Page 75 of Catching the Captain

Margot’s eyes dart to the large clock on the wall. “You have a meeting with Nadia now,” she tells me.

“I do?” I’m sure my face shows my surprise and the fact that she’s sent me into a panic.

Smiling reassuringly, she pats my arm. “She won’t bite you and she’s not a yeller at all. Except when it comes to her husband, Flynn. But most of the time he deserves it, so…” She shrugs and then shoos me with her hands. “Go on and get in there.”

Springing up from my seat, I push my chair to the side. “Do I need to bring anything with me?”

“Take your binder and a pen.” She hands me the latter. “There’s paper in the back of the binder if you need it.”

“Thanks.” Jesus. How am I ever going to measure up to the sky-high standard of efficiency set by Margot? It seems like an impossible task and it’s only my first day.

My legs quiver with every step I take. I force air in and out of my lungs at an even pace, so I don’t hyperventilate. Nadia notices me through the open door and waves me in.

“Hi,” I say, feeling like I’m balancing on someone else’s legs as I walk across her office.

“Hello, Rori.” She smiles up at me and I notice how kind her brown eyes look. “Please sit down.”

With my shaky legs buckling under me, I drop onto the chair.

“How’s everything so far?” she asks.

“Great, thanks. Margot has been amazing.”

“Yeah, we’re going to miss her around here. I don’t know what I’ll do without her snarky remarks, so it’ll be up to you to pick up where she left off,” she says.

“Huh?” I utter the word without meaning to.

Nadia laughs. “I’m joking with you. Margot and I have been together for a long time now, so she doesn’t hold back with me. I may be her boss, but she helped me build this company from the ground up.”

“Are you sure you want me to cover for her? I don’t know how I’m going to measure up,” I confess.

“I don’t need you to be anyone but yourself, Rori. I have a feeling you and I are going to get along well. I like your honesty and vulnerability.”

“Thanks. I’ve always thought of it as insecurity more than vulnerability.”

“The only difference between the two is your perspective. You see it as insecurity because you’re feeling limited by your inexperience when compared to Margot. I see it as being vulnerable because I see the potential for your growth in this career.”

I’m beginning to see why she’s such a successful businesswoman in a field that’s been dominated by men.

“Hmm, I never thought of it that way.”

“Perspective is a big part of being a sports agent. How does the mainstream perceive your client? What about the sports teams? But I digress. I don’t want to overwhelm you on your first day. You’re not an intern yet. However, I have complete confidence that by the time Margot’s maternity leave is over, you’ll be moving into that position.”

I’m ecstatic and it’s obvious with the way I’m beaming at her. “Thank you, Nadia. I promise I won’t let you down.”

“You better not.” She smiles. “You can head back out front.”

Rising, I hug the binder to my chest all the way back to Margot.

“How did it go?” she asks.

“I think I might love her a little already,” I say. Why start holding back now?

She laughs. “You and everyone else who works for her. When she won Flynn Shaughnessy’s heart, everyone wondered how she did it, him being the bad boy of football. But I never questioned her methods because I knew he didn’t stand a chance.”

* * *

I step through the automatic doors out into late afternoon sunshine with a wide smile on my face. My first day on the road to my dream career is complete.

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