Chapter Three: Three Contracts, One Second

Su leaned against the wall as if she had finally permitted herself to breathe. On Lin's phone, an updated valuation replaced the messages mocking Harborbridge. With the elite bids now public, Milo's estimated value had risen to thirty-five million. Seventy-two hours. One pound in salary. With a first payment of €1.5 million, Harborbridge had acquired an asset worth at least thirty-five million and kept its stadium alive. Vale called. “You won one transfer,” he said. “But you don't know who you provoked. Harborbridge's loans, land, and broadcast advances all lead back to Obsidian. You think you're saving a club. You're polishing our asset.”