Chapter One: The Red Words on the Severance Agreement

Vale smiled with practiced regret. “Then you downloaded it beforehand. Sign, and you receive one million pounds. Your mother's medical bills do not leave much room for pride.” The legal director and two board members avoided Lin's eyes. They watched the deadline clock on the wall. SUMMER WINDOW CLOSES IN: 72:09:00. Lin picked up the pen. Two sleepless nights sent a sharp ache through his temples. A dark-red stain spread across the paper, then tightened into words that had not been printed there. [PRICE OF CONTRACT: By signing, Party B permanently admits responsibility for the leak. Party A will use that admission to conceal Marcus Vale's transfer of scouting data to Crown Sports.] The pen stopped above the signature line.