Meet Your Match (Kings of the Ice, #1)(8)
“That’s great,” I mused.
“And,” Camilla added with one finger pointed into the air. “The general manager of the Ospreys loved the attention we brought to their philanthropic efforts, particularly that delicious photograph of Vince Tanev and his handmade vase that raised ten-thousand dollars.”
I’d never fought so hard not to roll my eyes in my life.
“He loved it so much,” Reya continued. “That he asked if we had any ideas to drum up excitement now that the season is underway. We have four back-to-back home games in early November, and he wants to pack the stands.”
“We pitched an idea off the cuff,” Camilla said, and my head whipped between the two trying to keep up.
“Thinking no way would he go for it,” Reya added.
“But he did!”
Camilla and Reya bounced excitedly, and I just blinked before a little laugh puffed out of me. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk. “Go on, spit it out.”
“We have a Tampa Bae Babes exclusive, something never done before.” Camilla spread her hands over the space between us as if she was painting a picture. “One Month with Tampa’s Hotshot Rookie — Vince Cool.”
I hoped I kept my features schooled when those words tumbled out of my boss’s mouth, that I didn’t blink too much and she couldn’t hear how tight my throat was with my next smile.
“Okay…” I said carefully.
“It’s all-access,” Reya said. “Twenty-four-seven coverage. We’re going to set up dedicated profiles on our major-hitting platforms. Think daily Reels and TikToks, exclusive sit-down interviews and days in the life on YouTube, podcast specials, stories, tweet updates.”
Camilla cut in. “And you will be the main face of it all.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
She nodded enthusiastically. “They loved you at the gala. Unsurprisingly. I mean, you’re gorgeous, and smart, and the content you created was top notch.”
“They’ve agreed to give us a closer look than any local news outlet has had before,” Reya continued. “You’ll be at the games, home and away, in the locker room, at practices, at his home, out at the bars, all of it.” She waved her hands excitedly. “We’re going to have every resident of Tampa Bay foaming at the mouth.”
“Probably half the country, too, because that man is fine,” Camilla added, fanning herself with a smile.
“Are we sure this is the right move for us?” I asked, hoping I sounded like a smart partner offering a strategic question rather than the panicking mess I actually was on the inside.
“It’s a dream move,” Camilla answered easily. “This was our goal, to get a strong foothold in the sports arena. There’s a rabid female fanbase here in Tampa that is going to lose their minds.”
“It’ll also bring in a higher population of male viewers,” Reya added. “Which we need. Desperately.”
I knew I didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to arguing with them. They were right. On paper, this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
But Vince Tanev was a playboy and a prick, and I wanted this assignment about as badly as I wanted my arm chewed off by rats.
“What about focusing more on the people the Ospreys highlight at each game as their community heroes?” I tried, pathetically. “They choose someone from the Bay each game who’s doing real work to give back. Let’s take it beyond getting a check and a two-minute spotlight at the game. What if we could really use our platform to elevate their community efforts?”
My beautiful bosses blinked at me, then at each other, before Reya offered me a sweet, sympathetic smile.
“Look, we hear you. We know that’s your goal, and it’s one of ours, too.”
“But this is huge,” Camilla cut in. “Like, unheard of.”
“And, honestly, it’s the perfect segue,” Reya added. “Vince Tanev is known for being charitable and spending time in the community. You can showcase that and shine light on how involved the Ospreys are.”
I suffocated the groan I wanted to unleash at that. Even if I did point out the fact that all players did that shit for public relations purposes, it wouldn’t change their minds.
This was my assignment, whether I liked it or not.
It had been a dream come true when I was pulled onto the TBB team. I was the only one outside of the founders to have a front-facing role. Sure, we had assistants and administrators, researchers and media buyers, account managers and creative directors, but I was a Babe.
I was making more money than I ever dreamed of — doing something that I loved — with the opportunity to have my own segment inciting the change I’d always hoped to.
I loved this job.
And if this little segment was part of the journey to get me where I really wanted to be, then so be it.
“Okay,” I said on an exhale.
The girls squealed in delight, and then I was yanked up out of my chair and wrapped in a hug by both of them. I laughed and hugged them back.
“This is going to be so fun,” Camilla exclaimed.
“Yeah,” I agreed. “The funnest.”
“Just wait until we tell you what the Ospreys are paying for this,” Reya said, waggling her brows. “You’re going to be living the sweet life during this assignment. They’re footing the bill for everything. I’m talking lavish hotels, a condo in the same building as his, a per diem so high you could eat at Michelin Star restaurants for every meal…”