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Chapter Eight

C orie

With my shoulders squared and head held high, I make my way to the players’ entrance to the stadium. That's where Knox told me to wait for Sally, the director of human resources, for my interview today.

My insides are twisted in a knot, but I don’t let that show.

On the outside, I have an air of confidence.

Fake it until you make it, right? The nerves are worse because this is my first interview after applying for what feels like thousands of jobs.

That’s the biggest reason, and then there’s the fact that both Knox and Landry put in a good word for me.

I don’t want to let either of them down.

Stepping up to the door, I try the handle, and it turns, allowing me to push open the door. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it’s not a beautiful middle-aged woman with blonde hair to be standing there with a smile on her face.

“Corie?”

“That’s me.” I wave and offer her a smile.

“So nice to meet you. I’m Sally.” She steps forward and offers me her hand. “I can see the resemblance,” she says, and my shoulders fall just a little. I don’t want this job because of who my brother is.

“Family curse,” I say, hoping I’m hiding the disappointment in my voice.

“Landry and Knox might have put you on my radar, but I won’t offer you the job because of who they are.” Her smile tells me she sees right through me.

“Thank you.” I feel my shoulders relax. “While I appreciate both of them for helping guide me to this opportunity, I need to make it on my own. Just like I keep telling Landry, I have to be able to stand on my own two feet.”

Sally nods. “I commend that. I’ve seen both sides of the spectrum: those expecting things in life because of who they know or are related to. It’s not a good look.” She scrunches up her nose, as if even the thought is distasteful.

“Agreed.”

“We’re off to a great start. Come on up to my office, and we can talk.” She turns and leads the way down the hall, and I follow her. We stop at the elevators, and she pushes the call button.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” I say once we’re in the elevator and soaring to the top floor.

“Of course. Holly is still here with us. She’s given us ample amounts of time to find her replacement. She’ll also be training her replacement, so that’s a huge weight lifted off the shoulders of whoever replaces her.”

She’s right. Knowing that if I’m chosen for the position, I won’t be tossed in to learn it all on my own is a huge relief. “Knox mentioned she’s expecting.”

Sally smiles. “She is. They’ve tried for quite some time, and I knew that when it happened, we would lose her.”

“I’m glad it’s working out for them.”

“Me, too.” Sally smiles, and it’s a genuine smile for Holly and her defensive back husband.

The elevator doors pull open, and we step off. Sally heads toward the right, and I follow her. She steps inside and points to the chair across from a large mahogany desk. “Please sit. Can I offer you something to drink?”

“No, thank you.”

“All right, well, I guess we should just get to it. Tell me about yourself, Corie.” She casually leans back in her chair as if we were discussing the weather, and I relax even more.

Taking a deep breath, I dive into my educational journey.

I explain how I took college classes while in high school and graduated with an associate’s degree in general studies—laying the foundation for my later studies at the University of Cincinnati, where I worked my ass off to earn my bachelor’s and then my master's degree in marketing and public relations. “And that brings me to now. I graduated in June, and I’ve been searching for a job since.”

“Well, I’m glad your search brought you here.” She smiles kindly, and I feel more worry fall from my shoulders.

“Me, too.”

“You have a lot of great experience for someone who has just recently completed their master’s degree.”

“I was very fortunate to obtain internships at some incredible firms while in college. We weren’t just there to fetch coffee; we got hands-on experience, and that only made me fall in love with the field even more.”

Sally nods, liking my answer. “It’s helpful that you’re already familiar with the ins and outs of a professional athlete’s life and career,” she tells me.

“It’s important that we shine a positive light on our players and the organization.

Understanding what the players go through is a huge asset to this position. ”

“I grew up living and breathing football with my brother.” I chuckle.

“He’s a good one. A handful at times.” She grins, and I do the same. My brother is one of those people that you can’t help but smile and be happy when he’s around.

“He’s something,” I comment.

“So, as the social media director, you will oversee all social media for the team and players. Some players have us handle their accounts, and we have staff, mostly interns, for that. It won’t be your responsibility unless you choose to take that role for certain players.

For example, if we have a public transgression or something where we need to keep a closer eye on them. ”

“Does that happen a lot?”

“No, we’re lucky. We have a great team of guys, and they stay out of trouble for the most part. If I do say so myself, we also have one hell of a roster. Our quarterback is ranked number one in the league.”

I smile. “Knox might have mentioned that.”

Sally looks surprised. “That’s not usually something he goes around bragging about.” She eyes me curiously.

“When they all get together, it’s survival of the fittest,” I say.

For some reason, I don’t want her to know that Knox and I shared a private conversation.

That’s something that’s for just me to savor.

Besides, it’s not a lie. When Knox, Landry, Reid, Baker, and Foster are in the same room together, they like to pick on one another.

In a loving, “you’re my bro” kind of way, but they’re also not afraid to toss out verbal punches from time to time.

“Oh, I can imagine.” She shakes her head, but a smile tugs at her lips.

“Okay, back to what we’re here for.” She waves her hands in the air as if to push the distraction away.

“There might be times we’d have you travel with the team.

It’s not something that happens often, but if there is a media event during that time, we would like to have our department head there to handle any fires that might pop up, so to speak. Do you have any issues with traveling?”

“No. I’m currently unattached and living with Landry.

Nothing would prevent me from doing what needs to be done at a moment’s notice.

” I know she can’t ask those questions, so I figured working that into our conversation was best so she knows I’ll give everything I am to this organization and the position if I’m chosen.

“Perfect. I know Holly traveled with the team pretty frequently, but she was also the wife of one of our defensemen.”

“I guess there’s not a no-fraternalization policy?” I ask. “Not that I plan to date any of the players. My brother would kill them before we had one foot out the door. Not literally, but you know what I mean.” I can feel my face flush with embarrassment.

“We have a rule that if a romantic relationship starts with any two employees, we will be notified immediately. It’s more to ensure no favoritism can come into play.

For example, if you were our social media director and started dating someone in that department, you would be their direct report, so we’d have to find a new position for one of you.

Most likely, the person you were dating.

We would attempt to make accommodations, such as moving one of you to a different department.

There have even been cases when the higher-up in the relationship steps down from their position, or one of them moves on from the organization altogether.

There are consequences for not telling us when the relationship starts, up to termination.

When a player is involved, it can mean fines, being benched, and up to being traded, depending on the offense and if there have been issues in the past with either of the parties involved. ”

“Wow. Okay.” I nod. “That’s great that you’re so accommodating,” I tell her.

She grins. “It helps that the owner met his wife while she was working here. She was his assistant. That case was a little different because he made the rules, but she eventually left a paid position, and now that they’re married, she handles the annual charity fundraiser.

She used to help out in other areas and even cover for his new assistant, but since they have kids now, she’s focusing on raising their family. ”

“That does help.” I chuckle. “It shows that the organization cares about its employees.”

“It’s a great place to work. I’m sure you’ve only seen the player side of things, but this side, the business side, is great, as well. We’re one big Rampage family. It takes a village to keep this place running, and the family environment is key to that success.”

“It sounds incredible.”

Sally nods, and we go on to talk more about the position.

My hours, the benefits, and what’s expected of me.

She takes me on a tour of the administrative offices, which is an all-new side of the stadium I’ve never seen before.

I can’t help but be excited at the prospect of this being where I start the next phase of my life.

My brother works for the same organization.

We’d still be close, and I wouldn’t have to move away.

It’s almost as if it’s too good to be true.

By the time she walks me to the door, the same one I entered, I’m giddy with excitement at the possibility of getting the position. “Thank you so much for the opportunity,” I tell Sally, offering her my hand.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Corie. We want to fill the position quickly. It’s not posted anywhere, so you were our first interview.”