Control

Chapter One

Kaia’s POV

The final whistle blew, and for a second, everything around me seemed to disappear.

Then the arena exploded.

“Kaia! Kaia! Kaia!”

Thousands of voices rose together as I stood in the middle of the rink, breathing heavily, my hockey stick still in my hand and sweat running down the side of my face. I looked up at the scoreboard and saw what I already knew.

We had won,again

I smiled as my teammates rushed toward me, pulling me into hugs while the crowd continued chanting my name. Cameras flashed from every direction, reporters were already pushing toward the barriers, and somewhere behind them, our fans were waving jerseys with my number printed across the back.

This was how it had always been, I played, I won, people  shouted my name.

I had spent years earning this moment, one game after another, one victory after another, until I became the player everyone expected to carry the team whenever the pressure became too much and  I had never complained about it.

I loved the game too much to complain.

I was still celebrating with my teammates when I noticed something strange, the coaches weren’t celebrating, neither  were some of the senior staff.

They stood near the entrance of the rink, talking quietly among themselves, their expressions far too serious for a team that had just won an important game.

I pulled off my helmet and walked toward them. “What happened?”

Nobody answered immediately.

I frowned. “We just won. Why does everyone look sad?”

My coach finally looked at me. “The team has been finally sold.”

I blinked. “What?”

“The team,” he repeated carefully. “It has been sold.”

I looked around at the people standing nearby, “To who?”

My coach hesitated, then  he gave me the name. “Roman.”

Everything inside me went still,” Roman?”

He nodded, “Roman Bennett”

Roman Bennett, my stepbrother, of  all the people in the world, it had to be Roman.

I let out a slow breath and looked toward the ceiling as memories came rushing back, memories of a man who had spent years telling me what I should do, where I should go, who I should trust, and what he believed was best for me.

Roman was the CEO of one of the biggest companies in the country, and somehow, despite knowing almost nothing about hockey, he had decided that buying a professional hockey team was a good idea.

I couldn’t understand it.

What did he even know about hockey?

He had never cared about the sport before.

At least, not until now.

I was about to walk away when one of the team executives approached me.

“Kaia, there’s something else.”

I turned. “The new owner wants to see you.”

I almost laughed. “Of course he does.”

The executive looked nervous. “He specifically asked to meet the most talented player on the team.”

I stared at him. “He asked to meet me?”

He nodded.

I picked up my bag. “Fine.”

If Roman wanted to see me, he could see me.

I wasn’t going to hide from him.

A few minutes later, I walked into the private office prepared for the new owner.

Roman was standing near the large glass window with his back toward me, looking down at the city as if he owned everything beneath him.

That was Roman, he  always had to stand like he was in control of the entire world.

I closed the door behind me.

He turned, out eyes met.

For a moment, neither of us said anything.

Then I crossed my arms. “Roman, what do you want from me now?”

A small smile appeared on his face. “I see you’ve really improved.”

I almost rolled my eyes. “I’m aware.”

He walked toward the desk and sat down.m“I bought your team.”

“So I heard.”

“You don’t sound surprised.”

“I know you too well to be surprised by anything you do.”

He leaned back in his chair.m“I thought you’d be happy.”

“Why would I be happy?”

“Because you’re still playing here.”

I stared at him.m“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”

His expression became serious.m“Everyone playing for this team will have to follow my conditions.”

I frowned. “Conditions?”

“Yes.”

“What conditions?”

Roman folded his hands together on the desk. “Anyone who signs with this organization will not be allowed to play for another team for the next three years.”

I stared at him.

For a moment, I genuinely thought I had heard him wrong. “Three years?”

“Yes.”

I laughed, but there was nothing funny about it.m“You’re serious.”

“Very.”

I stepped closer to his desk. “You bought an entire hockey team just to lock its players into three-year contracts?”

“I bought the team because I wanted control over the organization.”

“And now you want control over us.”

“I want stability.”

“No,” I said firmly. “You want control.”

His eyes narrowed slightly? I could already feel the old anger rising inside me, this  was exactly what Roman had always done.

He had always believed that because he was older, richer, and more powerful, he had the right to make decisions for me.

When I was younger, I tolerated it, I was no longer that girl. “It’s still the same with you,” I said, shaking my head. “You always have to control everything.”

“Kaia”

“No.” I raised my hand before he could continue. “I’ve spent years building my career. I worked for every victory you saw tonight. I didn’t become the number-one player in this league because someone told me what to do.”

Roman’s expression hardened. “I didn’t say you weren’t talented.”

“Then don’t treat me like I don’t have a choice.” I looked directly into his eye.  “You just told me that if I want to stay here, I have to accept your conditions.”

“That is how ownership works.”

“Then you can keep your ownership.”

His eyebrows lifted.

I picked up my bag from the chair. “I’d rather create my own team than spend three years following your orders.”

For the first time since I entered the room, Roman didn’t smile.

He studied me quietly. “You think it’s that easy?”

“No.” I turned toward the door. “I think it will be difficult.”

My hand closed around the door handle. “But I’d rather struggle building something that belongs to me than succeed inside something controlled by you.”

I opened the door.

“Kaia.”

I stopped but didn’t turn around.

I had no idea where I would get the money or even find a place to train. Ever since my mother married Roman’s father, her priorities had always been Roman and his father, never me. I had learned a long time ago not to expect anything from them.

But I would figure it out.

I would rather start with nothing than let Roman control my career.

Because no matter how difficult it became, I would never allow anyone to own my future.