Lost Love, High Stakes: Soccer King's Comeback

I go into business with my childhood friend, Ian Ziegler. The business is a success, earning 1.2 million dollars in profit. Ian gives me my share—a whopping 5,000 dollars.

Noticing my dissatisfaction, Ian puts his arm around my girlfriend, Nina Foster, and tosses the keys to his Bentley onto the table.

"What, is five grand too little for you? Fine. Since you're so broke, I'll give you a chance to turn things around for yourself. There's going to be a soccer game tonight. We're both going to place our bets. If you win, you can get all 1.2 million, plus my car.

"But if you lose, your girlfriend's mine. You'll also have to get on your knees and lick my shoes right here in front of everyone."

Everyone else in the room cackles gleefully, eager to watch me humiliate myself.

Smirking, I nod. "Sure. I'll take that bet."

These people have no idea that five years ago, I'd single-handedly taken down the Northwest Aravian illegal soccer betting circuit. I'd set a trap for a match-fixing syndicate, beating the crooks at their own game.

I'd walked away from that life after that.

But now, Ian has seriously decided to challenge me to a soccer bet?

Ian Ziegler's bootlicking friends immediately slapped the table and burst into laughter.

"Whoa. He agreed to it. I can't believe it!"

"Well, I'll be damned! This broke ass bumpkin thinks he's got what it takes to make soccer bets. He probably doesn't even know what offside is!"

"Offside? Hah! Does he even watch soccer? Can he tell which goal even belongs to the team he's betting on?"

Ian flicked the ash off his cigarette and blew a mouthful of smoke straight into my face. "What's the matter? Are you so broke that a Bentley is enough to make your eyes light up with greed?"

He patted my girlfriend, Nina Foster, on the shoulder. "Nina here has been dating you for two years now. You're just going to dump her like that? Oh, man. I feel so sorry for her."

I said nothing.

Nina was wearing a white strappy dress today. She kept her head down the whole time, staring at her phone without even glancing at me once.

Meanwhile, Ian picked up his lighter to light another cigarette. That was when I noticed a pearl-studded hair tie wrapped around his wrist. That was Nina's hair tie.

I noticed the way their shoulders and legs were pressed together. I already knew that the two of them had been hooking up behind my back for ages now.

Ian and I were childhood friends. Last year, he asked me to go into business with him, saying that it was a partnership among friends, and that the profits would be split evenly.

Well, for the past year, I did all the work and brought in all the clients.

Now that the business had made a total of 1.2 million dollars in profit, Ian gave his driver 50,000 dollars.

All I got was a measly 5,000 dollars.

I calmly said to Ian, "If you win, you can have Nina. I don't care. But I won't be cheated out of a single cent I'm owed. If I win, it's not the least bit unreasonable for me to claim all 1.2 million dollars."

The moment I finished speaking, everyone in the room jeered.

"You all heard him right? The nerve of him to say that it's not unreasonable for him to demand all 1.2 million dollars!"

"What the hell are you talking about, Craig Hensley? Did you get drunk without even touching a lick of alcohol?"

"You want to take all the profits? Who the heck do you think you are?"

Ian's smile faded as well. He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, remarking, "Since you're so confident, Craig, why don't we raise the stakes? If you win, not only will you give me your woman and get on your knees to lick my shoes, but you're going to have to work for me for free for five years—without getting a single cent."

The entire room went silent. Everyone exchanged glances. Someone even let out a whistle.

I nodded. "Fine by me."

Ian froze for a moment before roaring with laughter. His lackeys also started cackling in amusement, slapping the tables and stomping their feet.

"Hahaha! I can't believe he has the guts to agree to it!"

One of them tugged on my arm and urged me, "Stop it now, Craig. The most important thing in life is knowing your limits. Don't take that bet. Just apologize to Ian and admit you were wrong. He's a generous man. He won't hold it against you."

Ignoring them, I looked straight at Ian and said, "So, what are we betting on?"