My ears started ringing.
She didn’t remember me.
Kodi, my first friend, the bright light in my childhood, had forgotten all about me.
This job, our reunion, it was all just a coincidence.
“Here,” I grumbled, voice rough as I fought frustration. I fished the list of things I needed taken care of out of my pocket and shoved it in her hand. “Have that done by the end of the week.”
Without another word, I strode out of the office, hands shaking at my side. When I rounded the corner, I rested my backagainst the wall. I ran the hand that shook hers through my hair, fingers tightening in the short strands.
All that excitement from just minutes ago was completely drained. In its place was disappointment. Disappointment that I could already feel eating away at me.
So I did what I normally do when I was overwhelmed. I got to work.
A Bad Impression
Kodi
Istood in the middle of Mr. Hansen’s office, shell shocked.
What the absolute hell was that? Did Kean have a stick up his ass? He didn’t greet me, didn’t even say nice to meet you. Hansen had warned me he was prickly, but I didn’t think that meant he was a straight-up asshole.
“Oh, where’d Kean go?" Mr. Hansen asked as he stepped back into the office. I gave myself a little shake, not wanting him to see my shock.
Sure, it was surprising to find out Kean was a dick. But being his PA wasn’t my long-term plan, being thewhole team’ssocial media coordinator was. And if dealing with this prick was how I got there, then I’d do it with as much grace as possible.
Besides, dealing with an asshole without throwing a fit should prove how mature and responsible I am now.
“He got a message and stepped out,” I told him. “But he did give me this …”
I unfolded and smoothed out the sheet of paper Kean gave me before storming out and my jaw dropped.
This fucker wanted me to get a good twenty plus things done for him this week. It was already Tuesday afternoon and this fucker thought I could get his cable set up, a plumber to check a running toilet, and a full new wardrobe by Friday? Was he delusional or did his egotism make him think everybody would drop what they’re doing just for him?
“What’s that?” Hansen asked when I was quiet for too long.
“Um, it’s just a list of things he needs done this week.”
“Oh, good. I kinda expected getting him to give you something to do would be like pulling teeth. He’s kind of the do-it-on-his-own type. Except he only prioritizes practice and everything else is secondary.”
“Uh-huh,” I murmured, squinting at Kean’s list, which didnotread like it was from a guy who has trouble asking people to do something for him.
“Great! Well, I won’t keep you too long with paperwork. I’ve got the general HR, health insurance, and deposit things here. And then this is all of Kean’s information, measurements, training schedule, instructions to get into his condo, etcetera. Make sure you keep it in a safe place. We’ve not had any incidents with this set of players, but you never know.” Hansen pushed a folder of HR papers and abinderof all the other documents. Then he pulled out a credit card from his desk and set it on top of everything. “You can use this card for any of Kean’s expenses. Make sure you keep receipts for everything and submit copies to Kean and the finance department.”
“Okay.” I pulled the stack towards me, securing the card in my wallet before flipping through the binder.
I’d been an assistant before, but only in an office setting. Being an assistant to an athlete wasinsanelydifferent or maybe it was just the word ‘personal’ that made a world of difference. But this binder had everything I could possibly need to know about Kean. From his stats to his blood type. And while this would definitely make completing his hell of a to-do list easier, it felt insanely invasive to have all the information about a guy who had only said a whopping ten words to me.
“Is it really okay for me to have all this?” I asked when I got to the page of emergency contacts with his parents’ numbers.
“Of course, Kean compiled all that information for you. I know it looks a little intimidating, but you’ll be thankful to have all that compiled into one place. Some of our guys only gave their PAs a sticky note of stuff.”
I shrugged. Sure. he was right, but I still wasn’t super comfortable having all these details.
“And like I said, Kean isn’t a big talker. So it was probably easier for him to just write it all down.”
“I guess that tracks,” I mumbled under my breath before realizing that wasn’t an appropriate way to talk about my new boss. “Sorry, I meant —”
