Page 78 of Breakaway

Despite knowing the documentary was coming out and the fact I’d been on TV before, the thought of people watching me go about my daily life made me queasy.

Reed nudged me forward, and I followed the others into the kitchen, vaguely taking in the decor and layout now in a full panic. It was a beautiful house, but I couldn’t seem to appreciate it at the moment. I filled my plate with food, not paying attention to what I placed on it. Nerves engulfed me, and I wasn’t even sure I could keep anything down.

In a matter of seconds, it felt like everyone was sitting in the living room, and the TV was turned on. The documentary was airing on a sports streaming channel first, with the hopes of being picked up if it did well. Right that second, I wished it wouldn’t, even though the whole purpose was to entice Dakota into the challenge I set for him.

“Let’s do a countdown! Five, four, three, two, one!” Everyone cheered as the show started.

Reed nudged me to eat as it played. I’d already seen parts of it, Keaton sticking to the agreement that I got the final say on the parts I was in. It didn’t feel nearly this nerve-wracking then as it did now.

As the documentary played out, our friends oohed and awed at things as our life was revealed before the camera. It showed me coaching, being a sibling, and being an athlete. But it also displayed my relationship and how we worked together. Even I couldn’t help but root for us. When we won our game and I got to stay the whole time without any incidents, the music and the crowd crescendo, drawing you into the struggle and triumph that we felt.

Goosebumps littered my skin at the production, amazed at how well it showed our fight and accomplishments without seeming cheap or like it was trying to garner sympathy. As the last scene emerged, I held my breath as the cameraman zoomed in to ask me about Dakota.

“So, Henley, if you could say one thing to those who doubt you, saying you’re all talk and no show, and just trying to get attention… what would it be?”

I smiled at the camera, my face flushed from practice with my hair plastered to my head. I didn’t look pretty, but it didn’t matter. Instead, I looked fierce and powerful as I stared directly at the camera, my eyes blazing.

“I’d say I’d love to prove it. In fact, I know the perfect place to host a challenge. So, what do you say, Dakota? Skills test at the Olympic trials. We’ll settle this once and for all.” I paused, the corner of my mouth lifting. “That’s if you’re brave enough to face me. You always did have a problem with finishing.”

Mic. Fucking. Dropped.

“Yasss!” the room shouted, cheering around the room. People hugged me, and my body jostled back and forth as the group descended, eager to embrace me and the guys.

My heart pounded as all the blood rushed to my head, making my face hot. Everything in the room disappeared as I stared at the frozen screen of my face with the challenge still there in the closed captions.

This was it. The gauntlet had been thrown down, all the past months’ preparation accumulating to this moment in time where I took a stand.

The time for Dakota to get away with his shit was over. It was now the Henley Henshaw era.

Put me in, coach; I’m ready.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Fletcher

Rubbing my eyes, I stretched my arms behind me as I yawned. I’d been pulling double duty the past few weeks, and it had finally caught up to me. During the day, I trained and coached, and at night I was in meetings for Hat Trick. Or at least when there wasn’t a game, and since November started, that had become three games a week, making it difficult to find time for everything on my plate.

The search for the new CEO had stalled, none of the candidates meeting my expectations, much to the boards’ disapproval. On top of reviewing resumes, I had to sign off on the new product line and all the contracts for the Olympics’ sponsorship.

Plus in my “free time,” I’d been combing through all the data Macy had compiled on the employees and board members, then dissolving ties when necessary. Outside of the Owen breach, there had been ten more employees that didn’t have HTC’s best interest at heart and had sold information over the past few years. Guilt hit me at how much I’d dropped the ball on Emila’s company, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it now other than make it right.

But that also meant there were job openings in several departments, and employees had to pull longer shifts to meet the demands. Emailing my assistant to give everyone a bonus and extra vacation days, I pulled up the last message I needed to deal with. My blood ran cold as I glanced over the contents.

Mr. Cromwell,

Well done on keeping your identity hidden all these years. We’ve been trying to figure out who to coordinate with in Emila’s absence, to no avail. How embarrassing to learn that we had the new CEO at one of our recent soirees and that he’s attached to one of our recent potential initiates!

While I disagree with Ms. Henshaw’s decision to reject our offer, the choice is always everyone’s to make.

It does cause me to wonder if Ms. Henshaw regrets her hasty decision, and now that she’s seen the true benefits of our club, if she might be reconsidering? Especially now with our connection.

HTC and ourselves have had a long-standing relationship, and we would love to sit down with you and discuss new terms. We might even be able to ignore Ms. Henshaw’s dismissal without too many repercussions.

Let’s meet during your next game against Royal Hill. I’ll be at the library at 1 pm. Come alone.

I wouldn’t miss this opportunity, Mr. Cromwell. We won’t be able to ignore two slights against us. Everything so far has been tame compared to what we’re truly capable of.

To the advancement of our hockey community and society.

---