A flutter of something warm and happy goes off in my stomach.
Tate, who knew this meeting wasn’t work-related and told me I had to go anyway.
“Thanks.” I give her a tiny smile. “It feels good, to be actually doing something for the team and not just following Tate around like some useless nepo baby.”
“Speaking of you doing something for the team,” Georgia says, pulling her phone out, “can we please talk about this?”
She tilts the phone to me and a video plays on social media of me pouring drinks at that game the other week.
I shrug. “I might as well get to know the organization—”While I’m here, I was about to say but cut myself off. “It was fun, getting to know the people behind the bar and interacting with the fans.”
Georgia scrolls down the post, through the comments.This is what an owner looks like!one comment reads.Maybe I’ll finally get my ass to a game if Jordan’s pouring beers,another says.One of us! One of us!another reads.
A warm flush of pleasure grows inside me. “It was nothing. I’m a bartender. I can pull a few drinks. Might as well make myself useful instead of just hovering around.”
The food and beverage manager and I have a meeting with the distributor next week to discuss a better quality of beer cups, and when I saw one of the other bartenders I worked with entering the building the other evening, she gave me a friendly wave.
“They sure like you,” Georgia says with a smile, pulling up a different video.
It’s me walking down the arena concourse before a game, in one of the outfits the stylist put together. Tan trousers, a mulberry-colored cashmere sweater, and matching heels. I didn’t even realize the Storm’s social media person was filming.
“I look good,” I say, watching as the video loops and plays again. I look like I’m on a mission, comfortable but focused.
Like I belong there.
“What happened with the scouting team?” Georgia asks.
“Ward fired Gary and then they all followed him,” Darcy says.
Georgia’s jaw drops. “He fired someone?”
Darcy’s gaze shifts to me. “Gary was rude to Jordan. Thus, Ward fired him.”
“Okay.” Heat crawls up my neck. “That’s not why he fired him. Between this and that PowerPoint the guys did?—”
“Oh my god,” Hazel gasps, “I heard about that! Does someone have a copy?”
I give her an alarmed look. “No.”
“Yes,” Georgia says at the same time. “It’s on my laptop.” Off my shocked and betrayed expression, she gives me an innocent smile. “Alexei isn’t great at technology. They needed my help.”
“Traitor,” I tell her without heat. “Dirty, rotten traitor.”
“I think this is the part where I should tell you that I also helped,” Darcy says, wincing with guilt. “I’m sorry.”
I press my hands together, trying to stay patient. “If any of you hear rumors, I need you to squash them.”
“That’s not going to be easy,” Darcy says. “As soon as you left the meeting with the scouts, he basically yelled at the guys. I’ve never seen him so angry.”
Hazel’s eyes widen with surprise. “I’ve never seen Ward pissed.”
I give Darcy an alarmed look. “What are you talking about?”
“Gary was making those comments about you only getting the job because of your dad, and?—”
“Fucking asshole,” Hazel says, mouth dropping open. “I didn’t know about that. I’ll kill him.”
“He’s already gone,” I tell her, and she narrows her eyes at me. I can’t help but smile.
