The Final Touch | Trent Alexander-Arnold

5

But even as she tried to settle into the new job, Nia couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she wasn't where she wanted to be. Every day, as she scrolled through her social media feeds and saw her former colleagues covering Premier League matches, writing analysis pieces, and sharing stories from the press box, a small part of her heart ached. She wanted that. She wanted to be on the field again, asking the hard questions, writing the stories that mattered.

The studio job was a stepping stone, she reminded herself. A necessary pause in her journey. But it wouldn't be the end. She couldn't let it be.

A few weeks later, Nia had settled into her role and started finding ways to inject her passion for football into the content they were creating. Whether it was asking the players about their favorite goals or discussing their thoughts on upcoming matches, she made sure to keep the sport at the heart of the stories they told.

One afternoon, after a successful shoot with a famous Premier League goalkeeper, Nia found herself in a conversation with the player's agent. He was older, seasoned, and had worked with some of the biggest names in football.

"You're pretty good at this, you know," the agent said, half-joking. "You ever think about moving up in this world? You've got the look and the knowledge. Could easily see you fronting a show."

Nia laughed it off, but the comment stuck with her. She hadn't considered it before, not seriously. But now, the idea of combining her love for football with something more public-facing, something more visible, seemed... possible.

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The next morning, Nia arrived at the studio buzzing with energy. She had barely slept the night before, her mind racing with potential questions, scenarios, and ways to make the interview run smoothly. Kendra had dropped the news on her yesterday—an off-set shoot at one of the Premier League's top clubs, and she wanted Nia to lead it. It was the kind of opportunity Nia had been waiting for, and she could hardly believe it was happening. It wasn't just any player, either—she was going to interview Liverpool's star right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Trent was one of the most talked-about players in the league, a local boy who had risen through the ranks and become a crucial part of one of the world's top football clubs. The fact that he was the same age as her only added to the weird feeling swirling inside her. He was a global star, while she was still trying to figure out her place in this football media landscape.

As Kendra walked past Nia's desk, she gave her a reassuring smile. "You ready for this?"

Nia nodded, though her stomach twisted with nerves. "I think so. I've gone over the questions a dozen times. Just hoping I don't make a fool of myself."

"You'll be fine," Kendra said confidently. "You've got great instincts. Just remember, keep it conversational. We want him to feel comfortable, not like he's in a press conference. It's a big responsibility, but I know you can handle it."

Nia took a deep breath and nodded. The weight of the responsibility was definitely there, but so was the excitement. Leading an interview like this—off-set, on her own—was a big step forward for her. She wanted to make sure she nailed it.

By the time she arrived at Liverpool's training ground, Nia had managed to calm her nerves. She'd been going over her questions in her head nonstop, trying to think of ways to keep it light and interesting without sounding rehearsed. She reminded herself that it wasn't just about asking the right questions—it was about creating a moment, something authentic that fans would love.

The interview was set up in a cozy, private lounge in the training facility. She and the crew were ready when Trent finally walked in, all casual confidence in his club tracksuit. He gave her an appreciative look—one Nia was used to by now, especially in this industry. She had learned how to brush those looks off and focus on her work.

"Hey, nice to meet you," Trent said, shaking her hand with a smile that could melt through the cameras. "Ready when you are."

His calm demeanor instantly helped settle her own nerves, and as they sat down to start the interview, Nia was relieved to find that Trent was easy to talk to. He wasn't just giving short, rehearsed answers; he was genuinely engaging with her questions, cracking jokes, and sharing personal stories. It made the whole thing flow naturally, almost like a conversation between friends rather than an interview.

At one point, they started talking about the pressures of being in the spotlight at such a young age, and Trent spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing fame, football, and personal life. Nia found herself actually enjoying the interview more than she expected. The nervous energy she'd been carrying all day started to fade as she got caught up in the back-and-forth.

But despite how smoothly things were going, Nia couldn't help but notice Trent's eyes drifting to her more than once during the interview. A lingering glance here, a quick look there—it wasn't overt, but it was there. She chose to ignore it, staying professional and focused on the conversation. After all, this was her moment, and she wasn't going to let anything get in the way of that.

When the interview wrapped up, Nia was proud of how it had gone. The footage was solid, and she had gotten some great responses out of Trent. She was already mentally preparing how she'd edit the final cut with Kendra later.

As the crew started packing up, Nia was about to leave when she felt someone approaching from behind.

"Hey, Nia, right?" It was Trent. He had come back over, a casual smile on his face.

"Yeah?" Nia replied, keeping her tone polite, but feeling a bit unsure about why he was still here.

"I just wanted to say you did a great job today," he said, taking a step closer. "You know, I don't usually feel that comfortable in these things. You've got a good vibe about you."

"Thanks," Nia replied, her smile tight but polite. "I appreciate that."

Trent hesitated for a moment, glancing around before lowering his voice. "Look, I don't usually do this, but... are you free later? I thought maybe we could grab a drink or something."

Nia blinked, her stomach flipping for a completely different reason now. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. This was not happening. 

Was he serious?

She looked up at him, her expression controlled but steely. "I'm flattered, but no thanks. I'm here for work, and I'm trying to keep things professional."

Trent, clearly not expecting that response, shifted awkwardly. "Oh, no, it's cool—I didn't mean to make it weird or anything."

"Well, it's a bit too late for that," Nia said, keeping her voice calm but firm. She forced a polite smile to ease the tension, but inside, she was irritated. After all her hard work, after finally feeling like she'd nailed a big responsibility, he had to come and make things uncomfortable.

She turned to walk away, her heart racing. Typical, she thought. It wasn't the first time she'd been in a situation like this, and unfortunately, it probably wouldn't be the last. But it still stung. She had worked so hard to be taken seriously in this world, and now it felt like all Trent saw was just another pretty face.

As she walked out of the training facility and headed toward her car, Nia pushed the encounter to the back of her mind. She had a job to do, and she wasn't going to let this ruin what had otherwise been a really good day. Besides, she'd proven herself today, and that was what really mattered.

She'd just have to remember to keep her guard up next time. This world wasn't always fair, but she knew how to handle it.

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