“I know he’s the captain, but could we have him traded or something?” I ask in desperation, though it’s not a real request.
“You’d have to pry him out of Alan’s cold, dead hands. Literally,” Luke says, laughing.
I cross my arms and glare at him. “Well, I’m glad you find this funny.”
“Addison,” Luke says, grinning as he tilts his head at me. “It is alittlefunny.”
“It’s not, Luke,” I huff. “Luckily, I can think on my feet and work my way out of a disaster.”
Luke shakes his head, still amused. “It’s just classic Oliver, that’s all. He can be a bit difficult at first. But he’s actually one of the nicest blokes you’ll ever meet. He just comes off as intense. But once you get to know him, he—”
“Nope," I cut in. “That’s not happening.”
Luke stares at me, confused. “What?”
“I don’t need to get to know him,” I say flatly, smoothing out my ponytail. “Or any of them, for that matter. I have no interest in that.”
Luke gives me a puzzled look. “You’re aware that you’re their PR manager, right?”
“Yes,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I can handle their public image. I can craft the story for the media. I don’t need to be their friend. I don’t get involved with the assets.”
“The assets?” Luke lets out a short laugh. “You’re joking, right?”
“I’m completely serious, Luke.”
“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that.” Luke shakes his head. “Since when did you become so… detached?”
I understand his surprise. I never used to be like this—not in life or in my career. When I worked atGame Day, I was always involved, always hands-on. I knew everything about the clients, from their personal interests to their kids’ birthdays. I understand why this new approach confuses Luke. I just need him to trust that I’m doing it to protect myself.
“It’s just practical. I have rules to keep everything completely professional.”
“Rules?”
“We went over this at the pub,” I remind him.
“That wasn’t for dramatic effect? I thought you were joking.”
“I wasn’t.” I shake my head. “No emotional involvement, no attachment, no sleeping with a coworker, no staying in a job longer than a year—”
Luke’s eyebrows shoot up. “So… basically you’re saying you can’t have any fun.”
I sigh. “I just can’t let what happened with Matt ever happen to me again.”
Luke doesn’t flinch. He’s the only person in the world I don’t have to explain that to. He saw it all firsthand. He saw it before I even did.
“You’re protecting yourself,” he says, his voice gentler now. “But Addison, if you keep building these walls, eventually they’ll keep everyone else out, too.”
“Luke.”
“I’m just saying… I understand your anger. But build a framework, not a fortress.”
“But, I’m… I’m fine.”
“Yeah,” Luke says, nodding. “But one day, I’d like to see you bemore than fine.”
Luke studies me for a moment, debating whether to push me. I think he wants to, but he’s known me long enough to know when it isn’t safe. Instead, he leans back in his chair and exhales. “Alright. Aside from your introduction to the team, how has your first day been so far?”
I let out a laugh and shake my head. “Well, no one sounds like Hugh Grant.”
