Wildest Dreams

Lindsey pulls her white button down away from her stomach. She walks briskly down the downtown Dallas street on a typical hot day. The American Airlines Center is only a block away now, there wasn't any close parking available so she had to park a three blocks over. Her heart pounds in her chest, nerves about this job interview distract her thoughts. Lindsey keeps her head down against the warm breeze and her brown locks flow over her shoulders. She sees the doors and starts walking a little faster.

Just before entering the AAC, she adjusts her high waisted pencil skirt and prays to God there aren't any obvious sweat stains. Her kitten heels lightly click on the tile as she crosses the lobby. Lindsey spots the person she is looking for: Mark Janko. He spots her and says, "Are you Lindsey?" "That's me." Lindsey smiles. Mark says, "Great, I have one thing to do before we talk so if you go down the elevator to the Event level, turn right, my office at the very end of the hallway on the right." "Alright." Lindsey walks over to the elevator, her nerves still a mess but she feels a bit better just being there. The elevator takes her to the Event level and when she steps off, the all too familiar stench of hockey pads and pure man sweat hits her.

She hears voices floating down the hallway, all male. Lindsey turns right and walks down the hallway and looks around. No office. She stands there for a minute. Then she hesitantly starts to walk to the left. The voices get louder and a figure steps out from a pair of double doors and spots her. He walks over and picks up a stick, checking the tape. "Are you looking for someone? Something?" A small smirk plays across his lips. Her face flushes. "I have a meeting with Mark Janko? He said his office was down that way," she jerks her thumb from the direction she came from. "But I didn't see it."

"That would be because it's over there." He points towards a row of doors. "Oh, thanks." She starts to walk away, and he clears his throat. "I'm Tyler, by the way." "Lindsey," she shakes his hand. "What are you meeting him about? If you don't mind me asking." "Oh, I have an interview with him about the Team Services position." He nods. "Well, good luck." "Thanks." Lindsey gives him a small smile, then walks further down the hall.

Tyler watches her walk down the hall and find Janko's office. She steps in and he allows himself to full out smile. He quietly prays that she gets the job. Having her around could be a good change of pace for him: a steady female presence in his life. The elevator opens and out comes the devil himself. "Hey Seguin, have you seen a girl down here?" "Yeah, she's in your office." "Thanks," Janko breezes past Tyler to his office. He stands there for a minute, grabs his sticks, and goes back into the locker room.

Lindsey hears Mark before he gets there, then stands and shakes his hand. "Sorry about that, had a few media issues to deal with. Now we can get started. Why do you want this job?" "Hockey has always been a staple of my life and I love being around the team atmosphere. Unfortunately, my position in Pittsburgh was not going to go any further and I believe I am capable of more."

Janko nods. "I really liked your resume, and I think you're a great person. However, I still need to ask about the..incident in Pittsburgh." Lindsey nods. She knew this was coming, that doesn't mean she was comfortable with it. "I was down in the locker room, my back to the door. I did not think there was anyone else in there. He snuck up behind me and came on to me. It was a bad day, to be honest, and I should've said no. I did say 'No' at first, but he pressed and I gave in. I shouldn't have done it. However, that directly is not the reason I resigned."

"Well I, personally, think you're being truthful and would love to have you on staff. So do you want the job?" Janko smiles at her. Lindsey beams, "Of course!" "If you don't mind, I would like for you to start right now. Meet the boys, get your office set up, that kind of stuff." "Sure!" Lindsey smiles. "Okay, I'll show you the office then take you to the hounds." Janko leads her through the double doors of the locker room and turns right to a single door. He pushes it open and flips on the light. "It's always been pretty bland, even when it was occupied. Feel free to decorate however you see fit. I'll get you the company credit card to use." Lindsey nods and follows Janko out of the office and to the locker room which is left from the double doors. "Boys, I've got someone for you to meet." The dull roar quiets as Janko steps forward with Lindsey. "This is Lindsey, you're new Team Services Director. We're lucky to have her, especially on such short notice. I'll leave you all to your introductions."

Janko walks out, leaving Lindsey in a room full of her new colleagues..of sorts. Jamie Benn is the first to step up. "Hey Lindsey, I'm Jamie Benn. It's nice to meet you." Lindsey shakes his hand, "Nice to meet you, Jamie. You know where the office is if you need anything." She gives him a small smile. Everyone introduced themselves, then chatter starts to rise back up. Lindsey feels someone behind her. She turned to find Tyler standing there, a grin on his face "So you got the job?" "It looks that way!" Lindsey smiles. "Good, now me and some of the boys are going out for dinner tonight and you should come." Tyler says. "Now I gotta get to practice or Ruff will murder me."

Lindsey watches them all leave then headed over to her office, where she sets her purse down and sits in the plastic office chair. She notices a sticky note on her desk with a card attached. LINDSEY, it reads, YOU CAN HEAD OUT WHILE THE GUYS ARE PRACTICING, JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE BACK BY 1:30. She checks her watch, it's 10 a.m. on the dot.

She heads back up to the main level and sees Janko heading her way. "Hey Lindsey, did you get the card?" "Yes, I found it." "Great," Janko pulls out a sticker and a laminated pass hanging from a lanyard. "Here's your parking sticker and your creds. You know where our parking lot is?" "Yes, I do; thank you." "No problem, see you later." With that, Lindsey was off to Target to try and figure out what to do with her new office.

Notes