Page 11 of Playing to Win

I’d just settled in my chair when an office DM popped up. My boss wanted to see me. Three guesses what that was about.

The same investor group owned the Blaze and the Bonfire, so my transition from doing publicity for the Bonfire to filling in for Penny’s mat leave had mostly been organic. Fortunately, I had also been suitably recompensed because living in Toronto was expensive. I couldn’t do my usual offseason coaching because I was still off my skates, so I had to build up enough savings to see me through the summer. I’d already paid out of pocket for extra supplements that were supposed to help my body heal. It hadn’t got me back on the ice yet, so I was focused on the fall.

I had an office space—tiny—and while I mostly worked from home right after my knee surgery, it was easier to keep up with all the activity happening with the teams when I was at the arena. It also meant I needed to get to Kira’s office ASAP.

I threw my laptop in a bag and limped over to her office, leaning on my cane. Her space was much larger, and was currently occupied by the Blaze’s top PR guys. I knew Braydon had gone viral with his rant, but this was overkill, wasn’t it?

Kira waved me in. “Thanks for coming, Jayna. This is Vince Radner, VP of Media relations, and Brad Bouchard, Senior Manager of Media. I don’t think you met them when you started.”

No, I hadn’t. I’d never been important enough to catch their attention. I was just a mat leave replacement, and Kira, Manager of Media Relations, was the one I reported to.

Radner didn’t acknowledge the introduction. “We’ve got a situation, and we need to get on top of it. You’ve seen the Braydon Mitchell video?”

“Yes, saw it first thing this morning.” Notifications had lit up my phone like fireworks. I slid into the closest seat to the door and set my cane against the arm. I pulled out my laptop, my weapon of choice when I wasn’t on the ice. I always had my phone with me, but some things were better handled with the computer.

“Then you know what the problem is. You and Kira thought playing the girl would be a media hit, but now we’ve got this.” He waved at my laptop.

As if it was my fault that Braydon was a diva?

He looked me up and down, which was a little bizarre and definitely borderline inappropriate. “We have to undo what this video has done. We need the fans behind both the goalies we’re taking into the playoffs.”

That would take some doing. The obvious solution was getting rid of Mitchell and playing Faith instead, but these men, sitting here, weren’t willing to play that hand. Had they not considered that? “Why not use Faith?” The Bonfire would miss her, but this would be incredible for her, and for women’s hockey.

“No.” Radner didn’t even offer an excuse.

I opened my mouth to argue but Kira ran her finger across her throat in a slashing motion. I bit back the angry words and forced a smile. I’d have risked my jobs if I thought I could change their minds. But if they were blaming Faith for Braydon’s hissy fit? Yeah, not happening. Change was coming, but they weren’t giving any more ground today.

“We have to fix Mitchell.”

He’d been drunk, which was never a good look. He’d complained that someone had taken his moment of glory, which exposed him as a selfish brat. And since this had been a big moment in women’s sports, add misogynist to his con column.

There were people who supported his view, the ones who didn’t think women belonged in sports. But that was not where the future of the game was, and it wasn’t where the Blaze wanted to be. Since they couldn’t trade for another goalie, they were up shit creek with a paddle named Braydon Mitchell. I was now in the canoe with them.

“I can start looking for things to post about him—presumably he’s done something worthwhile in his past.” I flipped open my laptop, ready to start my to-do list. Reaching out to the Inferno publicity team was the first step.

“Jayna.” Kira had a note in her voice that told me I’d gotten something wrong. But if they didn’t want me to spin this, why call me into this meeting?

The senior manager of media deigned to explain it to me. “Despite what’s in that video, Braydon is a good guy. There’s never been any incidents to indicate the behavior we saw last night. The clip online was taken very much out of context.”

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped.Right. Oldest excuse in the books.

Radner glared at me and spoke to Kira. “If you can convince her, the job is done. I’ll let you sell it.”

The two of them walked out, leaving me with my mouth half open. I looked at Kira.

“Shut the door again. We have something to discuss.”

* * *

“Dowe really have to do this?” I sounded whiny, but come on, this felt desperate. I understood what they were doing. Totally. I just didn’t want to be part of it.

Kira sighed. “If you’d thought of a better idea, you’d have already mentioned it. And you’re the perfect person to carry it off. If you’d been dating someone, well, that would have changed things, but as it is…”

It was such a crazy idea I’d never have dreamed of it: prove that Mitchell didn’t have an issue with female hockey players by having him date one.

And since I was handling social media for the Blaze, if I was dating him, I could make sure he didn’t do anything this stupid again. Until the playoffs were over and this could all go away.

“No one is going to believe I’m dating someone who would say that shit.” Because I wouldn’t.

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