Falling For You

Chapter 3

Moriah

My mind spins as Charlotte and Elena give me a tour of the arena during the first game of the preseason. Elena was kind enough to offer to wait until after the game to give the tour if I wanted to watch the game. I quickly said no. Sports were not my thing. Well, athletes.

When she and Charlotte bombarded me with this job, what was I going to do say no? I'd been so stubborn that elevating my career into sports felt like a downgrade for me, but this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

The pay was confusingly even better than my job with Carter, and the benefits were unmatched. On its scale, I could move out of Charlotte's house and have my own place by the end of the year.

Who knew there was big money in sports when you weren't the actual person playing?

The Allstate arena was massive. Elena took me through all of the private wings, suites, and offices that I should familiarize myself with during my first week on the job. Which might I add officially starts tomorrow?

If I stopped to think about how quickly this was all progressing I'd panic and run away. When things go too well in my life I bolt. I don't trust it. But I do trust Charlotte, and after our brunch when Elena offered me the job, I couldn't take her kindness for granted for a moment longer.

I took in the expanse of the arena with little interest. I know once I develop a routine, I will have to pay attention to the fan experience, and how the Bear's marketing affects their individual player's public relations, however, everything I'm being shown are places that I don't foresee myself ever being in.

Even though Elena offered me access to join her and Charlotte in the owner's suite for any game I politely declined. Sports just wasn't my thing. I wasn't going to join any game unless I absolutely had to. I could do so much with a YouTube recording and a news article.

When we finished the tour, the game ended and Elena motioned for us to the conference room so I could get a first peek at my new assignment. She and Charlotte were unusually tight-lipped on who I'd be working for. I know my role is for the team as a whole, but from the way my contract looked I would be working personally with the Bears roster.

"So this is predominately where you'll be post-games. While the hope is to have our athletes have media training before then, we feel it is best for them to have a friendly face when there's a circus of media swarming them with questions." Elena said as she pushed open the door to the conference room, Charlotte and I close behind her.

That made sense. Carter loved the spotlight, but it seemed he would open up even more if there was a fine face in the crowd. Never for me, but when his mother or close friend would be there his interviews were always a step up.

Entering the room, I noticed Elene didn't exaggerate it was like a zoo in the room. It's filled to the brim with reporters and photographers. Two hockey players sit towards the front of the room being a table with the team's logo. I catch the tail end of a reporter's question.

"Can you comment on your inability to remain level-headed enough to win?"

The questions stuns me. What a grossly inappropriate question. The first one looks unbelievably calm in his seat a sunny smile on his face while the man next to him is brooding like a swirling category five hurricane waiting for the chance to finish pass through. The way his fury is plastered all over his face, it's safe to assume the question was for him.

The one with the sunny smile whispers to his teammate, and you can see the gloomy Gus settle at the words. Well, good to know that he can actually listen. Carter never listened to my advice when a nasty reporter would try to rouse something out of him.