THE CALL

After Eric ended his call with Ama, he quickly patched through to his business men who had been calling during his time with Ama. Men with deep pockets to invest in his company.

“Hello,” said Eric in a pitch befitting an accomplished mogul.

Investor (on speaker, European accent):
We’ve reviewed Evolve’s numbers. Strong concept. But we’re looking for leverage. Something… exclusive.

Eric walked to his desk, fingers brushing a folder marked ZENITH / POST-CUP.

Eric:
That’s exactly why I wanted this call now, before the tournament reshapes the market.

Investor:
Are you confident she’ll perform?

Eric didn’t answer immediately. Silence was part of the pitch.

Eric:
Ama Duplan doesn’t just perform. She moves markets.

A soft chuckle from the other end.

Second Investor (American):
Are you saying you control her?

Eric turned, leaning against the desk.

Eric:
No. I’m saying we control access.

He let that settle.

Eric (continuing):
Post–Zenith Cup, Ama transitions. Not publicly announced yet, but internally we’re aligned on brand protection, narrative control, and selective exposure.

That was the lie. Or rather, the assumption he had already sold.

Investor:
Aligned how?

Eric opened the folder. Inside were mockups:
Ama in monochrome campaigns.
Ama at invitation-only exhibitions.
Ama’s name beside EVOLVE SPORTS GROUP.

Eric:
She’s entering a phase where noise must be filtered. We provide that filter.
Appearances. Exhibitions. Private showcases. Strategic absences.

Investor:
Absences?

Eric:
Scarcity increases value.

A pause. Papers shuffled on the other end.

Second Investor:
And she’s aware of this structure?

Eric’s jaw tightened, just slightly.

Eric:
Ama values stability. She trusts the people who create it.

Then, smoothly:

Eric:
Think of her less as an athlete and more as a premium ecosystem.
Tennis is the engine. Image is the export.

Silence again.

This time, interested.

Investor (European):
We’re prepared to move forward. Minority stake. But our condition is simple.

Eric waited.

Investor:
We want first refusal on all Ama Duplan–adjacent ventures for eighteen months.

Eric exhaled slowly, as if considering.

Eric:
That’s reasonable.

It wasn’t his to give—but he gave it anyway.

Investor:
Then we’ll release the funds at market open.

We have faith in what you have pitched to us so far. Set the ball rolling.

The call ended.

Eric lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen.

For a moment, just one, something popped up in his mind.

Not guilt.

Calculation.

He poured himself a drink, the ice cracking sharply in the quiet bedroom office.

From the window, the Zenith Cup banners fluttered in the distance.

Eric raised his glass slightly, to no one.

“She’ll understand,” he said aloud.
“Eventually.”

The city kept glowing.

Eric thought of Ama, who must have been dreaming at the time, unaware that her future had just been traded in perfect sentences she had never heard.

… to be continued

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