Daniel (Former) Director
The café fell silent in an instant.
William Henderson, the director of London City FC, flashed a leisurely smile and pointed to the empty chair beside Cha Kang-min.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Of course not."
Cha Kang-min nodded, and William settled into the seat with effortless poise.
Daniel's face, by contrast, twisted in fury.
"What... what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Allow me to introduce William Henderson, director of London City FC."
William bowed his head politely at Cha Kang-min's introduction.
"Pleased to meet you, Director Daniel."
"I know who you are! I know damn well you're London City's director. What I'm asking is why the hell London's director is sitting here."
"Ah. I assume it's the same reason you're here."
"The same reason?"
William merely offered a calm smile to the increasingly agitated Daniel.
"Cha Kang-min."
"Y-you... you barge in while we're in the middle of a contract negotiation...!"
"Just as the rumors say, Director Daniel."
"Rumors?"
Daniel's eyes narrowed. He could sense they weren't the good kind.
"How you handle Ashbery's prime talent... it's quite infamous in the industry."
The venom in William's words hit Daniel square in the chest.
This bastard...
Daniel ground his teeth, but William paid no mind, pulling a contract from his envelope.
"Cha Kang-min, we've reviewed the terms you proposed."
"That was fast."
"They were good terms. The club approved them unanimously."
William slid the contract toward Cha Kang-min.
At that moment, Daniel shoved his own contract forward.
"Kang-min, look at mine first. I got here first."
"But wasn't Cha Kang-min already negotiating with us?"
William feigned confusion.
"That's... because you butted in!"
Daniel's voice rose, drawing glances from the other patrons.
"Keep it down. This is a public place."
William's measured rebuke only fueled Daniel's rage.
"Public place or not! Kang-min, please come to your senses. What is London City? They're a bottom-feeder in the second division, just splashing cash around. You know that better than anyone. Ashbery will promote this season, no question."
"Promote."
William let out a scoff.
"You mean the experience of failing for three straight years?"
"What did you say?!"
Daniel shot to his feet.
William rose slowly in response.
"Just stating facts. And Cha Kang-min..."
He turned to Cha Kang-min.
"London City will promote too. This season, without fail."
"D-don't throw around empty promises. Pathetic, for a director!"
"Then let's wager on the truth, not promises. Our club has accepted every one of your conditions. Including performance bonuses up to 10.1 billion won."
"10.1 billion?"
Daniel echoed, glaring at Cha Kang-min.
"You really demanded 10.1 billion?"
"Yes."
Cha Kang-min's flat reply flushed Daniel's face crimson.
"You're both insane! A 10.1 billion contract?!"
Daniel clawed at his hair.
Meanwhile, William casually produced a pen and offered it to Cha Kang-min.
"Time to decide, Cha Kang-min. Which team do you want to play for?"
Daniel yanked out his own pen in a panic.
"Kang-min! I'll double our offer. 2 billion! Guaranteed 2 billion, no options bullshit. They probably threw in goal bonuses anyway, and with your current form, you won't hit them."
Cha Kang-min's eyes chilled at Daniel's words.
10.1 billion was symbolic.
It embodied his vow to devour opponents on the pitch once more.
One billion more than his first target, Leo Silva.
"Uh, uh... fine, we'll match it. 11 billion. Full 11 billion if conditions are met!"
Cha Kang-min eyed Daniel.
"Where's that kind of money coming from? After splashing it on Leo Silva?"
"We have it! The owner... the owner ordered it personally!"
Daniel's voice quivered. It was a lie, but signing now was all that mattered.
William snorted.
"Not even a passerby would buy that pitch. So, where will you sign, Cha Kang-min?"
Two contracts lay before Cha Kang-min.
He slowly picked up a pen.
Kim Jae-won (23, Ashbery fan) chugged an energy drink in front of his monitor.
He was patrolling the SM overseas soccer board tonight as usual.
"Ah. They're at it again."
Kim Jae-won gritted his teeth at the posts mocking Ashbery once more.
But his mood lifted soon enough.
At least Leo Silva's coming!
The signing of a big-club caliber striker was a godsend for Ashbery fans amid three years of promotion heartbreak.
Kim Jae-won hammered the keyboard excitedly.
His username, 'AshberyFanFor30Years,' was well-known on the board.
He watched every Ashbery match and posted recaps religiously.
"Peaceful night as usual."
As Kim Jae-won browsed leisurely, a new post popped up.
It had an attached photo.
Kim Jae-won clicked it.
A London café filled the image. At a window table...
"Huh?"
His eyes widened.
It was unmistakably Director Daniel. Ashbery's Daniel.
And across from him...
"No way..."
The man's side profile was blurry, but the silhouette was familiar to Kim Jae-won.
He checked the comments.
No way... no way it's Cha Kang-min?
The man who'd spawned countless Ashbery fans.
He'd forged romance with direct promotions from fourth to second division, drawing in hordes of Koreans.
To fans, Cha Kang-min was practically Ashbery incarnate.
Kim Jae-won and others had taken his extension for granted.
No, it can't be.
But unease gnawed at him, so he posted.
Downvotes flooded in instantly.
His post vanished from the main page after ten downvotes.
"Ah... my points."
Kim Jae-won cursed.
But the anxiety lingered.
He fired up Twitter up Twitter next.
He followed accounts that broke transfer news fastest.
'Football Transfer News' was reliable.
He hammered F5 relentlessly.
F5, F5, F5...
And finally.
Kim Jae-won's hand trembled.
"It's real... it's actually happening."
He rushed back to SM Korea and posted.
He attached the Twitter link.
A few minutes later.
"...2,000 upvotes?"
Kim Jae-won grinned at the sudden surge.
But the joy was short-lived.
The comments grew vicious.
Kim Jae-won's mood sank with them.
Ah... fuck. Selling him? Selling Cha Kang-min?
These deranged front office clowns.
His keyboard erupted in fury.
Han Ye-jin's private office.
She sat behind a heavy oak desk, staring at her monitor.
Soccer news sites filled the screen.
All carrying the same story.
Han Ye-jin quietly lifted the phone.
"Send Director Daniel. Now."
Her voice was an octave lower than usual.
Ten minutes later.
Knock knock—
The door opened, and Daniel entered.
His face was already ashen. He seemed to guess what was coming.
"Sit."
Han Ye-jin said calmly.
Daniel eased into the chair cautiously.
She stared at him in silence for a long moment.
Her gaze was icy, unbearable.
"Director Daniel."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I heard Cha Kang-min went to London City."
"Th-that's..."
"What did you say when I gave you your last chance?"
Her voice dropped lower.
"I'd rush right over..."
"Rush over and...?"
"Bring him back..."
"Did you?"
Silence.
Daniel couldn't lift his head.
Han Ye-jin rose slowly.
"Director Daniel."
"Yes..."
"Look at me."
Daniel hesitated, frozen.
Korean laced with suppressed fury fell over him.
"I said look up, you bean-counting fuck."
Daniel raised his trembling head.
Han Ye-jin shoved the monitor in his face.
"See? Our club's image is in the toilet."
Daniel's face paled further.
"Know whose fault that is?"
"I'm sorry..."
"Sorry doesn't cut it."
Han Ye-jin stepped closer.
"A director who can't secure one player and tanks the club's rep?"
"Ma'am, I'm truly sorry. One more chance..."
"Chance?"
She sneered.
"Counted how many I've given?"
Han Ye-jin grabbed his collar.
"First time I told you to extend Cha Kang-min, what'd you say?"
"I'd squeeze it out..."
"Second, when London City meddled?"
"I'd block them..."
"Third, your last chance?"
"I'd bring him back..."
Slap!
Stars burst before Daniel's eyes.
He realized she'd slapped him.
"And the result?!"
Daniel staggered.
"Ma'am..."
"What's the goddamn result?!"
Her voice echoed through the office.
"Cha Kang-min's at London City, we're getting flamed online, and we're in debt from Leo Silva's fee!"
"That's..."
"That's what?! Fuck!"
Han Ye-jin hurled a glass from the desk.
It shattered against the wall beside Daniel.
"The chairman! Our group chairman wanted Cha Kang-min! And for a few billion, you let him slip?!"
"Th-that...!"
"Director Daniel."
She spoke calmly again.
But the calm was more terrifying.
"Step down."
"Ma'am! Please!"
Daniel dropped to his knees.
"One more chance! Just one!"
"You've used them all."
Han Ye-jin picked up the intercom.
"Security, escort former Director Daniel out. Tell HR to process his termination."
"Ma'am! Please!"
Daniel's voice cracked.
"This team I built with passion! Please!"
Han Ye-jin looked down at him.
"You should've shown that passion before losing Cha Kang-min."
Security entered then.
"Former Director Daniel, time to go."
"I'm not leaving! I won't!"
Daniel clung to the desk.
But security dragged him off forcibly.
Han Ye-jin raised a hand, halting them.
Hope flickered on Daniel's face as she spoke deliberately.
"Sweep today's mess under the rug. If word gets out, you're done in this industry."
Bang!
The door slammed shut.