Chapter 1 The problem picture

Ethan's pov:

“Yessssss! They did it!!!!”

The scream came from somewhere behind me, but it was immediately swallowed by the roar of eighty thousand fans.

“THE BLACK WOLVES ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!”

The final buzzer had barely finished echoing through the arena before the players threw themselves into one another. Blue-and-silver confetti poured from the ceiling, sprinkling all over the ice as the crowd erupted into another deafening 

celebration.

I barely noticed any of it, my eye were glued to the viewfinder, “Come on, Noah,” I muttered. “Just give me one good shot.”

As if the universe had finally decided to take pity on me, Noah Ashford turned toward the crowd.

The captain of the Black Wolves stood at center ice, sweat darkening his hair, his jersey clinging to his shoulders after nearly an hour of brutal play. Someone shoved the championship trophy into his hands, and the crowd erupted all over again.

I adjusted my focus. Noah lifted the trophy above his head as confetti drifted around him, catching the arena lights like falling stars.

I pressed the shutter.The photograph appeared on my screen, for a second, I forgot about everything else. It was perfect.

The lighting, the angle, Noah's expression—everything worked.

If a major sports magazine bought the exclusive rights, I could clear the rent, pay part of Mum's hospital bill, and maybe stop calculating whether I could afford groceries after paying for her medication.

“Ethan!!!!”

I nearly dropped my camera, turned and found Carla pushing her way through the photographers. “You're going backstage.”

I glanced at my press pass. “I'm assigned to the rink.” “Not anymore!.”

She shoved another pass into my hand.“The agency photographer didn't make it through security. I need you backstage before someone else gets the exclusive shots.”

I looked toward the restricted tunnel. “Me?” “Yes, you.” “Ethan, I know you need the money. So get me something good.”

She didn't have to say much, she knew about my mum, the rent and probably knew about the three debt collectors who had called me before breakfast.  I tightened my grip on the camera.

“I'm going.” And just like that, my biggest problem became my biggest opportunity. I had no idea it was about to become something much worse.

—-----

The moment I stepped through the backstage entrance, the noise changed.The arena had been deafening, but behind the scenes, the celebration had its own kind of chaos. Players shouted over music blasting from portable speakers, reporters crowded around the locker-room entrance, and staff members hurried past with trays of champagne and equipment. I raised my camera and started working.

A rookie was crying while talking to his mother on video call, so I captured the moment before he noticed me. Two veteran players were sitting against the wall with their arms around each other's shoulders, laughing like exhausted children. Near the locker room, the coach was pretending not to wipe tears from his eyes.Those were the photographs I wanted.

 I was reviewing a photograph when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Mom, my  stomach tightened, stepped away from the crowd before answering.

Me: “Hey, Mom.” 

Mum: “Are you busy?”

Me: “ yeah I am. The Black Wolves just won.”

Mum: “I know. I heard the neighbors screaming.”

I smiled myself. “Give them credit. They have excellent lungs.” She laughed softly, but the sound didn't last. “What happened?” I asked. “The hospital called again.”

My smile disappeared. “What did they say?” “They need the next payment by Friday.” I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes.

Friday, that's in three days. “How much?” She hesitated before giving me the amount. I already knew I couldn't afford it.

“I'll get it.” 

Mum: “Ethan, don't make promises you can't keep.”

“I'll get it, Mum.”

Mum: “You've already missed your rent.”

Me: “I know.”

Mum: “And you haven't been paid for that wedding shoot.”

Me: “I know!”  My voice came out sharper than I intended, silence followed. I rubbed my forehead.

Me : “Sorry.”

Mum: “I know you're trying,” she said gently. “That's all I've ever asked you to do.”

The guilt settled heavily in my chest.

Me: “I love you.”

Mum: “I love you too.”

When the call ended, I stared at my reflection in the dark screen. Three days  was all I had.

I pushed the thought down and returned to work.

The farther I moved from the locker room, the quieter the corridor became. I checked the number on my pass twice, wondering if I'd taken a wrong turn.

Then I heard voices, I slowed down.

The door ahead was partially open.One of the voices belonged to Noah Ashford.I recognized it immediately.“I couldn't have done this without you.” I should have kept walking. Instead, I looked through the opening.

Noah stood inside the room, his championship jersey still damp from the game. The trophy was nowhere in sight, and neither was the confident smile he'd worn for the cameras.

He was alone with another man. At first, I assumed it was a teammate.Then the man stepped closer.Noah reached for him.

The embrace stopped me, there was nothing casual about it.Noah held him with both arms, his face pressed briefly against the man's shoulder. When they separated, the stranger placed a hand against Noah's cheek he closed his eyes, I  stared through the gap in the door.

My first thought was that I had stumbled into something private. My second was that I needed to leave. My third was the hospital bill.

I hated that the third thought won. I slowly lifted my camera, one photograph. That's all.

I could take it, walk away, and decide later whether it was worth selling.I adjusted the focus the scene sharpened through the viewfinder.

Noah's hand rested against the man's back. The stranger was looking at him with an expression I couldn't quite understand.

There was something painfully intimate about the moment.

I hesitated then  pressed the shutter. The flash exploded across the room, Noah's head snapped toward me.

Our eyes met. Then his expression changed completely.

“Who are you?” I lowered the camera. “I'm a photographer.”

“Did you take a picture?” I should have lied. Instead, I tightened my grip on the camera.

“Yes.” The stranger beside him immediately stepped away. Noah's gaze dropped to the camera hanging from my neck. “Delete it.”

His voice wasn't angry and that somehow made it worse. “I can't.” His eyebrows drew together. “You can't?” “I mean, I shouldn't have taken it, but it's my photograph.” Noah took a step toward me.

“You don't understand what you've photographed.” I swallowed. “Maybe I don't.” Another step. “But I understand what a photograph like that is worth.” The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Something flashed across Noah's face. recognition of  the situation. He understood exactly what I was saying.“You're trying to sell it.” I kept quiet that was answer enough. Noah's jaw tightened. “Give me the camera.”  I shook my head. “I have bills to pay.”  

“So do i!!” The bitterness in his voice caught me off guard for the first time, I noticed that the superstar standing in front of me didn't look untouchable. He looked scared.

Before I could respond, voices echoed from the corridor. Noah looked toward the door. “Security!” My stomach dropped. I backed away. “Wait.”

But I wasn't waiting around to find out what happened next. I turned and rannn.

“Stop!” The shout followed me down the corridor. I heard footsteps behind me as two security guards came charging around the corner. “Hey! Photographer!”

I pushed through a group of reporters, nearly colliding with a catering cart. “Sorry!” My camera bag slammed against my hip as I sprinted toward the service exit. I had no idea where I was going.

I only knew that if security caught me, I was going to lose the one thing that might save my mother.I reached the end of the corridor and shoved open the first door I saw. It led straight into the loading area.

Cold night air hit my face.I ran harder.Behind me, the stadium doors burst open.“Stop him!”I glanced over my shoulder, three security guards were chasing me. And standing several yards behind them was Noah Ashford, he wasn't running but was watching me with an expression I couldn't read, then he pulled out his phone and raised it  to his ear, his eyes never left me. That was when I realized this wasn't just about a photograph anymore.Noah Ashford was going to make sure I couldn't escape with it.