Price finished the dessert and blotted his lips. “Always delicious. Thanks so much for the lunch and the interview. It should be in Friday’s paper if my editor doesn’t have too many changes.”
Their server brought over the bill, and Armi signed it and left a big tip. “I’m looking forward to reading it.”
“Good luck, Armand.” Price left him seated, and Armi watched him walk away, only to see Russell—whom he hadn’t noticed sitting at the bar—stop Price. They spoke for a few minutes, then left together. His phone buzzed, and seeing it was Hayden, he forgot about Russell.
“Hi. He just left.”
“How did it go?”
“Tell you when I see you.”
“Okay. You have a three o’clock conference call, but other than that, the day is free.”
“What’s that about again? Sorry. I concentrated so much on this interview, I didn’t pay attention to much else.”
“It’s about salary caps. How it’ll impact the team if you sign the two big names. Geiger will take the lead, but I have all the stats for you. Don’t worry. That’s why you have me.”
If only that were true in every sense of the word.
It was a brisk, ten-minute walk back to the office, and upon his return, Hayden followed him inside and closed the door.
“So tell me. And here’s a green tea and a cool towel for your neck. I figured you might be a little nervous, and this should help.”
He sank into his chair and took a sip. “Thank you. It went…okay. I think. He asked all the questions you said he would, and I gave the answers we discussed.” The cold felt wonderful against his overheated skin.
“But not too quickly, as if you’d rehearsed, right?”
“N-no, I don’t think so. I took my time. But then he asked me some personal questions.” His cheeks grew warm. “I wasn’t prepared for that.”
“Personal? Like what?” Hayden’s eyes narrowed.
“Like, am I dating anyone, and do I want to continue with the team, or am I only doing this because of my father?” He took a napkin off the desk and wiped his face. “I-I didn’t really know how to answer that, so I said that I don’t discuss my personal life and that I’m very happy to be leading the team into the future.”
A bright smile lit Hayden’s face, chasing away his frown. “That’s perfect. Excellent job.”
Praise wasn’t something he was used to. Never from his father, and though Armi had heard it from his mother, after a while it became like white noise. A deflection of his father’s painful words. Hearing it from Hayden stoked his confidence.
“Thank you again for going the extra mile. I know you have better things to do with your time, so I appreciate all your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re welcome, but of course you could. It’s all there. Inside you. Have faith in yourself, and others will as well. When you’re ready to go over the stats, let me know.”
After Hayden left, Armi sat and wondered why the words of a virtual stranger meant so much.
Chapter Eleven
The trouble began Friday afternoon.
His phone rang. “Armand Winters’s office. How may I assist you?”
“Hayden?” It was Josh the receptionist.
“Yes? Do you need something?”
“Uh, no, but Mr. Winters’s mother is coming in, and she doesn’t look happy.”
Hayden thought fast, but there was no appointment Armi had forgotten. At least that he was aware of. “Thanks.”
She burst through the inner office doors and made a beeline for his desk. He stood to greet her.
