A few minutes after training finished and Alex finally allowed himself to breathe, Isabella appeared at the door to his office. She did not knock. Instead, she opened it gently, pushing her head through the narrow gap like someone who knew exactly how far she could push the line. Her tablet was hugged to her chest, clutched with both hands like a shield.
"Press conference," she said quietly, her voice calm but pointed.
Alex, still holding the mug of coffee he had been nursing since early morning, glanced up at her with a tired look. The mug was mostly empty by now, its contents lukewarm and bitter. Still, it gave him something to hold. Something to delay.
"Already?" he asked.
Isabella nodded. "You are late."
That was all it took. Alex sat upright in his chair like a student caught napping in class. Well, he was currently holding a cup of coffee because he didn't want to fall asleep.