Oblivion {James Rodriguez} {Book ONE}

cunning plans and a homecoming

"Welcome back to work, Mrs. McKinley!" Cindy smiled warmly at me as I checked in that morning.

"Thank you Cindy. It's good to be back!" I replied. We made small talk while she was re-entering my I.D information following my long break. "Have a nice day." She wished me when she was done with the system.

"Likewise." I replied.

The office was bustling with energy that morning. Different cases from all over the country were filed in, and everyone was extremely busy either being locked up in their office or rushing around trying to find their conference rooms. The air smelled like fresh coffee and printer ink: the expected aromas you'd pick up on a dreaded Monday morning.

I managed to make a safe bee-line for my office without getting smacked by the incoming crowds. I closed the door shut tightly behind me and deposited my handbag and files on top of the mahogany desk.

Just as I booted up my laptop to check my email, someone entered my office. It was Melissa. She looked like she was nearing bad news.

"Hi, what's wrong?" I asked her.

"Did you know that James flew out of the country?" Melissa told me.

Something deflated in my chest quickly. He left? But it's only been two weeks! I couldn't believe the fact that we ended the way we did. And to think that I actually wanted to form a good friendship with him... and now he's gone. Off to Madrid or Colombia or Dubai... the news devastated my morning.

"Really? When?" I asked a depressed Melissa. I could tell she was as bummed about this just as much as I was. No more gym hottie for her anymore.

"Two days after the dinner you told me about. It was on my Twitter feed." Melissa replied, absentmindedly fiddling with a strand of her hair.

I was absolutely gutted about him leaving. I hated how we ended, it wasn't supposed to happen like that at all. Now how am I going to reach him, wherever he is? He would have probably changed his SIM card from an American carrier to a Spanish carrier.

I mentally kicked myself for not getting a hold of him in the two days before he flew back. I was being stubborn and childish, and didn't want to concede first. Now look at what it has cost me.

"I need to go drop Jimmy off at football practice," we both winced when she said that. I guess, now, football was going to be a sore topic between us.

"And I have these emails to get through," I glanced at the awaiting Gmail log-in page.

"I'll see you tonight, maybe?" She offered, standing up.

"Maybe..." I trailed off.

"Alright then, bye." She said and walked out of my office.

I sighed and logged in, scanning the 43 new unread emails. All were proposals of cases that my boss had sent me over the break. I went through all of them one by one, nothing intrigued me at all.

I sighed frustratingly. What now? I needed to get started on a new case as soon as possible, but all the good ones were taken and the small, irrelevant ones were left. I was aiming for the thrill of a chase much like Kerensky's, and not some dainty file about a inexperienced thief who robbed grandma's bakery.

After two hours of re-reading all my emails, even the old proposals, I decided to call it a day. I knew that, with my frustration, I would never be able to find something good to work on.

As I sat there sulking, James made his way to my thoughts. There was something very special about him, something that ignited every time he smiled or unconsciously pushed his body closer to mine. I didn't understand this mess of a feeling I had for him, but all I understood was this: I wanted him.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed in my brain like a lightbulb. I frantically got up from my chair and started rummaging through my old files until I found the Envigado case.

I flipped through the papers until I reached the second last one, with all the suspects' contact information.

Much to my satisfaction, I found James' block straight away.

I skipped through his old details and went straight to direct relatives and relations.

My eyes widened in relief as I found the exact number I was looking for.

I smiled to myself as I dialed the first number I saw;

Daniela Ospina.

__________________________

James' POV

"Benzema, I need you, Cristiano and Bale to push up on the defense. Park the bus, forget about attack," Carlo ordered.

[A/N: 'Park the Bus' is a strategy used in football in which the team plays defensively for the entire game, without the intention of scoring any goals, in order to block the opponents chances of scoring, thus escaping with a scoreless draw].

All three of the strikers nodded quietly with grave faces.

"Kroos, James, Modric, I need you guys to be the heart of our defense. Don't you, for a second, concede. I don't want the Atelti attack on our side of the goal for more than ten seconds, understood?" Ancelotti sounded firm and angry, and although I was slightly unhappy with the amount of pressure, I agreed silently.

"Rest of the players follow suit, if we get an open chance, then score. But don't aim for it too passionately especially in this game, otherwise we're going to be done for. Yes?" Ancelotti nearly roared.

All the players in the room muttered an inaudible 'yes.' Carlo didn't seem fazed by our terrified behavior; he clapped his hands loudly and exclaimed: "Vamos Madrid! Get out there!"

Immediately, all of us sprang up from the changing room benches and lined up accordingly at the entrance of the pitch. Atletico were lined up right next to us, and both teams were very careful not to make eye contact with each other. We hated them, and vice versa.

They announced our arrival and both teams walked out on the pitch at the same time.

Almost immediately, the entire stadium erupted with screams, shouts, whistles and chants. Goosebumps appeared on my body as an incredible wave of adrenalin and gratitude surged through me all at once. They joy of seeing the spectators dressed in white chanting "Hala Madrid y Nada Más!" was impeccable.

This is my home. This is the Santiago Bernabéu.