The Off Season

“You’re out of the PR office for ten seconds and you’re causing problems,” echoed from a voice coming for the other end of the hall.

“James, I see you’ve met Katherine,” that voice belonged to one Mr. Ray Shero.

“Oh shit,” were the only words that Katherine could form in her head. “Mr. Shero, so glad to see you again….I, I need to apologize for the state I’m in,” as she stood there with coffee still dripping from her shirt.

“No need Katherine, I think someone should be apologizing to you.”

All eyes turned to the long and lanky frame of James Neal, who stood there dumbfounded at the fact that someone thought that he did something wrong.

“Well, she came out of the hallway without even looking,” smirked James. “I didn’t even see her until she hit me.”

Now, Katherine was pissed. “I hit you?” “No I think it was the other way around since I’m the one wearing coffee all down the front of me.”

James didn’t quite know what to say. He had already spent three-quarters of his morning being the PR office’s whipping boy and now he ruffled the feathers of Ray Shero’s newest acquisition.

James ran his hand through his hair and with what he knew to be his best boyish grin, looked at Katherine and smiled. “I’d be glad to pay to have that cleaned.”

“Not necessary Mr. Neal,” Katherine returned James’ boyish grin with a womanly scowl. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have a meeting with Mr. Shero.” Katherine blotted her shirt with a paper towel that Colleen brought to her, turned on her heels and allowed Ray to lead them to his office.

James watched as Katherine and Ray made their way down the hall and he couldn’t help but wonder who she was, if she was always that pissed off and if her panties actually matched her bra.


During her meeting with Ray Shero, the only thing that Katherine could focus on was the word, “Asshole”. James Neal, what an asshole. What an asshole move. Who does that asshole think he is? “Oh my God, I’m interviewing for the job of a lifetime and all I can think about is killing James Neal,” she thought to herself.

Despite the fact that she couldn’t shake the after effects of her run-in with James Neal, the interview went very well. Well enough to leave Ray Shero’s office with an unsigned employment contract and the promise to him that she would consider his offer and return with an answer within the next 24 hours.

With a celebratory bounce in her step, Katherine made her way across the street from the headquarters of the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Marriott where she was staying. A mid-afternoon cocktail in the hotel’s bar was just what Katherine needed, of course only after she changed out of her coffee stained clothes. Looking down at her shirt, that word, asshole, popped into her head again. Nope, not going let it happen, she thought. Not going to let it happen! Katherine made her way across the hotel’s lobby and before she could reach the elevators, she heard someone calling her name.

“Ms. Donnell, Ms. Donnell!” A hotel employee was saying in a whisper-shout. “Ms. Donnell, this is for you.”

The man handed Katherine an envelope with the hotel’s logo and her name written on it. Katherine stared at the envelope and thanked the man. Remembering the last time she received an envelope at a hotel; she tore into the letter while boarding the elevator. Katherine pressed the button for the 10th floor and as the doors closed, she lifted a piece of paper out of the envelope. To her surprise there were only three words written on the paper; Drinks. 4:00 pm. Steelhead.

Notes