I make my way closer to the window. To my right I notice a giant stone fireplace with a roaring blaze. Plopping down in a plush armchair, I want to sulk, but the warmth from the flames is frustratingly soothing. I close my eyes. A nap right here would be perfect, if all the other people would leave that is.
I’m about to doze off when I hear Roger’s voice.
“There you are! We’ve got to get settled in our rooms right away. The Mynt Mingle and Jingle is starting in an hour.” Roger points at a paper in his hand.
“The Mynt what?” All I heard was some rhyming mumbo jumbo.
“The Mynt Mingle and Jingle. It’s like a get to know you mixer for all the athletes and VIP fans.”
“Uh…” I groan.
“Did I forget to mention there is an itinerary full of required activities?” Roger feigns innocence.
I scowl.
“Sponsorship.” Roger fans me with the papers.
I resign with an exhale. “Sponsorship,” I repeat to myself.
As much as this whole thing irks me, I need this sponsorship. I’m grateful for it. I am. All this jingle and mingle…is just a lot. I need to train. And I need my mind to be clear.
I usually avoid Christmas at all costs. It brings up memories that I have worked very hard to forget. Now I have to get through this holly jolly junk without breaking. I’ve suppressed my emotions for this long. I can do it for one more week. I’ve got to.
Chapter 4
Maya
“So,howareyoufeeling about being an escort?” Holly nudges me as I’m putting my items down on a bench in the staff locker room.
“Oh my gosh, don’t say that!” I whisper. “I amnotan escort.”
Holly is unbothered and waves away my horror. “You know what I mean.”
“I do, but the rest of the world might get confused.” I look around to make sure no one is in ear shot. Thankfully, our area appears to be empty. I place my purse in my locker and hang up my coat. My heart is racing out of my chest at Holly’s off-the-cuff comment. I was already nervous for today. She is not helping.
Holly grins. “I’m just so excited for you! And, of course, I’m jealous. You get to hang out with a professional athlete all week. And if that’s not enough, you’re getting paid to do it!”
Holly is referring to my assignment. The reason management called me last week. I wasn’t in trouble thankfully, but I’m also not sure that I’m happy about what they’re asking me to do. Lauren Jones, head of Mynt PR and marketing, said that Mr. Mynt needs me to do a special job during the Mynt charity event.Her exact words were: “We have a new Mynt athlete who may be…hesitant. He’s more of an introvert you could say. We need you to show him around, bring him to the events and make him comfortable.”
You can imagine that I had a lot of questions. However, Lauren only gave me vague answers. I was able to get the athlete’s name and sport. After that, she was tight-lipped and said that I was not allowed to tell anyone about our arrangement until arrival day, for confidentiality and security reasons.
Holly did not take my secrecy well. I might have slipped and told her a bit—what I was going to have to do and that the athlete is male—but I did not reveal who the athlete was. I impressed myself with my ability not to crack under Holly’s excruciating pestering.
Sitting on the bench, Holly crosses her legs, about to burst at the seams. “So…tell me already! Who’s the athlete? What sport does he play? And most importantly, how hot is he?”
I exhale, trying not to fall under her spell of excitement. I, of course, searched the name of the athlete on Instagram, but other than his photos from his professional events, there was shockingly little information about him on his profile.
“Earth to Maya…” Holly waves her hands in front of me.
I sit down on the bench next to her. “His name is Eddie Evans. He’s a tennis player.”
“Ooh a tennis player!” Holly leans in as I show her a photo on my phone. “Whoa, he’s cute! Is he single? If so, you guys would make an adorable couple. I can see it now, vacationing in Europe, you on the sidelines—”
“Okay!” I stand. “You are getting so far ahead of yourself. I know nothing about this guy other than he’s a pro tennis player. I gathered that he was having a good year, but he’s been dealing with an injury. I was tempted to dive into a Google search, but I started getting freaked out, so I stopped.”
“What freaked you out?” Holly looks at me confused.
“This guy is a professional athlete. I work in guest services at a resort. I don’t need the internet to tell me that we live in different worlds. Plus, something seems a little off. Lauren said that he’s ‘hesitant’ about coming.” I use air quotes. My stomach starts to tighten into a knot, so I sit down on the bench. “Ever since the incident with that crazy husband…I can’t help but worry it’s gonna happen again.”
