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"Yeah, sure, it’s one of those shows where a whole bunch of girls live in a mansion together in LA and compete for a rich, good-looking guy." She’d never actually watched it, but that didn’t seem like the response Lori was looking for.
"Right, except next season they’re not going to be in LA. We’re looking at a gorgeous home over on the northeast side of town and they’ll be competing for not one, but two eligible bachelors. Maverick players of course. The network hasn’t officially approved it, but we’re trying to get at least half local girls. We can make a whole story arc out of the locals versus outsiders thing. That’s why your task is so important.Last First Kisshas over one point two million views every week in a demographic we’ve barely touched."
"Ademographicwecanconverttobaseballfans?" Katie asked.
"Yes and no, but I like how you're thinking," Lori said.
She studied Katie for a long moment, assessing her yet again. Except this time, finally, after almost five months of criticisms and judgmental glares, the Dragon Ladydeemedherworthy.
"I’m going to let you in on a secret, Katie: JTM Industries is expanding. As I’m sure you’re aware my father’s holdings arequite diversified and this baseball team has been somewhat of a hobby to him. I aim to change that. I’m not a huge sports fan myself, but I’ve always seen the potential in Maverick baseball. My husband Vince and I have been working for years, building connections in the entertainment, publishing, and tech spheres. In the next year, we’re launching Maverick Media and we’re taking it all on: television, movies, social media, the meta verse, news programming. The sky’s the limit, but we’ve got to have our ducks in a row from day one—which was yesterday as far as I’m concerned."
"Wow, Lori, this is huge," Katie said with her best this-is-the-first-I’ve-heard-of-this expression.
"It’s beyond huge, Katie, which is all the more reason everything has to be spot on for this FAB-TV opportunity. We’ve got to show them Idaho has everything they need right here and that could lead to a whole slew of other opportunities. Idaho could be the new Hollywood and it could all start with Maverick Media."
"I get it, Lori. I’m honored you’re even considering letting me be involved."
"Good. I’ll make my final decision on the liaison position soon, but we’ve got to get going well before the end of the season, and I’m going to need your help every step of the way with the prep work. Start going through these headshots and bios ASAP. I want real women with real careers. Down home girls. Girls that you can bring home to mom. Narrrow it down to about thirty that you could see Landon with since he’ll be the more important of the two, and then say twenty or so that you could see with Hawkins."
Katie nearly sputtered out Landon’s name in reply, but morphed it into a strangled cough at the last second. When she recovered, in a voice that sounded far too high pitched, she asked, "Oh, so you already have the two players picked out?"
"Yes, Landon Ryan will be one. He’s already agreed to it. Tate Hawkins is on board also."
Katie snapped the shock off her face a second too late.
"What?" Lori demanded.
"Oh,no,nothing,"sheinsisted.
"Ifyouwanttoworkinthisindustry,Katie,youneedtospeak up."
"Okay,I’mjustsurprised,Iguess.You’vehadmefollowing Landon’s media trajectory for awhile and he seems, in my opinion, to be working towards a different image. I guess…"
Lori stayed silent, studying her for several excruciatingseconds, before blowing Katie’s mind completely by relaxing into an actual smile
"I’llbehonest,Katie,I’mprettysurprisedLandonagreed,too. When we first started negotiations with the network, I figured we’d end up using Hawkins and Jimmy Black, but when I ran into Landon this morning, I figured, why not start at the top and work our way down? Frankly, I’m shocked he said yes."
Had they been talking about any other player in all of Major League Baseball, Katie would have been overjoyed. For once, herbosswasspeakingtoherlikeavaluedmemberoftheteam.For once, she seemed pleased with her and the job she’d been working so hard at. Yet her dismay over Landon wiped out every bit of joy, and that scared the begeezus out of her. She couldn’t argue with Lori’s point though. From a publicity standpoint, you couldn’t do any better than a dating show featuring the one and only Landon Ryan.
"That’s wow, yeah, fantastic," Katie said, plastering on her best smile.
"I’m impressed that you noticed where we’ve been going with Landon. I’ve been working very closely with him on his image, kind of my own pet project. Which is all the more reason we need to getthe right type of girls for this. Women, actually. We need women, not girls. And no video girls! Or influencers. We can turn them into that, but better to start from scratch. We need someone who can take care of him, keep the bad boy in line."
A nasty taste slid into Katie’s mouth as Lori kept piling on the good news.
"Oh Katie, before I forget, since the Pittsburg game was rescheduled as a double header here at home, we’re going to auction off the meet and greet and the VIP box for both games as a package deal at the charity banquet. Work with Tucker to create some sort of display we can put out on the table. Really play up the Johnny St. Pierre rivalry; that'll bring in the big bucks. Of course you’ll need to reschedule the party who already has the box reserved for that game."
Then Lori walked off to schmooze with Takahashi, leaving Katie in complete and utter despair. And not about the extra work or having to make another shitty phone call. How could he have told Lori he’d do it? Minutes after he’d just been with her?
Cheers rose up from the crowd as Wayne Kringle got the third out with an easy one ball and three strikes. Katie crossed her arms across her chest and ran her hands up and down her arms in a useless attempt to quell the goosebumps slivering across her skin. The team jogged in from the field and she looked up behind her into the stands instead of meeting Landon’s eye.
A group of twenty-somethings sat above the VIP box, two of the females in number eight jerseys, one of whom stood at the railing right above Katie, looking down at the field with a smug smile. Had Landon been looking at them and not her? Had all the winks and eyebrow waggles been for other women? Or maybe for her and the other women, killing multiple birds with one irresistible boyish grin?
Katie gulped back a strong urge to throw up. Or throw something. "Silly girl" seemed like a generous description for herself at this point. She’d been downright naive and stupid. Landon had ignoredherfordays,then waltzedbackinandfuckedheronawhim, without her putting up even a single argument, even if just about the absurd location. Then, while his come was literally still leaking out of her, he'd sauntered down thehall and agreed to date dozens of other women.
"People treat you how you let them,"Dr. Walton had said, and if that was the case, Katie couldn’t exactly blame him for walking all over her.
"Kat!" Ellis barreled down on her from across the VIP box. "We’ve got an issue. Takahashi’s car is blocked in with all the construction and that Mayumi lady is not happy about it. She scares the shit out of me actually. You want to stay here with this crew orgo sort it out?"
