Chapter 167

Izan stretched, feeling a mix of satisfaction and exhaustion after his relaxed yet eventful afternoon.

His day of gaming and movies had left him recharged and ready for whatever was in store that evening.

Putting down the remote, Izan turned towards the kitchen.

Miranda arrived just as the evening shadows deepened, her silhouette framed by the golden hues of the sunset.

The faint hum of her car engine announced her presence moments before she stepped into the cosy dining room where the aroma of freshly made arrow Cubano, a mound of white rice and some fried eggs.

Izan, Komi, and Hori were just settling at the table, the warm glow of the pendant light above casting soft shadows.

Komi who saw Miranda smiled before hugging her. Holding her by the hand, Komi led Miranda to the table.

The meal unfolded with easy laughter and shared stories, the warmth of the family making Miranda feel at home.

Once the plates were cleared and the tea poured, Miranda leaned forward slightly, her tone shifting to something more business-like but still soft.

"Izan, I have some news," she began. Komi and Hori tried to give them space but Miranda stopped them from leaving.

"Why do you guys always want to leave when we discuss these things? Nothing we say here is a secret that you can’t be aware of" she said as she grabbed Komi’s hand, pulling her back into her seat.

Izan smiled at her mother and sister’s reactions before gesturing for Miranda to continue.

"Burberry reached out. They’re offering a brand deal worth €3 million annually for three years. It’s a big step into the luxury market."

Izan’s eyes widened a bit. "Three million?" he echoed, his tone a mix of awe and apprehension.

Miranda nodded, smiling. "Yes, it’s a fantastic offer. They see you as a rising star, someone who embodies their brand’s sophistication and youth and you’re also a looker so of course they’d want you."

Izan’s expression shifted, a flicker of worry crossing his face. "Will this deal affect the one with Adidas?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

Miranda shook her head reassuringly. "No, Adidas remains your primary sportswear partner. This deal is completely separate and focuses on lifestyle branding."

Relieved, Izan leaned back, but Miranda’s next words gave him pause. "There’s one catch," she continued.

"They’ve included a clause that requires you to move to a bigger club within the next year. They believe it would give you more exposure internationally."

Izan frowned, the room growing quieter. "I’m not too sure about that," he said, his voice firm. "I don’t want to rush into a bigger club for something like this."

Miranda nodded, her expression understanding. "I figured you’d feel that way," she said. "That’s why I’ve already set this deal aside.

Besides, another luxury brand contacted me recently. They’re offering a short-term partnership—a six-month deal to test the waters.

If they like the results, it could turn into a longer relationship. There’s no pressure for you to move clubs, and the arrangement aligns perfectly with your current commitments."

Izan looked at her, his expression softening. "You’re always thinking ahead, Miranda. Thanks for understanding."

"Of course," Miranda replied with a small smile. "My job is to make sure your career grows at a pace you’re comfortable with. You focus on the game, and I’ll handle the rest."

Komi and Hori exchanged a glance, pride evident on their faces as they saw Izan navigate the complexities of his rising fame with maturity and the right guidance.

Miranda sipped her tea thoughtfully before setting the cup down, her gaze locking on Izan. "There’s another layer to the Burberry deal that I think you should know about," she said carefully. "I suspect a top club might be behind this push for you to move."

Izan frowned, his curiosity piqued. "A top club? What do you mean?"

Miranda leaned back slightly, crossing her arms as she explained. "Burberry has strong ties with certain clubs in Europe.

It’s not uncommon for brands and clubs to work together to nudge players toward decisions that benefit both parties.

This clause about you moving to a bigger club? It feels more like their way of leveraging the deal to get you into their ecosystem."

Izan’s expression darkened slightly. "So they’re using the brand as a way to pressure me?"

"Possibly," Miranda said, her tone measured. "It’s not unusual in the industry, but that’s why I’ve been cautious. I know you’re not ready to move yet, and I’d never let you be cornered into a situation you’re uncomfortable with."

Komi, listening quietly, nodded her approval. "Good. Izan needs time to grow without being rushed into things."

"Exactly," Miranda agreed. Then her expression brightened slightly. "That’s why I was more interested in the short-term partnership I mentioned earlier. It’s with YSL."

Izan’s eyebrows lifted. "Yves Saint Laurent?"

"Yes," Miranda said, smiling. "They’re interested in a six-month deal to test your potential as a luxury ambassador.

No moving clauses, no hidden pressures—just a straightforward collaboration. If they’re happy with the results, it could evolve into something long-term, but for now, it’s entirely on your terms.

They’ve seen what you’ve been doing—on and off the pitch—and they’re impressed. Really impressed. So much so that they want you as one of their ambassadors but they also don’t want to rush into things."

Izan, paused again a hint of hesitation, "That’s... insane. But, once again what about Adidas? Won’t this clash with my deal with them?"

"That’s my job to figure out. The key is defining the boundaries— as I already said Adidas is your go-to for sportswear and sneakers, while Saint Laurent could be all about high-end, off-pitch fashion" Miranda said as she picked up the cup again.

Izan relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing. "That sounds better," he admitted. "I can focus on my game without worrying about both brands causing trouble or strings attached."

"Exactly," Miranda echoed. "YSL values creativity and individuality. They’re not tied to any specific clubs, so there’s no external influence. This deal lets us test the waters before deciding to commit"

Hori leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, does this mean Izan’s face will be on a billboard in Paris or Milan soon?"

The room erupted in laughter, the weight of the earlier conversation lifted. Izan looked at Miranda, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thanks, Miranda"

"Always," she replied, her voice steady with determination. "We’re in this together."

"Okay, enough of this, you’re staying for the night right" Komi asked Miranda who nodded.

"Yeah, I need to send a response to Burberry about the deal being off as well as contact the Saint Laurent team in charge of communications with me.

I’m guessing we might have to create some free time for them after the deal goes through. Izan when’s your next game?" Miranda asked as she scrolled through her phone.

"It’s Saturday against Almeria but I won’t be playing since coach told me to rest so I have about 10 days, since our next match after that won’t be until after another 5 days"

"That’s good then. We can probably finish the shoot in a day if we sign the deal but the workings of the deal might take about 4-5 days".

Izan nodding at Miranda’s words felt his phone vibrate and smiled. "I’ll leave the specifics to you," he said as he went to his room.

"So how did it go" a lean man in a suit said as he put an olive in his mouth.

"Well, they were definitely impressed with the deal at first but his agent suddenly changed after I mentioned the clause about him transferring to a big club for exposure.

Seems like he really doesn’t want to move yet. I thought it was all just some words to raise his value but turns out he really doesn’t want to leave, at least not yet"

Taking a napkin, the previous figure cleaned his finger before setting it aside.

"Guess that too won’t work. We’ll really have to wait until the end of the season to see if he has changed his stance but if he hasn’t then we’ll have to look for another player to fill Bernando’s position"

"Does it have to be him. I mean I feel like you’re spending too much manpower on him".

The figure looked at the man beside him, staring at him before looking away.

"When did you hear of a 16-year-old leading Laliga in assist charts while competing for the Pichi chi at the same time against Veteran strikers like Lewandowski?

Just to be clear, that kid you are saying is not worth our trouble accounts for 54 per cent of his club’s goals this season.

That’s more than half from a single person, no wait, a single 16-year-old. Do you still think that he’s not worth our trouble"

After the figure spoke, the man sat in silence letting all the information sink in.

The two men sat, their glasses in front of them as they blended into their surroundings.