Page 11 of The Chemistry Coach
“My work does team-building.They were there for team-building.”
“Did you talk to them?”
“I did.”
“What did you say?”
“I embarrassed myself by wearing a Greene shirt and led them through an ice breaker designed for middle schoolers.”
“Wait, you’re telling me the success of our hockey team, the well-being of the players we adore, is dependent onCollaborative Craft’sability to shape them into a strong team?Don’t you constantly complain that they reuse basic corporate bullshit exercises?”
Before that moment, it hadn’t occurred to Daisy that the activities she led could be responsible for the Connors’ success or failure on the ice.She’d been focusing on getting through the interaction without mauling Connor Greene.The realization had her little hockey heart in a full panic spiral.
“Oh my God!”Daisy chewed her thumbnail, searching every corner of her mind for a solution to this gargantuan problem.“Fuck.We might as well abandon hope for the playoffs right now.Or pray they somehow find a way to connect outside of the classroom.Rob has no clue the new clients are hockey players.He never reads the questionnaires we have new clients fill out.He said I have to stick to his plan.It’s fucking horrible.”
“Daisy.I’m not being dramatic when I say this.I’m being very serious.”Roxie’s eyes widened, and she gave Daisy an exaggerated nod as she grabbed her arm and squeezed.“You have to fix this.”
Her voice came out as a squeak.“How do I fix it?I don’t control the lesson plans.”
“No, you don’t.But surely someone owes you a favor.Maybe your boss?”
“I don’t think I’ve earned any favors!And if Rob thinks it will cost him any extra money, he won’t consider changes.”
Roxie looked dejected, her eyebrows drawn down and bottom lip stuck out in a pout.
“Fine,” she said.“We can spend the next two months reporting on bad hockey instead of celebrating our team winning.”
“Roxie!You can’t put that on me!I’m not a miracle worker!Those three have nothing in common except hockey.”
“Before Rob took over, wasn’t your entire job creating specialized team-building plans designed to help people form connections when they have nothing in common?I’m ninety-nine percent sure that’s what you’ve been describing to me these past five years.But I guess if you don’t think you can do it, fine.They’re not going to get any worse.”Roxie shrugged her shoulders and sipped her drink.
They could absolutely get worse.It could always get worse.A million ideas started swirling in Daisy’s head.Could she tailor a plan for them?Anything would be better than what Rob put together.But could she actually have an impact on her team?On her second favorite hockey player?
Maybe she could help get them to the playoffs.Maybe she could help Connor Greene get renewed with the Freeze so she didn’t have to learn a whole new team and plan which games she attended around his visits.It would be dumb not to try, right?
She gathered her notebook and tablet and shoved them into her bag.“I have to go.I have to do something.I don’t know what.But something.”Daisy hustled to her apartment, determined to at least put a plan together for the Connors.
Daisy knocked on Rob’s office door the next morning.The first step was to ask.He yelled for her to come in, and she straightened her shoulders, readying herself for an argument.Rob wasn’t the worst boss she could ask for, but then again, she always did her job, stayed late when necessary, and never ever asked for favors.Despite being a model employee with the intent of asking formore work,her stomach roiled with nerves.
To her surprise, Rob greeted her with a friendly smile.It was a stark difference from his normal, bored expression.This expression though, was his ‘I’m going to ask you to do something unpleasant’ face.Daisy had never been happy to see it before.Her heart soared with hope.Maybe whatever horrific thing he asked her to do would give her leverage.
“Daisy!Just the person I needed.You’re in early.I was going to track you down later.”
Daisy sat in the chair across from Rob’s desk and crossed her legs.“Oh?Is there something I can help with?”
Rob drummed a pencil against his desk.“Yes.I need you to take on a few more interns.”
She had no desire to entertain any of those little brats again.But for the Freeze, she’d do it.“Ah.Which ones?”
Rob glanced at his laptop screen.“All of them.”
The breath escaped her lungs.Fuck her, that sucked.But at least this wouldn’t be a fight.She’d be doinghima favor; he could do one for her too.
“I’d be happy to have them each shadow me, but I need a favor in return.”
Rob closed his laptop and leaned forward in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of his face.“A trade deal.I like it.What are you proposing?”
Daisy took a deep breath and forced herself to phrase her request as a demand.“I need you to let me do a custom plan for the Freeze.”
