Three! Two! One!
The crowd counted alongside the timer. It was the State Championship game and Valerie's team made it to the finals.
"Val," her teammate called out, passing the ball to her.
She collected the ball and immediately raced towards the opponent's net.
With her left hand, she wiped off the sweat threatening to block her vision, dribbled the ball past her opponent and when she couldn't move further, she lifted herself high above the ground and sent the ball flying towards the net.
As soon as the ball made contact with the net, the timer went off…
Grrrrrrrim!
The crowd went crazy.
Loud screams, whistles, and chants.
Ivy League University just won the State Championship game and Valerie was beyond proud. She was the team leader and the MVP of the game.
She had always dreamed of going pro and this win right here was one step closer to her dreams.
"Alright ladies, gather round," the coach announced in the locker room, he wanted to talk to them briefly before they all went home but the ladies weren't having it at all.
"I'm telling you, that moment before the timer buzzed, I almost thought we already lost the game," teammate one said amidst laughter.
"Two points! …are you fucking kidding me?" The other interjected.
"Yo yo, who saw Val today, my girl was on… fire!" The third person said nearly in a scream while patting Valerie on the back.
And the whole team burst into another round of laughter and hailing, feeling themselves and very much proud of how their last game went.
The rest of them gathered around her, giving her a hug, handshake, a pat on the back….she really felt like the star that she was.
"Ladies!" The coach shouted one more time, requesting audience.
"Relax coach, we just won the championship, there's no order over here." Valerie teased.
"Exactly I don't know why he's being like that…hey coach," one of the ladies interrupted, "Shouting is for losers, and guess who's not a loser?"
The ladies on understanding the joke started cheering themselves again.
"Yeahhhhh!" they all screamed.
"Alright Alright…calm down ...I get it we're not losers." The coach said.
"I just want to congratulate us all today for a well played game. Our hard work really paid off. The long hours of practice, the early morning jog outs, the sweaty arms, and tired bones, they all paid off. I am so proud of you all." He added.
"We are proud of you too coach," teammate one said jokingly and the girls let out a soft chuckle.
"Now as we all know, we're having dinner tonight with one of our major sponsors, Richard Crane, the CEO of Apex Drinks International.
"Yeahhhhh! That's what I'm talking about." one of them exclaimed happily.
Winning the championship game was one thing, but getting used to all the attention and special treatment that came with it was another.
"So we're all expected to put on our best outfits…and our best behavior," he said in a warning manner pointing towards Valerie who immediately spoke up defensively.
"Why are you pointing at me coach? I'm not the one who starts trouble, I just don't tolerate it," she said with a smirk while looking away. Her countenance gave out 'whoever she had issues with deserved whatever they got.'
There has been multiple times when she got caught up in between quarrels and she always made sure that the culprit doesn't go Scot free.
One time it was their neighbor's grandson, Kelvin. He made fun of the old lady next door and Valerie made sure to spank him, not minding he was just a kid.
Another time it was a fight between one of her teammates and a girl from the opponent's team. She pushed Valerie's teammate mid game and didn't want to apologize.
In each case, she made sure they all got what they deserved.
"Alright," the coach said bringing her mind back from wonderland.
"See y'all ladies by 7pm." He said dismissively.
They all went home happily.
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Meanwhile, across town, Richard Crane, the billionaire was wrapping up his day.
"The dinner is tonight sir." Cynthia, Richard's secretary said over the phone.
"Oh shit! The one with the basketball team of Ivy League University?"
"Absolutely, Sir."
"What time is it again?" Richard asked, surprised there was still another event scheduled for that day.
"7pm, Sir." She replied.
"Alright Cynthia, thank you." He added.
"Is there any other thing you'd like me to do sir?" Cynthia asked in that flirtatious manner, looking for any reason to go up to his office.
It was no news she had a thing for her boss and didn't waste any given opportunity in showing it to anyone who cared to see. It became more of a habit of marking her territory.
"No Cynthia, that would be all." He said turning down her advances.
Richard grew up in a home where sports were like family traditions. His father, Mr. Johnson Crane, had been a basketball lover through and through. He could play too, not just as a casual hobby but with a kind of grace that made people stop and watch. Richard inherited his father's love for the game, though not his skill. He couldn't play to save his life, but he never missed a match.
Lily, his younger sister, adored the game but had never quite mastered it the way their father had mastered it. Still, she carried this quiet belief that she could, that all she needed was someone to train her well enough to bring out the potential she was sure was inside her.
She was part of the high school team.
When their father passed away, following their mother's sudden departure, something shifted in Richard. He wanted to keep his father's spirit alive, not just with memories but with something that would inspire others. That's when he decided to sponsor the college's female basketball team. It wasn't just business, it was personal. A way to honor both his father's love for sports and his sister's quiet dream.
Tonight, he'd finally meet the State Champions he'd been backin
g. He couldn't wait to shake their hands, especially Valerie's - the star who'd just led them to victory.