Page 30 of The Roommate Remodel

He disappears down the hall, leaving me to sink onto my rock-hard chair. At least we’re on the same page when it comes to working together.

Now it’s my job to stay away from him.

No problem, right?

The rest of the week, I map out plans for the year—including one idea that’s absolutely insane but could be my best one yet. Even though I want to tell Brax first, I keep it a secret. I shouldn’t treat him special, even though he’s become a regular in my office, stopping by whenever he has a chance. He even left a chocolate truffle on my desk the other day with the note,I heard you like chocolate.

An obvious nod to my staring problem at practice.

As long as I’m working for Alex, I should get her approval for anything first. Not Brax. No matter how much he wants this team to succeed. I’ve worked hard to create this community re-engagement plan, but unless Alexandra signs off, I’ll never convince the team to agree to it.

I look down the hall and notice that Alex’s light is still on, even though it’s past eight o’clock. If I can get her to approve my plan tonight, that means I can start setting up our community initiative tomorrow.

I knock on her door quietly and then peek inside.

Two men sit across from her, looking over a dozen papersspread across her desk. She glances up in surprise. “Jaz? What are you doing here so late?”

“Sorry to interrupt. Your light was on, so I thought...”

“Come in.” She stands and walks toward me with her usual tight smile. “Henry and George, this is my new community relations manager. She might be helpful.” She hesitates and looks me over, like she’s picking out produce at the grocery store. “Specifically for our future plans.”

I shake their hands and get the strange sense that they seem less than happy about me being there. “I should go.”

“Have you told her yet?” George asks Alex.

“No. I was waiting until plans were more firmly in place.” Alex rounds her desk and sinks into a large leather chair. Then she looks at me. “Can you keep a secret?”

I nod, knowing I don’t really have another choice. I work for Alex, and if I want to keep my job, I need to do whatever she tells me.

Alex motions for me to sit in a nearby chair. “This isn’t public news yet.” She pushes her papers toward me.

One is an architectural rendering of an enormous building, with the words, “The Plex.”

Alex taps the drawing. “This is going to be our new sports complex.”

My mouth drops open. “You’re building a new complex?” Alex might own the Ice House, but from what I’ve heard, the team hasn’t met their budget the last two years because of low attendance and advertisers pulling their money. There’s no way the team can afford a building project right now. “But how? I thought we weren’t doing well.”

“We aren’t. That’s why George and Henry are here. We’re building a multi-sport complex that will bring in a lot more revenue than the ice complex. We’ll be able to host basketball games, soccer, indoor football... you name it, we’ll be able to host it.” She turns to the two men in the room. “George is a local businessman who helps fund development projects in thecity, and Henry is a councilman who will get the city on board.”

“Oh.” I nod, finally understanding. “So you’ll use it in the off-season for other sports, but the hockey team will use it the rest of the time.”

George and Henry give Alex a knowing glance.

“Well, not exactly.” Alex looks away and adjusts her blonde bob behind one ear. “Hockey hasn’t been very... how shall I put it? Lucrative. With another season of losses, we may have to decide what’s best for everyone.”

I frown and shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

Alex tightens her lips and gives me a smile that makes me feel stupid. “I’m saying the hockey team might not exist after this year. At least, not in this city.”

“Wait, you’re shutting it down?” I nearly fall off my seat. This is horrible news.

“I have the team’s best interest in mind,” Alex says in response to my shock. “But if they’re not making money, then I need to do what’s best formyinterests as the owner.”

It all sinks in so fast, I don’t know what to say. To think that Alex could end it all so quickly. “You’d give up your team so you could make more money?” I blurt out.

“It might not make sense to you,” Alex begins, folding her hands, her jeweled fingers glittering on the desk. “But when my husband and I divorced, he gave me the team and the Ice House as part of our settlement. He loves hockey, so I thought it was an enormous sacrifice for him. But after looking over the records, I realized I was a fool. For years, he’s lost money on this team and facility. He didn’t run things like a CEO. He gambled on luck and let everyone do their own thing. With no vision and no focus, he lost advertisers and our best players. Then he ran out of money. He just never told me.”

If she can see the horror on my face, she doesn’t show it. Alex isn’t making this change out of love for the team. She’s doing it because she wants to get rid of a team that’s bleeding money.

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