Page 10 of The Game
He considers that, telling me he’d never thought of it that way. Nevertheless, he’s free to do what he favours.
We review all the questions I have for him before I thank him for the meeting.
We stand up, he takes my hand, kisses the top of it, then gives me a charming smile.
“If you ever want to go down the hockey player route, you know where to find me.” I shake my head at him, such a flirt, but it’s all very playful, making me think he’s not that serious.
Samantha is waiting for me with lunch when I get back to the office.
“Oh my god, you have no idea how amazing you are,” I tell her as she chuckles.
“I know how these athletes can be, draining all the energy out of us. Figured you’d need some fuel. Tell me about the meetings.”
We eat while I tell her about the morning I’ve had. When I get to the part about meeting Noah, Samantha laughs and says there’s no surprise there.
“He’s always ready to check up on a lady, and the rest of the team likes to make fun of him, but they all knowNoah could probably get with anyone, so I think a lot of them also envy his confidence,” she says, and I agree.
Even though they may tease him a little, I bet he could get with most women he sets his sights on.
“Yeah, it makes sense.”
We finish our lunch before heading back to work. When I finish my meeting notes, I start preparing for the rest of the week.
~
When I’m done with my workday on Friday, I’ve completed half of my meetings with the players.
I’ve met people with all kinds of personalities and preferences.
Some prefer to be in control of their own social media platforms but would like input on what to post and not to grow their audience.
Then there’s the player who prefers we, or their PAs handle everything, so they don’t have to deal with it.
I’m happy with both.
“Want to go out for a drink?” Samantha asks me as we’re packing up for the day.
“Yeah, sure. You know any good places?” I ask her, and she tells me that several from the team will head to a bar called The Rove.
We meet up with Miriam and Wayne before heading into the lively streets of Chicago.
The elevated train rattles overhead, its metallic rhythm echoing between tall brick buildings.
The smell of fresh pizza wafts from corner vendors, and we decide to grab a few slices before going to The Rove.
When we arrive, I see a sprawling bar space that exudes a refined elegance.
Tall wooden shelves rise toward high ceilings, carefully lined with a striking array of bottles, each softly lit by warm, ambient lighting.
Plush, leather-upholstered bar stools suggest inviting comfort, arranged along a sleek, polished counter that exudes understated luxury.
Thoughtfully placed cozy alcoves and lounge areas provide moments of intimacy amid the space, while the bar’s centrepiece—an artfully lit, beautifully stocked display—anchors the sophisticated, inviting atmosphere of the room.
This space is designed for slow, elegant evenings. It’s both upscale and intimate.
The four of us settle into a large booth, and a server approaches to take our order.
“So, newbie, how has the first full week been?” Miriam asks me, and I chuckle at the nickname.
