“Ah-ha.” Madison nodded and scrawled a quick note on her paper. “Good, good.” She stared at me long and hard. “Okay, Honor. I'll cut to the chase. I saved you for last, because I figured I'd offer you the job first. So if you want it, it's yours.”
My heart practically stopped beating. “Wait, really? Are you serious?”
“I sure am.”
“I definitely want the job, Madison!”
“Great.” Madison clicked her pen against the clipboard over and over, narrowing her eyes at me, as if something were bothering her. “I just—have to go over some policy things with you first.”
“Oh, um, sure.”
She bit her lip and laughed. “This is going to sound crazy, since you live with your boyfriend, but rest assured. I have to say this toallthe girls. It's nothing personal.”
I shifted in my seat.Um … okay …
“We have a strict no fraternization policy with the players. You'll see them on the ice, you'll work alongside them at charity events. You'll know their names, and in time, they'll come to know yours.”
“Right.”
“Any contact that occurs here at work, is obviously fine. Anycontact outside team events isnotokay. You will be terminated immediately. If you're at a restaurant, and you see a player walk in? The burden is on you to remove yourself from the situation. You'll be expected to leave the establishment immediately.”
I gulped. “Oh. Er. Okay.”
Madison gave a bubbly laugh. “I hate to say what I'm about to say—especially considering you have a boyfriend. But other girls might have benefited from getting this same warning I'm about to give you. So, again, don't take this personally.”
My brow furrowed as I waited for her warning.
“Listen. Honor. You seem like a sweetheart.” She clicked the cap of her pen again and again. “Donotfuck the players.”
I reeled back in my seat, my jaw unhinged. Even Cora hid her face in her hands.
“I know, I know. You have a boyfriend. But the players are hot, rich and charming. They love to flirt with the girls—but they're not in it for love. God forbid, but if it happens, Iwillfind out about it, and you'll be gone. Understand?”
I stuttered and stammered, not knowing what to say. “Yes?”
Madison laughed. “I know how awful it sounds, and it won't be a problem since you have a live-in boyfriend! But really, I have to say that to all the new girls—and even still … well, you'd be surprised. Anyway. Welcome to the team.”
She hopped out of her chair. I rose to my feet and put out my hand to shake, but she hugged me instead.
“You're going to do great, Honor.”
The hell did I just get myself into? Todd's gonna kill me.
Chapter 4:
Co-Workers
Honor
“Hi, this is Todd. I'm not here right now. Leave a message after the beep, and maybe I'll get back to you.”
. . . Beep!
“Todd! You were supposed to pick me up tonight! Answer your phone!”
With a stamp of my foot, I hung up. I'd been freezing my ass off outside the arena's staff exit for over an hour, trying to reach Todd.
Staff exit.Those words echoed in my mind.I was 'staff' now.Huh! Let that thought sink in for a minute.
