The rain in Lisbon tapped lightly against the windows as the sound of cleats hitting the turf echoed across the training ground. Kai was already deep into his warm-up, letting the rhythm of his footwork distract him from everything else. The Champions League results from the previous night were still fresh in his mind — some results even made him shake his head. Inter 1–3 Liverpool… Benfica 0–4 Manchester City… Barcelona 2–2 Arsenal… Real Madrid 4–1 Juventus… Bayern 2–0 PSG…
Benfica's crushing defeat made him smile a bit; though his team had been doing well in their own right, his league rivals facing such a heavy loss felt like a reminder of the pressure that came with competing at the top. But it was only a momentary distraction. He had his own match preparations to focus on.
The coaches had informed him that he would be resting for the upcoming weekend's match. While the idea of sitting out left him restless, Kai understood. His body had taken a lot over the past few months, and with the Champions League looming on the horizon, the coaching staff wanted him fresh. The decision was sound — but that didn't make it any easier.
The team had wrapped up the day's training session when Coach Borgas came over to him. "Rest up, Kai," Borgas said with a friendly smile. "We'll need you fully charged for next week's Champions League game."
Kai nodded, feeling the weight of the news. He was a young player, hungry for every minute of game time he could get, but he knew this was part of the process. Rest, recovery, and focus were all part of the game now. But as he walked off the field, he couldn't shake the desire to stay in motion, he felt the adrenaline surging still.
Kai returned home to his apartment, the familiar sights of Lisbon flashing past the cab windows. He had decided to leave his car today. He was mentally exhausted but physically still in peak form. As he walked through the door, he was caught off guard by the sight of Sarah, his agent, his mentor, and someone he considered family, sitting at his kitchen table with two pizza boxes.
"Sarah?" Kai blinked in confusion, adjusting to the unexpected sight of her in his space. "What are you doing here?"
She greeted him with a grin and waved a slice of pizza in the air. "I came to talk business and, well, you were on the top of my list to enjoy some pizza with," she said playfully.
Kai, still processing the situation, chuckled and made his way over. "You know I'm still training and could use some rest."
"Oh, I know," Sarah said as she grabbed another slice. "But listen, I've got good news for you, and I figured pizza would make it go down easier."
Kai raised an eyebrow but sat down across from her. "Alright, hit me with it."
"Adidas, Nike, Puma, and New Balance are all offering you contracts," Sarah said casually, as if she were discussing the weather. She slid the papers across the table toward him. The four brands were all battling it out to sign the rising star.
Kai's eyes widened. He scanned the offers, already knowing which brand he would lean toward. Puma was offering the biggest package — $15 million per year for five years, with numerous bonuses on top. Nike had a slightly smaller deal — $10 million per year, but it was with the swoosh.
"I'm leaning toward Nike," Kai said after a moment, his finger tracing the Nike offer.
"Of course you are," Sarah replied with a knowing smile. "It's always been your brand, hasn't it?"
Kai gave her a sheepish grin. "I've always worn Nike. It feels right."
"I figured," Sarah said, checking her notes. "I'll have them send over the paperwork tomorrow. You'll be good to go."
She wasn't done yet. "And…" she hesitated, holding up a glossy Louis Vuitton invitation. "This came through as well. They want you in their runway show in Paris this April. They're offering you a spot to model for them."
Kai blinked, his mouth dropping open. "A runway? In Paris? Me?"
Sarah nodded. "Yeah, that's right. You'll be modeling for one of the most prestigious brands in fashion. You've got the looks, the presence, and they know it."
Kai leaned back, staring at the invitation in awe. It was hard for him to imagine himself on a runway, let alone in Paris, strutting for a luxury brand like Louis Vuitton.
"You know I've never done anything like that," Kai said, laughing nervously. "But… I guess I can give it a shot."
"Of course you can!" Sarah grinned. "You've got star power, Kai. Believe me. You're going to knock it out of the park."
He still wasn't sure, but the excitement was palpable. This was a world Kai had never even dreamed of stepping into. A professional footballer and a model? The idea felt surreal, but he couldn't deny the opportunity in front of him.
"Alright, I'll do it," he said, finally accepting the offer.
"Good. I'll send over the confirmation for the show," Sarah replied. "You're going to be amazing."
The conversation turned to other matters of business, but Kai's mind wandered back to the day's events. He had secured a sponsorship deal with Nike and, on top of that, an opportunity to model for Louis Vuitton in Paris. A professional footballer and a celebrity in the making? He didn't know what to think anymore, but he knew one thing: it felt like his world was opening up in ways he hadn't expected.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Madison was adjusting to her new role in the Netflix series. The set was bustling with energy as she and her castmates worked through the day's scenes. But when they gathered around during a short break, the conversation inevitably shifted to football.
"I heard Liverpool destroyed Inter 3-1 last night," one of the cast members, Theo, said, scrolling through his phone. "And City wiped out Benfica 4-0. Pretty wild results."
"Wait," Madison said, her voice light but focused. "You're talking about Benfica? The team in the Portuguese League, right?" She had been following Sporting's matches closely, even though they weren't dating yet. Kai had become someone important to her — someone who had been kind enough to share parts of his world with her, so she knew his league rivals.
The cast members immediately perked up. "Your boyfriend plays for Sporting, right?" one of them teased, giving Madison a knowing grin.
Madison felt her cheeks flush. She hadn't quite labeled their relationship yet, but they'd definitely become close. She nodded, trying to stay composed. "Yeah, he's with Sporting. They did do well last night, and Kai played hard. You should've seen him with that pass. He was unstoppable."
"Well, look at you go. Must be nice having a boyfriend who is soccer player, huh?" another castmate, Ella, asked, raising an eyebrow with a sly grin. "How do you feel being apart from him, especially with all this success happening for him?"
Madison let out a soft breath. "Not great. Yeah, it is definitely not nice." she admitted. "But I'm so proud of him. He's worked for everything he's getting. I just want to be there to support him. It's not easy, though."
Her friends exchanged glances but didn't push any further. They understood. Madison knew that she couldn't help the flutter she felt in her chest when she thought of Kai, even if they weren't officially dating yet. There was something about him that drew her in, even from across the world.
Later that night, Kai lay on his bed in Lisbon, his phone in his hand, scrolling through messages. As he checked his social media, his eyes widened. His follower count was rising at an exponential rate. Fans were reacting to his recent performances and endorsements. After that he FaceTimed his family in Paris to chat about their daily activities.
Kai couldn't stop grinning. He felt a rush of excitement in his chest, but it wasn't just the number of followers or the contracts that made him feel accomplished. It was the feeling that his dream was finally coming true — a dream he'd had since he was a kid, running through the streets with a ball at his feet.
The next day, as he walked out into the bright Lisbon sunlight, he realized that his journey was only just beginning. There was so much ahead of him — the Champions League, Paris Fashion Week, and everything in between. But for now, he was focused on the present: on training, on the team, and on the future he was shaping with every step he took.
And with that, he felt ready for whatever came next.