“An exclusive interview with an NBA star admitting he’s an alcoholic will raise your profile. We’re obviously going to see that article differently.”
“You trusted me when you were on this side of that desk.” She nodded toward the desk between them. “Now that you’re back in that chair, I’m the enemy again.”
“It’s my job to protect the team.”
She heard Troy’s frustration. Well, she was frustrated, too. Even more so once she’d realized he was making her pay for another woman’s actions. “If the team gets bad press, it’s not the players’ fault. It’s not your fault. It’s the media’s fault. Is that a holdover from your experience at Georgetown?”
Troy frowned his confusion. “What?”
“When your college girlfriend told you she was pregnant, you blamed her for your quitting the basketball team.”
Andrea’s attack stunned him. “That’s because she’d lied. I’d never have quit the team if I didn’t think I was going to have a family to take care of.”
“And when you went on television to accuse Gerry of being the Insider, you blamed him when he fired you.”
Troy’s voice was tense enough to crack. “The Insider blog sounded like something Gerry would do.”
Andrea pinned him with an unwavering gaze. “What happened at Georgetown and with ESPN are examples of you blaming others for your behavior. No one did those things to you, Troy. Those were decisions you made yourself. Take responsibility.”
Troy froze as Andrea’s words echoed around him. He’d accused Gerald of blaming others for his uncle’s behavior. His former boss had said they were alike. That couldn’t be true.
His throat was dry. “I take responsibility for my mistakes.”
Andrea wouldn’t allow him an easy out. “Then why haven’t you forgiven your ex-wife for lying to you about the pregnancy?”
Troy pushed out of his executive chair and prowled his office. “Why should I forgive her? She lied to get what she wanted, and her lie cost me a place on the team and my scholarship.”
Andrea’s words chased him across the room. “If you’d wanted to play basketball, you could have stayed on the team. Or you could have left early for the draft.”
Troy paced back toward his desk. “What about my college degree?”
“You could have gone back for that.” Andrea shrugged one slim shoulder. “Vince Carter did.”
Troy knew the Phoenix Suns player had returned to college for his degree. “I didn’t want to do that.”
Andrea spread her hands. “That was your decision, too. And, by the way, protecting the team from Gerry was Jackie’s job.”
Troy’s brow knitted. Was she questioning his job performance as well? “I’m the media and marketing executive.”
“And you’ve designed a great image campaign for the Monarchs. But there was nothing you could have done to change Gerry’s attitude. You can only manage your own.”
“Is that on a greeting card?” Troy regretted his flippancy as soon as the question left him.
“You’re holding on to past grudges that are affecting your actions today.”
“That’s not true.”
“Fifteen years later, you still blame your ex-wife for ending your basketball career. She’s the reason for your rash reactions whenever you even imagine someone’s threatening the Monarchs. It’s time to accept responsibility for your actions and move on.”
“Are you done?” Troy stared out at the marina behind the Empire Arena. She expected him to forgive his ex-wife for lying to him and forget that Gerald had fired him. It was easy for Andrea to pass judgment from the outside looking in.
“You can’t work with me or any member of the media if you don’t trust us. And until you come to terms with your past, you won’t be the media and marketing executive the Monarchs need to rebuild their franchise.”
Troy heard Andrea leave. Her parting comment had shaken Troy more than he wanted to admit.
21
Constance knocked on Troy’s door. “I’ve e-mailed the new advertising specifications to all the publications on your list. If there’s nothing else you need today, I’ll say good night.”