The New Assistant

"Shit shit shit!" I run out of my car in my tory burch flats and sprint across the street into the prudential center. Today is my first day on the job: the NJ Devils player assistant. What is a player assistant? I basically take care of everything for the guys on the team. What they wear, what they eat, vacation days, ordering new supplies for them, and team disputes. I am like a teacher, principal, and guidance counselor rolled into one. I also get to go to the away games, I am in charge of booking hotel rooms and making sure the players have everything they need while they are away from home.

I stumble into the side door and re-focus my hair and make-up in a perfectly placed mirror next to the door. I wore peach jeans, a white dress shirt, a beige and white sweater, and a pink statement necklace- a usual Charlotte attire. When I got the job, they told me I could wear anything casual considering everyone I worked with would be in workout clothes and very sweaty.

"Charlotte?" A balding man in a devils rain jacket came up to me. I nodded my head and put on a smile knowing exactly who this is, "Hi, I'm Pete Deboer, the Devils head coach."

"Its amazing to meet you sir, thank you for everything!" I gushed.

"Sir? I haven't been called that in forever! Pete- please! And I must say, you make us look like we are homeless! The old assistant just wore t-shirts!"

"Well, my Mom always told me to dress to impress!" I thought about my mom in Colorado right now, missing her more than ever.

"That is some good advice, maybe you can share it with the guys, maybe they will listen to someone that is not a balding 50 year old man with no sense of style. Come with me Charlotte you can meet the guys before they head onto the ice for practice. Some of the team isn't here because its only august 2nd and they are on vacations."

Pete led me down an all red and black hallway to a pair of double doors with the devils logo on it and he pulled them open.

"Stay here for just one sec please," He asked and I backed away from the door. He only peaked his head through the door and called out "Are any of you naked?"

I was shocked. Am I going to see naked guys everywhere? No, I can just keep my office door closed.

"Alright you can come in now Charlotte" Pete laughed "Sorry about that I didn't want to scar you on your first day"

I walked into the dressing room to see about 20 guys sitting around, laughing, and I totally felt out of place.

"Listen up boys!" Pete began silencing the room "This is Charlotte, she is the new office assistant, and she is not here to be a personal slave so don't go to her for any crap please!"

The guys all seemed to smile at me, a couple waving. "Alright Charlotte, I have to go to my office for a while and my assistant will show you to your new office in a little bit, so introduce yourself to the boys- don't worry they don't bite." Pete whispered in my ear, laughed a little, and left.

This must be some kind of sick joke. What the hell to I say to them?

"Hi everyone, I'm Charlotte, It's a pleasure to meet all of you! Like your coach said, I'm the new players assistant, so please come to me for anything. My office door is always open! Um, i'm just going to leave you to your practice, so uh, have a good day!"

I turned to go out of the double doors and the guys started talking again until a hand grabbed my shoulder.

"Hi Charlotte, I'm Dainius Zubrus, it's a pleasure to meet you" Said a strong lithuanian accent and a tan outstretched hand which I immediately shook with a nervous smile. "First days a bitch, I couldn't even stand on my skates my first NHL practice, but don't worry these guys are big doofuses and you'll get to know 'em better"

"Thank you Dainius, I really don't want to screw this one up, I better go find my office now, and don't forget to come to me for anything!"

When I left the room, I found a scrawny looking man in the hallway. "Charlotte?" I nodded, "Hi, I'm David- Pete's assistant- here to show you to your office, follow me. "

David led me literally 10 steps from the locker room. I guess i'm really close to the action..... and the smell of guy sweat- gross. The office was totally bland, I knew it would be, but seriously. It consisted of four off-white walls, two black chairs, a metal desk (ew) and a black swirly desk chair.

"You can paint it, do anything you want, make it kinda a home away from home. Anyways, there is a cafeteria for employees on the third floor, bathrooms are at the end of this hallway and since you are one of the few women on this floor it should be spotless, the players have a sitting area with a coffee machine, fridge, microwave, and so on down the hall that you have permission to use. Also, you get $200 from the Devils to make this office your own. If you need anything, my office is right next to Pete's,"

"Thank you David, I will go to you if I need something." I smiled and he nodded and headed out.

I walked around my office, or should I say boring ass square, and sat in the desk chair with a sigh. I guess I'll be going to Target on my lunch break. I got my computer bag out of my car and set that up, I also set up my Lilly Pulitzer agenda, which had EVERYTHING i ever needed- weddings, vacations, and soon to be dates for my away games.

I don't mind going on the away trips, I don't really have anyone in my life that I can't leave. I am single with no pets and a few friends, but no besties. I got this job from my Dad, he lives in New Jersey, but just moved to Florida with his girlfriend- did I mention my parents are divorced? Anyways, I was fresh out of Rutgers University and my Dad knew a guy who knew a guy and somehow I got an interview.

"Knock knock" Ugh, I hate when people say knock knock when actually knocking on a door. I guess the 6 foot something dark haired guy now in my office seemed to notice, "Sorry i'm a dork, anyways i'm Adam Henrique"

"Hi, i'm Charlotte," Adam now slid into one of the chairs in my "office", "Adam, correct me if i'm wrong but aren't you supposed to be on the ice with the other guys?

"No, actually," He smiled a killer smile, "I twisted my knee in practice yesterday so they gave me a rest day today."

"So you're telling me that you spent your rest day at practice?" I raised my eyebrows and squinted my eyes a little.

"Well, when the new office assistant was coming I wanted to know who it is. Thankfully you are good in my book."

I laughed a good laugh, "I'm so relieved."

"It's pretty nice in here, I mean the metal desk really bring the whole room together. I really like what you've done with the place." Adam said sarcastically using his hands.

"Ha ha, very funny, and no this is not my idea of a dream office but I am going to Target on my lunch hour, and I'm going to attempt to make it better."

"I can take you." Adam suddenly said, deadpan.

"I really don't think I can get up and leave."

"Come on, It's basically your lunch hour and the guys have practice for another two hours, so you have no one to assist but me. And I would like to be assisted by you going to target with me."

"Wow Adam I really think you picked the wrong career and should of became a salesman." Adam laughed, knowing he had me. "Let me grab my purse and see David real quick."

Adam and I walked over to David's office whose office was even smaller than mine- if possible.

"Hi David, Adam and I are headed out to Target so can I have that $200 dollars to decorate my office?"

"Adam? Henrique?" I nodded, "You better be back before 1:30, and here is the company credit card. 200 dollars, not a penny more or else it's coming out of your pay." David snarled, quickly turning sassy. I nodded again and headed out of the room.

"What's his problem?" I muttered, forgetting that Adam was next to me.

"I have a theory he is gay and has a secret crush on some of us. Some of the other guys think he is secretly a girl and is on her period."

"Adam!" I hit him in the arm while walking outside towards the my car.

"I'm driving!" Adam called out over the lunch hour traffic.

"You are a player with an injury- what kind of player assistant would I be if I let one of my players drive!" I called while dragging his arm to my car.

Notes

Here is charlottes first day clothes: here

I just wanted to clear up that Adam and Charlotte aren't really a thing right now, just friends.

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