Chapter 43

Dominik and Friedrich arrived to their hotel. They were both walking fast, avoiding some paparazzi who were by the entrance. Ewald, who was sitting on a couch at the lobby, reading a magazine, sipping some coffee, saw them coming in. He got up and walked towards them.

“Dominik, I just got a call from…” he didn't get to finish his phrase because Dominik gave him a freezing look and carried on towards the elevator without a single word.”What happened to him?” He asked Friedrich.

“What we were fearing. He got brokenhearted” he answered, going after Dominik. He even had to run to catch up. “Hey!”

“If you are coming with me, be quiet. I am not in the mood for a lecture” snapped Dom.

“No need to treat me like that. This was not even my fault.”

“I am very angry.”

The door opened at the corresponding floor and they both went out the metallic box.

“And you have every right to be…” agreed Treadaway.

“I am an imbecile” said Weigand under his breath.

“No. You're not” Friedrich tried calming him. “There's two types of women in this world. Regular women and troublemakers, I think Samanta belongs in the latter.”

Friedrich could not miss this chance to bash her, anything to get Dominik disillusioned with her.

“What do you mean?” Dom seemed confused.

“Oh, come on! Ever since she came in the picture, things have been increasingly worse.

Dominik frowned.

»You know, the rumors, harassment from the press…” continued Friedrich.

“It was me who brought her into this. She cannot be blamed.”

“Maybe she's enjoying this.”

“What?” Dom was not following.

“Oh, please! Everybody wants to be famous, being in the spotlight…”

“I think I should go to sleep” Dom interrupted him. He did not feel like listening to Friedrich's none sense.

“Please, try to get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow.”

That much was true, they were heading for Santa Clara in the morning. The third game of the first round would be held at the Levi’s Stadium. It would be a flight of one and a half hours, but as soon as they arrived, they had to go to the new hotel, check in and meet the FIFA committee designated to that town to let them know the guidelines of their short stay.

Dominik wanted to give Samanta a long kiss, before he left, instead, he got a broken heart.

“We will win” said Dominik when they reached his bedroom door. “I will make sure of it.”

Friedrich waited until his friend was in his room. He then, took his phone and dialed a number. He had been considering taking that step for the past two days, but he thought maybe Samanta Andrade posed no threats. None the less, he realized his mistake. Now, more than never, he needed to know everything about her. He had to take that chance and give the final blow, making Dominik forget the woman once and for all.

The name of the former CIA agent, Raymond Carter, his father's former boss, was displayed before his eyes. Treadaway laughed with malice. He knew this man owed his father a favor, and he would not hesitate to take advantage of that.