Wolf with Benefits
Page 28
Okay, okay. I was just curious. Toni thought a moment. So, um, I saw on Novikovs schedule that theres a team meeting tomorrow afternoon, so the return flight for him and his girlfriend . . . or fiance . . . or whatever . . . leaves Chicago at eight a.m., and a driver will bring him right to the Sports Center in time for the meeting. Then he can get his workout in after that.
Ric and Cella looked at each other and Ric asked Toni, Why?
Well, Im relatively certain if he doesnt get in some form of workout, hes going to be impossible to deal with. He reminds me of Dennis. Hes my five-year-old brother, she told the others. He has OCD, too, and if he doesnt get a certain amount of time paintinghes a painterhe gets completely unruly. You wouldnt think a five-year-old could do that much damage . . . but he can. And hes barely fifty pounds. Bo is way bigger, so I readjusted the amount of damage based on the size of the man and guessed it would be substantially worse. I figured you wouldnt want that.
No, no, Ric clarified. We wouldnt. But my question is why did you feel the need to help him?
Oh. Toni thought on that a moment. Well . . . he looked like he needed help, and I was just sitting there. She suddenly sighed. And to be quite honest, I really didnt want to have to testify against him if he murdered that bobcat.
Floyd, Ric and Cella said at the same time. Floyd wasnt bad as a receptionist, but the man continued to piss off the persnickety Novikov. Then again, so did Ricand the universe. Only Novikovs fiance, Blayne, managed to avoid Novikovs wrath, mostly . . . as long as she was on time.
It just seemed easier to help the man since you guys are clearly busy and I knew once he was done with . . . Floyd? They nodded. Yes, Floyd. I knew hed come looking for you, and I didnt want to see you without most of your skin, Ric. We do consider you family, after all.
Thank you.
Look, Im sorry if I stepped on any toes here. Im just used to dealing with people like him, and it was nothing for me to help out. I was just sitting there.
Cella swung her legs off the desk. He didnt make you nervous?
Bo? No. Not at all. She smiled. Hes very funny.
Do you mean weird funny? Ric asked. Like odd and off-putting?
No, Ric. I mean funny. As in humorous.
Hes humorous?
Treating him like a true cousin, Toni rolled her eyes and said, Ill let you get back to work.
Wait, Cella pushed. So you didnt find Bo Novikovhard to work with?
Toni laughed. Hard. Him? She laughed some more. But when no one joined her, she cleared her throat and said, Look, based on what Ive heard from Kyle, Bo Novikov is considered the best at what he does. And theres a level of commitment and focus that comes with being the best. I understand how that is because I was raised around the best of the best. My ten sisters and brothers and my mom are the best at what they do. So my father and I have, over the years, learned to manage them. For their own good and ours. She thought a moment and added, And societys.
And what does that entail? Ric coaxed. Managing them?
Well . . . you know. When he just stared at her, she shrugged and said, The main thing is to understand that because they are the best, their focus is incredibly myopic and that nothing you or I or anyone else says will change that. So instead of trying to change them, you work within the confines of that myopic vision. And while youre helping them, youre also protecting them from outside distractions that will just set them off and make your life hell for several hours to several days. I guess Im saying that managing the best is really just a way to protect myself. Once you understand the man or the woman, the rest is really easy.
And you understand Bo Novikov?
Yes, she said confidently. Actually, hes super easy because he just lays it out there. One of my brothers doesnt let you know anythings wrong until he starts setting fires. When one of my sisters gets upset, her hair starts to fall out. So in order to prevent my brother from going to prison or my sister sobbing hysterically every time she showers, I have to guess when theyre upset. Mr. Novikov is like a breath of fresh air. All that snarling and growling, it makes him incredibly easy to read. She glanced around the room. Anything else?
Actually, yes, Cella said, briefly glancing at Ric. Are you really busy right now?
Just waiting for my interview.
Great. Then can you do me a huge favor?
Sure.
We need to delay your interview anyway.
Clearly disappointed but trying to hide it, Toni said, Thats fine. What do you need?
One of our players has to get on a flight in the next couple of hours. Hes sometimes easily distracted, so would you mind escorting him? Just make sure he gets on the plane. Hes got everything he needs. His tickets, his luggage. Just needs to get on the plane to Alaska. Hes going to a hockey camp for shifter pups and cubs and hes one of the guest trainers for the next week. You wouldnt mind, would you?
Ric and Cella looked at each other and Ric asked Toni, Why?
Well, Im relatively certain if he doesnt get in some form of workout, hes going to be impossible to deal with. He reminds me of Dennis. Hes my five-year-old brother, she told the others. He has OCD, too, and if he doesnt get a certain amount of time paintinghes a painterhe gets completely unruly. You wouldnt think a five-year-old could do that much damage . . . but he can. And hes barely fifty pounds. Bo is way bigger, so I readjusted the amount of damage based on the size of the man and guessed it would be substantially worse. I figured you wouldnt want that.
No, no, Ric clarified. We wouldnt. But my question is why did you feel the need to help him?
Oh. Toni thought on that a moment. Well . . . he looked like he needed help, and I was just sitting there. She suddenly sighed. And to be quite honest, I really didnt want to have to testify against him if he murdered that bobcat.
Floyd, Ric and Cella said at the same time. Floyd wasnt bad as a receptionist, but the man continued to piss off the persnickety Novikov. Then again, so did Ricand the universe. Only Novikovs fiance, Blayne, managed to avoid Novikovs wrath, mostly . . . as long as she was on time.
It just seemed easier to help the man since you guys are clearly busy and I knew once he was done with . . . Floyd? They nodded. Yes, Floyd. I knew hed come looking for you, and I didnt want to see you without most of your skin, Ric. We do consider you family, after all.
Thank you.
Look, Im sorry if I stepped on any toes here. Im just used to dealing with people like him, and it was nothing for me to help out. I was just sitting there.
Cella swung her legs off the desk. He didnt make you nervous?
Bo? No. Not at all. She smiled. Hes very funny.
Do you mean weird funny? Ric asked. Like odd and off-putting?
No, Ric. I mean funny. As in humorous.
Hes humorous?
Treating him like a true cousin, Toni rolled her eyes and said, Ill let you get back to work.
Wait, Cella pushed. So you didnt find Bo Novikovhard to work with?
Toni laughed. Hard. Him? She laughed some more. But when no one joined her, she cleared her throat and said, Look, based on what Ive heard from Kyle, Bo Novikov is considered the best at what he does. And theres a level of commitment and focus that comes with being the best. I understand how that is because I was raised around the best of the best. My ten sisters and brothers and my mom are the best at what they do. So my father and I have, over the years, learned to manage them. For their own good and ours. She thought a moment and added, And societys.
And what does that entail? Ric coaxed. Managing them?
Well . . . you know. When he just stared at her, she shrugged and said, The main thing is to understand that because they are the best, their focus is incredibly myopic and that nothing you or I or anyone else says will change that. So instead of trying to change them, you work within the confines of that myopic vision. And while youre helping them, youre also protecting them from outside distractions that will just set them off and make your life hell for several hours to several days. I guess Im saying that managing the best is really just a way to protect myself. Once you understand the man or the woman, the rest is really easy.
And you understand Bo Novikov?
Yes, she said confidently. Actually, hes super easy because he just lays it out there. One of my brothers doesnt let you know anythings wrong until he starts setting fires. When one of my sisters gets upset, her hair starts to fall out. So in order to prevent my brother from going to prison or my sister sobbing hysterically every time she showers, I have to guess when theyre upset. Mr. Novikov is like a breath of fresh air. All that snarling and growling, it makes him incredibly easy to read. She glanced around the room. Anything else?
Actually, yes, Cella said, briefly glancing at Ric. Are you really busy right now?
Just waiting for my interview.
Great. Then can you do me a huge favor?
Sure.
We need to delay your interview anyway.
Clearly disappointed but trying to hide it, Toni said, Thats fine. What do you need?
One of our players has to get on a flight in the next couple of hours. Hes sometimes easily distracted, so would you mind escorting him? Just make sure he gets on the plane. Hes got everything he needs. His tickets, his luggage. Just needs to get on the plane to Alaska. Hes going to a hockey camp for shifter pups and cubs and hes one of the guest trainers for the next week. You wouldnt mind, would you?
