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?"
David explained everything: his conversation with Wayne, the guilt he felt over possibly leaving Derby County, and the uncertainty he felt about moving to Manchester United. Zoey listened intently, nodding when appropriate, though he couldn't see her.
"Oooh," Zoey responded after hearing everything. "That's a tough spot to be in."
David nodded, his eyes focused on the TV screen. He felt torn.
"Do you feel ready for the move?" Zoey asked, her voice steady as she leaned into her mic.
David didn't hesitate. "For sure. I know exactly how good I am. I've put in the work, and I'm ready for the next step. I know what I'm capable of."
Zoey's voice softened with understanding. "Well, there's your answer then."
David raised an eyebrow, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Zoey said, her tone thoughtful, "about your coach—I'm sorry to say this, but of course, he wouldn't want you to go. Look at it from his view. If what you're saying is correct, his best player wants to leave. Of course, he'd try to stop you. He doesn't want to lose you."
David leaned back, his face tense. "Nah, Rooney ain't like that. He got me my first chance. Without him, I wouldn't even have this opportunity in the first place."
Zoey responded softly but firmly. "Okay, if that's what you believe. But is that what you want?"
David's face tightened as he thought about it. Was Zoey right? Did he want to stay at Derby for Rooney, or did he want more? What do I want? he wondered.
After a long pause, he laughed it off. "About what I want? It's simple. It's been the number one thing I've always wanted since I was a kid."
"And what's that?" Zoey asked, her voice curious.
David looked at the screen, his expression serious now. "I want to be the greatest player to ever grace the field."
Zoey's response came through the mic, a knowing smile in her voice. "Well, there you go," she said. "How do you want to go about it? Between your current club and Manchester United, which one can propel you toward your goal?"
David didn't respond right away. He was deep in thought, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him. But then, just as he was about to speak, Zoey suddenly shouted over the mic, "GOAL!"
David snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention back to the screen. He saw that she had used Paul Pogba from Manchester United to score a goal against his Bayern Munich, and the score was now 3-0.
"Well, you're still shit at this game," Zoey teased, laughing from her side of the mic.
David couldn't help but laugh too, but this time, his laughter was lighter. "You're a menace," he said, shaking his head. "But I think you might be right, Zoey. I just need to figure out what's best for me."
The game continued, but for David, the decision was far from over. He would have to choose soon. The weight of becoming the best player in the world and the pressure of leaving everything he knew were now tied to his future in a way he could never have predicted.