“Come on, Noah. Off the record. Just between us. Do you think I deserved two games and twenty-five thousand dollars for protecting my teammate?”
The way he says my name makes my pulse jump.
“Off the record?”
“Off the record.”
“I think you made a choice that most people wouldn’t have the guts to make. I think your execution was terrible and your judgment was worse. And I think the punishment fits the crime, even if the crime was committed for the right reasons.”
He studies me for a long moment. “That’s the most honest thing you’ve said to me.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Why not? I like you better when you’re honest.”
“I’m not here for you to like me. I’m here to keep you from destroying your career.”
“Maybe I can do both.”
There’s something in his voice that jars me and forces my eyes back to his. He watches me with an intensity that makes the small room shrink.
“We should get back to the questions,” I say.
“We should. But I have one more.”
“Masterson—”
“Why did you really take this job?”
The question catches me off guard. “What?”
“You said it was a good opportunity despite your dad being the coach. But Chicago to Oakland is a big move. There had to be more to it than just career advancement.”
“That’s personal,” I say, thinking my sharp tone will shut him down.
Wrong.
“So? We’re off the record.”
“We’re not off the record. We’re in the middle of media training.”
“Then take a break. Answer the question.”
I should end this now and redirect the focus back to the training, maintain professional boundaries, keep the focus on his career instead of mine.
But instead, I hear the words come out of my mouth. “I wanted to prove something.”
“What?”
“That I could do this job without my father’s help. That I could handle a major market, high-pressure position and succeed on my own merit.” I put my notes down. “Everyone in Chicago knew me as ‘that PR guy from the sports firm.’ Here, I’m ‘Coach Enver’s son.’ I can’t win. So I figured I’d at least take the better job and deal with the perception issues.”
“That’s why you get so pissed when I mention your dad.”
“I get pissed because you use it as a weapon. Like the fact that he’s my father somehow disqualifies me from doing my job.”
“I don’t think that.”
“You’ve implied it multiple times.”
