Clever Eli (The Turris #2)
Prologue
Ten Years Ago
LYLA STORM FILES FOR DIVORCE:
Everything we know so far.
By CNZ
Only a week ago, the supermodel was seen at a gala in New York City for an addiction recovery charity that funds hundreds of AA groups all over the country and a few rehab facilities. She was alone, her (future ex-?) husband was noticeably absent, but that hasn’t been newsworthy in a long time.
Throughout their seventeen years of marriage, they have only been seen together in informal settings, like hockey games in LA, celebrity parties during award season, and an occasional The Storm concert here and there, since they never miss a chance to support their nephews Hawk and Wolf Storm.
So it was no surprise that Lyla made the trip to New York for the charity gala alone.
After reports have come out of her filing for divorce in Los Angeles only days later, we have to wonder if maybe Ruko’s absence was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Whatever it was, we’re sad to see the end of what we all thought was a great marriage.
Their oldest child Ivan (16) is away at a hockey school in Canada and is set to be drafted into the NHL in less than a year, and their youngest, Alexei (13), has reportedly not been to school in LA for the last few days.
We wish them the best through this trying time.
Nine Years Ago
WAS LYLA STORM UNFAITHFUL TO RUKO “THE HULK” JANKOWSKI?
The writing’s on the wall.
By CNZ
Barely a year ago we were all in shock that our favorite athlete-supermodel duo were calling it quits, and we’ve been speculating since on what exactly went wrong because the exes have given zero interviews or insight into their divorce.
It seems we have our answers now.
No one was aware Lyla had started a relationship with media mogul Michael Ellsworth, and now the news of their engagement has hit the internet with the same impact of a hydrogen bomb.
A new picture has made the rounds on social media thanks to this, showing a beautiful Lyla talking to the billionaire at the very gala she went to days before filing for divorce.
The couple is seen smiling at one another in a distinctly non-platonic way, and the hunt for any previous interactions has begun all over social media.
Everyone seems to be accepting this as proof that Lyla Storm was unfaithful, and it’s hard to debate it.
A source close to Lyla has told us that she and Ruko’s and her youngest child, Alexei (14) have moved to New York City, and that the wedding will be in the city sooner than anyone would think.
Eight Years Ago
TENSIONS BETWEEN EXES LYLA STORM AND RUKO JANKOWSKI MAKE FOR AN AWKWARD NHL DRAFT:
The couple was seen in a public setting for the first time after Lyla’s wedding to media mogul earlier this year.
By CNZ
We won’t claim we know everything about hockey, but aren’t the parents of the first draft pick supposed to be happy when their son’s name is called?
Ivan Jankowski was drafted first overall to the Portland Panthers only last night, and while that is in and of itself already the achievement of a lifetime, his parents (who divorced less than two years ago, and his mother has gotten remarried since then) didn’t seem to find much joy in their son’s accomplishment.
There were two parental hugs that could be called awkward at best, but at least the hugs he received from the Waynes, their family friends, were a lot more enthusiastic.
(We do have thoughts about Silas Wayne’s absence from the event since his friendship with Ivan has been publicly acknowledged by their parents, but we’ll dive into that in another article.)
Check out the video and let us know what you think:
Michael Ellsworth and his son Eli (13), who are Ivan’s stepfather and stepbrother, also did not attend the draft . . . Just something to think about.
Seven Years Ago
YOUNG PRODIGY, ELI ELLSWORTH, WINS THE YOUTH TECHNOLOGY AWARD FROM MIT:
The competition was fierce, but Michael Ellsworth’s son—who doesn’t attend MIT as he’s still in middle school at fourteen years old—“won by a landslide,” according to other attendees.
By NYT
It seems Eli’s brothers aren’t the only ones who are beyond talented.
We saw Ivan Jankowski take his team to the playoffs (even though they were eliminated in the second round, it was an impressive feat) before he was traded to the Las Vegas Pirates, and the news of Alexei Jankowski following in his older brother’s footsteps and transferring to the Richester Hockey School in British Columbia where he’s already breaking records set by his older brother.
But until this past week we weren’t aware that Eli has an impressive resume as well.
With the development of an algorithm that will “significantly impact the use of powerful lasers in major surgeries,” as one of the judges of the competition said in the award ceremony, Eli Ellsworth has become the youngest ever recipient of the award.
Despite the turbulent years his family has experienced with cheating scandals, it seems the young prodigy hasn’t been affected at all, and we can only hope it stays that way.
Six years Ago
NEW CELEbrITY COUPLE ALERT:
Is this the newest (and maybe better) live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast?
We’re here for it!
By CNZ
We got our first shots of Alaina Newman hanging out with Ruko “the Hulk” Jankowski just a couple of weeks ago when they attended a preseason game between the LA Empire and the Las Vegas Pirates.
As always, Ruko wasn’t wearing Pirates merch even though his oldest son plays for them, but he was wearing his own sweater with the same last name and his team-retired number, so there was some support for Ivan, right?
Unusual familial practices aside, we couldn’t believe that the three-time Oscar winner even knew the legendary hockey player.
They were seen talking and laughing together for the duration of the game.
Newman’s son and Jankowski’s youngest son were in attendance with them, so we all collectively agreed that their relationship is official.
With the history Jankowski has of relationships with beautiful, famous women, though, we all thought it could end sooner than anyone expected.
That was until last night.
Newman and Jankowski were seen at the Pirates’ first regular-season game in Las Vegas with none other than Jankowski’s ex-wife Lyla Storm and her new husband Michael Ellsworth.
None of the tension we’ve seen between the exes was to be found in the private suite they rented for the game, and believe us, the cameras—networks’ and fans’ alike—were trained on them almost more than they were on the game.
Can we say bygones are bygones?
Maybe this video of Jankowski and Ellsworth chest-bumping after Ivan scored a goal will be all the proof you need.
Five Years Ago
THE JANKOWSKI DYNASTY GROWS:
The youngest member of the Jankowski-Storm family makes history yet again.
By CNZ
Only days after turning eighteen, Alexei Jankowski was picked first overall by the LA Empire, making him the youngest player ever drafted by his new team.
It looks like the rebuild the Empire has been planning for seasons on end is finally going to net some positive results. They haven’t won the Cup since Jankowski’s father and godfather (Paul Wayne) were active players more than twenty years ago, and haven’t been to the playoffs in almost a decade.
With their newest addition, the Empire—and their massive fanbase—are hoping to get back to their former glory.
This time around, the energy around Jankowski’s family was decidedly less hostile, with both his parents now in happy, committed relationships. It is worth noting, though, that his younger brother, Eli, wasn’t present.
This seems like déjà-vu—we still remember that Silas Wayne didn’t attend Ivan’s draft.
But we’re just hopeful Eli wasn’t able to attend because of a previous commitment and not because there’s trouble between the brothers.
Four Years Ago
WHEN WILL IT BE THE EMPIRE’S TURN AGAIN?
The answer: Next season.
By The Athlete
Even though fans are panicking, there is light at the end of this tunnel, and I’m here with proof.
Even though it wasn’t enough to get the LA Empire to the playoffs, Alexei Jankowski still had a historic rookie season.
With over forty-five goals scored and ninety-nine points, he was the obvious choice for the Calder, he earned it, and this is only one of the reasons why I know we’ll see the Empire in the playoffs sooner rather than later.
Throughout the regular season, Jankowski displayed impressive skills, sportsmanship, and composure. These things will translate in the years to come, and you don’t have to listen to me to believe it, you just have to listen to optimistic and realistic fans alike.
Three Years Ago
A DISAPPOINTING ENDING TO A ROLLER COASTER OF A SEASON FOR THE EMPIRE:
What’s next for the LA Empire after they lost in five games in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
By The Athlete
According to Head Coach Rocco, “we dust ourselves off and focus on next season.”
That is a very diplomatic answer if ever I’ve heard one, but you can’t miss the disappointment on his face in the interview he gave right after the game.
This is a big improvement from the record the Empire has had in the past decade, and fans are still supportive of the team because of this, but there’s a definite feeling of impending doom around the Empire.
We just can’t figure out why.
In our eyes, they should be more hopeful than they have been in the past, but I suppose a three–zero loss is still a hard pill to swallow.
Two Years Ago
WHERE IS ELI ELLSWORTH?
Did the son of media mogul Michael Ellsworth disappear?
By CNZ
Since he graduated early from Luxton Prep, Eli Ellsworth sightings have been few and far between. He also went quiet on social media and there were no reports of him enrolling into any college or university in the country.
The only reason we know he’s still roaming around New York City is because there’s the occasional sighting of him at Barclay Arena when one of his two brothers are playing against the New York Demons.
There’s also the sporadic picture of him at a charity gala accompanying his father and stepmother, Lyla Storm, but there are no actual reports of him still living in the city, of him having a job, or even friends.
He never appears in pictures posted by his family (the Storm-Jankowski clan are notorious for not posting a lot, but they do post at least once a month) not even the pictures of their holiday celebrations.
There’s a strong possibility that Eli is using all of his and his father’s resources to stay firmly out of the limelight and under the radar, and we can’t help but wonder why.
One Year Ago
ALEXEI JANKOWSKI IS NOT THE PROBLEM:
No one is sure what is, but we know he isn’t.
By The Athlete
When Jankowski stepped off the ice after LA’s last game of another disappointing season, it seemed a little cruel to shove him into a press-conference room to answer for the team’s “crimes.”
He scored four goals on Anaheim and still the Empire lost the game and their last chance to get into the playoffs.
Even while dodging accusatory questions (reporters were definitely looking for someone to blame) he still didn’t say one bad word about management, his coach, or his teammates (not even Evan Bojarski, the goalie who let in seven goals, or Girard and Ewing, his two defensive line mates who objectively played horrendously).
Despite only uttering measured PR statements, the frustration he was feeling in that moment wasn’t something he could hide.
There have been unconfirmed reports coming out of the building all season of tension in the locker room, and with the season once again ending without a silver lining in sight, fans are no longer the only ones who are willing to look for someone—anyone—to blame, except Alexei Jankowski.