Public Relations

I rolled over and looked at my alarm clock. Fifteen minutes to 5am. I groaned. I might as well get up, since I have to leave by 7am to be at my new job by 7:30am. I start my first day to day as the new Public Relations woman for the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL team. I am so excited I could barley sleep last night. I have never had an opportunity like this before in my life. I grew up in Western Canada, but moved out to Pittsburgh just a couple days ago to start my new job.
Back in Vancouver, British Colombia I was working with the Vancouver Canucks as an intern. I lived with my parents and my two siblings, an older sister and a younger brother. My sister is two years older than me, while my brother is three years younger than me. I'm happy to be out of my hometown even though I love my family. My sister and brother have always been closer to each other than they were with me. I was an outcast. Being a middle child was never easy, now it's a bit better, but when we were younger it was hell. I was much different when I was younger than I am now. I was fat. Simple as that. I was a hundred pounds heavier than I am today and I was like that throughout middle school and high school. I'm not very tall and I didn't carry the weight well at all. I was bullied throughout school. Lucky for my sister and brother they were both a perfect weight and they were both perfect looking. My older sister was tall and slender and my brother was tall and built perfectly just the right amount of muscle. They both played sports while I went nowhere near sports unless I was forced to during gym class. My siblings are still close to each other, and I'm closer with them now, but I am still happy to get away from them to try to start fresh in a new city. My family lives a couple hours outside of Vancouver, while I lived right in the city close to the rink. I didn't see them very often and now I will see them less.
I got to Consol Energy Centre with ten minutes to spare. I had already been here a couple times in the last three days to finish signing paperwork, meet some of my boss' and to get my pass to the rink. I pulled up to the gate where staff parks their cars. I flashed my pass against the machine and the bar lifted. I drove in and parked in the spot that read 'Alexandra Davis'. I shut my car off and took a deep breath. I grabbed my purse from the seat next to me and got out of my car. I straightened my pencil skirt and fixed my matching blazer. I shut the door behind me and started toward the door.
"Hey." I heard a male voice behind me. I turned to see a male jogging up to me. I recognized him right away.
"Hi." I said confidently, but on the inside I was freaking out.
"I've never seen you around here before, you must be new." The man said.
"Yes, I'm the new PR woman." I said extending my hand. "Alexandra Davis."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Sidney Crosby, but just call me Sid." The man said, not that he had to tell me who he was. I knew who he was the moment he spoke. Everyone knew him; he's the face of the NHL.
"Nice to meet you as well Sid." I said looking down at my watch. "I don't mean to be rude, but Mr. Shero is expecting me in the next 5 minutes, and I don't want to be late on my first day."
"Of course, I'll walk with you." Sidney said as we started walking toward the door. Neither of us spoke until we were inside. Once we got in the door Sidney spoke again.
“Do you know where you’re supposed to be going?” Sidney asked looking down at me.
“Uh.” I said looking around confused.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Sidney chuckled. “I’ll take you.”
“No. I’ll be fine.” I said, still looking around. I had no idea where I was and I probably wouldn’t find his office in the next two minutes, but I was determined to not tell Sidney that.
“Lets go.” He said taking my arm and practically dragging me down the hall to the elevator that arrived with the touch of a button. We stepped on the elevator and Sidney pressed the button for floor three as the doors shut.
“You don’t have to do this.” I said looking up at Sidney who was watching the floors go by on the little screen, while smiling.
“I have time.” Sidney said shrugging. I sighed. The elevator stopped on the third floor and we got off. We walked down a long hall to the end. We stopped in front of Ray Shero’s office door and I turned to Sidney.
“Thank you for walking me here.” I said.
“Anytime.” Sidney said shyly looking down at the ground.
“I’ll see you later I’m sure.” I said turning to the door and knocking.
“Come in.” I heard from behind the door. I gave a small wave to Sidney before opening the door and stepping inside. I shut the door behind me.
“Mr. Shero.” I said walking over to where Ray Shero was now standing behind his desk. “I’m Alexandra Davis.”
“Nice to meet you, but please just call me Ray. Mr. Shero is much to formal.” Ray said shaking my hand then motioning for me to sit down. I sat down putting my bag down beside me on the floor.
“Ms. Davis…” Ray started.
“Please call me Alexandra.” I quickly chimed in, smiling for good measure. He smiled back at me.
“Alright Alexandra, you will be helping with all the interviews, any commercials or photo shoots, our behind the scenes show ‘In The Room’ and so much more that you probably did over in Vancouver with the Canucks.” Ray said and I nodded.
“You will also go on the road with the team.” Ray said. None of this was any surprise. Even though I was an intern in Vancouver, the Canucks had me doing a full Personal Relations job.
“Yes, I loved working with the Vancouver Canucks. I was sad when they didn’t have a spot for me in their organization in Personal Relations.” I said looking at the ground. I had forgotten I was sitting in front of my new boss. Shit. Ray didn’t say anything, but a smile threatened his lips.
“I’m so sorry.” I said blushing a little. “I’m very excited to be here and I can’t wait to start working with the Penguins organization. I heard it’s wonderful here.”
“It’s fine.” Ray said standing up. “You came highly recommended by that organization. We weren’t the only ones who wanted you.”
“Well thank you.” I said a little surprised. I didn’t bother to ask what other teams wanted me since I knew there was no changing now, and if Ray wanted me to know, he would have told me. I did miss Vancouver though. The staff I worked with there was the awesome. Everyone was so much fun and the team was the best. We went out all the time for dinner and constantly went to the bar or out to clubs. The boys liked to party, that’s for sure. As much as I was going to miss that team, I was looking forward to starting a new life and getting away from my family.
“I’ll show you around, then I will take you to meet the team.” Ray said.
“Alright.” I said standing and picking up my bag off the ground.
“You will be working along side Jennifer Bullano, our head PR lady. She’s going to be leaving for a bit to have a baby.” Ray said as we walked down the hall to a closed door with my name on the wall beside it. I smiled at my name already on the wall. Ray pulled out a key and handed it to me. It was on a Pittsburgh Penguins Lanier, which didn’t surprise me one bit. I unlocked the door and opened it. I walked in with Ray right behind me. He flipped on the lights.
“This is your office.” Ray said.
“It’s very nice.” I said looking around. I walked over to the desk and put my bag on it. There was a desk in the middle of the room under the window. In the corner by the desk there were two filing cabinets. On the far side of the room there was a little sitting area. There were two couches, one against each wall. There was also a chair across from the two couches. In the middle there was a beautiful dark wood coffee table.
“You’re welcome to bring in anything you want to make this office more of your own.” Ray said.
“Thank you.” I said smiling at him.
“All we need to do is get you a permanent pass with your picture on it, then you will have everything you need.” Ray said.
“Sure, anytime you want me to get it.” I said mentally thanking myself for doing my hair in nice tight curls today.
“I’ll get Jennifer to take you after you meet the team.” Ray said.
“Alright.” I said. Ray walked out the door and I followed shutting the lights off and locking the door behind me. I put the key around my neck. Ray showed me to Jennifer’s office, which is right across the hall from mine. Ray knocked on the partly open door.
“Come in.” A female voice said from inside. Ray pushed the door open.
“Ray.” A medium height woman said struggling to stand up at first, but she finally got on her feet.
“Jennifer, this is the woman who will be shadowing you and then taking over for you while you’re off with the baby.” Ray said gesturing to me. I smiled at Jennifer.
“Hi, I’m Jennifer Bullano.” The woman said coming over to where I’m standing next to Ray.
“Alexandra Davis.” I said shaking Jennifer’s hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Jennifer said smiling at me.
“Likewise.” I said smiling back at her.
“After we take Alexandra to meet the team, will you take her to get her pass please?” Ray asked.
“Of course.” Jennifer said.
“Thank you.” Ray said looking down at his watch.
“The team should be here by now.” Jennifer said.
“Yes they should be, lets go meet them.” Ray said.
“Ready?” Jennifer asked looking at me. I took a deep breath.
“Yes.” I said. “I think so.”
I was feeling a tiny bit of nerves, that I knew would eventually go away once I got in the room with them, just like in Vancouver.
“You will be fine, the guys are awesome.” Jennifer said calming some of my nerves. I had already met the best player in the world, how scary could the rest really be.

Notes

This story probably won't be updated as much as Captain Clutch, that's my main story and I want to finish it off, but I'll try and update this story once a week.
Thanks for reading! :)