Page 7 of Passing the Red Line
No doubt about that. The friendly security guard has to be in his seventies. And If I had to guess, he has a long list of stories to tell that could make a night worthwhile.
“Well, maybe if I get this job, we can go to lunch together and see if that is true,” I say, throwing a wink at him.
Another hearty chuckle escapes him. “I will hold you to it. What’s your name again, darling?” Gus asks as soon as we get into the elevator.
Here I was trying to deflect, but I guess nothing gets by Gus.
“Eliana,” I tell him.
Everyone in my life calls me Ellie, after I abandoned the nickname Lia when I was eighteen. Nobody calls me by my full name, not outside of a professional setting that is. Gus says he recognizes me, and maybe he does. For all I know my dad is friends with the guy and has shown him a picture of me, but one thing for sure, my dad wouldn’t call me Eliana. He never has, unless he was angry with me.
So Gus here won’t know that name.
Which is better for me.
I don’t need this friendly security guard letting my dad know that I’m within a mile of him, even if I am prepared to see him today.
For a good twenty seconds Gus’s face goes through the whole process of trying to figure out if my name is familiar to him or not. I’m about to give myself a high five for dodging the father's bullet, but the second that the man in front of me smiles, I know I’m going to have to make a trip down to my dad’s office as soon as I’m done here.
Fucking fantastic.
“You’re coach Anderson’s daughter, aren’t you? He has a picture of you on his desk. I knew your name sounded familiar. I just couldn't pinpoint it,” Gus tells me, a belly laugh rolling through the elevator.
My dad has a picture of me on his desk? I didn’t know that.
It has to be one from when I was a kid because I can’t remember my dad taking a picture of me these last few years that would be worthy of his desk.
I guess I really am going to stop by his office after this to see for myself.
Nodding, I answer Gus’s question. “I am and here I thought nobody would know he even had a daughter.”
I thought the Knight’s captain, Liam Crawford, was the only one that knew about my father having a daughter. Mostly because me and daddy dearest had an okay relationship during Liam’s rookie year, so I was around a bit more, and throughout the years, the captain and I have become friends.
“Coach Anderson is quiet about a lot of things but on the occasion, he’ll mention his daughter and how good her photography work is.” Gus says to me, his smile growing like a proud grandpa.
Huh.
First the picture on his desk and now he talks about me? And tells people he’s proud of me? What the actual fuck?
Is that some sort of sign from the universe that I have to try and repair my relationship with my dad?
Maybe.
Am I going to listen to said signs?
Maybe.
I need to concentrate on this interview first, once that’s done then I will think about fixing my parental relationship for what feels like the hundredth time.
“Well, I’m glad my dad has told me about me,” I tell Gus, as the elevator doors slide open with a little more honesty in my words than I expected.
“If I see him, I’ll let you know that you are here,” He answers, throwing me a wave as I walk out of the steel box.
Great.
“Thanks Gus,” I say, thanking him for guiding me up to where I needed to go, no to him wanting to tell my father that I’m here.
“Of course. Have a great interview, miss Eliana.” My new friend throws a wave in my direction before the elevator doors close and he’s gone.
