Football System: Touchline God-Chapter 37: Clear View Manor

Clear View Manor, Storm Ridge, Kingsport District, South Ashbourne Vale, England.

This is the main home of the Marrowgate family. It currently consists of the head, Lord Darius Marrowgate, his wife, Lady Sayuri Marrowgate, their son, Alaric Marrowgate, and Darius’s sister, Rosana Marrowgate.

Currently past 10 pm, within the study of the manor Darius was going through a few files with his brows knitted in thought. The leather chair creaked softly as he shifted, papers scattered across the mahogany desk like fallen leaves. Numbers and projections filled the pages, but his mind kept wandering to other matters. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

A knock sounded and Rosana came in with a tray containing two cups of coffee. She was wearing a loose, red nightgown that barely reached her thighs, the silk fabric catching the warm light from the desk lamp. Her bare feet made no sound on the thick carpet as she approached.

Darius acknowledged her with a smile as she handed him one of the cups. The porcelain was warm against his palm, steam rising between them like morning mist.

"Thank you," he said, his voice softer than it had been all day.

"You’re welcome," she said, leaning down to peck his lips. The kiss was brief but familiar, carrying the weight of years between them.

She settled into the chair across from his desk, tucking one leg beneath her. The nightgown shifted with the movement, and Darius found his attention divided between the financial reports and the woman across from him.

"The quarterly numbers look good," Rosana said, gesturing to the papers with her coffee cup. "Stormgate Corporation’s mining division exceeded projections by twelve percent."

"The new equipment helped." Darius set down a report about their steel production facilities. "Though the labor costs are starting to climb. We might need to look at alternatives."

They talked about the company for a while, voices low in the quiet study. Outside, rain began to tap against the tall windows, adding a gentle rhythm to their conversation. The manor felt peaceful at this hour, far removed from the chaos of daytime activities.

But then Rosana brought up some news that made him frown.

"I heard about the match tonight," she said, swirling her coffee slowly. "Longford United failed to keep their lead. Cromley Rovers came back from 1-3 to equalise 3-3."

Darius’s brows furrowed. He set his cup down with more force than necessary, the sound sharp in the quiet room.

"This result now places Cromley three points ahead of Stormgate United," Rosana continued, watching his reaction carefully. "Until our game against the league leaders tomorrow, Saturday."

"Bloody incompetent fools." Darius pushed back from his desk, standing to pace toward the window. Rain streaked the glass, distorting the view of the manor’s grounds. "Struggling to keep a lead with just five minutes left to play. Now we’ll have to earn at least a point against the league leaders."

"It’s just one match, Darius. It wouldn’t change much even if we lose."

"One match that could cost us everything." He turned back to face her, silver hair catching the lamplight. "The playoffs aren’t guaranteed yet, we can’t afford to drop points."

Rosana stood and walked around the desk, her movements graceful despite the late hour. "That’s not much of an issue," she said, reaching him by the window. "We’ve still got eight games to qualify for the playoffs." Her fingers traced the lapel of his silk robe as she spoke.

Darius sighed, sitting down once more. "If we still can’t make the playoffs before the last game, I’ll have to seek my old friend in the EFF."

The English Football Federation had always been useful when properly motivated.

"Still as capable as always," Rosana purred, walking around him to sit on his lap while massaging his shoulders. Her hands worked at the tension in his muscles, familiar with every knot and pressure point after all these years.

Her loose nightgown had risen with the movement, displaying her supple thighs which Darius caressed in return. The silk was warm under his palms, and he felt some of the day’s stress beginning to fade.

Rosana smiled, leaning closer until her breath tickled his ear. "Speaking of which, your wife, Sayuri still hasn’t returned from her family visit to the Aziana territory. Being Japanese, I thought she’d be respectful enough not to keep her husband waiting."

As she said that, she arched her back, her loose nightgown revealing a nice view of her chest. The red silk fell away like water, and Darius felt his pulse quicken.

"She’s been gone for over a month now," he murmured, hands sliding higher along her thighs. "Her father’s business in Tokyo was supposed to be settled by now."

"Maybe she’s enjoying the distance," Rosana whispered, lips brushing against his neck. "Maybe she’s tired of playing the dutiful wife."

Darius pulled back to look at her, dark eyes searching her face. "What are you suggesting?"

"I’m not suggesting anything." Her smile was innocent, but her eyes held secrets. "I’m simply observing that absence can reveal many things about a marriage."

Before the heated moment could progress further, a knock sounded on the door.

Both of them froze, Rosana’s weight still warm in his lap.

"My Lord, I’m here with the files you requested."

The voice belonged to Harrison, Darius’s personal secretary. The man had worked for the family for over fifteen years, discreet and efficient. He would wait outside until acknowledged, no matter how long it took.

Darius cursed under his breath. Rosana laughed softly, the sound like silver bells in the quiet room.

"Duty calls," she whispered, sliding off his lap with deliberate slowness. The nightgown settled back into place, though it still revealed more than it concealed.

"Come in, Harrison," Darius called, straightening his robe and returning to his chair.

The door opened to reveal a thin man in his fifties, immaculate despite the late hour. Harrison carried a leather portfolio under one arm and wore the same expression of professional neutrality he’d perfected over the years.

"My apologies for the interruption, my Lord." Harrison’s eyes remained fixed on a point somewhere above Darius’s head, pointedly not acknowledging Rosana’s state of dress. "But you requested these documents be delivered tonight, regardless of the hour."

"Of course." Darius gestured to the desk. "What do we have?"

Harrison opened the portfolio and extracted several folders, each marked with different colored tabs. "The first contains the updated scouting reports from our football operations. The second has the preliminary contract negotiations for the steel works expansion. The third..."

He paused, glancing briefly at Rosana before continuing.

"The third contains some rather sensitive information regarding our competitors’ recent activities."

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