Page 23 of Wild Hit
Look at that. I found the one thing that my father did right by Adam and I. He always managed to keep the paparazzi away from us, probably by wiring hefty sums to the tabloids directly. Otherwise, Karen would already know that I’m the team owner’s daughter, heiress to a ridiculous fortune, just like the guy yapping across the table from us.
“—Do you think?” he asks with the gloating expression of someone who believes he just spat out a literal nugget of gold from his mouth.
“That’s a phenomenal idea.” Karen lets out a twinkling laugh I had never heard coming from her.
I purse my lips because there’s no way I can tell them both where to stuff it when, in theory, they haven’t earned such treatmentright now. But they’re both perfect for each other: apparently polite but vicious individuals on the inside.
“We could assign a cubicle in our office for you,” she offers, leaning over the table because she can’t stop her own impulse of reaching closer to him.
That’s when my brain decides to pay attention, not to what she just agreed to, but what it implies about everything I zoned out about.
So, Henry coming and going wasn’t a coincidence. He wants to have full access to the facilities. Karen’s agreement is a joke she’s the only one who isn’t in on; Dad will support this in a heartbeat. They’re really trying to socialize me to Henry, huh?
Or worse, is he trying to negotiate a buyout of the Orlando Wild from my dad? Because if that’s the case…
If so… I’m going to have to scorch earth. There’s no way I can let Dad do that.
My knee bounces and I check my watch. In twenty minutes I have a realistic excuse to high tail it out of here and not see any of these two people for a while. It’s the one time slot I found in Miguel Machado’s packed itinerary to discuss the logistics of theSPORTYshoot.
Unfortunately, my silence attracts their attention and it’s Henry who hones in. “What do you think, Audrey? Would you also like to see more of me around here?”
Karen glances between us like we’re in a tennis match and ma’am, this is a baseball facility, there’ll be none of that.
I grit my teeth. I wish he’d have phrased that in literally any other way. No one is supposed to guess that we know each other, and there’s no doubt my boss is starting to suspect something.
I channel my best impression of an ice cube when I say, “Why does my opinion matter in particular? I’m just one of many employees.”
“Right.” Karen offers more of that girly laugh and discreetly smacks my arm under the table. “I’m sure everyone in the building will be happy to have you around for this collab, it’s going to be fantastic.”
It’s going to be a pain in the ass, is what.
Henry passed around free samples of his product yesterday, and the entire crew that composes the marketing, communications, and PR staff tried them while we watched the Orlando Wild on screens, playing the last game of the away series in Seattle. The biggest bummer of all is that his electrolyte tablets are actually tasty on their own, and even better in vodka. Itwillbe a good collab for the team both financially and for the image, and Dad made it look like I’m the one who got the account, so I’ll be getting a hefty bonus out of this. On top of that, the apple flavor was particularly good.
All of this makes me feel like I’m betraying my own values, ugh.
Henry chuckles. Either he can read my thoughts through the deadpanned expression on my face, or he’s just amused by my obvious disdain of him. Like it’s a little challenge.
I honestly don’t know what tactic will work best on him, if acceptance or indifference. Somehow I have the feeling that neither of them will workfor me.
“This has been very productive, but I’m afraid I have to leave early to prepare for my next appointment,” I say with a heavy dose of sarcasm that makes Karen give me a sharp glance. Fromher point of view, yes, I’m being a completely unprofessional employee. I’m only slightly sorry.
“Great,” she chirps, clapping her hands. “How about we start setting you up with a work space?”
“That would be amazing.” He pulls himself up while buttoning his Tom Ford blazer at the same time.
I push away from the table, collect my iPad and Apple Pencil, and act ruder than I ever have by leaving without another word. This will get me an earful from Karen later, and honestly I’ll accept it. I just don’t want to spend any more of my energy on this guy today, especially now that I know I’ll have to preserve it for however many days it takes him to play his little game here.
But what is exactly is Henry playing at?
I need to get the tea out of my dad. But how? I’ve spent years trying to cut off contact with him. I can’t just walk up to him with big eyes and a pouty mouth and ask for information.
Also, I’m not prepared for what I might hear.
I bite my thumbnail as I walk back to my cubicle, not hard enough to damage it, but just to have something to do with my mouth that isn’t screaming. Parking at my chair, I fix my eyes on the hanging plants inside my cubicle and try to look at things from a different perspective.
Maybe I should just start applying for jobs elsewhere. My friend Camila has extended an offer to work with her atSPORTYthat, in her words, never expires. Then everyone around me will be new, and they won’t even notice my name going from Audrey Winters back to Audrey Cox.
But I also quite like the life I’ve made for myself here, and the friends I’ve made.
