He shrugs, a smug smile on his face. “I wanted to keep the interviews casual. Just you and me.”
Of course he did.
I keep my posture relaxed, telling myself over and over in my head not to react. Every part of this scenario is by design. The location. The isolation. The desk. The lighting. He set the scene here.
“Well, in the future I’d prefer interviews to be conducted with a third party present,” I say calmly, crossing my legs.
His smile flickers, but only for a second. “If that would make you more comfortable, Addison.”
I hate the way he says that. He makes it sound polite, but it feels like a backhanded slap. He adds this tone that implies I’m being irrational and emotional.
I nod, but say nothing. If he thinks he’s going to get a reaction from me, he’s going to be disappointed. I am not the same girl who used to fall for this.
Matt reaches for a recorder sitting on his desk and turns it on.
“So,” he begins, his voice smooth and unbothered. “What made you take the job at Rockford FC?”
“Well, the opportunity to be a part of a club’s historic promotion initiative doesn’t come around often. This is a club on the rise, and there’s a real opportunity here to shape their public identity. That’s a rare challenge, and I didn’t want to let it pass me by.”
He nods. “So, you think Rockford was worth that investment from you?”
“I do,” I say, nodding confidently. “This is a club with a lot of history, talent, and heart. Even among their fans, there’s a passion here I haven’t seen in any franchise, in any sport that I’ve been lucky enough to work in. And they’ve been overlooked for so long, coming close but just not quite enough. It’s the underdog story that people love to root for.”
His eyes lift to mine. “And what’s your honest take on the players so far?”
“Well, there are a lot of strong personalities, but that keeps it fun.”
“You mean like the captain?” he asks, trying to sound as casual as possible.
I keep my tone even. “Oliver Bradshaw is private and focused. He leads the team by example—on and off the pitch.”
“Hm,” he muses. “You two seem close.”
“Is there a question in there?” I ask. “We work well together. It’s important to have good working relationships with every member of the team, so as not to disrupt the chemistry of the group. I want to help in their promotion battle, not hinder it.”
“What’s your goal here, Addison? With the club.”
“First and foremost, to keep this team on track to secure promotion. I want to help them develop an identity that connects with the community and the fans, while staying true to who they are.”
“And for you, personally?”
I blink. “What?”
He shrugs. “Well, I’ve known you a long time. You’re ambitious. Always have been. Just curious what your long game is. Back to New York?”
“I’m focused on the job I have right now, not the next one.”
“Why did you leave your last employer?” he asks casually.
I blink, a crack finally forms in my armor. That question caught me off guard. “You already know the answer to that, Matt.”
“I need it on the record,” he insists. “For the story.”
I force an even, professional tone. “I needed a new challenge, a place where my work was truly mine, and Rockford offered me that.”
He smiles, but it’s cold. “And how’s London? That has to be a huge adjustment. New city. New apartment.”
Each word hits me harder than the last. He says it casually, but he’s not asking. He’s reminding me that I walked away. He’s pressing to see if I’ll flinch.
