It's difficult to find the way everything fits into place once it's broken, even if a surgeon gives you a pretty significant first push. Alexia's recovery is progressing with hope. Her knee is responding well to rehabilitation, but she doesn't feel...
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Alexia's POV
One tone, two tones, three tones. I ended the call.
Josep's curious eyes scanned me with a furrowed brow. I pushed my hair back and adjusted my jacket, then tucked my phone into my pocket.
"Tot bé?" (Everything alright?) he asked as he approached the door, confirming that I was ready to start the meeting.
"Tot bé," I assured him.
We had argued. Mía didn't want to talk to me since then. She felt like I was holding her responsible for something she didn't want to happen, like an unjust guilt she would have to bear.
Josep finally opened the door, revealing a gray, modern table with rounded corners and an asymmetrical shape, along with a couple of empty chairs. The three men who were waiting for us stood up as soon as they recognized us.
I took a moment during the greetings to check my phone screen. Empty.
"We're delighted you could come today. It happened to be convenient for us, and you've saved us a lot of travel," one of them began speaking.
I pocketed my phone again.
"Sure, no problem. Thank you as well for making the time," Josep replied, seeing that I was too distracted to actively participate in a formal conversation filled with empty greetings and compliments that none of us thought held any truth.
I wasn't in the mood at all. I felt numb, disconnected from reality; but if I continued like this, I would earn myself a good scolding from my agent. I just managed to smile.
"Well, where would you like to start?" the man on the right said.
I probably should know their names. They might have introduced themselves upon entering.
"Well, Mike," Mental note: Mike is the one on the right, "the first thing would be the contract's freedom, to be completely sure that we have the correct information, the contract would end in July of this year, correct?"
"Correct," Josep responded again. "It would allow her to finish the season entirely with Barcelona, and it would also give you the assurance that she's fully recovered and performing as the usual".
The man in the middle chuckled amiably.
"I don't think any of us have a problem waiting a few months for the great Alexia Putellas," the others at the table nodded in agreement.
"As for the bonus and salary, I think it's clear that with a change of this magnitude, the offer should match the risk. Alexia could choose any team right now, and the choice should come with an offer that corresponds to her position," my agent cleared his throat. "Chelsea is a team with history, with fans; but even at the risk of sounding too confident, Barcelona has few rivals in terms of sports project, fan base, and facilities for the players. Not to mention the controversy her departure from the club, after a lifetime and as captain, would generate. Could Chelsea compensate for those... let's say, resulting hiccups?"
The three men looked at each other.
"We understand that a signing of this magnitude comes with much higher costs than a usual signing," the man on the left cleared his throat. "But given the revenues and advertising it would also bring, we have the club's support to allocate the necessary resources to improve any offer that may be presented."
Josep nodded satisfactorily. In a way, I would have liked them to say that they weren't willing to offer that amount of money.
"Ms. Putellas would have to attend all events required by the club, as well as participate in the necessary publicity. Although everything would be previously agreed upon, of course," the man in the center said.
"A medium-long-term contract would facilitate the process," the man on the left commented, picking up one of the pens on the table.
I shifted in my seat, not going unnoticed by Josep, who furrowed his brow.
"That's not going to be possible," my agent crossed his arms. "We were hoping to sign for a year and review the conditions again after that period."
The news didn't sit well with the three suited men, who exchanged skeptical looks. Two of them leaned in, whispering to each other for a few seconds.
Finally, the man in the middle nodded, placing both hands on the table and speaking directly to me, looking into my eyes.
"Ms. Putellas, why did you choose to talk to us initially?"
I hesitated to respond. There really wasn't a clear reason for doing so.
"I want a change," I shrugged. "Chelsea can give it to me, and, I don't know," I sighed, seeking Josep's help with my eyes, "I think I could fit well into the team."
None of the three seemed genuinely convinced. It was more like resignation.
"Alright," the previously mentioned Mike sighed, taking the lead in the meeting. "We need a preliminary agreement to take back to London."
I swallowed hard. I was determined, but I needed a little time to process what I was about to do. My state since the start of the meeting hadn't gone unnoticed by Josep, who rapped his palm on the table, drawing the attention away from the papers that were starting to pile up in front of me.
"Let's see, when would you need to return to London?"
"The flight is tomorrow afternoon," the man on the left answered, raising an eyebrow, confused.
"Would it be possible to meet tomorrow morning? I think we need to let all these emotions settle. It's a big change."
Mike nodded with his arms crossed.
"Alright. Tomorrow at ten, here."
"Great." Josep stood up and shook hands with the three men. I did the same, in a much less natural way. I grabbed my things from the back of the chair and practically fled the room.
I rushed down the stairs of the office building, taking advantage of being on only the second floor. The wind cleared my mind slightly; I slowed down to soak in the fresh air, cleansing my lungs.
"Hey." Josep's hand landed on my shoulder, causing me to turn around. "What's going on?"
"I need to talk to Mía."
He nodded in silence. He thought for a few seconds and then smiled slightly.
"Come on, I'll drive you."
*********
It's super funny how in the english story you all read and vote a lot more than in the spanish one but comments practically are nonexistent. Or at least that's what I thought before the last chapter hahahaha
was hating Chelsea what made you all stop being ghost readers??
And why do you hate Chelsea??? Spanish readers hated it too but I thought ENGLISH readers would like it. What did Chelsea do to all of you???
