Page 70 of The Slapshot and the Single Mom
“It’s nice to meet you at last.”
Smiling, she nods, “You too. I know we’ve only spoken a few times, and not always under … ideal circumstances, but your work is top notch.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, following her as she leads me out of the waiting area through the door she came through. It leads to a cream hallway with large framed photographs of the stadium, the owners, well-known players, plus a few action shots taken during games spaced along the walls. For all my years working in sports media, I’ve never actually been in a team’s offices. I’ve only ever been in the stands with the rest of the fans.
Molly gives me a running commentary, pointing to the different doors and telling me whose offices they are, highlighting a break room—which looks like a kitchen out of a lifestyle magazine full of sleek chrome appliances and minimalist decor, though the seating looks more comfortable than that in the waiting room—and a bathroom before opening another door. “This is the PR suite.” She points at an open door across from us. “That’s my office. And this”—she leads me to a desk in the corner of the open area—“will be your workspace. I know it’s not as nice as having an enclosed space with a door, but we can get cubicle walls to give you some privacy while they get your actual office ready.”
I look at her, confusion I’m sure clearly stamped on my features. “My office?”
“Of course. You’ll need quiet for editing videos, won’t you? In the meantime, you’ll be able to use our smaller conference roomwhen it’s not needed for meetings. And if there’s something that can’t wait and you need a quiet place to work, you can either use my office or work from home.” She leans in like she’s sharing a secret. “Honestly, I’m sure you could probably manage to work remotely at least sixty percent of the time if it was up to me, but the execs here like to have people in the office. Remote work is fine if you have a cold or something where you can still work but don’t need to infect others.” She pauses, pursing her lips and scanning the paper in her hand. “You have a child, correct? I imagine he probably gets sick more than you. So if he’s home sick and you need to take a day to work from home, that’s totally fine, too.”
She leads us into her office and indicates for me to have a seat in the chair across from her desk while she closes the door. Once she’s seated, she sets a green folder in front of me and flips it open. Pen in hand, she starts pointing at different sections of the paper on top that outline the employee benefits, including sick and vacation time, profit sharing, insurance, and the company retirement plan. Then she flips the page and shares what she says will be my salary.
“My salary?”
Concern crosses her features. “I’m sorry. It’s not as much as I pushed for, but it’s been a hard sell convincing the higher ups that we needed a dedicated social media manager. I’ve been trying for years, but they just keep giving me their and their friend’s college-aged kids to use as interns. Which, as I’m sure you can guess, is pretty hit or miss.”
“No, it’s not … I mean, yes, I can imagine that might not work as well as anyone would like. But, I just …” I clear my throat and meet her eyes. “I thought this was an interview?”
“Oh, well.” Wrinkling her nose, she sits back in her chair. “In the most technical sense, I suppose it is. But like I said, I’m familiar with your work, and it’s excellent. Jack Bouchard vouched for you as a person, says you’re fun and funny, get along well with others, and do good work. He mentioned that you’d hit it off with Dozer Boggs’ new girlfriend as well as Tina Abernathy. Anyone that gets Tina’s stamp of approval tells me I won’t have any problems. And Bouchard’s not an easy guy to get close to, either, so the fact that you’ve managed to gain both their trust means you’re trustworthy. I also checked the references you provided already, and Sadie Edwards in particular only had glowing things to say about you. Your other reference”—she pauses to look at another folder—“a Sam Medina?”
I blink in surprise that she went ahead and called my references without even meeting me first, then realize I should respond. “Yeah, uh, I worked with Sam on my ex-husband’s show before he transferred to the Los Angeles office.”
Sam was instrumental in bringing Kyle’s show to the network but transferred to LA about six months after that, so any pull he might’ve had to get me a job on a different show when things went south with Kyle went with him. When I contacted him before taking the job with Brock, he offered to hire me for one of his shows down there, but I couldn’t move at the time. Not with the divorce so up in the air. Not if I wanted to take Liam with me. I reached out again last month, and he made the same offer. I just didn’t want to go that route unless I had no other option. He did offer to provide a reference for me, though.
“Well, he raved about your work, even sent me links to specific items that impressed him so much that he reached out to your show with an offer.”
All I can do is blink at her some more. I … I knew Sam liked my work, but I had no idea that I was the one who specifically caught his attention. Sure, Kyle put on a good show. But it was my strategy that got the network to make an offer.
Molly folds her hands in front of her on the desk and meets my eyes. “Look, I know there are some challenges going on in your personal life right now. I’m aware of your work history as well as your current relationship, and I can only imagine that those two things have been in conflict for a while. And Bouchard has mentioned that you need something quickly, which is why you’re here now. I impressed upon the C-suite that we needed to move fast before someone else realizes how brilliant you are and snaps you up for themselves. That said, if you’d rather keep your personal and professional life separate—and I wouldn’t blame you a bit if you did—I’m happy to pass your information along to the other organizations in town. I have contacts with the baseball and football teams. I can also get you meetings with the farm teams, and I might know someone in the soccer team’s office, but I don’t think those last few options will pay as well. You deserve a higher salary than what we’re offering, but I’m sure in a few months, I’ll be able to get you a raise.”
Closing the folder in front of me, she slides it closer to me. “At least think about it, okay? I’d love to have you on board.”
I take the folder in my hands, staring at it, too stunned to respond.
“Do you have any questions for me?” Molly asks after a moment.
That jars me out of my stupor, and I clear my throat, meeting her eyes again. “When do you want me to start?”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Jack
Once again there’sa message from Maggie on my voicemail when I get back to my locker. “I got the job! I got the job! I got the job!” she crows. “It wasn’t an interview. Not really. She showed me around the office and made me a job offer. She sent me home with a folder, and I have an appointment to meet with HR and sign the paperwork tomorrow. And I start next week!”
Grinning, I replay the message, wanting to hear the excitement in her voice again. She’s been so stressed out for so long now. It’s a relief to hear her happy, and I realize that I’ve only heard her sound this excited about something once or twice since we met. Now that she doesn’t have the weight of Brock Savage dragging her down, will she be able to be happier in general?
God, I hope so. And I’m determined to help make that happen, at least as much as it’s in my power.
“What’re you grinning about?” Dozer asks from his spot next to me in the locker room.
“Maggie just got offered a job in the PR office. She called and left me a voicemail letting me know.”
Dozer’s eyebrows jump. “Awesome, man. I didn’t realize Molly was looking for more help.”
“I’m not sure Molly was actively looking. But Maggie’s a kick-ass social media manager, and she was looking for a new opportunity. I let Molly know, and I guess she jumped at the chance.”
“That’s awesome, man,” Dozer says. “Tell her congratulations for me. Maybe we can have you guys over for a new job celebration soon.”
