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“My client has never conveyed that perspective to the public.”
“He doesn’t have to.” Mr. Wilson laces his fingers together and rests his elbows on the table. “The media is doing it for him. That’s why I want my own media team to help change that narrative.”
“My client already has a new public image campaign in the works,” a female voice says from the speakerphone placed between Gary and Corey. “I’d be happy to discuss it with the head of the Lonestars’ PR team at their earliest convenience.”
“That would be wonderful, Mrs. Moreno,” Charles’s tone loses all traces of annoyance as he addresses Corey’s PR agent. “And, might I add, I am honored to speak to you. I’ve heard great things about you and your husband’s work.”
More like he’s heard of her billionaire husband, Adam Moreno, and wants to get in good with the Spanish investor’s wife…
“Thank you,” is her polite reply.
Patti lifts a hand. Charles motions for her to speak.
My boss clears her throat. “While the existing campaign might do well at mending Corey’s image, we should focus our effort on portraying him as a reliable member of our team. We need the fans to believe that he values the Lonestars.”
“True.” Charles nods. “As we stand, what do the fans think of him?”
Patti shuffles the papers in front of her, pulling out one with the results of a survey we emailed to our season ticket holders when news of the trade broke. “Most respondents value his skill as a pitcher and believe he will be an asset and help us win games.”
“And his personality?”
Patti’s lips purse like she tastes something sour. “Most marked arrogant and conceited as his most known attributes.”
Corey is a lot of things, but arrogant is not one of them. He’s talented, and he knows it, but he doesn’t flaunt it. At least, he didn’t when he was younger. I can’t claim to know who he is now, but I find it hard to believe he would ever view himself as better than anyone. That’s just not who he is. If anything, he had a difficult time seeing any value in himself as a kid thanks to his crappy home life.
“What about sex appeal?” CJ, short for Charles Junior, asks from behind his father. “Sex sells,” he says when his father casts him a curious glance.
“Women find him attractive,” Patti deduces from her report as if she can’t just look at the man to figure that out. “But he’s broody. And not in the sexy, ‘I can change him’ broody way.More like an unapproachable broody. But that’s something we should be able to change. I already have a team drafting ideas.”
I sense Corey’s agitation growing. His agent must sense it, too. I risk a glance and see Gary lean over and whisper something to his client. Whatever he says works. Corey’s jaw loosens as he unclenches his teeth, but tension remains in his shoulders.
“And the team?” Charles continues without missing a beat. “What’s their perspective, Coach Hawk?”
The middle-aged man rubs a hand over his beard. “That will be hard to know until we meet for pre-season training.”
“Didn’t you go to the end-of-year party at Lawrence Turner’s house when the news broke?” Patti asks. “What was your impression of the team’s reaction?”
It takes a moment to realize she’s talking to me.
A dozen pairs of eyes all land on me, but the only one that makes me shift in my seat is the steel-blue gaze coming from directly across the table.
I cough to clear my suddenly-dry throat. “Most of the players were excited. All of them were surprised.”
“Was anyone upset with the news?” Mr. Wilson presses.
“Not that I noticed.”
“Good. We need to keep it that way. The last thing we want is a player going to the media and complaining about Johnson, ruining any progress we make.”
“What exactly are you proposing?” Gary leans back in his chair and crosses his arms.
“Patti?” Charles addresses my boss.
“I think we should focus on using social media to help revamp Corey’s image.”
What?!
Patti continues, “Using social media to share information about Corey’s move to Dallas and joining our team willappear more authentic than scheduling press conferences or interviews for him. Our social media coordinator, Carlee, has had phenomenal success increasing our team’s reach with our various accounts.”
