Alex's heart thudded with anticipation as he walked down the corridor toward the Chairman's office. The polished wooden floorboards echoed under his boots, each tap syncing with the quiet thunder of his pulse. The early morning light slipped through the high windows, catching dust motes in thin beams. At the end of the hall, the familiar leather door awaited, flanked by two plaques, Chairman and Sports Director, like sentinels before a small battlefield he was about to enter.
He had not needed to ask why he had been called up. The players' group chat had exploded with rumors about Patrick Dorgu's potential exit, screenshots of Twitter accounts and reposted headlines, whisper threads that swirled in locker rooms and the gym corner. The possibility had been lingering for weeks, but now, with the January window open, it had sharpened into reality.
He knocked once, firm, and opened the door.
