Page 49 of The Girlfriend Card (Vegas Sin #4)
Announcement
Ottavia
A t ten minutes past five, the media packed the press conference room. Waiting just out of sight, we were a big group: me, Dakota, Dad, Coach Miller, and the entire Vegas Sin hockey team.
Dad peeked out behind the curtain. “We’ve got a full house out there.” He turned to me with a grin. “How are you feeling, princess? You ready?”
My throat was clenched so tightly, I had to gasp for every breath. “Like I’m about to puke,” I croaked.
Part of the reason I was so nervous was because I didn’t know what Dad actually intended to say. How much were Dakota and I going to have to explain about this whole crazy situation? What were we even willing to admit?
He chuckled. “Don’t be nervous. I’ll make my speech, introduce you, then we’ll be outta there. We don’t even have to answer questions, if you aren’t ready.”
“I think we should,” I said.
He nodded. “I think that’s wise.”
“But what are you going to say, Dad?”
“You’ll see.” With a wink, he flashed a folded piece of paper that his speech was written on. “I worked on it all afternoon. I think you’ll like it.”
Ugh, why couldn’t he just let me read it beforehand? I really, really hoped this wasn’t some last-minute plot to defeat us, or something …
Noticing the apprehension in my eyes, he reassured me, “Don’t worry.” He turned to the group. “Everybody ready? It’s time.”
Dad led the group out into the conference room. A murmur went over the press pool, their cameras clicking and flashing, as we marched into the room. Dakota and I walked together, side by side, our heads held high.
Dad and I sat at the spots in the middle of a long, wooden table with microphones at every seat. I had Dakota at my right, and Coach Miller sat at Dad’s left. The rest of the players and the management staff stood, flanking us.
“Good evening. Thank you all for being here.” A hush fell over the room as Dad began to speak into the microphone.
“Today, the Vegas Sin are announcing a significant change in the direction and leadership of the franchise. But before we get to that, I would like to address some rumors surrounding the team, and take this opportunity to acknowledge my wrongdoing.”
The reporters’ heads jerked back in surprise. Dad paused, letting the anticipation in the room build by the second.
“I have realized that, as owner, I have made some regrettable mistakes, specifically over this past summer,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of remorse. “I allowed personal matters to interfere with our team’s dynamics. That was a disservice to our players, our management staff, and our fans.”
The eyes of the reporters darted to me and Dakota, no doubt sensing that Dad was about to address our situation.
“To give specifics, after the Sin were eliminated in last year’s playoffs, Sin management sat down with Dakota Easton and outlined our expectations from him moving forward, if he wanted to stay a member of this hockey club.
Dakota proved his commitment to this hockey team by surpassing all our expectations and training exceptionally hard all summer long. But—”
Dad drew a breath, and so did the rest of the media members, who sensed what was coming.
“—during the course of this off-season, Dakota also met, and began dating, my daughter, Ottavia.”
A swirl of confusion hung in the air. They’d surely read the gossip pieces that stated Dakota and I had been dating for six months.
With a nod, Dad addressed those rumors. “Yes, contrary to what you’ve read, Dakota and Ottavia did not meet until the off-season began.”
What followed was a painstaking summary of the events that led Dakota and I together: Dakota playing “the girlfriend card” to try to get out of trouble, Dad calling his bluff by trying to meet said girlfriend, Dakota hiring me to be his girlfriend, until we accidentally fell in love for real.
It was a story where, truthfully, none of us looked good.
But Dad told our story and, with a touch of humor mixed in, had the media gasping and even howling with laughter at times.
“But what I haven’t told you is why I was so opposed to Dakota dating my daughter.”
In a somber tone, Dad shocked everyone in the room by giving a short account of how he’d expected me to marry Leo Lancaster.
He didn’t out Leo, nor did he need to. He simply told everyone that he’d tried to coerce his daughter into a marriage she didn’t want for political reasons.
The faces of the media recoiled with disgust and horror at the prospect of arranged marriage.
“But Ottavia is my daughter, after all, and shares my iron will. She wants to choose her own path in life, and I have come to the realization that I must respect her choice, or risk losing her forever. While this has been difficult for me to accept, losing her is a risk I am not willing to make.”
Dad turned to us.
“I want to emphasize that there was never any infidelity between Ottavia and Dakota, nor any others,” he said. “Ottavia and Dakota are faithful to each other and very much in love.”
Dakota and I caught each other’s gaze, our eyes locking in a smile—and the gooey moment between us didn’t go unnoticed.
“As you can probably see,” Dad said, and the room erupted with laughter.
With a deep breath, Dad began to conclude his speech.
“In summary, I allowed a professional situation with a player to become personal and cloud my judgment. I should have kept a clear boundary between my personal life, and my role as team owner. I failed to do so, and therefore, I lost the trust of my players, my management staff.
“However, my most devastating failure wasn’t related to hockey—it was as Ottavia’s father.
I failed to be the supportive and understanding parent she not only needs, but deserves.
I allowed my ambition and desire for control to take precedence over my love for her.
Instead of being her protector, I became an obstacle in her path, causing her pain and distress. ”
He reached out for my hand, a gesture of forgiveness and understanding, and spoke directly to me.
“I’m so sorry for the pain I caused you, Ottavia.
I should have been there for you, guiding and supporting you in your own dreams and aspirations, instead of trying to mold you into what I wanted.
You are an incredible woman, and I should have celebrated your strength, intelligence, and passion, rather than trying to stifle it. ”
He stared into my eyes, his face wracked with sorrow. I’m sorry.
I nodded. I know.
It would take time to mend our relationship. But at least he was doing and saying the right things to make forgiveness a possibility.
Dad cleared his throat and continued with the media.
“This is why, after much reflection and consideration, I have to come to the conclusion that my role as team owner is untenable. I have decided to step down from my position as the owner of this team, so that I may focus on repairing my relationship with my daughter, and hopefully becoming a better father.”
A collective gasp echoed throughout the room, heads whipping from left to right as the reporters exchanged stunned glances.
“I have full confidence in the future of this team, and I believe it is time for a new generation to take the reins,” he continued. “That is why I am thrilled to announce that my daughter, Ottavia Capuano, will be taking over as the new owner.”
The media wore jubilant smiles and broke out into cheer and applause.
“I want to assure all of you that Ottavia is more than capable of leading this team. She is a bright, passionate, and patient woman who will make an exceptional owner. And with that, Ottavia has a few words she’d like to say.”
The room fell silent, everyone eager to hear me speak.
“Thank you all for being here,” I said into the microphone. “I’m humbled by your trust and support.”
I started by acknowledging the fact that I do not have much experience, and am still attending University.
I defused the nerves in the room by following that statement by saying, “But I’m told a good owner opens the wallet and doesn’t meddle with the day-to-day.
And I want to reassure all our fans that I intend to do exactly that.
” A ripple of relief went over the room.
“But I also want to acknowledge the mistakes of the past and ensure that we learn from them. My father’s decision to step down is a testament to the importance of transparency and accountability in leadership.
Moving forward, we will uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ensure that the actions of those in leadership reflect our organizational values. ”
My eyes scanned the room, momentarily meeting the gaze of each reporter.
“This is a new chapter for the Vegas Sin, and I am excited to be a part of it. I know that with the support of our amazing fans and the expertise of our management, we can achieve great things together—such as achieving our ultimate goal, winning the Stanley Cup. Thank you again.”
The room erupted as the reporters jumped out of their seats to shout questions at us.
“Ottavia, what will be your first action as owner?”
“I’m heading back to Stanford because school starts tomorrow,” I said, earning a chorus of laughs from the media.
“Again, I don’t expect to be involved in the day-to-day operation of this hockey team.
I believe we’ve already assembled an amazing team, and an equally amazing staff here.
I think all they need to reach the next level of success is to be given the trust and freedom to go out and excel at their jobs. ”
The reporters broke into chaos again, shouting nonstop questions.
“Dakota, what have you learned about yourself over this summer?”
“That I’m not nearly as good of a liar as I thought,” he answered without missing a beat, and the room exploded into laughter.
“No, but seriously,” he continued once everyone settled down, “I’d say I’ve learned a few big lessons this summer. First and foremost, I’ve learned about the importance of being honest, both with yourself and with others—because honesty is the foundation of any healthy relationship.”
The reporters all nodded their heads, approving of his message.
“Second, I’ve learned that talent alone won’t bring success. Even more important than talent is the effort you put in every day, and the commitment, the willingness to keep going even when things get tough.”
He glanced at me, and a soft smile touched his lips.
“I learned that from watching Ottavia, which is why I know she’s going to be a fantastic owner.
She’s one of the hardest-working, most honest people I know.
If you met her on the street, you’d have no idea she was a billionaire heiress.
Which isn’t a good thing when you hired her to pretend to be your girlfriend and you’re driving her to meet your boss. ”
The room chuckled again. I couldn’t help but blush at his teasing but kind words.
“As I spent more time with her this summer, I sensed her impact on me, how she was changing me. Ottavia makes me want to be a better person, a better player, and I think that showed in my dedication to my training this off-season. This is the first year of my career where I cannot wait for the puck drop. I’m so eager to go out there and show my stuff and become the player I was always meant to be. ”
Whatever skepticism the reporters might’ve harbored at first melted away as the atmosphere in the room shifted. It was clear that Dakota’s determination had made an impact on the reporters, and his admiration for me had touched their hearts, too.
After fielding a few more questions, we ended the press conference and left with a newfound sense of hope and excitement in the air. The media had their story, but this day marked a new beginning for the team, too—knowing they didn’t have to fear their owner anymore.
And for me and Dakota, we’d won a chance to chart our own course, free from my dad’s control.