He pulled away and took off down the front steps.He stopped and picked up his bike and then glanced over his shoulder at me.
I didn’t need to see him to know he was crying because, in the darkness, I could see his beautiful blue eyes glistening with tears.
“Goodbye, Emma.I’ll send you my address.We can mail letters, email, and of course text.Once I have my new school, work, and hockey schedule, I’ll get it to you.We will set up our time to spend time together.We will make this work.I promise.”
One more kiss and he hopped onto his bike and rang the tiny bell like he always did when he drove away.
The dinging seatbeltsigns on the plane pulled me out of my memory, and I looked down at the pile of papers and pictures in front of me.
“Please put your things away, Miss.Make sure your seatbelt in on and that your seat is placed back in an upright position.We are about to land,” the flight attendant said to me as she made her way to the next set of seats, repeating the same thing.
My stomach felt off the moment I’d climbed into the limo, and I was almost certain I was about to be sick when it finally pulled in behind the Vancouver arena.The moment we stopped outside the back entrance, someone opened the door for me.
“Welcome, Miss Cooper.You can leave your bags and everything in the back of the limo while you attend your meeting.They are waiting for you,” the man who opened the door said to me as he helped me from the car and escorted me to a side door, swiping a key card in front of a pad to open the door.
“If you are wondering, these are the players’ private quarters,” he said, studying me.“There is no need to worry.No one is here right now.They are all down on the ice for practice.We figured it would be best for you to meet with the owner of the team, Guy Larson, and the head of the PR team before seeing Mr.Fox.”
“Thanks,” I said, still following him, my mind going over the notes I’d made with my ideas on how to fix things.
As I walked down the hall, my mind flashed to the images and articles I’d read during my flight.My stomach felt like it was on fire, which wasn’t like me at all.I’d been up almost all night with an upset stomach.I honestly felt like I was going on my very first date all over again, but I knew it was because I was being thrown back into the life of Colton Fox.Surely, I’d meet him in person and would instantly remember why I came to hate him to begin with.I’d freeze back up and own up to the name I’d been given—Ice Queen.
I focused on the sound of my heels clicking along the floor as we made our way down another hallway, finally stopping outside of Guy Larson’s door.Kerry really hadn’t told me too many details, stating that I’d find them out once I arrived in Vancouver.
The gentleman I was with knocked on the door, and then cracked it open, announcing my arrival.Immediately, he turned, smiled, and shoved the door open.I stepped inside, coming face-to-face with the owner of the Vancouver Dominators.
“Emma Cooper, I presume,” he said, coming around the desk, holding his hand out for me.
I slipped my hand into his, giving him a firm shake just as the door closed.
“Guy Larson.Please come in, please.Take a seat,” he said, pulling out the chair on the opposite side of his desk.
“Mr.Larson, it’s nice to meet you,” I said, sitting down and straightening my skirt, crossing my legs at the ankles.
“Miss Cooper, I’m glad you are here.I hope your flight went well.”
“It did, thank you.Quick and easy.”I smiled, reaching into my bag to pull out the file.
“Miss Cooper, I wanted to go over some things before you meet Mr.Fox.Please, first, you can relax, put your notes away,” he said, sitting down in his chair.
This wasn’t my style.I was all business, but I did as he asked and hesitantly slipped my folder back into my bag and crossed my hands in my lap.This wasn’t how I imagined my meeting going with the owner.In fact, I fully intended to walk in here and come face-to-face with Colton Fox.I watched as he pulled two bottles of water from a mini-fridge behind him, placing one on the desk in front of me.
“I’m sure you’re thirsty.”He nodded to the bottle, which I took.“Miss Cooper, I won’t sugarcoat things.Mr.Fox is probably going to be one of your most challenging cases,” he began.
I stiffened my back and smiled.“Mr.Larson, I handle these sorts of cases every day.Mr.Fox won’t be anything I can’t handle, I can assure you.”
A smile came to his lips as he looked at me.“While I’d like to believe that, I know my player.He isn’t an amiable man to get along with.In fact, it seems like he has given up caring about most things, especially whether he stays here.I just want you to know that if he gives you any type of trouble at all while you are staying with him, I want to know about it immediately.”
The room spun out of control.The only words I’d heard were “while you are staying with him.”I swallowed hard, hoping that the panic wasn’t present on my face.
“I’m sorry, but I thought I heard you say I’d be staying with him?”I questioned, doing my best to keep my voice from quivering.
“Yes, surely, Kerry told you that you’d be moving in with Mr.Fox.”
She had mentioned something along those lines, but I’d figured she hadn’t meant it in the literal sense.
“Yes, of course,” I said, swallowing hard.
“Okay.Well, if he gives you any type of trouble, be it in his own home or at an away event, we are to be notified of it immediately.He’s on thin ice with me.No pun intended, and if he doesn’t comply with your instructions or your ideas, he may face another suspension, but he will lose his contract, become a free agent, and be sent to another team the second I hear about an opening.”
