Football singularity

Chapter 744 744 First Car = First Kiss

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[2021-04-25 | Amian Cars Exclusive Cars, Leverkusen | 12:20 CET]

Bennet Schumacher, no relation to the legendary German racer, turned 18 this year and is set to graduate in May. But unlike his classmates, he felt no excitement about the next step in his life. The year for him had been difficult, to put it lightly, and tumultuous, if he was honest.

His mother had caught COVID, leaving their single-income family devastated financially and more so emotionally. It didn't help that the government didn't seem to have a clue about what was going on, or that their landlord didn't care in the slightest and raised the rent. Still, somehow, he managed to survive working part-time jobs online and accepting help programs provided by his favourite club.

It had appeared like a ray of light in the darkness when he received an email from the club asking him to apply for the support program. At first, he had been worried that his information had been leaked, but quickly realised it was from his membership app. What surprised him even more was that the club hadn't announced the program publicly for branding purposes.

He had never felt more grateful for his years as a Leverkusen fan, especially since the program allowed him to cover three months of rent. Everything seemed to get better from that day his mother was discharged healthy, and he sat his exams with a sense of peace. When things improved, he managed to get a job at Amian Cars while he waited for his results.

But that's where his luck seemed to hit a road bump. Being a car salesman was easier said than done, especially at AC (Amian Cars). His coworkers were paid on commission, and after a year without pay, they were like rabid dogs. Stealing his customers before he could close a deal, or dumping him on indecisive people, had become common.

He had been working here for a month and barely managed to sell five cars, and that too only the lower-end models. In a showroom with Ferraris, Bugattis, and even a Koenigsegg Agera, selling a G-Wagon or a Cayenne didn't feel great. Still, he made more money than he had ever made working here, thanks to his 20% commission, but it was peanuts compared to his seniors'.

He had seen Sandra make half a mill one morning, selling two cars to her regulars, before calmly leaving early. Still, he was determined to work this job all summer, even if he only made small sales to save up for university. Sighing, he stood up from his desk to get a cup of coffee, his feet echoing in the empty showroom.

His colleagues, who had already met their monthly quota, left him alone and went for an early lunch. Sighing at the situation, he quickly added his taste to the coffee maker, knowing full well that his boss didn't care about office politics as long as cars got sold. Just as the Italian machine started spewing its concoction, the faint roar of a sports car engine entered his ears.

Looking out the large windows, he saw a mint-green i8 pull into the parking lot. It wasn't a high-end car by the dealership's standards, but still, it was in his ballpark, so he didn't hesitate to leave his coffee and walk out to meet the customer. However, the moment he opened the door, his footsteps froze as four people exited the i8, which could have been comical if not for the fact that he recognised them. Even from this distance, Bennet recognised them instantly.

*No way.*

*No fucking way.*

A tall, light-skinned man with side fades and curly locks exited from the driver's side, moving the seat up for a peach-blond-haired woman to exit from the back seat. On the passenger side, a white boy with a mop of dark hair exited, struggling slightly with his boot and crutches. Behind him, a light-skinned woman with her hair done in braids climbed out quickly, reaching his side.

Both women were stunning, which made sense since they modelled, especially right now, in their stylish outfits that accentuated their figures. However, if one were to ask Bennet whom he would rather go to dinner with, he would, without a doubt, pick both the men without a hint of attraction towards them. He felt his heart race as the group got closer; luckily, he managed to snap out of it before things got awkward.

"Welcome to AC Cars." He professionally greeted them at the front door, stepping forward for a handshake, reaching out to Rakim first. "I'm Bennet Schumacher. I'll be assisting you today."

He kept things calm, using everything he had learned from observing his senior, hoping his pores wouldn't start sweating. He tried to project confidence as his hand reached out, an easy smile on his face, but inwardly he prayed that his hand wouldn't be ignored. The saying 'never meet your hero' suddenly came to mind, and he so hoped that it wouldn't apply.

"Thank you, nice to meet you, I'm Rakim." Rakim greeted him firmly, shaking his hand, and he felt like cursing as he noticed his palms were slightly damp. Whether Rakim noticed or not, he couldn't tell, as the latter maintained a poker face. Still, he hurriedly let go, unwilling to test his luck. "This here is my partner, May, that's the lovely Aaliyah, and he is just a civilian."

"Hey, I'm the Bundesliga's rookie of the year and leading the assist ranking." Wirtz retorted, using his left crutch to nudge the latter's shoe. "Hi, don't listen to him, I'm Florian"

Bennet forced himself to maintain his composure as he shook Florian's hand next, acutely aware that he was meeting two of the most talented teenagers in world football. "Right, of course. Congratulations on the season so far. Sorry about the injury."

"Thanks," Wirtz said with a slight grimace, adjusting his crutches. " Should be back before the Euros if I'm lucky."

"When you're lucky," Aaliyah corrected gently, her hand resting on his arm. She extended her other hand to Bennet. "I'm Aaliyah. Don't mind these two—they're insufferable when they're together."

May laughed, shaking Bennet's hand next. "She's not wrong. Hi, I'm May. And ignore Rakim's introduction—Florian's actually really talented. Rakim's just jealous he doesn't have the assist record yet."

"Hey, I have the one that matters for a forward."Rakim shot back with a grin. "Goals, that's why we play football."

Bennet couldn't help but smile at their dynamic, his nerves visibly leaving him. The banter between them was so natural, and he could tell that his team's favourite players were exactly how they appeared in the media. They were just... normal. Well, as normal as multimillionaire teenage football prodigies could be.

"So," Bennet said, clasping his hands together and slipping into his sales mode, forgetting about making a deal, just ready to cater to his team's stars. "What brings you to AC Cars today? Are you looking for something specific, or would you like to browse?"

Rakim stepped forward. "The kid over there wants to buy his first car, and the two girls are also looking to get one, right?" He said, glancing towards the group, receiving nods. "I'm loyal to Barbera, so I'll browse for now."

Bennet's mind raced, three potential sales with three high-value clients who had the wallet to make the purchase. If he played this right, he could hit his monthly quota in a single afternoon. His hands started trembling slightly, and he clasped them behind his back to hide it.

"Right," he said, entering his game mode, motioning for them to walk inside the showroom facing an orange Bugatti Chiron to the left, a black Koenigsegg Agera in the middle with the butterfly wings up, and a crimson Ferrari. "Well, let's start with you then, Florian. A first car is like a first kiss; you will never forget it. Do you have any preferences? SUV, sports car, sedan?"

The group turned awkward at his words, but it didn't last long as Rakim burst out laughing. "Bro, today is not your day," May slapped his shoulder quickly, dragging him away, leaving Wirtz to deal with Aaliyah's side eye.

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TO BE CONTINUED...