“What? I changed my mind. It’s called strategy. And we invite press with us on team trips all the time.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, but that’s during the season when the team travels. This is very different and seems like you’re rolling out the red carpet. Knowing how much you despise talking to the press, that’s why I may have jumped to a conclusion—”
“Which I just put to rest.”
“Which you just put to rest,” he parrots. “Yes. I heard you.” His tone tells me he doesn’t believe me, though.
“I thought you of all people, Glen, would be happy about this. It’s my way of trying to be more open and receptive with the public and not as…what’s the term you used before?” I scrub the scruff covering my jaw. “Oh yeah, a disgruntled asshole.”
I spread my arms wide at my sides. “This is me being more available, approachable, and less asshole-ish to the press.”
Glen chokes out a laugh. “Riiight. And what happens the first time Harper veers into that personal life territory? What will you do then?”
I pick up my desk phone, ready to join a conference call set to start in a few minutes, shooing Glen out of my office.
“I’ll just pass her off to you,” I say with a cheesy grin, watching as he shakes his head and exits my office.
I finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Glen is right to be suspicious and question my logic in bringing Harper along on this trip. It could be the worst idea I’ve ever had in my career and blow up in my face.
Or it may also be a brilliant opportunity to showcase my coaching staff and team’s talent and my abilities as their GM to lead them into a championship this season.
It could also get messy. Harper is a woman who has already found ways of knocking me off my game. The question is whether I’ll be able to maintain a clear professional line around her like I said I would. I guess we’ll see.