Chapter Three - The Discovery That Changed Everything.
2004 Words
“Maya, you left your laptop open in the kitchen,” Cole said casually as he walked in, holding her device.
“Oh… thanks. Just drop it on the table. I’m almost done reviewing the stats.” still looking at her tablet.
Cole smiled the way he practiced in the mirror, warm, husband-like, supportive.
“Of course. Take your time.” he said.
He placed the laptop down gently.
And stayed.
Not because he wanted to watch her.
But because inside that laptop he had seen something.
A document he could not un-read.
He took a breath, steady and quiet.
“Maya?” he said. “Do you want coffee?”
“No, love. I’m fine.” She did not look up, pen tapping rhythmically as she analyzed player formations. “We will talk about something later, okay?”
Cole turned away slowly.
Later would not change anything he had learned.
He walked out of the office with a measured pace down the hallway, through the quiet corridor.
Then he exhaled sharply.
The inheritance clause replayed in his mind like a flashing warning sign.
“Upon the event of transfer, death, retirement, or incapacitation, the full ownership of FLG Sports Empire transfers solely to my daughter, Maya Trent.”
Not shared. Not jointly controlled.
Entirely her.
He laughed once, short, disbelieving.
“So that is why,” he murmured. “That is why. Why she controls everything?
It all made sense now.
He was never going to be part of it, no matter how hard he tried.
He gave her all these and never included me in the clause.
And what is his job?
A supporting character, shadow.
A beautiful accessory for photo ops.
All these thoughts filled his head.
Six years of marriage, of staying loyal to her vision, of playing the perfect husband.
For what?
To watch it all belong to her alone in the end?
Soon he heard Maya’s footsteps and turned, pretending to walk toward the mini bar.
“Hey,” she said softly. “You okay? You walked out so fast.”
He walked closer to her and kissed her forehead gently.
“Just trying to get ready for the day,” he said.
She smiled, leaning into him, completely unaware of the storm building inside his chest.
“Let’s have dinner later,” she said. “I want to tell you about a big deal coming, and something else I think you should know.”
“Of course,” he whispered. “Dinner sounds perfect.”
Maya walked past him, humming lightly, content, hopeful, trusting.
He then walked straight into the mini bar.
Cole unscrewed the cap of the whiskey bottle with a sharp twist. Pouring himself a drink, taking a full gulp, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and exhaled.
Maya’s voice floated faintly from the hallway.
“Cole? Are you still there?”
He forced a calm voice.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m here,” he called out. “I’m heading out.”
“Already?”
“Yeah. Much work to be done, especially with the new team.”
Maya, hearing that, felt completely relaxed. Having a better half felt good.
“Alright honey, do not forget about dinner tonight,” she shouted, feeling excited.
“Okay,” he said quickly, already grabbing his jacket. “I will not be long.”
He did not want to look at her again.
Not after what he just saw.
Cole decided to walk down the city street, hands in pockets, head full. Every step felt heavier than the last.
“Cole? Trent?” a voice called.
He turned.
A woman stood near the sidewalk lights, long hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, confidence radiating effortlessly.
His eyes widened. “Serena?”
She smiled slowly, surprised. “No way. Cole? Cole Trent?”
He laughed, the first genuine laugh he had all day. “Damn. Serena Hale? From college?”
“The one and only.”
They hugged, quick but warm.
“How long has it been?” she asked.
“Six, seven years?” he guessed.
“Closer to eight,” she corrected, nudging him playfully. “God, look at you. Married man, sports director, empire and all.”
He smirked. “Empire? That is all Maya.”
Serena raised a brow. “Still the same humble Cole.”
Then her eyes softened. “You look tired.”
He exhaled. “You have no idea.”
“Then come on,” she said, jerking her thumb toward a nearby lounge. “Let us catch up. Drinks on me.”
For once, he did not care about time.
Or Maya.
Or FLG.
Or the clause.
“Yeah,” he said. “Why not?”
Music hummed low, warm lights glowed across the tables, and the place felt like an escape.
They sat in a private corner booth.
“So,” Serena said, swirling her drink, “how is married life?”
Cole smirked. “Perfect. Beautiful. Amazing.”
He took a long sip.
Serena caught the lie instantly.
“You always talked like that when something was wrong.”
He looked at her, smiled.
“Just life,” he muttered. “Work.”
“Work or her?” Serena asked softly.
He did not answer.
Serena leaned closer. “You do not have to pretend with me.”
And that was the moment the wall cracked.
They talked for hours.
About college memories.
Old jokes.
Dreams they never chased.
Regrets they both carried.
One drink turned into two.
Two into four. And just like that, the night crept in.
At some point, she touched his hand in a flirty manner.
He did not pull away.
And when the lounge closed, neither of them suggested going home.
Meanwhile, Maya moved around the kitchen, plating dinner for two the way she always did.
Hours passed.
The food went cold.
She reheated it twice.
Still no sign of Cole.
Maya checked her phone. No message. No missed calls.
She dialed him once. Straight to voicemail.
She tried again. Still nothing.
The silence felt louder than any argument ever could.
Eventually, she packed the food into the fridge, switched off the dining room lights, and headed to bed alone.
At dawn, a soft glow crept into the room. Maya reached across the bed out of habit only to find the sheets untouched, cold.
She sat up slowly.
“Cole?”
No answer.
She checked her phone again.
No messages. No missed calls.
Maybe he stayed late at the training center.
Games were piling up.
It happened before…she thought to herself.
She brushed it aside, got out of bed, and grabbed her tablet, trying to focus on player stats.
Her phone buzzed.
Ivy.
“Maya. Babe, how is your morning?”
“It is fine,” Maya said slowly.
Ivy noticed the sadness in her voice.
“You okay, Maya?” Ivy asked.
“Yeah… just… Cole did not come home last night.”
“Huh?”
“He said he will be working with the new teams. But he is not answering.”
“Okay… maybe he just fell asleep,” Ivy said, reassuring her.
Maya hesitated. “Yeah… maybe.”
Maya was still on the call with Ivy when she finally heard the front door unlock.
A soft click.
Then hurried footsteps.
“Hey… he is here. Got to go. Later,” Maya said.
“Alright… yeah,” Ivy replied, and the call ended.
Cole stepped inside, looking rumpled but strangely composed, like a man who had simply overslept somewhere, not someone who abandoned his wife all night.
“Maya… hey,” he said quickly, forcing a tired smile. “I am sorry about dinner last night.”
She did not move. “Your phone went to voicemail.”
“I know, I know.” He ran a hand through his hair, avoiding her eyes. “It was the team. A late strategy meeting. Things ran longer than we expected.”
“Cole, you could have at least…”
“I am really sorry,” he cut in, already glancing at his watch. “But I have to head out again. We are behind schedule for next week’s fixture. Victor is on my neck,” he said, grabbing some of his belongings.
“Cole,” she tried again, softer this time. “Do not worry about work today. Let the skill coach handle it.”
“It is fine,” he said quickly. “I am okay.”
He leaned in, gave her a peck on the forehead, and grabbed his duffel bag.
“We will talk later, okay? I promise.”
Before she could answer, he was out the door again.
The apartment fell silent.
And for days, it remained like that… silent.
So she called Ivy, her voice low, uncertain.
“Ivy… something is off. Cole is hardly around. He is distant. I… I feel like he is hiding something.”
Ivy was quiet for a moment, then her tone softened.
“Maya, hey… breathe, okay? Whatever this is, we will figure it out together. You are not alone.”
Maya closed her eyes, letting the reassurance sink in.
“Thank you… I just… I do not know what to think anymore.”
“We will take it one step at a time,” Ivy said gently. “Call me if anything comes up, alright?”
“Alright.”
The line clicked off, leaving the room quiet.
She felt Cole’s sudden emotional distance and disappearance for days was not normal like it used to be.
She needed to know about it.
Maya walked in, greeting staff, trying not to seem worried.
“Hey,” she said to one of the assistant coaches. “Has Cole been here? I thought he was working with you guys.”
The assistant squinted. “Cole? No… he hasn't been here for days.”
Maya’s stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Yeah,” the man continued. “We have been waiting for him. We are behind schedule already, no proper training especially for the new team, but he did not show, nor even text.”
She forced a smile. “Ah… probably a mix up. Thanks.”
She walked away, heart pounding.
If he had not been here… then where was he?
She picked up her phone and called Ivy.
“Talk to me,” Ivy said. “What is wrong?”
Maya inhaled shakily. “I think Cole is… doing something. He barely talks, now he has not come home for days nor to the training field.”
“Maybe he is stressed…”
“No,” Maya whispered. “This feels different.”
“You think he is cheating?” Ivy asked bluntly.
The word hit her like cold water.
“I…” Maya paused. “I think so.”
Ivy sighed. “Okay. Do not jump yet. Watch… listen… observe. Do not confront without proof.”
“I know,” Maya whispered.
Cole finally came home.
Not guilty. Not apologetic.
Just cold.
“Long days?” Maya asked casually.
“Yeah,” he said, dropping his keys. “Meetings.”
She nodded slowly. “With the team?”
He hesitated almost imperceptibly.
“Something like that.”
She looked at him. But she kept her cool like nothing was wrong.
But something was wrong. Deeply wrong.
He dropped his phone on the bedside drawer and walked to the bathroom.
The screen lit up.
A message flashed. Anonymous.
One line.
But the words… Last night was perfect. I can still taste you.
Maya froze.
Her breath hitched.
She did not touch the phone.
She just stared at that message…
and felt her world tilt painfully.
Cole did not know about the text yet.
He did not even realize his phone had exposed him.
Maya sat rooted in place, trembling as one truth settled like ice into her bones.
He was not distant. but cheating.
And this was only the beginning.
- Writer
