Chapter 76: The Weight of Ambition
Jonathan paced frantically in his small, rented motel he was staying at in derby, hands tugging at his hair as he stared at his phone. His mind was racing a thousand miles an hour. "What the hell is wrong with Wayne Rooney?!" he shouted, his voice rising in frustration. "The guy’s already made his money, why the hell does he care about one little player like David?!" He slammed his fist against the desk, his mind spiraling into panic.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." he muttered, running his hand over his face. "I can’t let this deal slip through my fingers. Not after all the work I’ve put in. Manchester United... they’re ready to offer him everything! I can’t let Rooney ruin this for me. I’ve got to figure out how to convince this kid—how to make him see what’s at stake."
He stared at the ceiling for a moment, his thoughts swirling. "David’s young. He doesn’t know how much money this really is. He’ll listen to me. He has to."
Jonathan took a deep breath and dialed a friend’s number. His hands were shaking, but he couldn’t afford to let his nerves show. He needed this deal to happen. The future of his agency—his life—depended on it.
Meanwhile, David was sitting in his apartment, playing FIFA online. His usual focus on the game was absent. His mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Wayne Rooney. He could feel the weight of his decision pressing on him, and it made him play with less energy. Zoey, who was on the other side of the mic, noticed.
"Hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re playing like a beginner," she said from her end, pausing the game for a moment.
David sighed. He wasn’t in the mood for gaming, but he didn’t want to admit how heavy his heart felt. Maybe talking about it would help.
"I’m just thinking about everything," he confessed, still holding the controller but not playing. "About the transfer... about Rooney... about everything."
Zoey’s voice came through the mic, soothing. "What happened? Did something go wrong?"