C H A P T E R 38

Damien's POV

You know that saying you don't know what you have until it's gone, well I fully understood it now. It's been over a year since Lily and I broke up but she is all I think about all the time. It's a very painful sensation I'm experiencing and I can't get over it. I need to tell Lily but she doesn't want to even see me better yet talk to me when she sees me she acts like I don't exist.

I'm sitting at this team gala and I don't really have energy to be here but every single person was expected to be here. The guys in the team I hang out with are talking about what this gala could be for because we had no description. Leo and I weren't friends anymore we were just teammates, when he found out I cheated it really put a strain on our relationship and now we don't hang out. I know Leo really liked Lily and believed she was a good influence on me, when I was with Lily I wasn't out every night like I am now.

When I was with Lily I would go home and spend the evening with Lily sometimes we would go out but not a lot, wven at times when Lily would be away I would stay at home. My playing improved a lot in that period and my mental state was good and stable but I had to go fuck it up. I can't live well without Lily but she obviously can, I had been keeping up and she had her modelling career growing constantly and she always looked happy on her instagram stories and when papparazzi took pictures of her.

I turned to look at the doors of the ballroom and the girl I was thinking about walked in as if I my thoughts had conjured her up. Lily walked in and Adonis had his hand on her waist, she looked gorgeous as always and she was smiling. They were greeted by Mr Hammond and there was chatter for a long time and I had a sinking feeling in my chest. I knew that Adonis was very respected by all businessmen but that would not explain why he was at a Los Angeles Team Gala.

Adonis was a man who just exuded power everywhere, whenever I saw them I was overwhelmed because both had an aura about them that screamed power and elite. Lily's aura made me insecure at times when we were dating and I don't think she ever tried to have that aura, it was something she naturally had when we stepped into rooms she could grab everyone's attention just by being there.

I don't think they even noticed but they had most of the ballroom just watching them as they minded their own business. He pulled out a chair and she took a seat then he took his seat next to her with his arm behind her chair and they casually conversed between the two of them. They hadn't noticed but the atmosphere and conversation in the ballroom had shifted. People were talking about them curiously.

Bryant called me and said ,'Dude you might want to stop staring.'

The boys started laughing at me and I just played it off and shook my head. The owner of our team walked onto the stage and got everyone's attention.

Mr Hammond smiled and said ,'Well I'm sure everyone is wondering what this gala is for and I'm glad to announce that it's a very happy occasion. Today we are more than happy to announce that the team has a new majority owner and lucky for the players and employees he has way more money than me.'

There was a rumble in laughter throughout the ballroom. Mr Hammond chuckled at his own joke and said ,'Anyways without wasting anymore time I'd like to introduce your brand new majority owner some may know him for being the hottest billionaire for multiple years, an award I never managed to get in my hay day.'

I was now very curious to find out who the bew majority owner is, Mr Hammond continued and said ,'Not only does he have those accomplishments but he is the second highest earning person in world under thirty years old. '

Hearing Mr Hammond say under thirty seemed make everyone including me more curious except I knew exactly who it was but I was praying that somehow it wouldn't be him.

Mr Hammond rubbed his hands together and said ,'I can see some of you on the edge of the seats so I won't hold you in suspense the new majority owner of our team is none other than Mr Hamilton. '

My heart stopped beating for a second as soon as Mr Hammond said Mr Hamilton. Suddenly I had a flash back to the charity gala and him talking about having an offer to buy the Philadelphia team. I am remembering the embarassment I felt in that moment it had been the first time that I had felt less than because of being a football player. I am very aware that football and business aren't really comparable but the way he had reacted to my profession had been all I needed to know that he saw me as lesser than him.

The ballroom erupted in applause but I was in shock and I had a very anxious feeling in my chest. On the screen above the stage I saw them kiss and Lily looked so proud and happy for him.

Adonis got onto the stage and spoke but it all seemed like background music because I was still trying to gage the shock of him being the new owner and the pain I felt from seeing the two of them together it all hit me like a wave at once they seemed perfect for each other.

I focussed in as Adonis turned to Mr Hammond and said ,'Thank you Mr Hammond,' he turned back in the crowd's direction and said ,'There is not anything I plan on changing for now, I'll be coming in with my business partner and we'll be observing and if there are changes and upgrades needed we will make sure that happens. Otherwise it's an honour to join you all in this fine organisation please have an amazing time and enjoy this gala. '

I felt like he was mocking me when he said 'for now'. Adonis had this hand over me and my career, he didn't seem like type to fire me or trade me but he always had that over me.

Adonis was handed a champagne glass by a waiter and he held the glass forward and said ,'This is hopefully to growing and improving as an organisation.'

He walked back down the stage and I was still just staring at the stage in shock. I snapped out of it and Bryant said ,'Hey, you've spoken to him which direction do you think this organisation is going to take?'

I wanted it not to be true but I knew what was going to happen and I said ,'From what I sensed it's about to be better. '

Nahir nodded and said ,'This seems very promising. '

I took a large gulp of my water and nodded at the guys trying to play it cool. Lily and Leo just glided past our table without even sparing us a glance. Right there I had just seen one of my old best friends and my ex girlfriend walk past and not acknowledge me. Bryant let out a breathe and said ,'That's rough.'

I let out a breathe as well and I said ,'That's one way to put it.'

He gave me an arm punch and I know that was his way of cheering me up. Lily was talking to the football wives right now, the thing about Lily is that she never got along with the football girlfriends but the wives they loved her. The wives always asked when I was going to propose they loved Lily that much but no one could blame them Lily was an angel and just an absolute sweetheart if you didn't get onto her bad side of course.

Mr Hammond came to our table and said ,'Gentlemen how are you feeling about our new majority owner? '

They were approval comments from all over the table and I nodded and hummed along. Mr Hammond nodded seemingly very happy and said, 'I wanted an amazing person and businessman to be buying my shares and I'm very happy and honored that Mr Hamilton took a chance with us.'

We nodded and he said ,'Okay gents, I'll see you around.'

He moved onto the next table, that's the thing with Mr Hammond he always tried to interact with us a little bit and as an owner he didn't have to. Things were surely going to be different with the new majority owner.

We had dinner and the gala seemed to be winding down now. It seemed like every single human being at the gala had fun except for me. I had pretended to have fun with the guys but it had nothing less of torture the entire night.

There had been a good forty minutes where couples had gone on and off the dance floor but Lily and Adonis had not left the dance floor once the entire time. I watched them laugh and smile for forty minutes nonstop. I remember when I used to be on the receiving end of her smiles, chuckles and even her glares.

I had met Lily's parents once and it had been a reality check. Her parents had been nothing but kind and her mum was super sweet and accepting but they were at a level way above me and it showed. The meeting with her parents was a big motivation for me because I wanted her parents to feel that I was good enough for their daughter. Lily had never given me a reason to think I was less than but I always felt that way.

I found out about Lily's family money and I may have started acting very weird as a result, Lily had so much money and it was unimaginable. There had been an article in a magazine and Lily's family was featured and it had explained their family wealth. I was from a middle class family but her family's money was unreal. I shouldn't have let something like money be a big deal but I did and I know it very much irritated her when I made comments about her money.

Most people had left and I didn't want to be in traffic so Bryant and I who had come together were waiting till most people were gone. The ballroom had started being cleaned up by the employees of the hotel.

Bryant and I were at a bar opposite the road from the building where our penthouses are. I turned to him and said ,'Okay Bryant, why are we here?'

He ordered himself a bottle of water and I ordered the same. He opened his bottle of water and said, 'I can tell that you had a really rough night. '

I decided to pretend and I said ,'What do you mean?'

Bryant deadpanned at me and said ,'You're still in love with her aren't you?'

I let out a sigh and wiped my face and said ,'I know it's been over an year but I can't help it, I'm still in love with her. Up till this day everytime I see her my heart pulsates.'

He nodded then said ,'Okay then why did you cheat on her?'

I took a sip of my water and said ,'That would be the billion dollar question.'

He nodded and I could tell he was still waiting and I said ,'To completely honest with you, I wish I knew.'

Bryant looked at me for a bit and said,'Look man I cheated on my girlfriend too but I was wasted but from what I've gathered from the team you were very much sober. '

I gaped and he shrugged then said ,'Well you never talked about it even when asked but whoever the girl was she wasn't as quiet about it as you. Anyway I got wasted and I think I slept with a girl and as soon as I woke up and realised what I had done I was on her doorstep owning up and apologising. '

I was a bit fascinated because I had never seen Bryant like this. Bryant didn't seem like the type of person to be scared the way he seemed scared to lose his girlfriend. I couldn't help but ask ,'So you begged?'

He deadpanned at me and said ,'Damn right, I begged and she didn't make it easy but I knew I didn't deserve for it to be made easy for me. It's been six months and I still want to make it up to her every single day. She said she forgave me long ago and I'm just lucky she is the most forgiving person ever. I will never ever take advantage of that woman she's the love of my life.'

I nodded and I said something I hadn't said out loud but I felt comfortable. I ran a hand through my hair and I said ,'When she caught us I really did feel like my life had ended but then I went on and fucking dated her best friend for like a month and I still have no fucking idea why I did it. It makes no sense and I wish I knew my reasoning.'

Bryant chuckled and said, 'We've damn near all been there.'

I chuckled feeling better and I said ,'Hey man, thanks for listening to me mope I needed it. '

He dapped me up and said, 'Of course man.'

Bryant, I know he thinks that Lily is a lost cause and there is no way I'm getting her back and maybe he is right but I'm not ready to accept that at least not yet.