Fever Dream ~ Neymar Jr

Chapter 30

2017

As Monday morning approached, I felt more and more a bag of nerves. I was at home, waiting for Neymar and his dad to pick me up, since we said we'd all go together to Camp Des Loges.

I was already dressed and waiting, by the time David came out of his room. "Liv, calm down." He said, always picking up on whatever it was I was feeling. "There is no one like Neymar Senior and his team in this business."

"I know. It's just that... I'm a little afraid they are going to be angry. And pull the offer altogether. They'll realize I'm not worth it."

"There is no way this is happening." David said. "Look, I'll see you at practice. Everything will be fine." He said before leaving. Not even minutes later, the doorbell rang and I run downstairs.

"Oi." I told them, getting in the back seat. Both Neymars greeted me.

"Ready?" Neymar Senior asked me.

"No." I confessed.

"Even if you're not, you need to act confident. And also, as if you don't care that much."

Okay, I thought, taking a deep breath. I saw Neymar smile at me encouragingly through the rearview mirror.

"Alright, I'll see you soon." Neymar told me when we arrived, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Good luck."

Me and Neymar Senior started walking towards the meeting room. The receptionist gave me a confused look when she saw us but didn't say anything. I knocked on the door and they told me to come in.

"Let's do this." I told Neymar Sr.

To say they were surprised to see him would be an understatement. The deputy general manager almost started sweating. It was not surprising, considering the deal Neymar's dad managed to close for his son just a few months ago.

"Neymar, so good to see you." He said and the rest of the execs and lawyers all got up and shook our hands. "What brings you here? I wasn't aware we had a meeting."

"I'm here with my client." Neymar Sr said, pointing towards me.

"Your— your client?" He asked.

Neymar Sr nodded and sat down even if no one had offered him a seat. I followed quickly, trying to act blasé and aloof. For some reason I thought of Neymar listening to music on his headphones while a mayhem of reporters and fans surrounded him. I hoped I looked as chill as he did then.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. Olivia has told me you've been very persistent."

"Well— No, I wouldn't say that." The DGM said. "We just wanted to get our affairs in order."

"Yes. Before the transfer window. It makes sense on your side. However, I'm afraid it does not make sense on ours." Neymar Sr said. "As things stand, we cannot sign this contract."

"Mind if I ask why? It's a pretty good deal." The DGM asked, and this time he looked at me.

"We have many options to consider. As I'm sure you know." Neymar Sr said pointedly and the DGM turned red. I was 99% sure he was bluffing, there is no way he could have managed to get in touch with other teams and have proposals in one day! But the bluff worked because it seemed that other teams had indeed reached out to PSG, as Neymar had guessed. And the 1 million transfer fee they were trying to get me to sign now, it would definitely make all these teams withdraw their offers.

"I'm afraid we need to cut this meeting short." One of the execs intervened.

"Really?" Neymar Sr asked, in a way that showed he wasn't surprised at all.