Ashley Bakker

The next day, Benjamin woke up to the persistent sound of his phone ringing.

He squinted slightly, feeling the weight of exhaustion in his bones. The previous night had been long, he slept late doing some light training in the academy before heading home using the public transit.

He had pushed himself, training till late hours due to the pressure of quick recovery and expectation to kickstart from where he'd stopped in terms of on-field performance, displaying his talents and proving his worth.

"Yawn~"

Benjamin let out a long, tired yawn, stretching his arms above his head, having not had enough sleep. He reluctantly picked up his phone and glanced at the screen. He answered, and the coach's voice came through the other end.

"Hey, Benjamin! I hope I didn't wake you up."

"No, I was awake," Benjamin replied while rubbing his eyes. "What's up?"

"I wanted to let you know that my niece, Ashley, arrived from America last night. She's really excited to meet you. Can you meet up with her later this morning?"

Benjamin felt a bit surprised, 'That was fast...she seems desperate or maybe its because I'm her "first" client.' he chuckled at that thought.

"Sure. Give me her contact details and I'll text her where to meet up" he replied.

Benjamin quickly jotted down her contact number and sent her a text with his name and the cafe's location. It was a small café close to the academy. He pressed send and felt a bit of anticipation.

Once the call ended, Benjamin shuffled to the bathroom, brushing his teeth while trying to shake off the lingering sleep.

As he scrubbed, he thought about Ashley. He wondered if she would be serious or laid back, and what kind of person she would be. It seemed promising to have someone accompany him on his football journey.

He left his room and went to the kitchen after brushing his teeth. The sun was still low in the sky, casting a soft light that spilled through the window.

He found Anna, moving around the kitchen. She probably was just waking up as her hair looked slightly messy but a smile already creeped onto her face.

"Benjamin, good morning! How do you feel today?" She reached for a kettle to boil water and inquired.

"Good morning, Anna. I'm fine, just a little worn out," he said, taking a glass from the cabinet. He grabbed a glass of lemon water from the refrigerator and chugged it down, enjoying its tart taste.

"That's good." While preparing breakfast, Anna glanced over her shoulder and observed, "You should drink more water, especially with all that training you're doing. You need to stay hydrated."

"Yeah, I know," Benjamin responded and placed the glass on the counter. "I'm doing the most to take care of myself, especially with everything going on."

"Checkups and training? Anna smiled teasingly and added, "It sounds like a busy day ahead." She stirred the pot on the stove, filling the kitchen with the smell of warm oatmeal.

Benjamin leaned against the counter and chuckled. "Everything seems like a lot, but I believe everything will work out well. It is necessary that I return to the field as soon as possible."

She looked at him warmly and said, "Just take it one step at a time, okay? You've experienced a lot and It's difficult to recover. But you're tough and you will get back to it."

Her support made him feel better. "I'm grateful, Anna. Thank you."

He decided it was time to leave for his daily routine after a few more exchanges of small talk. "I'll be going for a light jog," he said, donning his hoody and tying his shoelaces tightly.

"Be safe! And don't push yourself too hard," she called after him as he stepped outside.

As Benjamin went onto the sidewalk, the cool morning air hit him and he inhaled deeply, allowing the air to fill his lungs.

The only sounds in the area were the chirping of birds and the passing of a few cars. It was quiet, and he enjoyed being alone. He settled into a comfortable pace as he started his light jog.

He could feel the tension in his body beginning to lessen with every step. As he concentrated on the rhythm of his breathing and the sensation of the concrete beneath his feet, the outside world dimmed.

His mind started to race with ideas, like his feet. He thought about his training, the progress he had made, and how much he still had left to accomplish. Soon he pushed those thoughts aside, concentrating on the present.

After returning, Benjamin did some yoga poses to loosen his muscles and then he showered, got dressed in a casual outfit before heading down for breakfast.

Breakfast was light, just oatmeal with berries and nuts to aid his recovery and offer healthy fats and protein. And then he chugged down a glass of almond milk to cap it off.

After eating, he took the transit and soon the café came into view, a cozy spot with outdoor seating and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.

As he got closer, he slowed to a walk and paused to regain his breath. He whispered to himself, "All right, let's do this."

The bell above the door jingled quietly as he walked into the café. He looked around the room, which was crowded with early morning customers.

He noticed a girl with dark-blonde hair tied back nicely sitting by herself at a table by the window and staring down at her phone. He watched her for a moment, then walked over.

She had a sun-kissed skin and clear blue eyes, likely from spending time outside or at football games. She also appeared to be as organized and focused as he had thought an agent should be.

"Hi, are you Ashley?" Benjamin inquired, offering a friendly smile as he reached her table.

She looked up, her eyes lighting up. "Yes! You must be Benjamin," she replied with a warm smile, standing to shake his hand. "It's great to finally meet you!"

Benjamin felt reassured by the firmness of her handshake. "I appreciate you meeting me. I hope I'm not late?"

"Not at all! I arrived just a short while ago," she remarked, motioning for him to take a seat. "I was excited to speak with you. I learned a lot about you from Uncle Jansen."

Benjamin relaxed into his chair, and He jokingly said, "I hope it was all good things."

The tension between them subsided as Ashley laughed. "Of course. He praised your work ethic, particularly following your surgery."

Benjami nodded, as she answered, "All I'm trying to do is get in better shape. The journey has not been easy."

They talked for a time about his recuperation, his goals, and the direction he wished to go. Ashley paid close attention and shown her sincere interest in his career by asking important questions.

She started off joking around before turning the topic to her role as his agent. "In essence, my role will be to guide you through the world of endorsements and contracts. I'll help you get rid of that hassle because I know it can be overwhelming, especially for someone who is just starting out,"

Benjamin nodded. "That would be really helpful. I don't want to get caught up in the details."

Ashley grinned, clearly enthusiastic. "That's what I do. I'll make sure you understand what you're signing and that everything is clear. You are deserving of concentrating on your performance and training."

Benjamin experienced a wave of relief as they continued their conversation. 'This might actually work out.' he thought.

He had hope for the future since he could sense her determination and drive. He decided she had his best interests in mind by the end of their meeting, and they signed some documents.

As an agent, she was entitled to a commission, and they agreed that she would receive 10% of his endorsement deals, contracts, and transfer fees.

"Thank you for meeting with me today, Ashley," He said as they concluded their meeting. "I'm looking forward to working together."

"I agree, Benjamin!" With an infectious smile, she continued, "Let's make this happen."