Chapter 64

Chapter 64
# CHAPTER 4: AGGRESSIVE FORECHECKING

Emma threw up twice before noon, which didn't bode well for her plan to handle both meetings. She sat in the Netflix offices, trying to look professional while fighting waves of nausea.

"Mrs. Mitchell-Volkov?" A young assistant appeared. "They're ready for you in Conference Room A."

Emma checked her phone. 1:45 PM. Perfect timing to dial into Alek's board call first.

But when she connected to the NHL conference line, the conversation was already heated.

"Commissioner Volkov," a gruff voice was saying, "your personal situation is becoming a distraction from league business."

Emma's stomach clenched, and not from morning sickness.

"With respect," Alek's voice was tight, "my family situation hasn't affected my performance—"

"Hasn't it?" another voice interrupted. "The Toronto relocation was supposed to be finalized weeks ago. Instead, we're dealing with media speculation and sponsor concerns."

Emma pressed the phone closer to her ear, trying to follow the conversation while Netflix executives waited in the next room.

"Mrs. Mitchell-Volkov?" The assistant peeked in again. "We really need to start."

Emma held up one finger, mouthing "one minute."

On the phone, the NHL board was getting more aggressive.

"Commissioner, we need to know right now. Are you relocating to Toronto by month's end, or do we need to discuss other arrangements?"

Emma's heart raced. This was worse than Alek had indicated. They weren't just pushing for Toronto—they were threatening his job.

"I've explained that my wife's pregnancy—" Alek began.

"Your wife's pregnancy is not the league's concern," came the cold response. "Your contract obligations are."

Emma felt anger surge through her. How dare they dismiss her pregnancy like it was irrelevant?

"Actually," she found herself saying into the phone, "I'm here."

The conference line went quiet.

"This is Emma Mitchell-Volkov," she continued, her voice steadier than she felt. "And I'd like to address your concerns about my husband's contract."

"Mrs. Mitchell-Volkov." The board chairman's voice was carefully neutral. "We weren't expecting you to join us."

"Clearly." Emma stood up, pacing the small office. "I understand you're pressuring my husband to relocate immediately, despite our family circumstances."

"We're discussing standard contract requirements—"

"No, you're bullying him because you think his family obligations make him weak." Emma's temper was fully unleashed now. "Well, let me be clear about something. Aleksander Volkov is the best Commissioner this league has ever had. And if you can't recognize that talent because you're threatened by a man who puts his family first, then maybe you don't deserve him."

The silence on the line was deafening.

"Mrs. Mitchell-Volkov—" someone began.

"I'm not finished." Emma's voice carried the authority she'd inherited from Franklin. "My husband has revolutionized this league in eighteen months. Revenues are up thirty percent. Fan engagement is at an all-time high. Television ratings have doubled. But you're willing to throw all of that away because he won't abandon his pregnant wife and two toddlers to suit your arbitrary timeline?"

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"Here's what's going to happen. We will relocate to Toronto, because my husband honors his commitments. But it will happen on a reasonable timeline that considers our family's needs. If that's not acceptable to you, then you'll be losing the best thing that ever happened to this league."

Emma hung up before anyone could respond.

Her hands were shaking. Had she just saved Alek's career or destroyed it?

"Mrs. Mitchell-Volkov?" The Netflix assistant was back, looking nervous. "We really do need to start now."

Emma took a deep breath, trying to shift gears completely. "Of course. Let's go."

The Netflix meeting was a blur. Emma tried to focus on the executives' questions about women's hockey, but her mind kept replaying the board call. Had she overstepped? Would they take out their anger on Alek?

"The authenticity angle is crucial," one executive was saying. "We want to show the real struggles and triumphs of building something from nothing."

Emma nodded, though she wasn't entirely sure what she was agreeing to.

"And the family component," another added. "Our research shows audiences love stories about balancing career and motherhood. Your story is perfect for that."

Perfect. If only they knew how imperfect everything felt right now.

"We'd want to document the next year," the lead executive explained. "The challenges of expansion, the personal sacrifices, the victories and defeats. Full access."

"Full access?" Emma repeated.

"Camera crews at games, in your home, following your daily life. The more real it is, the more compelling it becomes."

Emma's mind immediately went to Alek's career crisis, her pregnancy struggles, their marriage tensions. Did she really want cameras documenting all of that?

"I'll need to discuss it with my husband," she said carefully.

"Of course. But we need an answer by Friday. This opportunity won't wait."

Emma left the Netflix offices feeling overwhelmed. Two major decisions, both with impossible timelines.

Her phone buzzed constantly during the cab ride home. Missed calls from Alek, from Lisa, from numbers she didn't recognize.

Finally, she answered when Alek called for the fifth time.

"Emma." His voice was tight. "Where are you?"

"On my way home. How did the rest of the board call go?"

"We need to talk. In person."

That didn't sound good.

Emma found Alek in his office, laptop closed, staring out the window. Katie was in the living room with the children, but Emma could hear the tension in her friend's voice as she tried to keep Charlotte and Frankie entertained.

"The board call," Emma began.

"Was a disaster." Alek turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Thanks to you."

Emma's heart sank. "I was trying to help—"

"By attacking the people who control my career?"

"They were being unreasonable—"

"They were doing their jobs!" Alek's voice rose, then he caught himself and lowered it. "Emma, you basically called them incompetent and threatened to quit on my behalf."

"I was defending you!"

"I didn't ask you to defend me. I asked you to explain our family situation, not declare war on the board."

Emma stared at him, hurt and confused. "So what happened after I hung up?"

Alek ran his hands through his hair. "They gave me an ultimatum. Toronto in two weeks, or they'll invoke the behavior clause in my contract."

"Behavior clause?"

"Conduct detrimental to the league. Apparently, having a wife who insults board members counts."

Emma felt like she'd been slapped. "They can't do that."

"They can and they will. Unless..." Alek's voice trailed off.

"Unless what?"

"Unless you apologize. Publicly. And I relocate to Toronto immediately."

Emma sat down heavily. "So this is my fault."

"Emma—"

"No, you're right. I tried to help and made everything worse." She looked up at him. "What do you want me to do?"

Alek's expression softened slightly. "I don't know. Part of me is furious that you spoke without thinking. But part of me is grateful that someone finally called them out on their bullying."

"But mostly furious?"

"Mostly scared." Alek sat across from her. "Emma, I could lose everything. And with another baby coming..."

Emma felt tears threatening. "I'm sorry. I really was trying to help."

"I know." Alek reached for her hands. "But your way of helping might have cost me my job."

They sat in silence for a moment, both processing the magnitude of the situation.

"What about Netflix?" Alek asked finally.

Emma had almost forgotten. "They want to document our lives for a year. Full access."

"And?"

"I told them I'd discuss it with you."

Alek laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Perfect timing. They can document my career imploding in real time."

"Alek—"

"Actually, you know what? Maybe you should do it. At least one of us should have a career left after this."

The bitterness in his voice made Emma wince. "It doesn't have to be like this."

"Doesn't it? Because it feels like every time I need your support, you find a way to make things about your career instead."

"That's not fair."

"Fair?" Alek stood up, pacing again. "What's fair about any of this? I'm about to lose my dream job because my wife can't control her temper."

Emma felt something snap inside her. "Don't you dare blame me for their sexist attitudes."

"I'm not blaming you for their attitudes. I'm blaming you for making them worse!"

"So I should have just sat there while they disrespected you?"

"Yes! Because now instead of just questioning my commitment, they're questioning my judgment!"

Emma stared at him, realizing how deep the divide between them had become. "So what happens now?"

Alek stopped pacing. "Now I figure out how to save my career while you figure out whether you want to be married to someone whose dreams you just destroyed."

The words hung in the air like a challenge.

Emma stood up slowly. "Is that what you think? That I destroyed your dreams?"

"I think you acted without considering the consequences. And now we both have to live with them."

Emma nodded, feeling numb. "I see."

She turned toward the door, but Alek's voice stopped her.

"Emma, wait."

She looked back at him, hope flickering.

"The Netflix thing," he said quietly. "You should probably do it. Since you're so good at making decisions for both of us."

The hope died completely.

Emma left the office without another word, her marriage feeling as fragile as everything else in her suddenly complicated life.