Chapter Two - The Winning Season
1704 Words
“You really pulled it off again, Maya. How does it feel being the queen of hockey tonight?”
Maya laughed as she turned toward the reporter, stadium noise booming behind her like rolling thunder. “I’m not the queen of anything,” she said, brushing a loose curl from her face. “It’s the players. They deserve all the credit.”
“That’s not what the fans think,” he teased. “They’re chanting your name out there.”
She shook her head, smiling, embarrassed but flattered.
FLG had never been stronger.
Twelve straight wins.
Record-breaking stats.
A flood of new sponsorship deals.
Ten new players signed this month alone, top talents, all choosing FLG because of her reputation for running a clean, stable empire.
She should’ve felt on top of the world.
“Maya!”
She turned and saw Cole striding toward her, still in his post-game suit, tie loosened around his neck, face glowing from victory. Cameras followed him instantly, he was a media magnet, loved for his charm.
And tonight, he looked genuinely happy.
He slipped an arm around her waist. “My wife is stealing my spotlight. Again.”
She playfully nudged him. “Your spotlight? You’re the star athlete here.”
“Mm, debatable,” he murmured, kissing her cheek. “You’re becoming the face of FLG. I’m just lucky they let me stand next to you.”
The reporter laughed. “You two are perfect. Toronto’s golden couple.”
Cole flashed a bright smile. “We try.”
Just the perfect husband who’d been with her through everything.
Maya relaxed into his side, warmth settling in her chest. For a moment, life felt exactly the way she wished it would always stay.
The reporter stepped back. “I’ll let you two enjoy your night.”
When he walked off, Cole looked at her, brown eyes softening. “Proud of you.”
She blinked. “Me? You’re the one who scored the game-winning goal.”
“And who negotiated five sponsorship deals this week?” he countered. “Who rebuilt FLG’s financial model? Who handled the investor meeting I ran away from?”
“You had training…”
“You always defend me,” he teased. “It’s adorable.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“Come on,” Cole said, threading their fingers together. “Let’s celebrate. Everyone’s waiting.”
He led her down the hallway toward the private lounge where executives, players, and coaches mingled, glasses raised in celebration. The moment the doors opened, a wave of applause hit her.
“Maya!”
“There she is!”
“Mrs. Trent, congratulations!”
“You saved the season!”
Cole grinned and stepped aside like a proud showman presenting royalty.
Maya blushed, lifting her hands. “You all give me too much credit.”
But the praise didn’t stop. Each compliment felt like a warm embrace reward for years of staying quiet, working hard, keeping her father’s legacy alive.
Cole slipped behind her and whispered in her ear, “You’re glowing, you know that?”
“Champagne does that to people,” she whispered back.
“No,” he insisted, brushing his thumb along her hand. “It’s you.”
And she believed him.
Cole had always been good at making her feel seen, cherished.
Tonight was no different.
After the celebration, Maya and Cole stepped out onto the quiet rooftop terrace overlooking downtown Toronto. The city glimmered under the night sky, lights dancing across skyscrapers.
Cole loosened his jacket and leaned on the railing. “I needed some air. It’s loud in there.”
“Tell me about it,” Maya said, standing beside him. “My head is still ringing.”
He chuckled. “You handled it well. Better than I ever could.”
“You? The king of media?” she teased.
“I'm the only king who married the real queen.”
She nudged him with her shoulder. “Stop.”
“Can’t,” he said simply, and kissed her forehead.
She let the moment settle, warm, comfortable, steady.
The kind of night she wished her father were alive to see.
She looked out at the skyline. “Dad would’ve loved this season.”
“He’d be proud,” Cole agreed quietly. “Of the team. Of the empire. Of you.”
Her throat tense. “I hope so.”
Cole turned straight suddenly and clasped her hand. “Hey. No hoping. He would be.”
She smiled gratefully. “Thanks.”
He studied her face for a moment. “You, Maya Trent… are everything good in this place.”
She leaned into him. They both held each other tight.
Right here, right now…Everything felt right, felt easy and felt safe.
Moments later, they got home and walked hand in hand into their house. Maya kicked off her heels and inhaled deeply the warm scent of vanilla candles Ivy gifted her last month still lingered.
“I’m getting water,” Cole said, heading toward the kitchen. “Want anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
She headed upstairs, humming lightly to herself.
She placed her phone on the dresser and entered the bathroom to wash her face. The mirror fogged slightly from the steam as she leaned closer.
“I think my life is finally settling,” she whispered to her own reflection.
“Looking good in here!” Cole called from downstairs.
“Thank you!” she shouted back, laughing.
A perfect day.
A perfect night.
A perfect marriage.
A perfect empire.
Near midnight, after Cole had fallen asleep beside her, Maya slipped quietly out of bed to grab her tablet from the living room. She had forgotten to review the investment proposal for the morning meeting.
She tiptoed down the stairs.
The house was dark, save for the faint glow of the streetlights filtering through the curtains. She found her tablet on the couch and sat down, pulling a blanket over her shoulder.
She felt calm, focused and happy.
Then her phone buzzed beside her.
She picked up. “Hello?”
“Hey, queen girl!” Ivy’s laughter spilled through the speaker.
Maya laughed. “What now?”
“Another win? Seriously?”
Maya shook her head, smiling. “I swear, Cole and Liam are becoming unstoppable this season.”
“Unstoppable?” Ivy Creed snorted from the other end. “You’re the one rebuilding half of FLG from the shadows. Don’t pretend you’re not the quiet puppet master.”
“Please,” Maya said, rolling her eyes even though Ivy couldn’t see her. “I’m just doing my job.”
“And doing it too well.” Ivy paused.
“Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't watch the games with you”. Ivy said apologetically.
“Don't worry about it, you have lives to save” Maya said smiling.
“Enjoy the night, okay? You deserve it.” Ivy said finally.
“ Yeah, Thanks”. Maya responded.
The call ended and she continued with her work.
Maya should’ve been upstairs resting.
She sat on the long leather sofa, tablet glowing in her lap as she typed quickly. Numbers. Figures. Schedules. Her world. Her joy.
Upstairs, Cole had woken to the absence beside him. For a moment, he’d reached out instinctively, eyes half-open, expecting Maya's warmth.
Nothing.
Just cold sheets.
He pushed up from the bed, rubbing his face, and walked toward the balcony that overlooked the wide downstairs living room.
She didn’t notice the soft footsteps.
There she was.
Sitting on the sofa, legs tucked beneath her, totally consumed with her work.
His wife. His partner.
The woman the entire country praised.
Maya Trent… the brain behind FLG’s empire.
From the top of the stairs, Cole watched.
Maya was humming silently that happy, unconcerned sound she always made when she was building something brilliant.
Cole leaned his forearms on the railing.
His jaw tightened, but slowly… subtly… the way no one could see.
Below him, Maya was smiling at the tablet screen.
She looked beautiful under the warm lights, confident, glowing, unaware of the eyes above her.
People loved her.
The world adored her.
And he played the perfect supporting husband.
Handsome. Charming.
Always by her side in interviews.
Always clapping the loudest for FLG’s success.
He pretended that fame didn’t bother him.
He pretended he didn’t care who the spotlight favored.
But up here… looking down…
His thoughts were darker.
“Everyone is calling her the queen of modern sports business.”
Cole’s fingers curled around the railing.
Words, praise, admiration….all directed at her.
Never him.
He watched Maya tilt her head as inspiration struck. She began typing faster, her smile widening.
That smile.
That brilliance.
That spotlight she carried so effortlessly.
He used to love it, and be proud of it.
Used to think it was theirs.
But now?
It felt like standing behind a glass wall…
watching her be celebrated
while he slowly disappeared.
Maya stretched her neck, relaxed, and leaned back comfortably as if the universe itself belonged to her.
Cole exhaled through his nose.
He wasn’t angry, He wasn’t bitter.
He told himself that.
Over and over.
But on the railing… his knuckles whitened.
Below, Maya tapped a final note and smiled at her work, her empire, her spotlight.
And Cole whispered to himself, barely audible:
“…It should’ve been me. It has always been me”
He didn’t even realize the words had slipped out.
His eyes stayed on her.
Unblinking….Cold.
Hungry for a spotlight that did not belong to him.
Maya’s tablet chimed with another notification, another message from sponsors thanking her, praising her strategy.
Cole’s face didn’t move.
But something inside him shifted.
She would never know of it.
No one would.
But it sat inside him, pulsing, growing, feeding on every cheer she received.
Upstairs, unnoticed, unseen…
Cole Trent smiled.
A sharp, private, dangerous smile.
The kind that didn’t reach his eyes.
Maya scribbled down another idea.
Everything was perfect. Everything was winning. Everything was rising.
Except the man watching from above.
And as Maya pressed save on her tablet, Cole whispered again, soft, breathless, almost tender:
“One day… the spotlight will be mine.”
- Writer
