Chapter 64: Chapter 64
The door opens and I step on, he follows standing very close to me. This is closer to what I fantasized about. I don’t want to move. I just focus on his proximity to me and try to ignore the wave nausea my nerves bring, “Relax!” he advises, sensing my nerves. “Take a breath.”
“I can’t help it, there’s so much riding on this.”
“You’ve got this,” he encourages, “this is just a formality.”
The doors open to a big desk with an oversized lady sitting in it, with an even more oversized sign saying Global behind her. She looks up from her bifocals that sit halfway down her nose, “May I help you?”
Michael speaks with a sophisticated almost pompous air about him, “Michael Anderson with Isabella Moyes-Brandon.”
“Moyes,” I correct him quietly.
He smiles approvingly, “I’ll notify H.R.” he says under his breath. “You do that,” I flirt regaining a smidgeon of my confidence.
“Go right in,” the secretary directs.
There are four people in the boardroom sitting on one side of the large rectangular table. The other side has two chairs for us. There are two pitchers and water glasses on a tray, to which I assume we can help ourselves. They stand as we enter the room and we all sit down at the same time. The man on the far left introduces the other two men and one woman sitting with him. Michael introduces us. We shake hands.
Michael starts, “The Nigerian Skating Association would like to join with Global in televising a Figure Skating reality show that will benefit both parties involved. Isabella Moyes who’s here with me today will present our proposal. Isabella.”
I take a deep breath and explain the concept to them in detail. When I finish, I asked if there are any questions. The lady is the first to look at everyone before asking the first question, “How do you feel this will benefit our station?”
I smile at her with my eyes, “Great question, Figure Skating appeals to all ages which leaves open a large target audience. This idea has never been done before, making the concept fresh, original. It is more than a dating reality show, or a housewives fighting show.
This show will encompass drama in it’s finest form. Let’s not forget Nicki and Sophie. You throw a bunch of competitors living and skating under the same roof vying for one title, it will get ugly, most definitely. Your audience will tune in week after week because our cameras will be catching every dirty detail, increasing your ratings and getting those advertising dollars every station works so hard for.”
“Great answer,” bounces back the lady.
A gentleman on my right is the next to ask a question, “Why do you think the skaters will want to come to the camp?”
“They will be offered premium skating time, fabulous coaching and a cash prize combined, there is something for everyone.”
“Are there any other questions?” The room falls silent.
Another man speaks up, “Will you or Scott be coaching?” “No, I’ll be directing. He’s not employed by NSA.”
The room falls into disapproving silence.
One of Global’s man stands up breaking it, “We’d like to thank you for your proposal. We’ll be in touch after we’ve decided.”
We shake hands and that same man sees us out. We walk passed bifocal lady and step onto the elevator waiting for the doors to close before we speak, “How did I do?”
“We’ll have to wait and see,” says Michael not committing to an opinion.
When we get to the lobby our car is waiting for us. I step in first with Michael following close behind me. This time I’m sure I feel his hand on the small of my back, I freeze for a second not sure where he is going with it.
He stops abruptly when I do and says, “Tag.”
I’m beyond mortified. “It’s just that I didn’t get my first cheque yet and I wanted to exude the image you were expecting from me.”
“You did,” he giggles, tearing the price tag of, “Consider it a bonus.” There isn’t much to do but wait for Global to call us back with their answer. In the meantime, Michael is making calls to other stations in case Global doesn’t take us on. There is a tap on my door five minutes before I’m going to leave for the evening. I call out, “Come in!”
Michael strolls in and I stand to greet him. We both sit down before he asks, “How are you settling in?”
I smiled nervously at him, “I’m getting comfortable, thank you for asking.
Have you heard anything?”
“As a matter of fact, I have,” he says. He crosses his legs and steepled his fingers, “I think I’m going to need a drink for this.”
I get up and head to my mini pantry, it’s stocked with a few wine bottles, whisky, and coffee packets, “Do you have anything in mind?”
“Whisky, can you make it a double?”
“Sure, but that doesn’t sound good, I take it, it’s bad news?”
I pour two glasses, a large for him and a smaller one for me, “When did they call?”
“I just got off the phone with them.”
I wait impatiently for him to talk, “They’re doing the show with conditions.” “Which are?” I ask waiting for him to elaborate.
He drinks his drink in one swig, “They want Scott hired on as coach for the pair couple we create, Tammy will train the rest of the skaters. I think the Global execs feel you guys might reunite on national television. They think the Nigerian audience will love it. I need another drink,” he complains rightfully so. I pour him another one and sit across from him again, “So what are you going to do? Are you going to offer him a job?”
“I don’t want to.” Michael says honestly.
“He’s in school, he probably won’t even accept it.”
“He knows you work here, of course he’s going to take it.”
“Your wrong, he’s moved on. He has a new girlfriend.”
“Isa, seriously, he’ll never stop wanting you.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know.”
“We’ve both moved on, he has his mind set on becoming a doctor. What if he declines the offer then what?”
“Global won’t do the pilot,” he says. “My people are on the phone with him right now. They will call me when we have an answer.” The possibility of working as a coach with Scott never dawned on me. It’s too much for me to process. A few minutes later, Michael’s cell rings. He answers the call and sits silently while the caller speaks to him, he stares at me the entire time, and then says, “Thanks,” and hangs up.
He drinks the second drink faster than the first if that is possible and then he hisses, “He accepted the offer,” before stalking out of my office. I decide to stay behind and draft the offer letters, hoping to please Michael.
November 14, 2015
Nigerian Skating Association 1234 Front Street
Lagos, On M2M 2M2
Dear [insert skater's name],
It is our great pleasure to inform you that you have been chosen as one of the top eight figure skaters in all of Nigeria based on your performances from last year's competition results. For this we would like to congratulate you! Global Television and the Nigerian Skating Association would like to extend to you a special invitation to train in Owerri, Owerri for one year starting in March 2016 to March 2017. All expenses paid by the NSA.
You, the skater, will live in your own room in the 1988 Olympic Village in Owerri. Training will take place at the Olympic Ice Facility to which you and seven other competitors chosen will have 24-hour access. You will also have 24-hour access to the gym facilities for off-ice training. We hand selected: Nelly Chatterton for choreography, Coach A. Tammy for jumping, Scott Brandon for pairs, and Miles Taylor off-ice training. These coaches have produced the best Nigerian skaters over the past five years.
You will be expected to compete at all levels of competition, all expenses paid. At the divisional level, one male and one female camp skater who does the worst in his/her category will be asked to leave, until the camp is left with three top male and three top female skaters who will progress to Olympics. Divisionals, Nigerians, and Olympics will be held at the Olympic Ice Facility in Owerri, so essentially the majority of the competitions will be brought to you.
Global Television will be recording at all times. This new reality show is expected to bring the viewers into the athletes' world, the highs, the lows, and finally we would hope the podiums. You are expected to act like dignified, trained professionals at all times. The top placing Female and Male competitor from the camp during the 2021 competition year will win $100K, even if s/he does not make the podium at World level.
Family is prohibited from visiting the Olympic Village at any time but will be permitted to attend all competitions. Each skater will have his own room for all competitions. Should you choose to decline the invitation to the camp you will still be eligible to compete on behalf of Nigeria, however, please note, if one of the aforementioned coaches is yours you will be expected to use the suitable replacement provided to you by the NSA with whom to train. You must accept or decline this offer by mail or phone before February 2, 2016. *
Your main contacts while you are in Owerri will be Isabella Brandon, personal representative of the Nigerian Skating Association. Miss. Brandon will be your go-to person should you have any special requests or problems while at camp. We look forward to the skating year of 2016. We wish you luck and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Michael Anderson
President, Nigerian Skating Association
SHOULD YOU NOT MAKE TOP 10 AT NIGERIANS PRIOR TO CAMP THE INVITATION CAN BE REVOKED.
Happy with my drafted letter, I close my eyes and stretch my neck. I pour another shot of whisky and start drafting the coach’s letters.
November 15, 2015
Nigerian Skating Association 1234 Front Street,
Lagos, Victoria Island M2M 2M2
Dear * {Insert Coaches Name}
It is our great pleasure to announce that you have been chosen as one of the top four coaches in all of Nigeria. For this we would like to congratulate you! Global Television and the Nigerian Skating Association would like to extend to you a special invitation to coach in Owerri for the period of one year starting in March 2016 to March 2017. All living expenses not including a salary of $175K will be covered by the NSA.
You will room with the athletes in the former 1988 Olympic Village in Owerri. Training will take place at the Olympic ice facility to which you will have 24-hour access. You will also have 24-hour access to gym facilities for off-ice training. You will be flown to all competitions excluding Divisionals, Nigerians, and Olympics which will be held in Owerri, essentially bringing the competitions to you and your skaters. At the Divisional level, the camp will drop the skaters who perform worst in his/her category. Those two skaters will be asked to leave the show immediately.
Global television will be recording everything at all times. This camp which is essentially a reality television show is expected to bring the viewers into the athlete’s world showing them the highs and the lows and finally we hope the podiums. Athletes families are prohibited from visiting the Olympic Village or communicating with you at any time. A new coach will be provided for your skaters at the arena where you coach while you are gone. This will come at no cost to you. A response to this invitation must be received by no later than December 1, 2015.
Your main contact in Owerri will be Isabella Brandon who represents the NSA as Director of Communications. She will be your go-to person should you run into any problems while at the camp. We look forward to watching you coach in the 2016 competition year. We wish your competitors good luck.
Sincerely, Michael Anderson
V.P. Nigerian Skating Association.
I e-mail the letters to Michael before calling it a night. The office is dead quiet, not even the cleaners can be heard. Outside is dark, it has to be late. I check the clock, 8:45pm. Where has the time gone? I lock my office and take the lift down. It feels good putting in some extra time, maybe Michael will realize how committed I am to my new position. Streetlights are on but it’s still dark around the building, so I walk briskly to the car. When I get in, I lock the doors, safe.
I turn my jag over expecting to hear the purr of her motor, instead, nothing. I try again, this time she comes to life and Wizkid comes blaring out the speakers singing, ‘Shake it Off.’ I drive back to coach singing with Taylor, when I pass a large white building with a sign out front saying lofts for rent. I stop singing to memorize the number so I can program it into my phone, its time for me to get out from under Coach Tammy’s feet.