Page 3 of Skating the Blue Line
Every single person dressed to the absolutely nines.
A few individuals come up to me and shake my hand, telling me that they hope this is the season that the Dark Knights make it to the playoffs.
Me and them both.
The Dark Knights haven’t made it to the playoff in six years. Our team is good, and I’m not just saying that because I’m its captain. We have the grit and strength to make it to the top, but for some reason when we come close, we always tend to dwindle. Both on and off the ice.
There are rumors flying around that the team is getting a new owner soon. Hopefully if the rumors are true, it would be for the better of the team and not for the worst. Especially since the season officially starts in a few weeks. We need all the help that we can get to get our hands on the cup.
New team owner or not, though, I’m going to make it my mission to get my team to the very top. I’m promising myself that today.
After some small talk with a few more sports fans, I head to the bar and grab a drink. No way am I going to be sitting through three hours completely sober.
“Whiskey neat, please.” I say to the bartender before he nods and goes to pour my drink.
“Damn. Whiskey? And here I thought Liam Crawford was a vodka man.”
I turn toward the voice and find Elliot Lane standing a few feet away, dressed exactly as I am in a penguin suit.
Elliot Lane is a member of the richest family the city has to offer. The same family that would garner the amount of press that’s outside.
Having a professional athlete and company CEOs attend your event is a good source of media coverage. But having a Lane family member here? Media coverage goes from being good to being fucking fantastic.
The family is known for their tech, their money, their good looks, newsworthy charity work and of course the bachelor status of the two oldest nephews.
Elliot Lane is Chicago royalty, its prince and heir to the family throne. Having him at your event is a sure-fire way of making big money.
I met the guy a few years ago, during my rookie year. He’s a cool guy, and from interacting with him, I know he hates these types of things just as much as I do.
Where I do it for my contract obligations, he does it for familial obligations.
“And I thought that Elliot Lane would be too big of a name for this type of thing.” I throw a smirk in his direction.
“Yeah well, everyone needs a good suit, right?” He says right before taking a sip from a drink that looks like mine.
The way he says the words it’s as if he doesn’t want to be here anymore than I do.
“True, but I’m sure you can snap your fingers and the new line will appear in your closet without the need to come here.”
My comment earns me a shrug. “Sometimes it pays to show your face. Especially when it comes to a business deal.”
Interesting. Knowing who his family is and what they do, he’s no doubt here to see if he can get in someone’s line of sight. Or possibly buy a company or two.
“I hear the Knights might be getting new owners soon.” Elliot changes the subject quickly, not giving me a chance to respond to his comment.
The rumors of the Knights being sold isn’t just a rumor going around in the locker room or the teams group chat thread. The whole hockey world is talking about it.
It’s no surprise that Elliot knows about it either, since at one point in time, his family owned the team before they sold it off to someone with better qualifications.
I give him a nod. “That’s what’s being said. You have any idea who it might be?”
“I’ve heard a few names but nothing concrete. Though, you would know better than I would.” He gives me a shrug.
Doubt that but I don’t push it.
I’m about to change the subject again when it’s announced that the audience should start taking their seats.
The show is about to start.
