Arthur Milton was sitting on the sofa. He was eating a croissant with extreme focus.
"You look happy Boss," Arthur said chewing slowly. "You look like a man who slept well."
"I did sleep well Arthur," Michael said. "I have my conscience. I have my club. Life is simple."
"Life is simple," Arthur repeated. "Until you turn on the television."
Arthur pointed the remote at the big screen on the wall.
"What happened?" Michael asked. "Did Diego try to eat the mascot again?"
"Worse," Arthur said. "Look at the yellow ticker. Look at Liverpool."
Michael looked.
BREAKING NEWS: LIVERPOOL BREAK TRANSFER RECORD.
The screen changed. It showed a video of a young man stepping out of a private jet in Liverpool. He was tall. He was blond. He had shoulders as wide as a door. He looked less like a football player and more like a robot built in a laboratory.
LIVERPOOL SIGN GERMAN WONDERKID KLAUS WAGNER.
FEE: 150 MILLION POUNDS.
STATS: 45 GOALS IN BUNDESLIGA.
Michael felt his stomach drop.
