Everyone knew Ethan was close to David and Victoria Beckham.
But how close?
According to the media, Victoria and Eva were practically like sisters. They had even gone into business together and made a considerable amount of money.
The two families were also neighbours.
Their large country houses stood close to one another, and for convenience they had even opened a private passage through the boundary between the properties so they would not have to drive around every time they visited.
Over the past few days, with Manchester United effectively putting Beckham on the market, the media had been following his every move.
He returned to Manchester the previous evening and was immediately surrounded by reporters at the airport.
During the interview, Beckham made two things clear.
He did not want to leave Manchester United.
And he had no intention of joining Barcelona or AC Milan.
The outside world immediately interpreted that as a sign that Beckham was heading for Real Madrid.
Only the previous night, Real Madrid had officially announced the signing of Argentine centre-back Walter Samuel from Roma for £20 million.
They had also withdrawn from the race for Xabi Alonso after deciding Real Sociedad's asking price was beyond their budget.
At the moment, Manchester United were the only major club still seriously interested in Xabi Alonso.
Real Madrid, however, would continue pursuing Ronaldinho.
Ethan could see exactly what Florentino was doing.
Madrid were making life difficult for both Manchester United and Barcelona.
Manchester United had once believed Ronaldinho might be available for around £8 million.
Now?
£8 million would barely buy one of his legs.
Paris Saint-Germain knew they could not keep him.
Ronaldinho desperately wanted to leave.
But their £30 million asking price had become the biggest obstacle.
Barcelona wanted him.
Manchester United wanted him.
But Barcelona first needed a new president and then had to raise money.
Manchester United needed to sell Beckham before they could move decisively.
So the entire European transfer market was watching Manchester.
To avoid the paparazzi, Ethan brought Mark David, Gardner, Cassell, and Mourinho through the private passage into Beckham's house.
Beckham had already received Ethan's call.
Besides David and Victoria, several members of Beckham's management team were there as well.
Once Ethan and the others arrived, the spacious living room suddenly felt crowded.
"How bad is it?" Ethan asked.
If Beckham had already made a decision, there would be no point in Ethan saying anything.
Beckham shook his head.
The situation was not good.
Manchester United had even begun sending out tentative signals of reconciliation, suggesting that Beckham could stay if he accepted a pay cut.
But things had gone too far.
Even if Beckham did not want to leave, he understood that staying at Old Trafford could mean spending the next two years on the bench.
He and Ferguson were barely speaking anymore.
Over the previous six months, it had become increasingly obvious that Ferguson no longer regarded Beckham as essential.
Even in major matches against teams like Real Madrid, Beckham had been left on the bench.
Del Bosque had later remarked that when Beckham came on, he created a goal within minutes.
Had he started, Real Madrid might not have beaten Manchester United.
But what difference did that make?
Ferguson had still left him out.
"If we go to AC Milan, David would have to terminate his agreement with Vodafone," one of Beckham's advisors explained.
"AC Milan have already made it clear they won't cover the termination costs."
"What about Real Madrid?" Victoria asked, frowning.
"They've always liked David."
The agent gave a helpless smile.
"They're waiting.
"Florentino definitely wants him, but Madrid don't have unlimited money right now.
"Even the Samuel fee is being paid in instalments.
"And Manchester United have now made it clear they don't want instalments.
"They don't want a player exchange either.
"They want cash."
When he said the word, the agent sarcastically rubbed his fingers together.
His opinion of Manchester United's handling of the situation was obvious.
"Maybe we should at least speak with Barcelona," another advisor suggested.
Beckham rejected the idea immediately.
"I'd rather stay in Manchester and rot than join Barcelona."
From the moment Laporta began using Beckham's name as an election weapon, Beckham had lost all interest in the club.
Barcelona might be one of the biggest names in world football.
Countless players dreamed of joining them.
But Beckham had his own pride.
"That leaves Chelsea," the agent said.
"Abramovich has money.
"He's interested in David.
"And he's also interested in Verón."
Verón was currently being linked strongly with Juventus.
There had even been talk of Thuram being included in a deal.
But the fallout from the false-passport scandal in Italy had not completely disappeared.
Verón was reluctant to return to Serie A.
In Ethan's previous life, that had been one of the reasons he eventually joined Chelsea instead.
"Or," Ethan said suddenly with a smile, "you could consider us."
Everyone in the room turned towards him.
The Spanish media had recently mocked Málaga for trying to sign Morientes from Real Madrid.
If Ethan's words became public, plenty of people would probably laugh just as hard.
A newly promoted Premier League club trying to sign David Beckham?
Yet nobody in the room laughed.
They all knew how close Ethan and Beckham were.
Ethan glanced towards Mark David.
David immediately placed the commercial proposal and supporting reports they had spent the previous two days preparing on the table.
"Maybe you should read this first," Ethan said.
Beckham nodded.
One of his advisors picked up the documents.
The group moved slightly aside and began going through them, discussing the details quietly.
Beckham looked back at Ethan.
"I still don't understand why you've decided to step into this mess."
There was a helpless smile on his face.
Ethan's expression became serious.
"Because I'm angry for you, David.
"Everyone knows what you wanted.
"Maybe at some point you considered leaving Manchester United.
"But not like this.
"The way they've handled it is insulting."
He paused.
"And you know me.
"I don't make decisions like this on impulse.
"I'm here because I have a complete plan.
"One that could work for both of us."
Ethan leaned forward.
"But we're friends first.
"So I needed to ask you before I spoke to Manchester United.
"If you tell me no, I won't pressure you.
"I won't contact United.
"We'll act as if this conversation never happened."
Beckham knew Ethan well enough to understand that he meant it.
There was no need for either of them to hide behind polite language.
"To be honest, Ethan, I need somewhere I can prove how good I still am."
Beckham said it carefully.
Ethan understood immediately.
Beckham wanted a major stage.
A club where success would prove something.
Not merely a newly promoted team trying to establish itself.
Ethan smiled.
"David, do you think Maradona was great?"
"Of course."
Beckham had never been especially fond of Argentine football, but denying Maradona would have been ridiculous.
"But the greatest years of his career weren't at Barcelona," Ethan said.
"They were at Napoli.
"At Barcelona, he was one great player among many.
"At Napoli, he was the player."
Beckham had no immediate response.
Joining an established superclub clearly had advantages.
But it had disadvantages too.
And moving abroad created another problem.
Adaptation.
Over the previous few weeks, several famous former England internationals had publicly warned Beckham about that.
Whether he moved to Spain or Italy, nothing would be guaranteed.
Historically, relatively few English players had truly flourished abroad.
The most obvious recent example was Steve McManaman.
He had left Liverpool as one of England's most highly regarded attacking players.
At Real Madrid, he had won trophies, but his role had gradually diminished.
For several summers running, Madrid had tried to move him on or use him as part of other transfer deals.
There was also Beckham's commercial position to consider.
Britain remained the centre of his brand.
Leaving England would inevitably affect that.
And if he moved to a giant club only to sit on the bench, the damage could be considerable.
"I know what you're thinking," Ethan continued.
"You want to prove yourself.
"And I'm telling you that I can give you that opportunity.
"We can take your commercial career further.
"And we can give you a serious footballing role too."
He smiled.
"But you'd have to be willing to take the gamble with me."
Then Ethan added confidently, "I've never broken a promise to you, have I?"
He had said what he came to say.
He left the proposal behind and stood up.
"Whatever you decide, David, I'll respect it."
With that, Ethan left the house with the others.
...
Beckham's advisors continued studying the proposal after they were gone.
"According to this," one of them said, "David's income wouldn't fall after the transfer.
"It could actually increase.
"Giving the club fifty percent of his image rights looks like a concession on paper.
"But if their commercial department can expand his overall income the way they're projecting, David's share could still end up higher than it is now."
The rest of the group agreed that the plan was financially realistic.
"New Manchester United's commercial operation is extremely strong.
"Look at Redondo.
"They spent £11 million to bring him from AC Milan.
"That alone gave the club enormous publicity.
"Then they and Milan donated the money to charity.
"Within a year, they had turned Redondo into one of the strongest commercial stories around the club.
"They've already shown that they know how to manage a high-profile player."
Beckham smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"I've never doubted Ethan's business ability.
"That's not what worries me."
He looked at the papers again.
"I'm a footballer.
"I want to prove myself on the pitch.
"Not by how much money I make away from it.
"And football is exactly where New Manchester United have the least to offer compared with the biggest clubs."
Chelsea, for example, would at least be playing in the Champions League.
New Manchester United had won the UEFA Cup and FA Cup and would return to the UEFA Cup next season.
But compared with Europe's established elite, the sporting guarantees were still limited.
Then Beckham's advisors reached Mourinho's section of the proposal.
That changed the tone of the conversation.
Mourinho's plan was to move Beckham into central midfield.
Not merely as another player.
As the team's main organiser.
The focal point.
The role Beckham had always wanted.
And the kind of status he was unlikely to receive if he moved to another superclub.
That was tempting.
Very tempting.
But joining New Manchester United would also mean something else.
He would become a direct rival of Manchester United.
And he would be taking on the uncertainty that came with a club's first season in the Premier League.
Still, Beckham did not seriously believe the Red Rebels would be relegated.
A team capable of winning the First Division, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Cup in the same season was hardly likely to collapse simply because it had reached the Premier League.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)