Chapter 21

BPOV

I was in the office bright and early for once, going over a lot of paperwork from all of Charlie's business ventures when Emmett burst through the door with an excited smile on his face.

'I have just the guy!' he exclaimed.

'Good morning to you too.' I grumbled, not looking up from my papers.

'Good morning.' He said sheepishly. 'sorry.'

I waved him over with a small smile. 'It's fine Ememtt, what's up?'

I pushed my papers to the side and looked over at him. he had some more papers in his hands and I wanted to groan. More papers?

'I have something for you.' he was grinning broadly again. 'I contacted some of my college buddies for the open positions. They're very interested. I have their cv's here if you want to check them out.'

'Oh that's great. Can you tell me a bit about them?'

'Sure.' He sat down and handed me the first paper. 'This was my pick for assistant coach, Sam Uley. He's a good friend. He's been in the game for a long time. he was my coach at school before I got injured.'

'He coached college?'

Emmett nodded. 'yeah. He's really enthusiastic and knows his stuff.'

'Okay, well, at least he has college experience..' I murmured. Although I was sure this pick would not be popular to the press. I skimmed his resume a bit more, and was pleasantly surprised that he'd also played professionally in his twenties. 'Alright, invite him over for an interview.' I finally decided.

'Great. I'll let you know.' He put the other papers in front of me next. 'this was my pick for a batting coach. Jared Cameron. I've not known him as long as Sam. But sam does know him well. he's a good guy.'

I scanned the resume and saw he was at the same college team as Sam.

'Oh this college is going to love me if I steal two of their coaches.' I muttered.

Emmett smiled and shrugged. 'both of their contracts are up this season.'

'That does make it slightly better… but still.' I sighed and looked over their resumes again. They did have the right backgrounds. And Emmett seemed confident that they were good picks. 'alright. I'd like to see both of them. Separately, though.'

Emmett nodded and grabbed his phone. IT owuldn't surprise me if he was going to text them both right now.

I quickly stopped him. 'Leave me their contact details, and i'll make sure HR sets up the interviews. This needs to be done by the book.'

He grinned sheepishly and put his phone away again.

'Are all the guys in totday?'I asked, putting the resume's on my to do pile.

Emmett nodded. 'yeah, training is starting in ten.'

'Good. I'd like to speak to everyone before it starts. I hired the pilates instructor and she starts tomorrow.'

'Okay. I already announced it was coming. Most of the guys seemed okay with it, save for a few.'

'Let me guess. Tyler?'

Ememtt grinned and nodded. 'you're getting to know the guys, I see.'

I laughed and nodded.

'Let's head down and see who else wants to make a fuss.'

'Alright. Jake, stay for a moment. I'll be right back.'

Emmett stared at me before shaking his head and opening the door. we headed down together just talking about random inconsequential things until Emmett reminded me that tomorrow was Friday and thus steak night at their house.

I smiled and nodded, telling him I was looking forward to it.

When we reached the locker room, Emmett asked me to wait a moment as he stepped inside to make sure all the guys were dressed. And probably prepare them for me.

Within a few minutes he opened the door and gestured for me to enter. The guys were all seated around the room on the benches and were looking at me expectantly as I stepped into the room. Everyone was dressed, save for a few shirtless torso's around the room. Sadly not Edwards. I quickly shoved that thought away.

'Hi everyone.' I greeted them. 'I won't take too long. I just wanted to let you know that starting tomorrow you will be getting pilates added to your training schedule. The new instructor, Emily Young, will be starting tomorrow and after observing training she will be making schedules for each of you based on your current fitness. The schedule will be posted Friday and will start the following Monday. So make sure you take it down for your own agenda's.'

Most of the guys seemed okay with the news, or at least not outwardly antagonist about it. A few however, with Tyler among them, were looking downright angry. So I sighed and added 'and I thought this went without saying, but here goes; Emily is an athlete. Same as you. She deserves to be treated with respect. If I hear about one of you complaining or being rude or obnoxious, there will be consequences.'

Laurent scoffed. And Emmett threw him a glare.

'Mr Dupont.' I addressed him. 'Something to share with the group?'

He shifted uncomfortabley on the bench at having been called out. 'No Ma'm.'

'Good.' I nodded. 'Then if no one has any questions, I'll let you guys get to training. If you do have any questions or concerns, you can leave those with Mr McCarthy.'

'Thank you Ms Swan.' Emmett said professionally as he took back over from me and started going over today's training. I had tried not to look at Edward when I was giving my talk, but now my eyes landed on him and I found him looking intently at Emmett. I smiled at how dedicated he was to this team and the sport. Then I quickly shook myself and headed out of the locker room and back to my office to continue my paperwork.

The rest of the day passed quickly, with me reading up on all the latest news of my dad's business dealings. I started compiling a to do list of all the things I would have to do to get things back to normal and to make myself visible to these other businesses where I was now a board member.

When I finally went home, well past six in the evening, the lights were mostly out in the building. Training had ended a few hours ago. A few enthusiasts might be in the training room lifting weights or something, but judging by the quiet I figered it was highly unlikely. I headed home with Jake following close beside me. He was antsy and I didn't like that… not at all.

Jake was usually laid back, but when he was antsy it was usually because he didn't trust something. And although I couldn't see a reason for his anxiety, I couldn't bring myself to dismiss it entirely either. I clutched his lead close to my side and quickly headed to the elevators.

I couldn't help glancing over my shoulder though. Although talking with Edward last night had helped, I still felt kind of creeped out that someone had probably been traipsing around secured floors and I didn't like it.

Now, in the darkness and with the building mostly deserted I just felt vulnerable. The elevator dinged and I stepped inside Jake followed suit and I quickly pressed the doors close button and the button for the ground floor. The doors slid closed and I breathed a sigh of relief. Jake wagged his tail beside me. I pet his head absentmindedly as the elevator started moving.

I tried to shake the feeling of unease but was unsuccessful as the elevator stopped and the doors opened again on the second floor. I held my breath, but no one stepped inside. I hesitantly stuck my head out the doors, but the hallway was empty. The lights were on though, so someone must have been through here recently.

'God damn it.' I muttered to myself. I quickly stepped back and pressed the doors close button again.

Then I picked up my cellphone and dialed security.

'Good evening, Ms Swan, how can I help?' Arnold, my head of security for wringley field answered on the second ring.

'Arnold, good evening. I'm at the office and I think someone's here again.'

He was on alert immediately. 'Hold on, Ms Swan, I'm contacting the team. Did you see someone? Are you safe?'

'Yes, I'm in the elevator. I didn't see anyone. But it's pretty much empty around here and the elevator stopped on the second floor while no one was there. The hallway lights were on though. So someone must have pressed the elevator button and I can't think of anyone who might have been here to do that.'

'Alright. I've sent John up to the second floor to check. Andy is waiting for you at the ground elevator and will take you to your car. We'll sort this out, Ms Swan. Don't worry.'

'It might be nothing.' I said, as the doors opened and I was greeted by Andy. He nodded polititely as I stepped out of the elevator. I smiled at him.

'And it might be something. After what happened yesterday, I'm not willing to take a chance. We'll sort this out, don't worry. I'll be over tomorrow morning to discuss things in person.'

'Thank you, Arnold. And I'm sorry for disturbing you at home.'

'No problem, Ms Swan, it's what I'm here for.'

I ended the call and Andy held the door to the parking lot open for me. 'Did you see anything, Andy?'

He shook his head. 'I've not seen anyone come in or out in the past hour and a half. But I know there are a few people around, cleaning staff and such. It might be something innocent this time. but it's better that we check it out thoroughly and don't take any chances.'

I nodded. 'Thank you Andy.'

'No problem, Ms Swan. And I would suggest next time you're working late, that you call one of us to come escort you down to your car. Especially with the press dogging your steps, it might help keep them at a distance so you can get to your car safely.'

'I don't want to put anyone out.'

'It's our job, Ma'am.'

I sighed. 'Alright then. If I'm working late I'll phone down.'

He nodded as I clicked the button to unlock my car and loaded Jake into the back. When I closed the hatch he had my door open for me.

'Thank you Andy. And good night.'

'You too, Ms Swan.' He closed the door after I was settled in the seat and I buckled in. He was heading back inside as I started the car and pulled out of the lot. I was exhausted and couldn't wait to simply sink down on my sofa and not get off it for a few hours with a blanket and a silly movie. Tomorrow was another day, I'd see then what Arnold found, I was not going to worry about it tonight mostly because I simply did not have the energy for it. I headed home and shook the thoughts away.

The following day I was back in the office bright and early again. Jake was getting used to the new schedule and was louging on my sofa snoring soundly when a knock at the door startled him awake. A startled little bark escape his muzzle and I giggled. His gaze snapped to mine.

'It's alright, boy. Stay there.' I muttered as I got up and headed to the door.

Arnold was standing on the other side, wearing a crisp suit, which in my opinion made him look more like secret service than anything else, but I appreciated his professionalism.

I invited him in and we sat down. His face was stern, but not grim. That comforted me at least a bit.

'What did you find?' I asked him, getting directly to the point.

'It seems Mr hunter was in the building late last night. John found him in the media room after you left.'

My jaw clenched.

'But, we didn't find any evidence of him having left the media room. There were no pass logs on the doors to the other levels. We didn't find any opened doors. It seems like he behaved himself. John asked him why he was there and he gave some reasons, but his media clearance checked out'

I sighed. 'Alright. It was nothing probably then.'

Arnold nodded. 'Still, I'm not completely settled. Andy filled me in on his idea and I agree. Whenever you're working late call down and we'll escort you to your car. However, I will also be posting security on this floor whenever you are in office. I want to make sure we don't leave anything to chance.'

'Alright that's fine. But I don't want to be followed everywhere. I have enough of that with the press. Keeping someone on this level is fine, and escorting me to my car at night is fine, but no following me around during the day.'

Arnold nodded with a small smile. 'That's fine, Ms Swan. Starting today, if you are in the office past 5 just call down to reception before you head out and someone will come up to escort you out.'

'Okay. Thank you Arnold.'

'Now we also looked into the propped open door from two days ago. Sadly we didn't find anything odd there either. It seems a cleaning lady swiped the door last. She doesn't remember propping the door open, but she might have. Though she has seemed to have lost her badge.'

'That seems... odd.'

He nodded. 'Something feels off here, but we can't prove anything yet. That's the other reason for the security. We don't want to take any chanes.'

'Alright.' This did nothing to help my nerves, or allow me to put it out of my mind. But at the same time I was glad that they were taking it seriously. A security leak was teh last thing we needed and if it was teh press sniffing around then I was doubly glad they were being vigilant. 'Thank you.'

He nodded and got to his feet. Jake's head lifted up sleepily and Arnold gave it a pet as he passed by. At noon I quickly took Jake for a walk before getting back to my paperwork.

The mountain had not dwindled one bit and my inbox was filling up too. I decided I really needed an assistant. I was drowning in paperwork even though I had the feeling it had been all I'd been doing this entire week. With a sigh I opened my laptop and shot an email off to HR to find me a personal assistant as soon as possible. I got a reply back in a few minutes that they would mock up the posting and a primliminary wage range and have it ready for my approval by the beginning of next week before posting it. I thanked them quickly and decided that that was enough for today. I'd been breaking my back all week, I had to give myself some space too.

I was still grieving and throwing myself into work was a dangerous route to go. I gathered my things and Jake's and decided to head out. On the way I stopped by the second floor where there was a large glass wall that overlooked the field. The team was out on the field running drills and preparing for the season to start. I looked at them for a moment, my eyes finding Edward without much trouble.

He was in the outfield, talking with a few other players as the batters were getting instructions from Emmett. I smiled at myself as he pulled his hat off his head and his bronze hair sprang up, seemingly defying gravity. Even this far away it was striking, especially when the sun hit it and it semed almost fiery red.

As I stared Emmett called eveyone to attention again and the first batter was up. Jasper climbed the pitch mound and after a few seconds to ready himself, he loosed the ball. A fast ball if I'd ever seen one. It was hard and fast and I almost felt sorry for the batter.

It was Seth. And I cringed as he swung his bat towards the ball. The resounding echo as the ball bounced from the bat, reached my ears even though the glass. The ball soared into the outfield, and though Seth must have hurt himself he dashed away in a sprint to the first base. The ball still soared into the sky and a few outfielders were running hard to catch it. Edward was closest to the ball and as he glanced over his shoulder and saw the ball nearing him, he whipped his body around and reached into the sky as he launched himself into the air. The ball landed in his gloved and outstretched hand and he landed gracefully back on the ground.

Seth hung his head, as Edward threw the ball back to Jasper with a wicked throw. Emmett intercepted Seth as he walked off and waved one of the healthcare team over, probably to make sure he hadn't injured himself.

I was glad to see they were pushing themselves and working hard taking their pre season training seriously. With one last look at Edward I headed back towards the elevators, promising Jake to take him on a nice long walk in the park. His tail wagged excitedly as if he'd understood me.