“Keep going,” Colton drawls.
I sigh and add, “Will cut me off, insisting that Tristan wasn’t a decent person. I couldn’t understand why he was in a shitty mood, especially after the conversation we just had with Kevin, but I didn’t hang around to find out. I was tired, and that’s all Tristan’s offer was—a ride home and nothing more.”
My boss visibly deflates, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“Rule number one, Drew: Never leave a disgruntled client unattended, especially not a trigger-happy one like Will Jones.”
I nod my understanding, something tugging in my chest when I think about the list of rules I handed Will back when we weren’t in the middle of a shitstorm.
“I’m going to work on a statement—it will be simple and to the point—and you can post it on Will’s social media.”
“I can put something together myself,” I offer.
Colton shakes his head and points to my cell. “Your priority is getting ahold of your client and figuring out his motivations behind the original post.”
The headache I was nursing begins to throb harder. “I’m sorry if I’ve let you down.”
A warm chuckle vibrates in his chest, and hope blooms in mine. Maybe I haven’t totally screwed everything up.
“We all make mistakes, Drew, and I’m willing to bet that Will is regretting his own right about now. I know you have a good working relationship with him.” He pauses and thinks for a moment. “Did Will make any donations to the charity?”
The unexpected tingles I felt when Will took my hand in the car resurface. “Yes. A very large donation before the gala began.”
Colton smiles. “All right, that’s good news at least. Leave the statement with me, and let’s try and keep this whole thing as low profile as possible. The dust will settle quickly on this one, I’m sure. It’s important that Tristan’s name is never revealed as the teammate Will took issue with. The team’s general manager is leaving this one solely in our hands to sort out.”
I stand from my chair and close my laptop, picking up my phone and pocketing it into the black dress pants I threw on in a hurry this morning. “Other than the statement, I plan to halt all posts on Will’s socials for at least a few days.”
He nods, and I make my way to the door, not stopping to look back at Colton. The last thing I need is for him to see the tears forming in my eyes.
I’m more than capable of doing this job, and I’m going to prove it to him over the next twenty-four hours.
15
. . .
Will
Showing up at Drew’s office was all I could think about when I got in my car after the worst morning skate I’d ever had.
Tristan wouldn’t even look in my direction, let alone speak to me. It was the same with all the guys, apart from Silas, who I could tell was disappointed in me, even if he didn’t say it out loud.
Pushing through the entrance of First Line PR, I stop midway to the reception desk when I feel a vibration in my pocket and pull out my phone. The voice message Drew left for me earlier remains unanswered because I’m still working on building up the courage to listen to it.
I know it won’t be pretty, and I deserve every ounce of her wrath.
Silas
Riley’s Bar at 7 tonight. I want you all there so we can sort this shit out. Once and for all.
Mason
Does Coach know about this?
Silas
Coach was the one who asked me to get you guys together.
Tristan
