Page 61 of Offside

I sit down and straighten my shoulders, using every bit of height and stature I can muster to make my appearance bigger than it is. Both Tarjinder’s and my height pale in comparison to Nate’s imposingly tall frame.

“I watched the sports news this morning.” I let that sink in and wait for Nate to put the pieces together.

His jaw tics. “So? Don’t we all?”

I lean forward and place my forearms on the desk, clasping my hands together. Mostly to keep them from shaking.

“Somehow there were details about Stolley and Keeney and plans for the team,” I say, pinning him with a stare, “that no one else should have been privy to. Discussions we’ve only had privately. You and me.” I gesture between us with my index finger.

Nate bristles and squirms in his chair, looking a little less composed now under my scrutiny. “It’s all conjecture. You know those journalists; they make shit up for ratings.”

“You were quoted, Nate. As in, the source.” I use air quotes, shaking my head in disappointment.

“That’s bullshit, Karis. You know it.”

I push back in my chair and stand. I want to have the height advantage as I proceed with the final blow.

“Nate, I’m letting you go, effective immediately.”

With a loud roar, Nate stands, leans forward and slams a fist on my desk.

“You can’t fucking do this, you bitch! I’m under contract through the end of this season.”

I flinch at the term and violent outburst and take a step back. My gaze flicks to Tarjinder, who stands and moves to the side of my desk in a protective reminder to Nate not to do anything stupid.

“Nate,” he says in a calm voice. “You’ve been in this league long enough to know these contracts are terminable by either party at any time for any reason. You will be paid out under the remaining terms of the agreement, assuming you…”

“Fucking bullshit! If your uncle wasn’t a goddamn vegetable right now, this wouldn’t be happening,” Nate fumes, pointing an accusatory finger at me, his expression dark and menacing. “You have no idea what you’re doing. You’re just a fucking little rich girl playing grownup with your uncle’s team. You’re a laughingstock of everyone in the NHL. You’ll never play with the big boys.”

In the past, I would’ve cowered at his vitriol and hurtful words. I would have burst into tears at hearing no one liked me and that I wasn’t good enough to be here.

Despite the severe sting his remarks cause and the trembling of my knees, I manage to keep my tone composed and my response professional. I will not get into it with this man I’ve barely tolerated the last six months. Good riddance.

“I understand you’re upset, Nate. You have a right to feel the way you do. But you don’t have the right to hurl insults or use derogatory language about me or Marvin.” I turn to pick up the form Tarjinder printed out earlier and hand it to Nate. He glares down at my hand as if he wants to slap it away, glowering, before snapping the paper from my fingers. “Here is your contract release. HR is waiting down in your office and will escort you out. We will have all your things packed up and sent to you at your address on file. I wish you well and thank you for your time with the Vikings.”

With a snarl and a murderous glare, Nate spins around and stomps toward the door, swinging it open with such force it bangs against the wall.

“You have no idea what you’re doing to this team, Karis,” he says over his shoulder. “You just fucked yourself and the team in the ass with this decision. You’ll be hearing from my attorney soon.”

When he’s cleared the hallway of my office, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding in. Tar pats the hand I had in a white-knuckled grip on the edge of my desk.

“It went as good as can be expected. You did wonderfully, Karis.”

I wring my hands together nervously, replaying everything that was said and the horrible comments Nate made. “Thank you, Tar. I just hope I made the right decision.”

Gathering up his things, he smiles at me. “In all honesty, it probably should have been done long before this. I think Marvin was just an optimist and held out hope Nate would come around to the organization’s values.”

Tar’s comments mean more to me than anything ever could.

Sometimes we hang on to things far longer than we should.

A valuable lesson to learn in both business and in life.

28

Ballas

It feels good to be back in the training room, even though I’m only doing a light workout to warm up and keep my body agile.

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