Football System: Touchline God
Chapter 33: Balls Of Steel

Chapter 33: Balls Of Steel

Maddox stopped halfway to gathering his jacket. A cold splash of reality hit him like ice water.

"Wait." He turned to face Elira, who was already slinging her purse over her shoulder. "I came with my little sister and her friends. I can’t just leave Jenna behind."

Elira paused, her hand frozen on the booth’s door handle. For a moment, disappointment flickered across her face. Then her expression shifted, becoming thoughtful.

"Jenna?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "I thought she was still in uni?"

"They’re on break." Maddox felt awkward explaining, like he was making excuses. "I made time to take her out today. She’s been looking forward to spending time with me for a while now."

The excitement in Elira’s eyes dimmed, but she didn’t let it show for long. She set her purse back down and took a step closer to him.

"Don’t worry about that." Her voice was calm, measured. Like she was solving a business problem rather than navigating an affair. "I’ll call my assistant. She can take my car and drop them off at home after the match ends. We’ll use your car."

Maddox blinked. "Your assistant is here?"

"She drove me tonight." Elira was already pulling out her phone, fingers moving quickly across the screen. "Part of her job is handling situations like this."

Situations like this. As if sneaking around with a married man was a regular occurrence that required staff coordination.

The thought should have bothered him more than it did.

"What do you think?" Elira looked up from her phone, blue eyes hopeful but trying not to appear desperate.

It was a reasonable solution. More than reasonable, actually. Jenna would get home safely, and he wouldn’t have to explain why he was abandoning his sister to play with fish.

’Oh, the woes of men’ Maddox lamented, shaking his head internally.

"Okay," he said slowly. "That could work."

Relief flooded Elira’s face. She immediately started dialing, pressing the phone to her ear with one hand while the other reached for his.

"Maya? It’s me." Her voice was crisp, professional. "I need you to do something for me."

Maddox watched her pace the small space of the booth as she spoke. Even in this situation, she looked beautiful. Probably the only woman he’d seen so far that could compare to his wife, Alina.

"There’s a girl named Jenna Erickson in section 15. She’s with some friends—university students, you’ll spot them easily." Elira glanced at Maddox. "I need you to approach her after the final whistle. Tell her Eric sent you. You’ll be driving them home in my car."

She paused, listening to something on the other end.

"Yes, the Astra. And Maya? Be discreet about it. Don’t mention where Eric went."

Another pause.

"Perfect. Text me when it’s done."

She hung up and turned back to Maddox, who was staring at her with something between admiration and concern.

"That was..." He shook his head. "Efficient."

"I’m good at solving problems." There was a hint of her old confidence back, the Ice Queen persona that had earned her reputation. "Now you need to text Jenna so she doesn’t panic when a stranger approaches her."

Maddox pulled out his own phone, fingers hovering over the keyboard. What could he say that wouldn’t raise questions?

After a moment, he typed: [Hey Jen, something urgent came up. A woman named Maya will find you after the match and give you a ride home. She’s got red hair hair and will be driving an Astra. Text me when you get home.]

He tapped send and the message went through immediately. Within seconds, his phone buzzed with a reply.

[Everything okay? This is weird even for you.]

Maddox grimaced. Even through text, Jenna’s suspicion was clear.

"Problem?" Elira asked, reading his expression.

"She’s concerned."

"We shouldn’t give her time to ask more." Elira was already moving toward the door again, this time with purpose. "We leave now, before she can call you."

She had a point. The longer they waited, the more complicated this would become.

Maddox sent one final text: [All good. Just trust me on this one. Enjoy the rest of the match.]

Then he turned his phone to silent and followed Elira out of the booth.

The concourse was still busy, but the crowd had thinned as most people returned to their seats for the peak of the second half. They moved quickly through the corridors.

"The parking garage is this way," Maddox said, taking her hand as they walked.

Her fingers were warm, soft. The simple contact sent an unexpected jolt through him. Whatever Eric had felt for this woman, the body still remembered.

They took the elevator down to the parking level in silence. The space was dimly lit, filled with rows of cars. Maddox led her to the Vireon EchoBlade parked near the back.

"This is yours?" She asked, noting the expensive interior as he unlocked it.

"It’s my wife’s car," he said simply, settling into the driver’s seat.

Maddox started the engine, and Elira immediately began giving directions. Her voice was steady, but he could sense the nervous energy radiating from her. The way her fingers drummed against her thigh. The way she kept glancing at him when she thought he wasn’t looking.

"Turn left at the next junction," she said as they exited the stadium complex.

The streets were busy with match traffic, but Elira navigated them through side roads and shortcuts. She clearly knew this area well.

"How often do you come here?" Maddox asked as they passed through an upscale neighborhood.

"For matches? Not often. But I have business meetings in the city sometimes."

Business meetings. Like the one he’d overheard her having with her father about Morrison’s transfer.

Fifteen minutes later, Elira directed him into the parking garage of a high-end hotel.

"Here?" Maddox asked, surprised.

"My house is too far south," Elira explained, already unbuckling her seatbelt. "And this is... more discreet."

The implication hung between them. Hotels were for people who didn’t want to be seen together. For people who needed to keep secrets.

They took the elevator to the fifth floor in silence. Elira had somehow managed to secure a suite, complete with a living area, kitchenette, and separate bedroom. The windows offered a view of the city lights stretching out below.

"Nice," Maddox said, setting his jacket on a chair.

"I’ll shower first," Elira said, already heading toward the bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable."

She disappeared behind the door, and moments later he heard the sound of running water.

Maddox stood in the middle of the luxurious suite, suddenly unsure what to do with himself. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in. He was in a hotel room with his predecessor’s lover, about to cross lines that couldn’t be uncrossed.

Elira’s phone buzzed. A text from Maya: [Found the girl. Driving them home now. No problems.]

At least Jenna was taken care of. One less thing to worry about.

The shower shut off, and Elira emerged a few minutes later wearing a plush hotel robe. Her hair was damp, falling in loose waves around her shoulders. Without makeup, she looked younger, more vulnerable.

"Your turn," she said, gesturing toward the bathroom.

The shower was exactly what he needed. Hot water washing away the tension of the evening, giving him a few minutes to think clearly.

But thinking clearly only made things more complicated. He was Eric Maddox—at least in everyone else’s eyes. And Eric Maddox was apparently in love with Elira, despite being married to someone else.

’No wonder he died. His balls had probably been too heavy for him.’

============

============

Please remember to vote with your power stones and golden tickets for the WSA 2025. Thank you.