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 tonight, right?

even have time to change. The game starts at seven and I’m too far out from the arena to add another

Totally. I’ll just meet

text bubbles appear.

forgot, didn’t you…

the keyboard in an attempt to defend

on

into my purse and scramble to the elevator. Only, the doors were already shutting. And Jasper was the only one inside.

“Hold—“

Evie,” he calls. And the doors

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

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

I huff. “Step on

hand over the fare and ran towards the entrance. I

spread across her face, and her arms folded casually. “Didn’t forget,

a lot going on at

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

it. The laughter just starts bubbling out of me. “Well,

in

skirt and cream colored blouse. Everyone wore their Thunderbolt

mean we were practically on the ice at that point.

much were these tickets,

a deadpan look. “You don’t wanna

Don’t tell me.”

before the start of the game. The national anthem

began to play and the

and gentlemen,” he says. “Here are your

as names were called. I tuned out most of it. I was never much into sports, but I

that pierced the

captain— Timothy Hayes!”

place could get any louder than it already was. They were all chanting his

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

Oh, no.

last time I 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

I’m fine,” I

the game went on and Aria looked like she was

on the other hand,

swarm of bodies approaching the glass. The moment there was impact, I screamed, throwing my arms over

Hayes! Fight

watching the brawl that broke out right in front of me. Twelve fully grown men were pressed against

no no… he was right there!

held my breath hoping he wouldn’t recognize me. Whistles were blown and refs intervened, ripping the

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

saw me doesn’t

He ended up scoring three goals for the Thunderbolts, ending the game with a

mean, there’s nothing more dramatic than

swallowed. “Hey, I have to go to the bathroom really quick. I’ll meet you

thing,” she grinned. “Go, Bolts!”

Bolts,” I laughed

an arena. The signage was so