Page 280 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“Are you upset with the leaked photos?”

“How would you feel if you were living your life, following your career path in hopes of making your hometown proud, and you woke up to multiple photos of you in situations where you were sharing private moments with another, whether that be friends or family, and it’s all over the internet?” I counter. “You’re being mocked. Bullied. Insulted. Your privacy has been violated because of all those moments you were in properties that forbid such actions from occurring, yet someone took it upon themselves to stalk your whereabouts and take explicit photos to use against you. Would you be happy about it? Excited for the world to see you in the limelight with no context. How would you feel having your voice taken from you? That’s exactly what it’s like.

“It doesn’t matter if I sit here and tell you my emotions or explain what each scenario in those photos was. They’ll still be one stranger, someone across this vast world of eight billion people, who will see those photos for the first time and criticize us for them. Especially countries that already mock Canadians. The intentions of these photos being leaked were meant for destruction. Obviously, that’s why they were released on semifinal night, most likely before the game, to either distract us or eliminate us from moving forward.”

They nod in understanding with my answer, and I take a sip of the bottled water on my right.

“Does it upset me? Yes. Did it frustrate Owens, Harvey, and Augustus? Yes. Did it infuriate Nurse Johnson? Most definitely. However, we have nothing to hide. Did we want to be able to come out publicly of our own accord that we’re in a poly relationship? Yes. That right was stolen from us by someone who thought we didn’t deserve that chance. Therefore, there will be consequences, and we will not hesitate to sue this individual if criminal repercussions aren’t taken into consideration.”

The firmness in my voice proves I’m not joking. It’ll also warn anyone else who’s thinking of pulling this stunt again.

“What will happen now?”

“And what is your relationship with Jayce Winchester? Last we’ve heard, he’s out on bail until a trial date is assigned.”

“After talking with the chief and the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s been agreed that our final game will commence. However, instead of it happening in six weeks, it will happen in six months before the end of the season. It will allow us to still have a shot at the Stanley Cup, and if our comrade heals earlier and we’re up for it, we can return to the ice early,” I reveal, and it ignites a bit of applause. “As for the Strattonville Vipers’ future, we have decided to leave that up to Strattonville itself.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s become clear that Strattonville is still having difficulty accepting the LGBT community or the idea of gay and poly relationships. Aside from my relationship with my best friends, there are other players who are in strong relationships with the same sex or multiple partners. They don’t need to feel pressured or forced to come out and reveal this to the public because it makes the town feel ‘better or worse’ about the transition happening around the world. We can’t stay in our ancient ways forever.

“If we don’t flow with the times, we all know what happens. We get left behind,” I emphasize. “The Strattonville Vipers’ success and performance in various areas has brought a lot of positive traffic to this little town. That traffic includes real estate investments, as well as businesses that want to support the locals and continue to see us thrive as a whole. However, if the team decides to leave, what do you think will happen to such investments?”

“Are you threatening to disband the Strattonville Vipers, Captain O’Riley?”

“I wouldn’t say threaten,” I admit with a grin that proves I’m not afraid of any of them or the way they want to pain me in this particular scenario. “We’re standing up for our happiness and well-being in this town. When you get forced to deal with constant death threats, bullying, intentionally set fires, and now blackmail in the form of sharing private intellectual property with the world, it’s only a matter of time before you begin to question if a place is right for you. As they say, if something is not working, change it. If an environment isn’t serving you, go somewhere where it will.

“I won’t deny the immense support that has been given to us during our rise to fame, but if our relationship status as players is going to be used against our team in a negative way, I don’t see a reason for us to commit to Strattonville Vipers any longer.”

A few people gasp, and the shutter of cameras go off left and right, but I remain where I stand on this topic, with my face showing my seriousness revolving around the matter.

“We have over fifty offers from around the world who will accept every member of the Strattonville Vipers,” I announce, which silences the room rather quickly. “We have a magnitude of proposals and endorsements. We have filled voicemail inboxes with brand endorsements. We even have a CEO from Dubai who wishes to create a new team and invited us to join it with probably the biggest initial pay contract I’ve ever seen in hockey history. This invitation is extended to our coaches, team nurses, doctor, equipment manager, and social media content team.

“So, we’re not forced to remain here if this town can no longer support us because of romantic relations that are outside of hockey. We can go elsewhere that doesn’t mix our private lives with our careers. Go where we’re given the privacy of any individual doing what they love while supporting our passion for hockey. It’s up to the CEO to let me know what the town wants, but I’m giving you all a very public heads-up that we are not bound to remain here, and we will take our assets and the various streams of businesses and income with us if we need to depart. That, in turn, may cast a negative limelight on Strattonville, but that is up to you guys to decide.”

I pause to take a deep breath and let it out.

“As for the Winchesters, particularly Jayce Winchester and his father, we have no relationship with either of them. We cut ties with them completely, and whatever occurs from here onward is none of our concern. If the justice system doesn’t want to acknowledge the proof given to them and circulating around the world that makes Strattonville look homophobic and encourages violence, so be it. That will simply contribute to the final decision of whether we remain to represent our hometown or move forward.”

“When will we hear about the end result?”

“When the CEO is willing to publicly speak about it.”

“I’d gladly confront the verdict now if you’d like.”

Discussions break out as the CEO, with two guards in black, walks into the room, leaving many gasping as shutters go off wildly.

I can’t help but smile as I rise from my seat and bow my head in greeting to the CEO, who I realize is accompanied by Mr. Suzami, Mr. Mowaki, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. Hamilton. They stand further back on the stage while the CEO greets me and takes my seated place.

“Good day, Strattonville. My name is Cynthia Rose Sinclair, CEO of Strattonville Stadium and the top financial support for the creation of the Hockey Initiation Project, formally known as H.I.P. I know this is the first time I’ve made an official public appearance, but the matter being addressed outside these walls has reached a level that is rather incomprehensible, and I decided to take it upon myself to address it here and now while we have you all here.”

The silence encourages a smile on those red lips.

“Certainly, the biggest elephant in the room is that I’m a woman. Surprise. I’m aware many assume David Champion is either the CEO or high in the management team because he does a marvelous job running the place without me being around. I want to break those myths about me being a male. I’m indeed a woman, married to my partner, Amelia Jonas.”

Oh?

I actually didn’t know any of that, which has me staring in shock like the rest of the interviewers, who are flabbergasted.

---