“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 havecelebrated 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 thenerves 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 cannotwaitfor 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 thereporters, 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.
