Page 20 of Puck Me Secretly

Good thing Mom had two walk-in closets bursting at the seams with designer threads. And lucky for me, we were the same size. I was partial to jeans and t-shirts, but my mom had impeccable taste in clothes.

Mom gave me a worried look.

I responded with a tight smile. “Mind if I go shopping in your closet?”

Dadand I sat in the back of the car. Our driver inched the car through the early morning Vancouver traffic. Dad talked on his phone and I stared out of the window. Only 365 more days of this. I could do it. This was payment for my four years in New York. I would be a good employee for the duration of the year, but the moment I finished this internship, I would break out of this cage and be free.

I glanced down at the black, fitted dress I had borrowed. It had capped-sleeves, a round neckline and came to a stop above my knee. Black and white splashed Louboutin spike heels, a slim platinum watch and big diamond stud earrings finished my look. I had pinned my hair to the nape of my neck and my make-up was subtle. I was dressed like a well-heeled businesswoman.

The car pulled up in front of the Aurora Stadium. The huge hockey arena was as familiar as our family home. I had grown up in this stadium. Mom used to brag that before the age of five, I had attended over 200 hockey games. When I was a baby, they had set a crib up in our deluxe family viewing box, because she never wanted to miss a game and she never wanted to miss my bedtime. I grew up in the world of hockey and I knew it like the back of my hand. But that didn’t mean I wanted to live and die here. I wanted to explore the world and what it offered me, and it frustrated me that my future was pre-ordained.

Dad was the owner and GM of the Vancouver Wolves NHL hockey team. He also owned the stadium and even named it after me. Aurora was my legal name, but only granny called me Aurora. Dad dabbled in other business ventures, but this team, this franchise, was his baby.

We got out of the car and I worked to keep up with Dad’s longstrides in my tight skirt. The second we got out of the car, he dumped information on me. Player stats. Contracts. Negotiations. This shit bored me stiff, but I forced myself to listen and take note.

I had made a promise to him. I would make him proud this year. But in a year, I would walk away with a clear conscience. I would give this job my all and then no one could accuse me of not trying. But damn, it would beone long year.

We walked through the stadium concord and up to the corporate offices.

“I have a surprise for you.” Dad held the door open for me.

Uh oh. “What kind of surprise?”

We walked past a series of desks and offices towards his office. His office had a window view of the world outside and a full glass view of the rink below. He paused at the office next to his and ushered me in. This office faced down onto the stadium. Someone had furnished the office with a gorgeous oak desk, matching bookshelves, a leather couch, and the matching chairs.

I peered at him in question. “Whose office is this?”

“Yours,” he grandly gestured with his arm.

Oh shit. Stepping into a position I was under-qualified for, was blatant nepotism. Taking the second-best office in the house would increase the size of the target on my back.

“I don’t deserve this office,” I protested. “I haven’t earned it.”

“You were born into this position. You don’t have to earn anything.”

My father watched my reaction, and I realized that this was my surprise. He thought this would make me happy. I took a deep breath and realized that I could do this job one of two ways. Fight him every step of the way and we’d both be miserable, or I could work with him and make this year a great father-daughter year.

I choose the latter. “I love it, dad. This is amazing.”

His smile was huge. “I’ve been waiting for this daysince you were born.”

No pressure. I swallowed. “Well, I hope to make you proud this year.”

He winked. “I know you will.”

CHAPTER 7

I hit the ground running.I spent the morning reviewing player contracts, that were so dull, they made my eyes glaze over. Then I watched a meeting between my dad and an agent. The agent was trying to negotiate on behalf of his player. My father bulldozed over him and the agent left with his tail between his legs.

My father’s admin, Julie, brought me a salad for lunch, which I ate at my desk while reading more contracts.

Mid-afternoon, my dad showed up at the doorway.

“Come on, grab your coat,” he instructed. “First practice for the pre-season is starting.”

I got up from behind my desk and hurried after him. Julie dropped a pile of files in my arms as I walked by her desk.

“Today, we’ll discuss each player, their weaknesses and strengths. Your main goal for the first three months is to understand each player’s ability on the ice, so we can further enhance our recruiting and negotiating tactics.”

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