Ms. Wells is our new publicity contact. Phil will continue in his position and Ms. Wells will be taking over all media interface until the end of the season. She will control all interviews, who gets interviews, and all press releases. Again, in accordance with our contracts.
“No interviews will be given without her approval. I have already approved her release regarding today’s unfortunate incidents.
“Let me make myself clear to all of you. Another trash tabloid release like today will not happen again. This is not the image the Buffalo Blades will tolerate.”