Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Damon casts a pitiful look toward the TV and back to me again. “So this is how you want to be spending your days?”
“It was a toss-up between this and an apron and heels. I’m comfortable with my choice.”
“You know, there will come a day when both you and Oskar don’t feel the need to fill me in on every little thing going on in your lives.”
“Maybe. But we’re not there yet.”
“It’ll be going in the contract,” he says.
I tilt my head. “Doesn’t Oskar already have a contract?”
“I wasn’t talking about his.”
It takes me a moment to puzzle that out, and while I’m a smart guy and have an inkling of what he’s getting at, I’m not going to get too excited. “Last I checked, househusbands don’t need an agent.”
“I’m not taking on clients.”
“Then …” I swallow back my nerves. “What’s this conversation about? An NDA? That ship has sailed.”
“My PR team could use more people like you.”
I swear my eyebrows try to jump from my face. “You like your staff sleeping with clients?”
“Fuck no, and you can be assured there’ll be a clause in yours to specifically say that.”
“You don’t need a clause when I have Oskar.” My amusement fades slightly as what he’s said starts to sink in. “You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“But … at the risk of totally messing this up, why? My reputation in the business is a mess, and what I did was highly unethical. It’s not like any of that was a secret to me when we started this relationship.”
Damon spreads his hands like I’ve made his point for him. “You’ve never lied to me. When all of this got started, you didn’t worry about your own job security. You were worried about making sure I had a plan for Oskar if it came out. I could have used that against you. I could have painted the picture that you were taking advantage of my client, but you weren’t worried about any of that.”
“You’ve never struck me as someone who’d do something underhanded.”
“Because I’m not. But that wasn’t the only time you put Oskar’s career first. You love your job, and yet you gave me the heads-up about San Jose possibly terminating his contract, which allowed me time to stockpile a mountainload of arguments to prevent that from happening, and then you walked away from all of it. For him.”
“And while I love that you have this high of an opinion of me, I didn’t walk away because I was responsible for him. I walked away because I couldn’t end it.”
“Oskar’s never had anyone fight for him like that.”
“I’d fight for him like that every day if he let me.”
Damon watches me for a moment. “I’ve looked into your career. Your record is spotless. Every team you manage is low on scandals. What happened with Oskar was an anomaly after years of ethical, diligent hard work. San Jose is already falling apart without you, and while they might be comfortable forcing a man to choose between the career he loves or the man he loves, I will never do that.”
And even though Oskar and I have never used that word, I don’t argue because I’m pretty certain it’s true. Which causes another problem, because while having Damon walk in and offer me a position solves all of my current problems, it also creates a big one of its own. “You’re based in New York.”
Damon pulls out his phone and does something before nodding at mine. “I’ve emailed my proposal through to you. My company is expanding quickly, and while my PR manager position is already filled, I have something that might interest you more.”
More than a position I’ve held for almost the last decade? I hurry to open my emails and find the contract attached.
Public Relations Liaison - Remote
“What …”
“My players are all across the country, so it doesn’t make sense for my team to all be based out of one city. I already have a liaison who covers the East Coast, and I’m open to more. You’ll primarily work out of your home with the expectation that once an LA office is opened, you’ll visit, possibly head a team, and when I need someone to clean up a mess, you’ll travel to whatever location I need you in.”
“That’s … incredible.”
“Off the record, where Oskar is concerned, there’s already been talk. Nothing official because of the trade cutoff date, but I have a source who is like the TMZ of hockey. He knows everything first, and he’s ninety percent sure San Jose is going to trade him come next season. I know your home is here, but—”
“I’ll move with him.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say.” He gives me a smug look. “If you’re my employee, relocation costs would be covered. I have good health benefits and a competitive salary. Take a few days to—”