Page 14 of Pucked and Pregnant

Thank goodness I’ll be able to delegate some of those tasks out. The only downside is I don’t know anybody yet, so they might not respect my opinions right away, but I know how to establish rapport and build relationships. I’ve been doing it my entire career, but the road getting to that point is always bumpy. That’s always been the worst part of this job for me—fighting to gain respect.

“Now, since this is your first week and we’d like to keep you, you won’t be doing everything all at once. I can’t have you racing out of here in a panic. You’ll spend two weeks getting to know and shadowing your new team, seeing how they work out in the field, at press events, and getting acclimated to the speed we do things here, such as working on various reports and projects. Then, starting week three, we’ll have you go out into the field to games and other live events. I think that’s going to be the best way for you to get accustomed to the pace of work here and the way we like things done. Well, I believe that’s everything I wanted to cover with you. Do you have any questions for me right now?”

“No, sir.” I shake my head. “But I’ll be sure to reach out if I do.”

Scott’s computer chimes.

“Excellent timing as usual, Grace,” he mutters to himself.

To me he says, “My secretary has just finished getting your office set up and is now ready to give you the grand tour.”

I know a dismissal when I hear one, so I stand and extend my hand. “I look forward to working with you, sir.”

“Likewise.”

Grace is both thorough and friendly. The first thing she shows me is where the restrooms are then the vending machine with the good chocolate and snacks. She also gives me a quick rundown of the best takeout places in the area. Finally, she gives me a tour of the entire facility, going out of her way to introduce me to everyone she can.

Grace is charming, engaging, and has an excellent sense of timing, but there’s something a little bit off about her. All that charm seems surface-level only. Her body language is reserved, anxious even.

It’s like there’s something she’s not telling me, but I’m not sure if the anxiety is from wanting to tell me or needing to conceal it. I know I can’t ask her where anyone might overhear, so I wait until we step into my new office and close the door.

“Grace, I know that I just met you but you seem a little guarded. Is there something going on? If it’s personal, please feel free to tell me to mind my own business.”

The polite, bubbly mask crumbles. “Alice is my friend. She was good at her job. Everyone likes her. Everyone. But when she got promoted the only person who wasn’t happy for her was Travis.”

“Alice is the woman I’m replacing? And Travis, my new partner?”

She nods. “He was so resentful he got passed over that he did his best to make her life miserable every single day, yet in front of everyone else, he behaved himself. It got so bad that she decided to quit.”

“Why wasn’t he fired then?” I ask.

“From what I’ve overheard, Mr. Booth suspects Travis had a hand in why Alice quit, but he can’t prove it.”

“Why are you telling me this? Not that I don’t appreciate it but…”

She starts pacing my office. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m still mad about what he did to her. I might even be angry at Alice for refusing to report it. Or maybe I want to warn you so it doesn’t happen to you. It’s like one of those things when someone asks if you’re okay and it ends up being the final straw that sends you into a total breakdown.”

This wasn’t at all what I expected to happen when I asked the question. I did ask it though, so I need to manage the fallout.

“Why don’t we have a seat?” I gesture to the chairs. “This is my first day here, so I’m going to form my own opinion about him and everyone else in this office. However, I will take what you said into account. I won’t make you any promises, but I will tell you that I don’t scare easily and I don’t take things lying down. Take that however you will.”

“I think I can live with that.”

“Good. If you don’t mind my saying so, you still look a little unsettled. Do you want me to get you some water?”

Grace laughs.

My brow furrows. “Did I say something funny?”

“Not at all. It’s just that I’m usually the one offering such things to everyone else that I couldn’t help but laugh.”

“Well, maybe I’ll bring you coffee or tea every once in a while just to shake things up.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Sure I do. I might be the newbie in this office, but I’ve been around long enough to know that getting on the good side of the receptionist is the thing to do. Besides, we women have to stick together, right?”

Before she can respond, my office door flies open, and a man who I can only assume is Travis, barges in.

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