5

Chapter 5

One year later

VIVIANNE POV

‘Congratulations, Ms. V. Sinclair. You've been selected as a lucky winner of the Starford's College scholarship entry. You're welcome to join us'.

I stared at my phone blankly. I was supposed to be excited, but all I felt was emptiness.

I just won a scholarship into the most famous sport college in the country, but guess what? Not as a student, but the ice hockey team's manager.

I didn't have enough money to do my clearance, so I had to settle for being an ordinary team manager.

God! I hate my life.

I've been struggling to keep my life together after my dad threw me out one year ago. Paying rent, light bills, water bills, loans, and other things was really overwhelming.

I watched my dream of becoming a figure skater slowly faded with each passing day as I drowned in this misery of a life.

A few months ago, I applied to Stafford, an elite sport school where stars are made. At first, I just applied for the scholarship with no hope of getting selected, but my name miraculously came out.

I was excited... Well, that was until I saw that the scholarship was half-paid, and I needed twenty thousand dollars for clearance.

I was going to decline it, but then, I saw that they were looking for a manager for their team. I could earn some money there, and who knows, eventually join the figure skating team.

“We are here, Ms.” The driver's voice jolted me back to reality.

My heart skipped a beat when I looked out through the window and saw we'd arrived at the ice hockey center.

“Oh…” My grip tightened on my phone, chest pumping hard as I stepped out of the car.

As the driver went to the trunk to get my things, I took the chance to stare around, my eyes lingering longer on the building nameplate with the inscription ‘THE BULLS’.

I let my eyes linger around. The building stood amongst the many other buildings in the large compound.

My eyes stilled on the building next to the ice hockey center. It's the figure skating center.

My heart stung. Had it not been for money, I would be standing there instead of here now.

“This way, please,” The driver led the way, and I followed, my heart pounding.

I've researched and even heard so many things about the players from this particular team. They're rumoured to be cocky and rude.

Well, this isn't news at all. Almost all the hockey players around the world are known to be crazy… Well, so am I.

I just hope I last here... I have to. I need the money, and heck! I need to eventually get into the figure skating team once I save up enough.

Sighs. Don't even ask me about my dad. He hasn't reached out to me after he threw me out, and I didn't either. Besides, he has Bailey, so why should he care about me?

A cold gentle breeze greeted me, accompanied by the scent of menthos the moment we stepped into the ice hockey arena.

My attention was drawn by the sound of sticks hitting the puck, blades scraping against the ice, and the players skating around, their laughter echoing around us.

They were cladded in white jerseys with blue stripes… And each player's names and numbers are inscribed at the back of their jersey.

“Ms. V…” A masculine voice called as a young man skated toward me, and as he approached, I recognised his familiar face.

I'd seen his face before during one of my research about the team. He's Mr. Bryant… Their coach.

“You're here…” He stepped out of the ice rink, standing before me, smiling as he got rid of his hand gloves.

He offered me a handshake.

“It's nice to meet you. I'm Coach Bryant. Coach B for short,"

“Vivianne Sinclair. It's nice to meet you, Coach B,” I smiled nervously.

"You're welcome to the team,"

"Thank you,"

“One second, please...” He turned and called the players over.

“I should introduce you to the team members,"

My breath hitched, fingers tightened at my sides.

‘I know you can't stand rude people, Vivianne, but you have to stay calm. Don't react no matter how rude they are. It's your first day here. You can't ruin it’.

With that in mind, I wore a smile as I watched the players skate toward me, their voices echoing in the rink, and their sticks scraping behind them on the ice.

My eyes met with one of them, and I recognised him immediately. Levi... Noah's best friend. The same Levi that rewarded Noah with his wristwatch one year ago for taking my virginity.

My breath stopped.

He noticed me, and paused. Our eyes locked for a moment, old familiarity flashing between us.

My chest burned with rage, and for a moment, the thought of snapping crossed my mind, but I composed myself.

I looked away... Like we've never met before.

“Alright, guys, this is Ms. Vivienne Sinclair. Your new manager," Coach B introduced me.

“Hi, guys. It's nice to meet you,” I managed to smile, my voice almost shaking with anger.

My eyes met with Levi again, and this time, it stayed locked on him, only one question screamed in my head. Is that bastard, Noah Boulevard here too?

Sighs. God! I don't want to run into him again, please. Heck! I might be forced to take a mugshot if I ever meet him because the fuck! I'm not going to let him off alive.

“Seriously? Is this who you chose to replace the former manager with?” A voice spoke, drawing my attention back to him.

“She has a small stature. Can she even do anything for us?” the dude added with a grimace.

“Be nice!” Coach B scolded him, then turned to me and smiled. “Give me a minute, please.”

“Hmm,"

“Be nice, guys,” He warned again before walking away, and I sighed, turning to the rude jerk.

I glanced at the name tag on his chest. Mark.

Oh, yeah… I've heard rumours about him. He was the reason their last trainer quit. Fans hates him for his rudeness and how he looks down on people.

I took a silent deep breath, trying to resist the urge to swing my hand on his face, because God help me, please… I don't want to send someone back home to you on my first day.

And more importantly, I need to keep my job.

“Ugh! What an eyesore,"

That was it! My last straw. If I let it pass now, he would do this again.

I wore a smile… one that didn't reach my eyes. “Were you expecting a giant to show up?”

His brows knitted.

I chuckled dryly. “I mean, my height is more than perfect for a woman, don't you think so? Besides, does it really have anything to do with the reason I'm here?”

Right… Now, I feel relieved.

He frowned, but I didn't give a fuck.

“You seem like an interesting young lady,” Another one said… Scott Hughes. Twenty-one, one of the team's defensemen... and a freak.

Rumour had it that he's really crazy and has a messed up personality, and women love him for that.

His eyes swept over me, a flirtatious smile lingering on his face. “Your fashion sense is quite weird and funny,”

They all laughed... except Levi.

My chest stung, but I didn't look away. I shouldn't be ashamed to wear what I can afford, right?

Just as I opened my mouth to talk, he offered me a handshake with his glove on. “It's nice to meet you. I'm Scott. I hope we get along… if only you change your fashion sense though…” he chuckled.

“I don't like weird looking people... especially women,”

Wow! They are crazier than I thought.

‘Breathe, Vivianne. Breathe’.

I forced a smile, taking his hand briefly, “Vivianne Sinclair,"

“I'll call you V. I think I like that better… V,"

My chest tightened as that name sparked old memories in my head. The last time I heard that was that night with Noah. No one has ever called me that ever since.

I quickly retracted my hand, forcing a smile on my face.

The coach walked back in, “I'm sorry I was gone for too long. I hope you're getting along with them?”

"Hmm," I barely smile.

I already felt like punching their faces.

“Come with me, please. The driver is waiting to take you to your apartment,"

I blinked. I have an apartment? Wow! That's like first time in ages.

I followed him with my suitcase, not before I shot Mark and Scott one last glare.

As we approached the parking lot, a familiar voice called me, and I paused.

Levi.

I looked back at him over my shoulder. He was walking towards me.

Hmph! What the fuck does he want?

He reached where I stood, and smiled nervously, "hey... It's been a while,"

I stared at him, my chest burning with rage, fingers tightening at my sides.

"About what happened back then---"

"Excuse me... Have we met before?" I cut him off, and colors drained from his face.

"What?" he blinked.

"Ms. Sinclair, shall we?" the driver came to call me at that moment, and I glared hard at Levi before leaving.

Looks like I have a whole lot to deal with here.

*****

“We're here," The driver said, pulling up at a mansion.

I stiffened, my eyes widening.

Is this where I'll be staying?

The driver passed a note to me and said, “that's the passcode for the house… You should call the coach if you need anything,"

And with that, he got into his car and drove off.

Here I was, thinking that I would be living in a tiny dorm. Looks like I was mistaken.

I stood before the building, my eyes wandering round it.

"This is beautiful..." I muttered with a smile before approaching the entrance.

I'll admire the house again later.

I've had enough stress to last me for the rest of the year.

My jaw dropped in shock once I stepped into the living room. Spacious, well furnished, and smelt like luxury.

I was still looking around when my phone chimed.

I reached for it, my brows squinting at the unregistered number before I read the text.

‘I'm sorry about any inconvenience you have to face. Please bear with us for now. We'll provide a more comfortable place for you to stay in. Something happened at the last minute… Coach B'.

“Why is he apologising? This place is more than perfect...” I muttered, but still, I replied to him, saying that it's fine, and I liked it here, so they didn't have to bother finding another place for me.

I threw myself on the sofa with the thought of finding my room later after I've had enough rest.

My stomach grumbled.

Shit! I haven't eaten yet.

I reached for my phone to order food, but sighed the moment I saw my poor account balance. Holy shit! This is more than being broke. I think I'm poor. Like really poor.

How the fuck am I supposed to survive on eight hundred dollars here?

I ordered something to eat anyway. I can't starve myself because I'm broke.

My mind drifted off to Levi, and I tightened my jaw. That bastard!

Five minutes barely passed when I heard the door beeping.

"Wh... what's that?" I blinked, my eyes widening.

Who else has access to the building?

Wait! Is someone trying to break into the house?

My breath caught fearfully at the thought of that.

I subconsciously reached for my phone with a shaky hand, but paused as the person already walked in.

I froze when I saw who it was.

Noah Boulevard...