The world truly had gone crazy.
‘I hear you, but that’s how it came across online. And there are way too many examples of similar stuff you’ve done over the years. While once upon a time, your little … stunts were sortof overlooked, the world’s changed, plus you’re older now and supposed to be more mature. A good influence. Fact is, if you want to get back on the ice and keep playing for the Panthers at this stage of your career, you’re going to have to make some changes.’ Bernie peered at him. ‘And maybe use a razor now and again and get a haircut. You look like shit.’
Ward sighed defeatedly. Well, one thing was true; he didn’t feel the same as he used to back in the day. The hangovers were definitely longer and more brutal.
But since his knee got busted, he was going out of his mind with boredom.
‘OK. I’ll tone it down. Definitely. You have my word, Bernie.’ He ran a hand over his chin. ‘And clean up too if it helps.’
His agent grimaced. ‘That’s just for starters, I’m afraid. And your word’s not going to be good enough this time.’
‘What are you talking about? Since when is my word not good enough?’
‘Since that incident at the karaoke bar?’
Ward snorted, shaking his head. ‘The guy was talking trash about Jimmy Buffett, Bernie. America’s greatest folk singer ever and a goddamn hero.What was I supposed to do?’
‘Behave like an adult?’
‘Oh, come on! All I did was give the asshole a little shove but it was like I threw him off the roof or something. It won’t happen again, OK?’
Bernie gave him a long look, then licked his lips. ‘There’s something else.’
‘OK, I know that look and it’s never good. What’s going on?’
‘Management has intimated that you’re already on thin ice, so to speak,’ he said carefully, and Ward’s stomach dropped. He knew hisgame had been off the last couple of seasons, and yeah since hitting mid-thirties was starting to slow down, but he was still far from being put out to pasture just yet. Physical therapy on the knee was going great and once he got a clean bill of health, he was itching to get back out on the ice and prove that he still had it.
But thanks to that latest goddamn tumble, his recovery would be delayed by a few more weeks.
‘The Panthers want to fire me? Is that what you’re saying?’
‘Of course not; contractually they can’t fire you for a busted knee. But we don’t want to give Craig Sumners or the top brass ammunition in any other areas … ’
‘You’re going to have to spell it out for me, Bernie,’ Ward said. Was the team owner losing faith in him because of the injury, or something else?
He hated all this dancing around. Why couldn’t anyone just come out and say what was on their minds anymore? What the hell happened to straight talk and home truths?
After a pause Bernie said, ‘Coach Lewis and I both agree that you need to get your reputation cleaned up—’ he inhaled ‘—so I went ahead and hired a public relations firm.’
Ward’s eyes widened. ‘You’re kidding. You know how I feel about PR, Bernie. Why would you do something like that?’
‘Because you leave me no choice. If you want to salvage what’s left of your playing years, you’re going to have to change your attitude and fix your image. We’ve pretty much discovered that you’re not able to handle that on your own,’ he said pointedly. ‘Which is why we’re hiring professionals.’
Ward snorted. ‘We’re?You mean I have to pay for this shit too?’ But as much as Bernie loved him, he knew his agent wouldn’t be doing this out of the goodness of his own heart.‘Professionals,’ herepeated, disgusted. ‘PR people are nothing but a bunch of leeches, you know that. Clean up my image? All they’re gonna do is try to turn me into someone that I’m not. I’m WildCat McKenzie, damn it.’
‘You’ll still be WildCat McKenzie,’ Bernie soothed. ‘Just a shinier, more public-friendly version.’
Chapter 5
HANNAH
Hannah straightened up and double-checked her reflection in the bedroom’s full-length mirror, before leaving for a preliminary meeting with the first of her newly assigned client list in the New York office.
The dregs,as Zoe described them.
And yes, while this particular motley crew – mostly comprised of up-and-comers and almost down-and-outers – weren’t the most glamorous bunch, that didn’t mean Hannah was going to give them anything less than her best.
Most people went around wearing a public mask, showing the world only the side of them they wanted to be portrayed. Hannah still did it herself, at work especially, and there were only a few people for whom she dropped the cool, calm collected persona to reveal the real her.
