Rollercoaster • Jesse Lingard

𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖

Walking into work on Monday morning I still feel hungover. I didn't think it was physically possible for a hangover to last for this long, I'm ready to crawl into a hole and stay there forever. Before even sitting at my desk I'm stood at the office Nespresso machine making myself the strongest coffee we have. I can already tell it's going to be a long week.

"Looks like Vegas got you good!" Jack, one of my longest running work colleagues says as I sit down at my desk resting my head in my hands.

"You have no idea. The Devil created that place I swear. I've been hungover since Saturday!"

"Rachel you've got a full week of hangovers to come at once, trust me. We need to hear all about it"

"I'll tell you when everyone gets here. I'm too ill to repeat myself five times" We work in a small office. Our team only has six of us and that's how I like it. I mainly work with men but I prefer that, I don't get the girl drama and that works perfectly for me.

"Don't be like that. I'm dying to hear what you've been up to. You know Adam and Shaun will make today torture for you?"

"I know which is why I'm here early drinking the strongest coffee we have in the office. I need something to prepare me" say pointing to my cup of coffee.

"Rachel that's like a level twelve intensity. No one ever drinks it because it's so strong!" Jack says shocked. These coffee pods have been in the office forever because they're so strong everyone avoids them.

"See, that's the level of hungover I feel, mix that with jet lag and you might have an idea of how I'm feeling" I say as Jack starts laughing.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't laugh but it's hilarious how bad you are. Lucky for you, you're not in any meetings with clients until Wednesday"

"I've never been so grateful" I say as Abbie, Tom, Shaun and Adam make their way into the office one after the other. As we all crack on with what we have to do I try to play catch up with what I've missed while I've been away when I receive a text from Jesse. He's back in the UK and wants to meet up.

"Everything okay Rach?" Abbie asks "You look a little bit shellshocked"

"I'm fine. Just trying to fight through this hangover" I hate lying to everyone but no one can know that I'm married to Jesse Lingard.

Realising I'm not getting out of anything I spend the majority of our lunch break talking about Vegas and comparing trip reports with Jack and Adam who have both been to Vegas before. Obviously I leave out the part about me getting married but I do tell them that Lizzie and I met a group of lads from Manchester. As the end of the day nears I feel like I've spoke about Vegas as much as I can without digging myself into a hole. Turning my computer off I gather my things. I'm on my way to meet Jesse and I'm not sure how to feel.

"Hiya" Jesse says standing up to greet me as I walk into the café he asked me to meet him at, thankfully he's in a corner that's nearly hidden.

"Hi" I say sitting down. I'm getting more and more nervous for some reason, maybe it's because I'm scared to be seen with him.

"How was your day?" Jesse asks making small talk. This is the last thing I want to do.

"Not the best when I'm still feeling the effects of Vegas and jet lag"

"Yeah I'm with you on that, grateful I haven't been in training though. I spoke to a lawyer in Vegas who wasn't exactly the most helpful so I've spoke to the lawyer who I use in the UK and he's going to see what he can do"

"So we're not getting the quick annulment that we both want?" I say. There's no way Jesse wants to be married me, we're basically strangers.

"I don't think so. I've asked him to try and push it as much as he can considering how much I pay him but it all depends on how quickly Clark County respond with time difference and stuff" Jesse says and I feel deflated. I thought I was going to get divorced as quick as I got married however it doesn't look that way.

"Have you told anyone?" If I can't get divorced yet the least I can do is make sure no one knows anything and that starts by making sure no one knows anything.

"No like you said in Vegas we need to keep this between the people who were there. That's as important to me as it is you" agreeing with Jesse I'm thankful no one else knows anything.

"Thank you"

"So you might not want to make small talk but what is it you actually do? That part got missed off our marriage certificate. You look quite professional so I'm guessing something office based" Jesse says and I don't actually mind having a conversation with him. I just hope he isn't annoyed that I haven't told him I work at the club, I haven't had the heart to do it however my job hasn't actually came up before.

"Officially my job title is sponsorship sales manager but in real terms it means I basically sell Manchester United to businesses to try and get them to sponsor us for the next season or if a business comes forward saying they want to sponsor the club I look into them and find out their values things like that to make sure they're right for the whole Manchester United brand" I say trying to judge Jesse's reaction as I reveal that I technically work at the same company he does.

"That sounds boring I won't lie but I can't believe you work at the club! Did we ever talk about this in Vegas? That night is all a blur. In a way I can believe you work at the club though considering that you're a Ferguson and your grandad is a living legend. It all makes sense now" Jesse says pulling a face.

"Don't let my grandad hear you saying that I have a boring job, he thinks I'm in one of the best office jobs that United offer" I say laughing "No I can see why you'd think that it's boring but it's actually quite a good job, I enjoy it. I get to talk all day and travel so what more could I want? And I didn't get the job because of my grandad. I do actually have a degree I'm not saying he didn't have an influence but I like to think I did it myself"

"No I get that. I'm sure it was because of your skills and I can't exactly say you're bad at your job considering we've had some good sponsors lately"

"I like to think I haven't done too badly" looking at the time I realise my grandparents will be waiting for me. It's kind of a tradition, every Monday since I was little I've gone to their house for dinner. Just me and them without anyone else there, another reason why everyone thinks I'm their favourite. "I need to go, I have to meet my grandma and grandad, will you keep me updated if you hear anything?" I ask getting up to leave.

"You'll be the first to know, Rachel" Jesse says and I say my goodbyes before leaving the café. It's going to be harder than I thought to keep this a secret but I know I have to. It's not worth the consequences if anyone finds out. Walking back to my car I look around and hope to god there's no paparazzi at a distance, it's not worth thinking about what would happen if this became front page news.