Page 133 of The Defender
“Okay.” She didn’t look convinced, but she let the issue go. “If you need to talk about anything, I’m here.”
“I know. Thank you.” I squeezed her hand and waited until she turned away before I let my smile drop.
I glanced across the pub, where Vincent was celebrating with his teammates. They slapped him on the shoulders and said something that made him laugh. His grin dazzled, and he looked so happy, I couldn’t bear to ruin the moment for him.
My chest felt so tight I couldn’t breathe. I was genuinely thrilled that Vincent got the Zenith deal. He was at the top of his game, and he deserved the world. I would celebrate his accomplishments a thousand times over.
But as I sat there, surrounded by joy and revelry, I’d never felt so small.
CHAPTER 36
BROOKLYN
I licked my wounds in private for a week before the Moore interview. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about the ISNA rejection yet, even Vincent. How stupid I must look, turning down a guaranteed job in the Premier League only to end up with no job and no award. My only consolation was that Henry hadn’t made the final round either. At least there wassomejustice in the universe.
Getting the Moore job was my best shot at redemption. If they gave me an offer, that would soften the ISNA blow, so I tried to buckle down and put on my game face the following Friday for our video interview.
Derek was in his fifties but fitter than most men half his age. With his salt and pepper hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin, he was the definition of a silver fox. Haley was the sixteen-year-old female version of him—same smile, same eyes, same down-to-earth demeanor that instantly put me at ease. She seemed extraordinarily mature for someone her age.
Despite my initial nerves, the interview went more smoothly than I could’ve hoped.
“The Blackcastle internship is impressive,” Derek said after he asked some clarifying questions about my résumé. “I admit, we don’t follow soccer?—”
“Football,” Haley corrected. “That’s what it’s called in Europe.”
“Sorry, sweetie,” Derek said indulgently. I smiled. They obviously had a great relationship, which was unfortunately rare in elite athlete families. Too much pressure and competition. “We don’t follow football closely, but even I know Blackcastle is a legendary club. I’m curious why you didn’t stay on with them full-time?”
I’d expected this question, and I came prepared. “It was a great learning experience, and like you said, it’s a legendary club. But with that comes a long-established system of processes and traditions that isn’t always open to experimentation. As much as I loved my time there, I wanted to work in an environment with more creative freedom.”
“Can you give us an example of what that creative freedom would look like?” Haley asked.
“Sure. When I’m paired with an athlete, I don’t only personalize their nutrition plans. I also personalize the way we work together. People have different learning and motivation styles. It’s important that we optimize for both their physical and mental idiosyncrasies.” I gave them a few examples of how I’d done that with other athletes before I segued into more specific tools and strategies.
The personal statement I wrote for ISNA was actually great prep for the interview. It’d helped me hone my nutrition philosophy and made me think long and hard about what set me apart from my peers.
The more I talked, the more confident I got. Without restrictions and guidelines hemming me in anymore, the passion I felt for my job resurfaced, bubbling out in a stream ofideas and genuine enthusiasm. My mind raced as I came up with new approaches on the spot, though I was careful to control my excitement in case I soundedtooall over the place.
When I finished, both Derek and Haley looked suitably impressed.
“I love your point about tailoring your working style to the individual,” Haley said. “That was the issue with my old nutritionist. She was more old-school and a little too rigid when it came to the daily stuff. We didn’t quite mesh.”
They had a few more questions about my background and my plan for taking Haley to nationals before they wrapped up the interview. I expected them to give me the usual spiel about taking time to discuss my application and calling me later, but Derek surprised me.
“I’ll be straightforward,” he said. “You’re the last candidate we’ve interviewed, and I think I can speak for both Haley and myself when I say you’re the best one by far.”
Haley nodded. “The others were great, but I feel like yougetit. The flexibility, the creativity, the willingness to experiment. We move fast, and we need someone who can not only keep up but also adapt.”
I’d been burned by hope before, but my heart skipped nonetheless. “Thank you. That’s great to hear.”
“I apologize if this seems rushed, but rest assured that after weeks of searching, we know what works and what doesn’t,” Derek said. “Regionals are in two months, so we’d like to onboard someone as soon as possible. We’ll send you details via email later, but rest assured that even though this isn’t a corporate job, it’ll include full benefits, a generous salary, and a bonus for everyone on our team if Haley makes it to nationals.” He named a figure that almost made me choke.
I’d known about the benefits and salary, but holyshit. That bonus would be a lot of money.
“Nothing’s official yet until we draw up the paperwork, but we wanted to make a verbal offer now,” Haley added after glancing at her dad. “Is this something you’re interested in?”
“Are you kidding? Absolutely! I would love to work for you.” My ISNA rejection-induced funk lifted, letting in a glimmer of light.
“Excellent.” A broad smile spread across Derek’s face. “You’ll have the paperwork by end of day today. I understand you’re living in London now, so we’re happy to give you an extra two weeks to sort out your affairs. We’ll cover all your relocation expenses, of course, and provide any guidance you might need for moving to Chicago.”
