Riki remained silent for a few moments, his expression unreadable.

He then began searching through a stack of papers on his desk, his brows furrowed in concentration.

After a brief search, he found a file with "Kay Marik" written on it—it was Kay's contract with the team.

Riki told Kay, "We should call Tom first—your manager. He needs to be part of this discussion." Before Kay could respond, Riki took the phone and began calling Tom.

A few moments passed, and Riki waiting for a response but nothing.

"Strange," Riki muttered, placing the phone back on the desk. "Tom usually answers immediately. Let me try him again." He picked up the phone and repeated the try.

Kay watched, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. Riki held the phone to his ear, waiting for an answer.

As the seconds ticked by with no response, Riki's expression grew more serious.

He hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, his face a mask of contemplation. "It seems we can't reach him at the moment. We'll have to proceed without him for now."

Kay told Riki, "I called him this morning, but he didn't answer either. So, I left him a message, letting him know I'd be here at the team's administration today."

Riki's eyes flickered with a hint of realization. 'That's why he didn't answer me,' he thought. 'He knew Kay was with me.'

Riki's expression hardened as he mulled over the situation. 'What a rude person,' he muttered inwardly.

'He wants me to discuss this alone with Kay, knowing full well about the clause we tricked him into accepting, and slipped into the contract without him noticing.'

Riki took a deep breath, preparing himself for the conversation ahead.

Riki cleared his throat, meeting Kay's eyes with a serious expression. "Regarding your contract, there's a small issue we discovered after reviewing it," he said, handing the document to Kay. "Take a look at the clauses on the sixth page."

Kay took the contract, his heart pounding as he flipped to the specified page.

He scanned the text, trying to decipher the legal jargon that hid the true implications of the clauses.

On the tenth line, his eyes fell on clause number forty-one:

"If the player injures himself in a manner that prevents him from participating in football activities during the term of his contract, and he is responsible for that injury occurring outside the field of play, he shall forfeit 80% of his salary during the period of injury."

As Kay read the clause, his eyes widened. He looked up at Riki, his face flushed with anger.

"You can't be serious," Kay said, his voice trembling with frustration and disbelief. "Riki, you tricked me! You slipped this clause into the contract without my knowledge!"

As the realization sank in, Kay's anger grew. He quietly concluded that Tom must have had a hand in this deceit with Riki.

The thought of being betrayed by both his manager and the president made his anger boil even more.

Kay stood up abruptly, his face flushed with rage. Gripping his sticks tightly, he swung them towards Riki, shouting, "I'll kill you, betrayer!"

Before he could land a blow, his father intervened, grabbing Kay's arm. "Stop, Kay! Don't make things more complicated," he urged. "We have the law on our side. We can fight this the right way."

Riki's calm expression remained unchanged even as Kay lunged at him.

When he heard Kay's father assert that the law was on their side, a grin spread across his face.

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"You think so?" Riki said smugly. "You might want to check the contract again. We've been thorough. This is business, not personal."

Kay regained his composure and looked Riki in the eye. "It's my fault for putting too much trust in people like you who only care about money. I should have read the contract more carefully." He paused, then asked, "Was Tom in on this with you?" Though he already suspected the answer, he needed to hear it from Riki.

Riki confirmed with a cold nod. Kay's eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice low and steady, "You've tricked me now, but wait for my vengeance. It will come, for sure."

For a moment, Riki felt a shiver run down his spine. In situations worse than this, he had always remained calm and unaffected. But now, something felt different.

There was an intensity in Kay's eyes, a determination that Riki hadn't anticipated. Despite his best efforts to maintain his composure, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.

He tried to dismiss it, attributing it to the heat of the moment. However, he ignored it as if nothing happened;

*but one day he will remember this scene and regret what he did.*

Kay and his father exited the office, tension still hanging in the air.

They encountered Carolina carrying a tray with drinks.

She attempted to hand a glass of juice to Kay, but in a fit of frustration, he threw it to the floor.

The glass shattered, and juice splattered across the tiles.

Without a word, Kay stormed out, his father following closely behind, leaving Carolina stunned and speechless.

On his way to the exit, Kay encountered the previous captain of the team, Marcus.

Marcus had always played the same position as Kay, but when Kay joined the team, Marcus lost his place.

Their relationship had been strained ever since. Marcus smirked as he saw Kay's furious expression.

"Looks like you're having a rough day," Marcus sneered, not bothering to hide his satisfaction.

Kay glared at him. "What do you want, Marcus?"

"Just enjoying the view," Marcus replied, leaning casually against the wall. "You know, it's interesting to see how quickly things can change. One moment you're on top, the next... you're nothing."

"Save your gloating," Kay snapped. "I've had enough of people kicking me when I'm down."

Marcus chuckled. "I'm not gloating. Just pointing out the reality. You came in and took my spot. Maybe this is fate."

"Or maybe it's just life being unfair," Kay shot back. "But don't think for a second that this is over. I'm not done yet."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Big talk for someone who just got his dreams crushed."

Kay stepped closer, his eyes blazing with determination. "You might enjoy seeing me fall, but remember this moment, Marcus. One day, I'll be back, stronger than ever. And you'll still be the guy who couldn't keep his spot."

Marcus's smug grin faltered for a moment. "We'll see about that," he muttered, trying to regain his composure.

Kay pushed past him, his father quickening his pace to keep up.

They left the building, the tension from the encounter still hanging heavy in the air.

As they got into the car, Max started the engine, ready to head home.

But Kay turned to his father, his voice calmer now. "Dad, can we stop by the park nearby? I need to clear my head."

Max glanced at his son, seeing the anger in his eyes. He nodded. "Of course, Kay. Let's go."

They drove in silence for a few minutes until they reached the park.

It was a serene place, with tall trees providing shade and a small pond where ducks floated lazily.

Kay had always found peace here, a stark contrast to the turmoil he was feeling now.

They parked the car, and Kay stepped out, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. "I'll be back in a bit," he told his father.

Max nodded, understanding that Kay needed some time alone. "Take your time, son."

Kay walked along the path, his mind racing with thoughts of Riki, Tom, and Marcus. He found a bench near the pond and sat down, staring at the water as it rippled gently.

As he tried to calm himself, he noticed a group of children playing football on a nearby field.

Their laughter and shouts filled the air, and he watched as they chased the ball with pure joy and enthusiasm.

For a moment, Kay was transported back to his childhood, remembering the days when football was just a game he loved, free from contracts, betrayals, and stress.

The simplicity and innocence of the children's play reminded him of why he started playing football in the first place.

He smiled, feeling a bittersweet nostalgia.

As he continued to watch, one of the children executed a skillful move, dodging past another and scoring a goal.

The other kids cheered, and the scorer beamed with pride.

Kay couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of peace. Despite everything he had been through, his passion for the game remained.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm within him. The park's tranquility began to seep into his mind, helping him regain some clarity.

He knew he had a long road ahead of him, but he also knew that he couldn't let this defeat define him.

Kay opened his eyes, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He had been knocked down, but he wasn't out of the fight yet.

He stood up, ready to face whatever came next.

As he walked back to the car, he felt a strange sense of calm.

He knew that he had to be patient, to plan his next steps carefully.

Max watched as his son approached, noticing the change in his demeanor. "Feeling better?" he asked as Kay got into the car.

Kay nodded. "Yeah, a bit. Thanks for bringing me here, Dad."

Max smiled. "Anytime, Kay. Let's head home."

See you in the next chapter ...

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