Defender Of My Heart

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 – Your POV

It was a Tuesday and like any other Tuesday, I was at work in the office at my desk. When I had got to work, I checked my calendar for the day and had lots of work to get done plus our boss had scheduled a meeting this morning. So, I grabbed a cup of tea from the kitchen with all my notepads ready to take some notes from the meeting. I headed into the meeting room greeting my other colleagues in there. I sit down on the chair and one of my work besties sits down beside me, Bella.

"Morning Julesseyypops, how are you?"

"Just about functioning, how are you?"

"Yeah I'm good thanks, any idea what this last minute meeting is about?"

"Not a clue might just be an overall catch up" As I said that I heard the meeting door open I looked up to see our Boss April walk into the room, followed but a recognisable person.

Walking into the meeting room was none other than... you guessed it, Leah Williamson.

There was a lot of whispers going around the room. Obviously since the Euro's win Leah's face has been everywhere making her instantly recognisable. Although she was recognisable, she was not recognisable immediately to me. How I usually see her dressed at a match versus how she is now dressed in a pair of smart trousers and a blue patterned shirt with her hair down, the total opposite of matches!

Her eyes trail around the room producing a slight shy smile to everyone she makes eye contact with politely saying hello and raising her hand with a small wave. Till her eyes meet mine and she smirks and follows April to sit at the top of the table with 2 of her team following.

"Good morning, everyone, Welcome to the meeting, so today as you can see it's a little bit of a different meeting. As you all know I scheduled you all here for a meeting with Leah and her team. They've joined us to see what we here at AP Social can do to help Leah in not only her personal image but professional image." April stated.

Everyone in the meeting room was nodding opening note pads ready to jot down any ideas and thoughts that came out of this meeting. As I wrote a few headings of things I was thinking of discussing I looked up and my eyes met with Leah's, I mouthed 'Hi' with a little wave with a pen in my hand realising I look rather stupid I lower my hand which caused Leah to stifle a laugh and look down at the ground to compose herself.

"So, would anyone like to take to the floor with any idea's you might have for Leah?"

A hand shoots up across the table and you guessed it, it's Tessa's. I can only describe Tessa as one thing, the bitch of the workplace. Everything anyone ever does is judged, no one is better than her... in her opinion.

"Tessa, what are your thoughts".

"Good morning, Leah and good morning, everyone. It's so great to have you here I speak on behalf of all of us to say that we are so honoured" she puts a hand to her chest to make it seem genuine, but I just roll my eyes. Bella elbows me and I glance over at her notepad where she's drawn a cartoon of a cat yawning, I laugh trying to contain my laughter I start coughing to hide it.

"Jules, are you okay?" April asks.

"Sorry just got something stuck in my throat" I grab my tea taking a few sips. "Please continue"

"I will. As I was saying what is in at the moment is figures, you know like toys"?

"Toys?" Leah asks with hesitation in her voice.

"Yes, you know like figurines, we could market them as a Mini England Captain or something like that, they're really in right now".

"Yeah, really in right now with action movie characters" she whispered to me, I smirked and looked up making eye contact once again with Leah.

"Sorry do you have something to say Bella" April queries.

"Yes, actually I was just saying that market is specifically with action movie characters, I somehow think it wouldn't work for this" Bella states.

"Okay let's see, does anyone else have any other ideas?"

Everyone starts chatting amongst their selves and Bella elbows me seeing the page of my notepad filled with ideas.

"I have a few suggestions" I say raising my hand. Everyone stops talking and looks to me.

"Go ahead Jules" April says.

"Women's Football is growing incredibly fast. As interesting as it is to grow the personal and professional image outside of football and being the face for other things. I think an idea would be to focus in on what needs to change within and what Leah can do with the platform that she has." I stop for a second looking over to Leah and her manager who both nod their head to encourage me to continue.

"Start off with podcasts and panels talking about Women in Sport, Rising Stars, any football related panels, get Leah signed up and out there talking about what she specialises in, which is football. Then start to branch out again but staying true to the brand that is being created and that everything is authentic. In such a people facing role, if Leah gets booked on something purely for the money with no knowledge and no love for it, people will see right through it. I suggest if we stick to the real passion's that make Leah feel happy and confident to talk about and be involved with." I finish looking at my notes and look up, I feel a scowl come from across the room. Looking over to April, her eyes upon Leah and her team who were talking.

"That sounds great" Leah's agent stated.

"That's exactly what I'm looking for" Leah said smiling over at me.

"Well fantastic, Leah thanks so much for coming today. The meeting is finished for today, if I could ask everyone to leave whilst I just chat to Leah for a moment and Tessa if you could stay for this that would be great, thanks everyone"

I nod my head, gather all my stuff and walk out with Bella heading back over to our desks.

"You bossed that, you deserve the job"

"Hahaha thanks Bells, but I'm jam packed with clients I can't take on anymore"

"Still think you're better than Tessa, we all know why she got the job of Executive PR"

Her Dad is a silent investor in the company which for April means she's gets praise for doing fuck all! Anyway back to work!