Katherine sat at her desk, the morning light spilling across neatly stacked files. The hum of the air conditioner filled the silence as her fingers moved across the keyboard, quick and precise.
A soft knock.
"Come in," she said without looking up.
The door opened slowly. Eve, her assistant, stepped inside, holding a small pile of files close to her chest. She was quiet, her steps careful.
"Ms. Miller, these are the reports for the Simmons account," she said softly, placing the files on the desk.
Katherine finally looked up, giving her a brief nod. "Thank you, Eve. Did you cross-check the numbers with finance?"
"Yes," Eve replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I double-checked everything."
"Good." Katherine flipped open the top file, her eyes scanning the first page. "Leave them here. I'll review before the meeting."
Eve gave another small nod and turned to leave. Before she reached the door, Katherine's phone buzzed sharply on the desk.
She picked it up. "Katherine Miller."
A pause. A voice on the other end. Whatever was said, it pulled her expression tight, her calm eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Her lips pressed into a line.
The call wasn't long, but by the time it ended, the air around her office felt heavier.
She set the phone down slowly, her face unreadable.
---
Across the city, a completely different scene unfolded.
The green field of St. James Football Ground roared with laughter and shouts. Sunlight bounced off the white goalposts as players dashed across the turf, chasing the ball with unrestrained energy.
At the center of it all was Dave Williams.
Sweat glistened across his sharp jawline, his brown hair slightly messy from the game. He wore a plain white jersey that clung to his broad shoulders, dark shorts brushing against his toned legs. His sneakers kicked up small bursts of turf as he moved with ease, the ball seemingly obeying his every touch.
"Pass it, Dave!" Theo shouted, waving his arms as he sprinted upfield.
"Not a chance, man!" Dave called back, a grin tugging at his lips.
Daniel and Stephan weren't far behind, laughing as they fought for the ball, but Dave was quicker. A sharp sidestep, a flick of his foot, and the ball soared past the keeper straight into the net.
Cheers erupted from his team.
"Show-off," Stephan muttered, but his grin betrayed him.
Dave raised his hands, laughing, his easy smile lighting up his face. Around him, the game continued, but there was no doubt who carried its rhythm.