Unexpected Connections

Chapter 10: The Storm After the Gala

The morning after the gala, Claire was still blissfully asleep, unaware of the storm brewing online. Unbeknownst to her, pictures of her talking alone with Alex, Tom, and Morgan had made it to the headlines. The media was abuzz, questioning the identity of the mysterious woman who had managed to engage with three current or former star players of the nation.

People online were going crazy trying to uncover her identity. It didn't take long before someone leaked her Instagram profile. The comments flooded in—some were kind, others were attempts to latch onto her newfound fame, but the majority were filled with hate, especially from fans angry that she had dared to talk to their number one, Morgan.

Alex had anticipated that something like this might happen and had one of his colleagues on the lookout for any signs of cybermobbing throughout the night. As soon as the situation escalated, Alex was informed and rushed to Claire's apartment, his heart pounding with worry.

When Claire sleepily opened the door, her eyes still heavy with sleep, Alex felt a wave of relief. "Claire, we need to talk," he said gently, guiding her to the couch.

"What's going on?" Claire asked, rubbing her eyes.

Alex took a deep breath. "Pictures of us from the gala have gone viral. People found your Instagram, and there's a lot of hate coming your way. I need you to stay off social media for now."

Claire's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why would they do that?"

"People can be cruel, especially when they're hiding behind a screen," Alex said, his voice filled with concern. "Call your work and let them know you won't be coming in today. We need to figure this out."

Claire nodded, her hands trembling as she dialled her workplace. After explaining the situation, she hung up and turned to Alex, her eyes filled with worry. "What do we do now?"

Alex made her favourite tea and took her into his arms, trying to calm her down. "We'll get through this together. Let's call Morgan, the media expert, and see what he suggests."

Morgan was quick to respond, and they discussed their options. They unanimously decided that it would be best for Claire to temporarily move in with Alex for her own protection. His flat was located in a private residential area with security service, making it a safer option.

Next, they decided to talk to Tom and try to reach out to James's agent, hoping he might be willing to give a statement to clear Claire's image. Tom immediately agreed to help, but James was hard to reach. So, Alex and Tom decided to give a statement first, explaining that Claire was Alex's girlfriend and was just escorting him to the gala.

Although the majority accepted their explanation, some people continued to insist that Claire had no business talking to James. A few hours later, after they had moved some of Claire's belongings to Alex's place, his phone rang. It was James, calling personally.

"Hey, Alex. I'm so sorry for the delay. I was on a flight when everything happened," James said, his voice filled with concern. "Can I talk to Claire?"

Alex handed the phone to Claire, who took a deep breath before speaking. "Hi, James. Thank you for calling."

"Claire, I'm really sorry about all this. I had no idea it would blow up like this," James said. "I'll make a statement to clear your name. You don't deserve this hate."

"Thank you, James. I really appreciate it," Claire replied, feeling a bit of relief.

James's PR team quickly released a statement, and the internet went wild. It was the first time James had actively turned to the media without talking about football. People started deleting their hateful comments, and many even apologized to Claire.

Exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster, Claire and Alex finally went to bed. They cuddled together, finding comfort in each other's presence. Despite the chaos, they knew they could face anything as long as they were together.