Hands Off The Ice King novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Levi’s POV

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Being in Margaret’s office was actually a rare occurrence for me, contrary to popular belief. In my entire career, there had only been three instances when I had been called up here.

One, when I first joined the team.

Second, when the articles regarding my injury surfaced.

And third…

Right now.

Undoubtedly, I had caused a lot of trouble for the team. Being at the top of your game did that. I also couldn’t deny that my personality wasn’t for everyone.

However, Margaret knew better than to call me up here and try to have a serious conversation with me unless she absolutely had to. Because I was doing exactly what I had promised her the moment she accepted me into the team-even with my family’s discouragement.

I brought championships to the Glaciers.

Her air conditioning was cold, almost like winter, but it was exactly the way I liked it.

I crossed my arms over my chest as she looked at me without saying a word.

I knew Margaret well enough. With her, silence was part of the conversation.

She wanted people to stew in it. To wonder what she was thinking. To make them nervous before she even opened her mouth.

Unfortunately for her, I had stopped getting nervous around her years ago.

We had a complicated relationship.

When no one wanted to take me because of my family’s influence and their determination to bury my career before it even began, Margaret had been the only one willing to offer me a place.

Her condition had been simple.

Bring a championship to the Glaciers.

At the time, the franchise had never won a single title since she acquired it.

I delivered again and again.

So, she might hate the way I handled the media or hate the controversies that followed me wherever I went, but she also knew she couldn’t afford to lose me.

She narrowed her eyes before finally speaking.

“Congratulations,” she said with a clipped smile. “Your name is at the top of the trending list again.”

I smiled back.

The only way to deal with Margaret was with fire.

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Chapter 97

Fire against fire.

Or, in our case…

Ice against ice….

“Just the way you like it, right?” I said. “Did you see my hat trick?”

“Were you that motivated because your mother came to watch?” she asked.

My smirk disappeared. I hadn’t even noticed my mother was there.

I let out a slow breath before the smirk slowly returned to her lips.

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I didn’t care whether my mother watched or not. I’d stopped chasing her approval a long time ago. That was a battle I had already buried.

“Or…” Margaret continued, leaning forward over her desk, “is it because you found yourself a girlfriend?”

I leaned toward her as well.

“What if it’s the latter?”

I didn’t look away, and neither did she.

“Do you know what makes a good hockey player, Levi?” she suddenly asked as she stepped away from her desk.

She walked toward the wall covered with trophies.

“When he plays good hockey,” I answered without hesitation.

A loud laugh escaped her, echoing through the office. She laughed so hard she had to wipe the corners of her eyes before looking back at me.

“Oh, Levi.”

She shook her head.

“I see there’s still some innocence left in you, even after all these years.”

“I’m disappointed,” she continued with a chuckle. “I thought you’d know better than that.”

I didn’t respond.

“For a player, yes,” she continued. “Playing hockey is everything.”

She rested a hand against one of the shelves.

“But being a hockey player in a national league isn’t just about playing good hockey.”

She looked at me.

“Why do you think so many players get replaced within two years, even when they’re still in their prime?”

I stayed silent.

She answered her own question.

“Because they stop being profitable, Levi.”

10:52 Thu, Jul 16

Chapter 97

She pointed toward the trophies lining the wall.

“And do you know what?”

“Even with all of these trophies…”

She slowly swept her hand across the display.

“…your hockey skills aren’t the most profitable thing about you.”

Without warning, she slammed her fist against the shelf.

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One of the trophies tipped over, striking another until a number of trophies crashed onto the floor. One/rolled across the hardwood until it came to a stop near my feet, but I didn’t pick it up.

“The reason you’re still with the Glaciers,” she continued, “is because you have the biggest fanbase.”

“And the reason why you have the biggest fanbase is that you’re available,” she smiled.

I let out a slow sigh.

“Get to the point, Margaret.”

Although I already knew where this conversation was heading. She had never had this problem with me before because I had never been interested in anyone before.

“The point is, Levi,” she said as she turned her laptop toward me.

An article filled the screen. It contained a picture of me standing near the bleachers, smiling at Hope. It had already become the biggest story of the day.

The article was entitled ‘Has Hockey’s Most Eligible Bachelor Finally Fallen?””

Margaret tapped the screen.

“The majority of your fans want to date you.”

She looked me straight in the eye. “But if you actually end up dating someone… wouldn’t that be career suicide?”

I sighed before standing from my chair. This was exactly what I’d expected.

I knew the demographic I’d attracted over the years. Far too many of them weren’t even hockey fans. They followed me, not the sport.

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