Dynasty Awakening: Building My Own Football Empire-Chapter 240: The Billion Pound Problem

The Monday morning rain in Yorkshire was not polite. It was cold and wet and it soaked everything. Michael Sterling stood at the window of his office. He held a cup of hot tea. He looked down at the car park. The team bus had arrived back late last night. The players had gone home to sleep. But the Sterling Era Training Complex was already busy. Arthur Milton ran into the office. He was wearing a raincoat that was bright yellow. He looked like a giant banana.

Boss look at this Arthur shouted holding up a tablet.

What is it Arthur Michael asked sipping his tea.

The internet Arthur said breathlessly. The internet is broken. The video of Diego Nunez sliding on the floor and scoring has fifty million views. They are calling it The Tactical Slip.

Michael smiled. Of course they were. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

And look at sales Arthur continued swiping the screen. We sold ten thousand shirts in Japan because of Kaito. We sold five thousand shirts in Serbia because of Vladimir. And we sold one shirt in Italy.

Only one Michael asked.

Yes Arthur said. It was bought by Lorenzo Ricci mother. She left a review saying the purple colour is too aggressive but she supports her son.

Michael laughed. It was good to be popular. But popularity did not win league points.

Kenji Sato walked into the room. The billionaire owner was wearing a suit made of waterproof silk.

Michael we have a problem Kenji said seriously.

Is it money Michael asked. Did we spend too much on pizza?

No Kenji said. It is the trophy. The Community Shield. It is missing.

Missing Michael put his cup down. We won it yesterday. How can it be missing?

Go to the gym Kenji pointed. You will see.

Michael and Arthur walked down the corridor to the gym. They heard loud music. It was the sound of heavy metal.

Inside the gym Diego Nunez was lifting weights.

But he was not lifting normal weights.

He had tied the Community Shield to a chain. He was wearing it around his neck like a giant necklace. He was doing squats with the shield bouncing against his chest.

I am the Champion of Gold Diego roared as he squatted.

Vladimir Petrovic The Bear was spotting him. Vladimir was holding a watering can in one hand because he was watering the gym plants at the same time.

Good form little man Vladimir rumbled. The gold plate makes you heavy. Heavy is good.

Diego Michael shouted.

Diego stopped. He looked at Michael. He looked guilty.

Hello Papa Michael Diego said. I am just testing the durability of the trophy.

It belongs in the cabinet Diego Michael said sternly. It is not jewelry.

But it fits me perfectly Diego argued. Look. It covers my heart. It protects me from emotional damage.

Give it to me Diego.

Diego sighed. He untied the shield. He handed it to Michael. It was warm and slightly sweaty.

Fine Diego pouted. But on Sunday when we play Chelsea I want to win another one.

We do not win a trophy every week Diego Michael explained. The Premier League takes nine months.

Nine months Diego gasped. That is like a baby. We have to wait a whole baby time to win again?

Yes Michael said. So start training. Michael walked out to the training pitch. The rain was getting heavier.

Most players did not mind the rain. Jamie Vardy loved it. He was sliding around like a seal.

But Lorenzo Ricci was standing under the dugout roof. The Italian model was wearing a plastic poncho over his training kit. He looked miserable.

Lorenzo get on the pitch Michael ordered.

Boss look at the sky Lorenzo said pointing a manicured finger. The sky is crying. If I go out there my hair product will dissolve. It is water soluble.

This is England Lorenzo Michael said. If you wait for the sun you will wait until next year.

Lorenzo looked at the mud. He looked at his white boots.

He took a deep breath.

For the team Lorenzo whispered.

He stepped out into the rain. He ran ten yards. A splash of mud hit his cheek.

Lorenzo froze. He touched the mud. He looked at his finger.

He screamed.

MY FACE Lorenzo shouted. I AM MELTING.

Vladimir Petrovic walked over. The giant Serb wiped the mud off Lorenzo face with his thumb.

Is just dirt pretty boy Vladimir said. Dirt is good for skin. It exfoliates.

Lorenzo blinked. Really?

Yes Vladimir nodded. In Serbia we pay money for mud baths. Here it is free.

Lorenzo looked at the mud with new respect.

Free spa treatment Lorenzo mused. Okay. I accept the mud.

Later that afternoon Michael called a tactical meeting.

The room was dark. The projector screen was bright.

On the screen was the logo of Chelsea Football Club.

Okay Michael said standing at the front. The party is over. The pizza is eaten. The shield is in the cabinet.

Now we look at the reality.

He clicked a button. A list of names appeared on the screen.

Enzo Fernandez. Moises Caicedo. Cole Palmer. Christopher Nkunku.

They have spent one billion pounds Michael said. They have two players for every position. They have a stadium that holds forty thousand people who expect to win.

Arthur Milton raised his hand from the back.

Boss Arthur asked. How much did we spend?

We spent seventy million on Mateo Vega Michael said. And we bought Vladimir for the price of a used car. And Kaito was free.

So we are the discount store Arthur said. And they are the luxury mall.

Exactly Michael said.

He looked at Mateo Vega. The Painter was sketching something in a notepad.

Mateo Michael said. You played against Real Madrid. You know big teams. What is their weakness?

Mateo looked up. His eyes were dark and intelligent.

Big teams have big egos Mateo said softly. When they play Barnsley they think it will be easy. They think they just have to show up.

And?

And when we hit them Mateo smiled. When we hit them hard they panic. They look at the scoreboard and they do not understand why the discount store is winning.

Diego Nunez slammed his hand on the table.

We will hit them Diego shouted. I will hit them with my body. Vladimir will hit them with his beard. Kaito will run circles around them.

After the meeting Michael went to his office.

The phone rang. It was the press officer.

Boss Sky Sports wants an interview about the Chelsea game. They are calling it The Billions vs The Misfits.

Tell them yes Michael said.

He knew what the media wanted. They wanted him to say that Chelsea bought success. They wanted him to start a war of words.

But Michael was smarter than that.

He walked to the press room. The cameras were waiting.

Michael the reporter asked. Chelsea have a squad value ten times higher than yours. Do you feel jealous?

Michael leaned into the microphone.

Jealous No. Why should I be jealous?

Because they can buy anyone the reporter said.

You can buy legs Michael said. You can buy speed. You can buy technique.

He paused.

But you cannot buy the feeling of Diego Nunez eating a pineapple pizza. You cannot buy the sound of Jamie Vardy laughing in the rain. You cannot buy the brotherhood of Misfits.

We respect Chelsea. They are a giant. But giants fall harder when you trip them up.

The reporter smiled. That is a good quote Michael.

THE EVENING CALM

That evening the training complex was quiet.

Michael walked through the corridors. He saw Kaito Tanaka sleeping on a sofa in the reception area. The Japanese sprinter was holding a bag of rice crackers.

He saw Vladimir Petrovic in the garden area talking to his roses.

Sleep well Sasha Vladimir was whispering to a red rose. Tomorrow we go to London. It is a loud city. But you are safe here.

Michael walked to the kit room.

The kit man was preparing the shirts for Sunday.

The purple away kit.

He touched the shirt with NUNEZ 5 on the back. Then VEGA 10. Then PETROVIC 44.

These were his soldiers.

Arthur Milton walked in. He was holding two cups of hot chocolate.

One for you Boss Arthur said.

Thank you Arthur.

Are you scared Boss Arthur asked. Chelsea is the first game. If we lose the media will say the bubble has burst.

I am not scared Arthur Michael said taking the chocolate. I am excited.

Why?

Because last year we hoped to survive. This year we expect to win. That pressure is a privilege.

Arthur nodded. He looked at the shirts.

We have a good team Boss. Even if Lorenzo is afraid of rain. Even if Diego tries to steal trophies.

Especially because of those things Michael smiled.

He looked at the calendar on the wall.

SUNDAY AUGUST 18. CHELSEA VS BARNSLEY.

It was written in red ink.

Michael took a pen. He drew a circle around it.

Then he wrote one word next to it.

BEGIN.

He finished his chocolate.

Go home Arthur Michael said. Get some sleep. Sunday is going to be a long day.

Arthur walked to the door.

Boss?

Yes Arthur?

If we win can we have pizza again?

Michael laughed.

If we win Arthur you can have the whole restaurant.

Arthur eyes went wide. He ran out of the room probably to dream about cheese.

Michael Sterling stood alone in the kit room. The smell of clean laundry filled the air.

The pizza was eaten. The shield was polished. The jokes were told.

Now the laughter had to stop.