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.

still on for

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

I’ll just

text bubbles appear.

didn’t you…

the keyboard in an attempt

on my way.

the elevator. Only,

“Hold—“

he calls. And the doors

my head, before darting down the emergency staircase.

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

I huff. “Step

entrance. I hand over the fare and ran towards the entrance. I knew Aria would wait for me near the planters before the

fail, there she was. An amused look was spread across her face,

“I had a lot going on at work,”

to hear another word about work,” she groans. “I want to whisk my problems away by watching hot men beat each other

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

go in together.

pencil skirt and cream colored blouse. Everyone wore their

we were practically on the ice at

these tickets, Ari?”

a deadpan

Don’t

The national anthem was played. The opposing teams starting lineup was announced.

music began to play and the announcer called everyone

and gentlemen,” he says. “Here are your

tuned out most of it. I was never much into sports, but I was here because

that pierced the quiet of

captain— Timothy

think this place could get any louder than it already was. They were all chanting his name. Every

at Aria again. She was screaming and pounding on the glass like a maniac as he appeared on the ice. His proud smile was prominent on his face as he glided around the rink, lifting his stick in the air.

Oh, no.

had grown even hotter since the last time I had seen him. I wasn’t sure if it was the hint of stubble or the look of

good,” Aria asked, nudging me.

“Yes. I’m fine,”

and Aria looked like she was having

the other hand, felt completely

that I completely missed the incoming swarm of bodies approaching the glass.

him, Hayes! Fight him!”

brawl that broke out right in front of me. Twelve fully

no… he was

were blown and refs intervened, ripping the

time before slowly backing away. He was about to turn around,

me doesn’t mean he’ll recognize me

on. It seemed like he picked up his game after that fight. He ended up scoring three goals for the Thunderbolts, ending the game with a score of three to

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

to go to the

grinned.

I

with a sigh. Now to navigate this maze of an arena. The signage was so