The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Evie

Jasper is being Jasper again. He’s going around the office swearing up and down how he bagged the biggest client for the firm. The worst part is how people are eating up his antics. I, for one, am not finding his little parade cute.

He finally made his rounds, stopping at my desk. He leans against it casually. Victory is plastered on his face.

He sighs lazily. “How does it feel to be two days away from losing your job, Evie?”

“Bite me,” I mutter, typing away at my computer.

“Oh, come on,” he whines teasingly. “Don’t be like that. It’s a dog eat dog world here. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

“Oh, I don’t hate you Jasper,” I say sweetly, turning in my chair to smile. “I just think that nepotism is cheating. I mean come on. Really? Who is it this time? Daddy? Or was it your Uncle.”

Jasper looks over at my computer screen, sucking in a sharp breath. “Your email looks dryer than the Sahara. You better get on that, Eve.”

He pushes off my cubicle, swaggering down the row to his own office space. With his back turned to me, I gather the courage to flip him the bird beneath anyone’s line of sight.

A cough came from behind me. I froze.

“Evie,” the gruff voice of my boss spoke grimly.

“Mr. Erickson,” I squeaked. “I’m so sorry—“

“A word in my office please,” he said, striding off into that large perfect corner office.

I quickly stand up and scurry behind him. Just as I pass Jasper’s office, he gave an amused smirk and waved. Waved. The bastard waved!

My finger nails bite into my palms as I find my place before his desk.

“Shut the door,” he says grimly.

I quickly do as he asked. I turn back to him. His demeanor changed. He looked at me almost with pity.

“I know I need to find a client,” I began. “I’ve been working so hard—“

“I know,” he sighed. “It’s not easy starting from zero. And I know making those connections are hard. But I can’t keep making excuses for you, Evie.”

I nodded, my chest tightening. “Trust me. I know.”

“You have to bring me a client,” he says. “Otherwise I’ll have to let you go.”

“I’ll get you that client,” I promise. “And it’s going to be huge.”

He chuckled. “I can’t wait.”

Hours passed. Still no leads. I groaned, dropping my head to the desk tiredly. I felt the vibration of my phone against the surface. I threw my hand over, sliding my phone aggressively across the desk.

Lifting my head again, I looked at the notification.

From Aria.

on for tonight, right?

didn’t even have time to change. The game starts at seven and I’m too far out from the arena to

just

bubbles appear.

forgot, didn’t you…

fingers fly over the keyboard in an attempt to

on

elevator. Only, the doors were already shutting. And Jasper was the only

“Hold—“

calls. And the doors

think of in my head, before darting down the emergency staircase. The backs

onto the bustling sidewalk. Hailing a cab, I jump in and

I huff. “Step on

the entrance. I hand over the fare and ran towards the entrance. I knew Aria

fail, there she was. An amused look was spread across her face, and her arms folded casually. “Didn’t forget, did we?”

“I had a lot going on at work,” I

about work,” she groans. “I want to whisk my problems away by

The laughter just starts bubbling out of me. “Well, don’t let me stop you,

go in together.

her charcoal gray pencil skirt and cream colored blouse. Everyone wore their

glass seats. I mean we were practically on the ice

much were these

a deadpan look. “You don’t

“Fine. Don’t tell

game. The national anthem

go out. Loud pounding music began to play and the announcer called everyone

and gentlemen,” he says. “Here are your Thunderbolts!”

most of it. I was never much into sports, but I was here because my friend

was one name that pierced the quiet

your team captain— Timothy

was. They were all chanting his name. Every single person was losing their minds.

the glass like a maniac as he appeared on the ice.

Oh, no.

had seen him. I wasn’t sure if it was the hint of stubble or the look of him in his uniform, but it shook

good,” Aria asked, nudging me.

“Yes. I’m fine,”

the game went on and Aria looked like she was having the time of her

on the other hand, felt completely exposed.

that I completely missed the incoming swarm of bodies approaching the glass. The moment there was

Hayes! Fight

out right in front of me. Twelve fully grown men were pressed against

he was

my breath hoping he wouldn’t recognize me. Whistles were

the player one last time before slowly backing away. He was about to turn around, but he did a double

fine. Just because he saw me doesn’t mean

fight. He ended up scoring three goals for

a game,” Aria squealed. “I mean, there’s nothing more dramatic than

I swallowed. “Hey, I have to go to the bathroom really

she grinned. “Go,

Bolts,” I laughed

a sigh. Now to navigate this maze of an arena. The signage was so confusing. I ended