Page 12 of Faking the Face Off

“Thank you.” I can feel a flush creeping across my cheeks. “I’m sorry I piped in that night, but when Lara and Jimmystarted talking about Sawyer and comparing him with Ollie, I felt like it was so apples to oranges. I had to say something.”

“I like your confidence.” Sutton watches me with quiet amusement. I’ll take it as a testament to our history. “Not a lot of people in your shoes would have felt comfortable enough to start questioning the owner of the team, and his publicist.”

“Jimmy wasn’t a fan?” I ask, the significance of my stepping out of line suddenly coming into the spotlight.

“No, but he got over it.” She chuckles as she plays with the edge of the saucer. “My brother isn’t used to having someone question him, so when you did, it took him by surprise. He owes you an apology, in my opinion.”

There’s no doubt in my mind right now who must be really running the show in the offices. Something tells me Sutton is a silent and smiling assassin who sneaks in, gets you to do what she wants, and rolls out without anyone ever being the wiser she was involved. This can be a good trait, and it can also be a bad one, too. Like the two witches in the Wizard of Oz, but maybe rolled up into one person.

“That’s nice of you, but also it’s business.” I grip my coffee cup and decide to finally try a sip. It goes down with only a slight lurch in my stomach, which I take as a positive sign. I place the cup back to my lips and take another sip.

“I hear you, but still. There’s kindness in business, too.” She clasps her hands in front of her and leans across the table. “I didn’t ask you here so we could break down Jimmy’s behavior—that’s for me and my therapist. I want to talk to you about you and what you’re doing with your life.”

That sip I’m taking threatens to spray out of my mouth and across the table and all over Sutton. I manage to keep it in and swallow it, too. It’s piping hot and burns the whole way down, but it’s for the greater good. Can’t lose my job by spraying somehours-old coffee on my former babysitter and giving her a third-degree burn now, can I?

“That’s a big question, Sutton.”

“You’re a grown-up,” she says, winking. “Seriously. Are you going to stay working for Ben? It’s fine if you do, I get it. He’s a great guy and if the job works, it works. But I’m curious if you want more.”

“I’ve…” I set my coffee cup back down and let her question sink in. “I’ve never thought about it.”

Which is a lie. Of course I’ve thought about it. I have a business degree, and at some point, I’d like to put it to use. I’ve thought about leaving Ben, and his wife Molly, even though I love them, but only because I don’t want to still be with them when the kids turn sixteen. Granted, they’re only eight and ten now, but still. The Masters are good people and it would be easy to stay working for them forever if it’s what I wanted.

But also, that’s all I know. Assisting and hockey, but still. Am I destined to work for only the Renegades all my life?

I can hear my phone start ringing in my bag and reach for it, but Sutton holds up a hand. “Before you look at it, give me a few minutes to plead my case.” She flashes all five of her fingers. “Five minutes. I’ll even set a timer.”

My lips twist into a grin. I’ve always liked Sutton, and for her to be giving me her time right now and wanting me to listen when she has many other things she could be doing, tells me what she’s got is important.

“Okay. Five minutes.” I grab my phone, don’t look at it, and flick a switch on the side to silence it as Sutton pulls hers out and sets a timer. Laughing, I point to her phone. “Starting…now.”

“Okay,” she says, wiggling into her seat and fighting a tiny grin. “As I said, I like your ideas and I can see potential in you, Anna. I’ve been paying more attention to what’s going on in our executive offices because I’m not thrilled with how my brotheris handling this sudden focus to make the team go viral. I feel like they play hockey, that is why we hired them, and I don’t want to change their focus. Now, I get that brand deals and ambassadorships and the like will come along, and I want these guys to take advantage while they can.”

I nod my head, listening, liking what she’s saying so far.

“However, Jimmy pushing them to do more is ridiculous, and frankly, I think his ‘PR team’,” she says using air quotes and punctuating her irritation with an eye roll, “is getting too much access to him and has more influence than I’d like to see—if you know what I mean.”

Judging by the look she gives me, my suspicions that Jimmy and Lara the publicist are a lowkey thing are right, and it doesn’t look like Sutton is having any of it.

“While I agree with you, isn’t it weird that you’re talking to me about the issue you’re having with your brother?” Not that I mind some tea being spilled, but I’m also wary of being pulled into a family situation that also involves where not only I work, but my dad does, too.

“You’re right.” Sutton holds up her hands like she’s under arrest. “I’m sorry. I had a row with Jimmy this morning about the same topic and I’m still smarting from it.” She closes her eyes for a brief second before opening them again and looking at me. “He threatened to let go of Ollie today.”

“What?” This makes no sense to me. “Why? He’s stepped into the star role after Noah decided to retire and become an assistant coach. What’s he done wrong?”

“Noah Beaumont is, was, and will always be a special case,” Sutton says. “He was a star because he was a bad boy, and getting reformed—while also being a kickass player—helped keep his profile boosted in the media. This helped the team, and that’s what Lara keeps saying to Jimmy when she’s in his ear.Which team members are out in the world doing ‘things’ to keep the Renegades on the tip of everyone’s tongue.”

“Unreal,” I mutter, pushing my coffee away. I don’t like that my friend is on the chopping block and it’s NOT because of his talent. “He’s not an influencer, he’s a hockey player. And he’s a great one at that.”

“Sadly, a lot of people look at numbers of followers and virality as a part of the package now. But me? I’m my father’s daughter,” Sutton says, wagging a finger, talking about the man who was in charge until last year. “And he wouldn’t like this. I’m coming to you because of two things. One, to talk about your future because if you’re interested, I want to look at a path for bringing you into the executive offices as part of our marketing team.”

While my jaw goes slack, Sutton continues. “You’re bold, you know all the players, and I’ve seen you handle the guys. This is a role we’ve always outsourced, but I want to build up the people we have already and utilize talent like yours. You may not see it yet, but I do.”

I’m blown away. Did I see this coming? No way. It’s not something I’ve ever thought about, but am I interested? Sure.

“I don’t know what to say.”

She looks at her watch. “Nothing yet, ‘cause I’ve got one more minute. Look, the second thing I wanted to do is talk about Ollie and Lara’s idea for him.”

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