Coaching My Ex’s Rival To Stardom

3

Cynthia

I promised myself to not break down, but the news of me being fired was already over the night. I felt my eyes well up with tears, which I tried blinking away fast as I aimlessly walked down the street.

I didn’t see the person in front of me till I had walked right into them, my face hitting their hard chest. Pain shot through my nose just as I stumbled, blinking up with an apology on my tongue.

“I’m s—” The words died down as recognition dawned on me instantly, and I felt a shiver slither down my spine just as I stiffened.

Kade.

He’s grown bigger, so much bigger and taller. I was at least five foot seven and he was almost a foot taller. His biceps were so f*****g huge, seeming like they’ll tear out of his white tank top, and his face… he was always handsome but now, it was in a manly, dangerous way. His jaw has grown even sharper, and his eyes were still as dark and intense as I remembered.

“Still remember me, koi fish?” His deep voice washed over me, a low grin tugging at his lips. My face flushed just as memories from high school washed over me, of him relentlessly teasing me and making my life hell throughout high school… memories I’ve completely forgotten about till right now.

“Kade.” I bit out while scowling, and his lips twitched as he leaned down.

“You seem mad. Are you still holding a grudge from highschool or is this because of you just losing your job?”

All emotions wiped from my face just as I swallowed and squared my jaw.

“If you’re here to laugh, hurry up and do it.” I bit out with false bravado, grateful my voice still came out steady.

“Now, wouldn’t that be fun? I wonder if you’ll angrily stomp your little feet like you used to do in the past, or if you’ll ask me me to go f**k myself. Have you gotten more creative over the years?” He asked, his head tilted.

I let out a scoff just as I tried walking past him, but he blocked my path.

“Kade!” I cried out. I don’t have the time and strength for this. My life just fell apart. I want to be alone so I’d be able to cry.

“Actually, I’m here cause I wanna make you a proposal.” He spoke more seriously now.

I pursed my lips. “No, thanks.”

He rolled his eyes while chuckling. “Trust me, you’ll wanna hear it, especially after the entire turn your life just took today.”

~~~

Kade

I watched Cynthia closely, staring at the way she was scowling down at her coffee and pie like they offended her. She was still as gorgeous as i remembered, and the pictures I’ve seen of her online recently did zero justice to her face. Her hair was the only thing different, now in a short bob that made her look ridiculously fierce and hot. Her eyes were still sparkling blue, her nose still looked cute, and her plump lips were as luscious as ever.

When she faced me, she looked mad. “How did you remember that I liked apple pie?”

I shrugged. For some reasons I wasn’t sure of, I remembered everything about her from highschool.

“It’s not hard to guess you’ll still be into boring s**t like this, considering how you’re still looking kinda boring.” I responded lazily and she seethed visibly.

“f**k you, Kade. I shouldn’t have come here with you.” She hurled at me, stabbing into her cake and devouring it messily.

When she caught me staring, she scowled. “What?”

I grinned. She was still so f*****g adorable.

“Nothing.”

She resumed devouring her pie. It felt a little refreshing to have a woman eat like this in front of me without trying to put on an act. It’s been ages since this happened.

“So, here’s my proposal.” As I spoke, all playfulness evaporated and I felt rage slowly gathered around my heart like it always did at the mere thought of Jaden. “I want to frankly destroy Jaden.”

Her eyes widened and she choked on her pie. “W- what? You wanna commit murder?” She cried out, loud enough for a people to look at us.

I shot her an exparated look. “Obviously not, dummy. But I want to ruin his life, his career till he’s reduced to absolutely nothing.”

An image of him just posing with the president last night flashed before my mind and my hands turned into fists on the table. f*****g Jaden who singlehandedly ruined my life, only to now be living a life that should’ve been mine. Back when we were in high school and on the same hockey team, we never got along and always competed, but I was the captain and the better player. I had the most promising future among everyone, till he ruined my future.

We all had to take some drug tests before our first international game, and despite never ever messing with drugs, my test came back positive and then I was kicked off the team. It didn’t take me long to figure out that it was Jaden’s father using his money to buy opportunities for his son. Jaden got my captain position shortly after that, and every other opportunity that was supposed to come to me, went to him.

Cynthia sat straighter. “Oh. So you still hate him? But he said he didn’t mess with your urine sample back then.” She pointed out, her nose scrunched in a confused frown and I scoffed.

“And what did you expect him to tell you? The truth? Of course he lied to you knowing you’re too gullible to doubt him. I mean, he clearly also deceived you this whole time just to end up dating a top model.” I nformed her and she ducked her head, her cheeks heating up in mortification.

“Look, I’m aware of my mistake now. You don’t need to rub it in.” She finally breathed out and I rolled my eyes.

“That was never my intention. My intention is to actually help you get revenge, so we’ll be basically helping each other.”

She leaned forward, looking suspicious. “Go on.”

“I’ll help you regain your career, and help you get back at Jaden. To do that, you’ll agree to coach my team because our last coach just quitted on us, and your connections to some important people in the sports industry could help us. You’ll also give us all your past team members’ weaknesses, which would help us defeat them effortlessly.”

I’ve managed to form a team of impressive hockey players, all we need now is a coach, and an agency willing to sign us. That might be reaching too far for now, so we’ll focus on getting a good coach first.

And Cynthia is a f*****g good coach. I’ve known she was gonna make it big with coaching since the time she’d stand beside our old coach back in high school, watching the game with so much intensity while pointing out mistakes even the coach missed, and also making suggestions that always managed to wow everyone. Back then, I never acted impressed, to avoid it getting to her head.

And because I also hated that she cheered for Jaden the most back then, when he was literally cheating on her. She’d bake f*****g cookies for him to celebrate each win, which he never deserved.

Cynthia burst into laughter. “Is this a f*****g joke?”

“I’m damn serious. I’ll openly date you. Jaden would lose it. Despite dumping you, he’s never liked the thought of anyone else touching you since high school.”

She was silent for a few seconds before she let out a sigh. “The world sees me as a creep, Kade. How can you willingly want to be linked to me in public?”

I rolled my eyes. Wasn’t it obvious?

“I need you, and obviously I know you’re not a creep.”

She shook her head firmly. “No, I can’t do this. Jaden won’t care if we fake date cause he doesn’t care about me anymore. I won’t waste my time on something like this.”

I arched a brow. “Are you refusing because you’re still in love with him? Because you don't want me to ruin him?”

She gasped, looking offended. “Why would I still be in love with him after all he’s done? Do I look dumb to you?”

I nodded. “Yes, frankly. You’re also too nice, too gullible and too forgiving. I bet if he comes back begging, you’ll take his ass back, cause you’ve that stupidly in love with him.”

“That’s not true!” She cried out angrily.

“Then why? You should grab this opportunity fast before it expires. Join me; we can ruin him, unless you’re too much of a p***y to take the revenge you deserve.”

She slammed her hands sharply on the table, fuming. “I’m not a f*****g p***y. I just don’t have time for this bullshit now, Kade. What I need, is a way out of this mess, to get my team to take me back, and not… this. I’ll never sell my team out like this.”

She got to her feet, and I followed suit, leaning forward till I was right in her face.

“You’ll be back, koi fish.” My eyes dragged down her heaving chest for a few moments. “While we fake date, I’ll touch you in ways that would drive Jaden nuts. I’ll kiss you, and work your body in front of him. He’s the type to never share his toys even after outgrowing them. He’ll care if he sees his enemy touching you, he’ll get mad. He’ll lose it and it would be such a sight to witness.”

She pulled back, her eyes dilated and blown wide and her face hot.

She was also breathing hard.

“Y- you’re f*****g crazy!” She cried before stumbling out fast and a chuckle left my mouth as I watched her leave.

You are not wrong, koi.

And, you’ll be back soon.