Page 9 of Meet Your Match
“Okay…” I said carefully.
“It’s all-access,” Reya said. “Twenty-four-seven coverage. We’re going to set up dedicated profiles on our major-hitting platforms. Think daily Reels and TikToks, exclusive sit-down interviews and days in the life on YouTube, podcast specials, stories, tweet updates.”
Camilla cut in. “Andyouwill be the main face of it all.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
She nodded enthusiastically. “Theylovedyou at the gala. Unsurprisingly. I mean, you’re gorgeous, and smart, and the content you created was top notch.”
“They’ve agreed to give us a closer look than any local news outlet has had before,” Reya continued. “You’ll be at the games, home and away, in the locker room, at practices, at his home, out at the bars, all of it.” She waved her hands excitedly. “We’re going to have every resident of Tampa Bay foaming at the mouth.”
“Probably half the country, too, because that man isfine,”Camilla added, fanning herself with a smile.
“Are we sure this is the right move for us?” I asked, hoping I sounded like a smart partner offering a strategic question rather than the panicking mess I actually was on the inside.
“It’s adreammove,” Camilla answered easily. “This was our goal, to get a strong foothold in the sports arena.There’s a rabid female fanbase here in Tampa that is going to lose their minds.”
“It’ll also bring in a higher population of male viewers,” Reya added. “Which we need. Desperately.”
I knew I didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to arguing with them. They were right. On paper, thiswasthe opportunity of a lifetime.
But Vince Tanev was a playboy and a prick, and I wanted this assignment about as badly as I wanted my arm chewed off by rats.
“What about focusing more on the people the Ospreys highlight at each game as their community heroes?” I tried, pathetically. “They choose someone from the Bay each game who’s doing real work to give back. Let’s take it beyond getting a check and a two-minute spotlight at the game. What if we could really use our platform to elevate their community efforts?”
My beautiful bosses blinked at me, then at each other, before Reya offered me a sweet, sympathetic smile.
“Look, we hear you. We know that’s your goal, and it’s one of ours, too.”
“But this ishuge,” Camilla cut in. “Like, unheard of.”
“And, honestly, it’s the perfect segue,” Reya added. “Vince Tanev is known for being charitable and spending time in the community. You can showcase that and shine light on how involved the Ospreys are.”
I suffocated the groan I wanted to unleash at that. Even if I did point out the fact that all players did that shit for public relations purposes, it wouldn’t change their minds.
This was my assignment, whether I liked it or not.
It had been a dream come true when I was pulled onto the TBB team. I was the only one outside of the foundersto have a front-facing role. Sure, we had assistants and administrators, researchers and media buyers, account managers and creative directors, but I was aBabe.
I was making more money than I ever dreamed of — doing something that I loved — with the opportunity to have my own segment inciting the change I’d always hoped to.
I loved this job.
And if this little segment was part of the journey to get me where I really wanted to be, then so be it.
“Okay,” I said on an exhale.
The girls squealed in delight, and then I was yanked up out of my chair and wrapped in a hug by both of them. I laughed and hugged them back.
“This is going to be sofun,” Camilla exclaimed.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “The funnest.”
“Just wait until we tell you what the Ospreys are paying for this,” Reya said, waggling her brows. “You’re going to be living the sweet life during this assignment. They’re footing the bill foreverything. I’m talking lavish hotels, a condo in the same building as his, a per diem so high you could eat at Michelin Star restaurants for every meal…”
She ambled on, but her voice went fuzzy in my ears. My eyes flicked to my phone, thinking about the bizarre notifications I’d scrolled through that morning.
I wondered how Vince Tanev would respond to the news.
