Nothing solid. Right now we’re in the middle of a merger, which is how we’re picking up UMD broadcast rights and diversifying into a streaming service.”
“So you’re aware,” Minka inserted, “the merger is not public knowledge so anything we’ve discussed here today . . . it’s vitally important nothing is disclosed to anyone outside this room.”
“Understood.”
“Anything else you have questions on?” Alan asked.
“Yes. To start . . . salary, benefits, travel per diem, as well as wardrobe expectations and compensation. Now that I know moving is a requirement, relocation expenses as well as potential housing allowances.”
Minka smiled as she handed me a stapled set of papers. “We’ve prepared the benefits package information, which includes the housing allowance. The relocation expenses are reimbursable at one hundred percent but aren’t included at this time.”
I scanned the first page. Flipped to the second. And wanted to flip a damn cartwheel when I saw the base salary—more money than I’d ever made. More than I’d hoped for. Somehow, I played it cool as I speed-read through the rest of the information. Finished, I glanced at Alan. “May I keep this?”
He shook his head. “This is a preliminary interview. If you’re hired, you’ll have immediate access to the financial benefits package being offered in the contract.”
Which meant the numbers were negotiable. I’d need to research starting salary in the industry and not assume it was the best they would offer. I handed Minka back the packet.
“Is there anything else we can go over with you?”
“Not right now.”
“All right.” Both Minka and Alan stood. “Thanks for coming in today. We’ll be in touch.”
I snagged my purse before I got up. “I’ll hear from one of you? Or Dahlia?”
“From here on out you’ll be dealing directly with us,” Alan assured me.
Another round of hand shaking and then I was returned to Dahlia’s care.
Once again, she didn’t speak as we hustled through the hallways. This time she didn’t escort me into the reception area.
The receptionist didn’t even glance in my direction when the door closed behind me.
But the blonde flipping through the magazine in the corner looked up.
A beautiful blonde I recognized.
There was only one reason she’d be here; she was interviewing for the job too.
I felt my hope start to slip away.
She stood and sashayed over to me.
Maybe it was petty, but her outfit wasn’t as stylish as mine.
But her face isn’t bruised . . . oh, and she’s gorgeous. And smart. And experienced.
“Gabi Welk? Is that you?”
“Yes, Jubilee, it’s me.”
She stopped and gasped. “Omigod. What happened to your face?”
Yep. She was still a total bitch.
“Hockey.”
Her red lips curled up. “You’re not supposed to try and stop the puck with your face. I thought you would’ve figured that out by now.”
“Really? Wow. Great tip. But now that you mention it . . . they did teach us that in 2010 at the U.S. Women’s Winter Olympics training camp, don’t you remember?” I paused. “Oh right. You weren’t there. My bad.”
“Yes, that’s the year you lost to the Canadians. Again.”
And . . . I was done. I walked over to the coatrack for my jacket. When I turned around, Jubilee was right there.
“Sorry. That was uncalled for. I know you girls tried your best. Anyway, what are you doing here? It’s strange to run into you at a broadcast studio, of all places.”
She fucking knew why I was here. She just wanted me to ask why she was here.
How fun to deny her the chance to brag.
“Oh. I played in an NHL exhibition game last night at the Xcel Center before the Wild game. They caught my interview with Pashma Patel on Channel 9 News . . . did you see it?”
Her blond mane brushed her shoulders as she shook her head.
“I guess the Wolf Sports North news crew tried to find me after the game to do a follow-up interview on being the first woman to play in an NHL-sanctioned matchup, but I had so much going on that I had to postpone until today.” I smiled. “Take care.”
I walked off.
Ultimate mic drop moment and no one there to see it.
* * *
* * *
I didn’t call Nolan to tell him how the interview went until I got home, changed into my real clothes and flopped on the couch.
He answered, “Hey. I was starting to get worried that I hadn’t heard from you. How’re you feeling?”
“Fine. Sore. My face is a train wreck. But I think I pulled off the ‘semi-charming rapscallion hockey player’ in the interview