Jaden comes back home, opening the door and making his way into the kitchen, where he sees his mother cooking.
"Hello Mom, I'm back. Are Dad and Kamo home?" Jaden asked.
"Not yet, son, but they'll be back before dinner," his mom replied.
"Okay, well I'm going to my room. I'm not hungry, so I won't be eating dinner with everyone today," Jaden said.
"Alright… but is everything okay?" his mom asked, glancing at him with concern.
"Everything is okay, Mom. I'm heading to my room now. Love you, bye," Jaden said as he rushed off.
"Love you too… He always has a lot on his mind. I'm worried about him. I fear he sometimes compares himself to his peers, which is never a good thing. They say comparison is the enemy of progress… or maybe I'm wrong," his mom murmured to herself.
Jaden heads to his room and sits on his desk chair. He then pulls out his phone and starts browsing for information on the football director of Nobles FC.
"Hm, so the man I met today is really the director of Nobles Fc and former Sky Land player. He's a big deal, responsible for the club's financial success, how come I didn't recognise him," Jaden thought.
He stops browsing, plays relaxing music on his phone, and sets it down. Picking up his notebook, he begins scribbling tactics.
"What's a good style of play? Does a manager need to change his style of play to fit the players he has at his disposal, or must the players adapt to the manager's style of play?" Jaden wondered aloud, struggling to find an answer.
Later, he slams his note book shut, heads to his bed and lies there, arms folded behind his head as he stares at the ceiling.
"Mr Tau offered me a role as a manager at Nobles FC. I still don't believe it, it's too good to be true. Something I've been longing for just fell into my hands that easily… Nah, it can't be. Well, I guess all will be revealed when I meet him tomorrow," Jaden whispered before closing his eyes and drifting to sleep.
In his office, Mr Tau talks with his board in a video meeting, using his laptop.
"Let's get to business, Director Tau. Why have you scheduled a board meeting so late in the hour and on such short notice?" Mr Cameron asked.
"I've found the manager who will assist us in avoiding relegation. He has no experience whatsoever, and he's only 21 years old. But make no mistake I am certain he's the best candidate for the job," Mr Tau declared.
"Is this a joke?" Mrs Robinson said
"Football director, have you lost your mind?" Mrs Zulu snapped.
"I certainly did not expect this from you, Director Tau," Mr Cameron said, pressing his fingers against his forehead. "We are about to continue with the second half of the season, and we are in the relegation zone. If we go down, we will lose a lot of money. Staying in this division brings in more money for us. Look, we are grateful for all that you have done for this club if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have a healthy financial status. But your decision to hire a young adult with no experience is ludicrous."
"Absolutely!" Mrs Zulu added sharply.
Mr Tau inhales and exhales deeply, before he begins to speak. "I have a good feeling about this. I don't know him, nor have I seen him in action, but as a former footballer I can confidently say I know a good manager when I see one. This young man will be the reason this club receives its first major honours. With that, we will attract lots of good players. Money alone is not enough to attract big name players."
He rests his hands on the desk as he stands, leaning forward toward the screen.
"Look at this from a financial aspect. This will bring in more publicity. Our stadium seats are empty, The fans are tired of seeing nothing change we're losing money. This move will draw crowds to the stadium, boost social media and attract press coverage. You know people like to see someone fail. Bad publicity is still publicity. Our finances will skyrocket because of this even if we end up relegated, the money gained will last us many seasons. " Mr Tau said, his voice brimming with excitement.
All the board members, mood and tone, changed after hearing Mr Tau's financial plan.
"Why didn't you start with that, hah?" Mr Cameron said with a smile.
"Skyrocket, you say?" Mrs Robinson said with a sinister grin spreading across her face.
"You have our support, Director," Mrs Zulu said firmly.
"Mention money and their tones change… greedy bastards," Mr Tau thought.
"Since we've come to an understanding, this concludes the meeting"
All other members logged out of the video meeting except for the director and Mr Cameron. Mr Cameron praises Mr Tau's brilliant plan but warns him that his reputation will take a massive hit despite the money he will bring in.
Mr Cameron logs out. Mr Tau closes his laptop, sinks into his chair, and leans back, gazing upward.
"I really do think this boy will bring honours to the club… but part of me wonders if I'm making a big mistake," he thought.
To be continued.