Peace - Erling Haaland Fanfiction

Chapter 28

The clock ticked away, and with every passing second, I anticipated a call from Erling. My phone had been buzzing with notifications all afternoon; fans and the media had found my private social media account. I was also ambushed by a fresh wave of leaked photos, this time from the charity event. I couldn't have guessed that anyone would take pictures of us, and I was dumbfounded by how slyly the paparazzi moved.

Seeing me stressed, Sasha fussed over me, offering calming tea and a plate of cookies. Despite the warmth in her eyes, a tense energy crackled in the air. The silence stretched long, punctuated only by the distant sounds of the city.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Sasha finally asked, her voice gentle.

I hesitated, then let out a shaky breath. "It's a lot to take in. One minute I'm trying to move on, and the next, I'm plastered all over the internet as Erling's girlfriend."

Sasha nodded in understanding. "It's an invasion of privacy, plain and simple. But listen, Aria," her voice firmed up, "you are not defined by these articles and images. You are strong, capable, and have your own life."

Her words were a balm to my anxiety. "Thank you, Sasha," I whispered. "I really appreciate it."

Just then, the doorbell rang. Sasha exchanged a quick glance with me, then excused herself to answer. A moment later, she reappeared, ushering in a man in a crisp suit, and Erling. My heart raced at the sight of him. He wore a relaxed black hoodie, his hair down and slicked back. His eyes landed on me, and I could feel my face turning warm, so I looked away.

The two of them settled down on the sofa in front of me, while Sasha excused herself and left the room to allow us to discuss the matters privately.

"Hello Aria," the man gave me a formal smile, "I am Erling's publicist, Eddie Bowman. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I smiled in response, but my eyes settled on Erling, who was staring at me intently, not averting his gaze. It felt awkward, but I sensed there was something more behind it. His eyes were full of unspoken words, yet whatever they were, I wanted to avoid him entirely.

"Alright, let's directly confront the situation at hand. I have a proposal," Eddie said, placing a file on the table before me. "Aria, I know this can be daunting. The media, unfortunately, possesses an insatiable curiosity, and even private social media profiles aren't entirely immune to their scrutiny. You've likely noticed a significant increase in your follower count. To address this situation, I propose a public statement. Consider temporarily switching your social media profile to public and posting a casual Instagram story. This will allow us to directly confront the narrative. Briefly mention you're a devoted Manchester City fan, perhaps a bit too obsessed when it comes to Erling Haaland. We can help you craft a statement that portrays you as an enthusiastic supporter, perhaps bordering on slightly stalkerish – that will be the image we want to create."

He then turned to Erling, who looked irritated at Eddie's idea. "Erling, of course, will remain silent and allow this situation to resolve itself over time."

"How about you stop proposing nonsense like this?" Erling said, raising his voice. "Aria is not a toy you can play with. Make her look like a stalker? No chance."

"Then what do we do, Erling? We've been discussing this for over two hours, and you haven't suggested anything reasonable," Eddie said, looking at Erling with annoyance.

Erling shot a glance in my direction, a hint of defiance in his eyes. "Look, they're not entirely wrong, are they? I wouldn't mind Aria being my girlfriend. Maybe we just let things play out naturally?"

"Erl, please, don't do this," my voice trembled as I finally found the courage to speak. "You can't force this upon me. I don't have feelings for you. You can't just make this a situation we have to fit into."

His smile turned bitter cold. "Oh, so you were playing around with me?" His chuckle was devoid of humour and instead radiated anger. "I was just a distraction for you? Aria, I thought you were different, but you're like any other person who looks at me and thinks I'm just a star with no heart."

His words pierced into my heart like a dagger, but this was not the time to argue. I ignored his words, no matter how deep they cut and turned to the publicist. "I agree with your proposal, Eddie."

"Very well," Eddie said, taking a moment to compose himself. "I've drafted a contract outlining the proposed course of action. Erling has requested some revisions and clauses, so I would encourage you both to carefully review the document before signing." He slid the file across the table towards me and I picked it up.

I was eager to resolve the situation, so I hastily skimmed through the document and signed it before passing it to Erling, who was visibly annoyed. He signed it as well, and the file was then handed to Eddie, who seemed relieved.

"Excellent," Eddie said, a hint of forced cheer in his voice. "Aria, I have your contact information, so I'll send over the specifics for your social media announcement shortly. Now," he continued, placing a second copy of the contract on the table, "should either of you wish to revisit the details, I am leaving a copy of the agreement."

"That's enough, Eddie. Just get going," Erling said, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "Let's call it a day. Don't need to see your face any longer than I have to today." His gaze flickered towards the door, a clear dismissal.

Ignoring Erling's outburst, Eddie placed the copy of the contract on the table with a curt, "Very well, then." He offered a tight smile, more grimace than greeting, before exiting the room with haste. The door clicked shut, leaving a heavy silence. Just as I rose to follow suit, a rough grip clamped onto my arm. Erling's hold was tight, tinged with a simmering anger that sent shivers down my spine.

"You're not going anywhere. We need to talk," his voice, usually booming with confidence, was laced with a simmering anger, and it was the first time I had seen his eyes filled with frustration.

"There's nothing left to say," I stammered, yanking at my arm with a burst of adrenaline that surprised even me. "And honestly, I don't want to see you anymore." But his grip remained firm, a physical manifestation of the conversation he refused to let end.

A flicker of confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. His grip loosened slightly, but not enough for me to escape. "It was so obvious that you liked me," he mumbled, his voice losing its earlier bite. "The way you looked at me, all those times. What changed?"

A defeated sigh escaped my lips. "Everything, Erling," I whispered, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. "I told you to give me time to sort out my feelings. You knew I was struggling, yet you pushed your feelings on me. This isn't fair." My voice trembled as I continued, "We come from two different worlds, Erling. You don't have to worry about everyday problems, about family or the future. The only burden you might have is fame, but even that seems like a luxury compared to what I carry. I can't be a part of your world. Look at what happened today. The media frenzy – they dissect everything about you. I can't handle that constant scrutiny. This  has to be goodbye." I met his gaze and finally gathered the strength to pull my arm free.

My heart hammered in my chest as I turned to leave, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere. But before I could take another step, Erling's voice stopped me cold. "That's a breach of the contract you just signed."

I was surprised, and I turned to look at him. He picked up the copy of the contract and walked towards me before handing it to me. "This is why Eddie told you to go through it. I've added a clause that says the two of us must stay in touch to monitor the situation. It's also good for my public image to stay in touch with a fan who is supposedly obsessed with me," his tone had completely changed. "Any breach of the contract will put you in debt."

My fingers trembled as I snatched the contract, my eyes scanning the clause Erling had mentioned. There it was, black and white – a hefty penalty for breaking the agreement. The sum sent a wave of dizziness crashing over me. It was extortionate.

Erling loomed closer, his voice dropping to a low whisper that sent shivers down my spine. "Looks like we're stuck together, then," he said, his tone devoid of warmth. "If I can't have you the easy way, I'll take the hard way." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me speechless and trapped in a situation that felt increasingly suffocating.