Playing to Win

studio. They’ve offered us private space for preparation prior to the interview.”
    “I don’t think so. We’ll go to my place. I don’t want them bugging the room or popping in to see how we’re doing and asking a bunch of nosy questions. They’ll get my time for the interview and nothing before that.”
    “Paranoid much?”
    “Yeah, totally. I don’t trust the media. They’ve screwed me over too many times.”
    She followed him back to his condo. He cleared a spot at the table and they grabbed some water and sat.
    “All right,” Savannah said, pulling a sheet of paper from her briefcase. “Since this is local news and not national, they’re likely just going to ask you about you being with the Traders this season. Remember, their job is to talk up their local team, not just you. I’ve met Hal Marbrook and have worked with him on behalf of the team before. He’s been with this network sports outlet for fifteen years. He’s a nice man, and also very knowledgeable about the Traders. He’s aware of the team’s needs and what they’ve risked bringing you on board. So while he’ll cut you some slack because of his dedication to the Traders, he might press you about your past altercations. Be prepared for that.”
    “I’m always prepared for anything when it comes to the media. And I don’t doubt for a second that no matter how nice a guy Hal Marbrook is, it’s his job to get a juicy story.”
    “Just don’t go into it thinking negatively. He could make you look good.”
    He wasn’t buying it. “It’s not the media’s job to make players look good. It’s their job to gain viewership. Controversy gains viewers. If you got him an interview with me as an exclusive, I can guarantee you he’s coming after me.”
    She nodded. “It’s a possibility, but I don’t think so. So don’t plan on a fight when you might not get one. Be pleasant, be courteous, and above all, smile. Take a lot of deep breaths and pause before you answer each question. Think about your answer. Remember, you need your hometown in your corner. You’re not going to get them if you piss them off before you ever take the field for your first preseason game.”
    He couldn’t tell if this was her normal way of dealing with herclients, or if she was covering all her bases because she was afraid he was going to explode into some chair-throwing maniac on the air.
    “You know, just because I got into a few altercations with some of the media doesn’t mean I’m going to implode every time someone with the press interviews me. I really do know how to handle myself in an interview.”
    “Really? Because you haven’t shown much of that lately.”
    Okay, she had him there. “Trust me. I’ll prove it to you.”
    “You’re going to have to, because I was hired to rework your image, and a large part of that involves your relationship with the media, which you have to admit hasn’t always been a friendly one.”
    “I’ll admit to that.”
    “Upper management expects that to change.”
    “And that sounds an awful lot like an ‘or else.’ ”
    “I don’t deal in ‘or elses.’ That’s for upper management.”
    She leveled a sweet-as-pie smile at him while delivering that not-so-subtle threat. He’d have to be brain-dead to miss it.
    He wasn’t brain-dead. “I’ll handle it.”
    “I’m sure you will. Would you like to go over some practice questions so we can work on your potential answers?”
    He laughed. “Not a chance in hell. I’d rather go off the cuff.”
    “Uh-huh. And that’s what’s gotten you into trouble in the past. I’d much rather have you well prepared for any possibility.”
    “And you know as well as I do that you can’t prepare for what they might throw at me.”
    “No, but we can practice.”
    He stood and grabbed his phone. “Look at the time. I should change clothes so we’re not late.”
    “Cole.” She stood, the warning tone in her voice making her unhappiness very clear to him.
    “I’ll be right back, Peaches.” He stopped, turned to her. “Unless you’d like to come into the bedroom and dress me, too.”
    She crossed her arms. “I’ll pass.”
    *   *   *
    SAVANNAH HELD HER BREATH AS HAL SHOOK HANDS with Cole. She had to wait outside the recording studio, which seemed like miles away.
    Not that she could do anything for Cole even if she was sitting right next to him. She couldn’t put the right answers in his mouth. Whatever he said, he’d have to own.
    Hal