God Of football

Chapter 746: Up To Something.

[Hampstead}

The sun pushed faintly through the curtains, streaking soft light across the bedroom as Olivia stirred from under the sheets.

Her hair was tangled from sleep, the sort of messy that still somehow looked perfect, as she rubbed her eyes and sat upright with a soft groan.

Izan, who had been sitting casually at the edge of the bed, watching her wake up, leaned in with a grin.

”Let’s go on a date,” he said simply, the words rolling off his tongue with that mischievous ease that always managed to catch her off guard.

Olivia blinked at him, still heavy with sleep.

”Good morning,” she murmured first, her voice scratchy, ignoring his suggestion for the moment.

She lifted her hands and ruffled her hair, as though trying to push away the cobwebs of sleep.

Then, without warning, she swung her legs over and straddled his lap, her arms draping loosely over his neck.

She pulled him close, brushing her lips against his in a slow, lazy kiss.

”You start with a ’good morning’ first,” she whispered against his mouth, her eyes still only half open but her smile widening as she spoke.

Izan chuckled, returning the kiss with more intent this time.

”Good morning,” he murmured against her lips before pulling back, his eyes fixed on hers.

”Now, what do you think about what I just said?”

Her brows furrowed playfully, though her smile betrayed her amusement.

”About going on a date?” she asked, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

”I’d love to... but shouldn’t you be recovering today? Or, I don’t know, watching the City game, maybe even PSG, doing analysis like all the other players do?”

”For the other players, yes,” Izan replied without hesitation, his grin widening with every word.

”But for me? No. I am a bit different from them.”

Olivia tilted her head, giving him a knowing look, with a little chuckle slipping from her lips as she shook her head.

”Cocky,” she muttered under her breath, though loud enough for him to hear.

”Not cocky,” Izan countered instantly, puffing his chest in mock seriousness.

”Just the truth. Your boyfriend’s too good.”

She let out a laugh at that, nodding like she had no choice but to agree.

”Yeah, yeah. Too good for his own good,” she teased, though her smile softened as she tightened her hold on him for a second before loosening her arms.

”Come on,” Izan said, his tone shifting toward that teasing playfulness again.

”Get up and start showering. I’ll even join you if you want.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively, waiting for the reaction he knew was coming.

Olivia rolled her eyes, smacking him lightly on the back with the flat of her hand.

”Out,” she commanded, pushing him off the bed with enough force to make him stumble a little toward the door.

”Go downstairs. The last thing I need is you peeking like you usually do.”

”Me? Peek?” Izan feigned innocence, hand to his chest, as if she had accused him of something unthinkable.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but her laughter betrayed her stern façade.

”Babee, go!” she said again, giving him a final push out the door.

He stood there for a second, pretending to look offended, but the smirk tugging at his lips gave him away.

Before she closed the door on him, Olivia let out a laugh carrying warmth that radiated through the room.

And then, as the sound of his retreating footsteps echoed down the hall, she peeled off her garments one by one, letting them fall lazily to the floor before stepping into the shower, still smiling to herself.

.....

By the time the two of them finally emerged from upstairs, the air of the house already felt different.

Olivia had taken her time getting ready, hair flowing neatly down her shoulders, her dress carefully chosen but not overdone, simple elegance that mirrored her.

Izan, as usual, looked effortlessly sharp without trying, his jacket hanging just right over a plain shirt, his presence carrying the kind of quiet confidence that had come naturally with all the spotlight in him.

The glassy expanse of the living room reflected the mid-morning light in long streaks across the floor, making the space look even larger than it already was.

Beyond the wide panes, the garden swayed gently with the breeze, but inside, the sound of faint clattering dishes came from the kitchen island, where Komi and Hori stood side by side.

Komi was wiping her hands with a towel, clearly in the middle of something, before she noticed them stepping down.

Hori leaned on the marble counter, her expression already braced with curiosity, as though she had been waiting for an explanation since she heard their footsteps upstairs.

”Well, what’s the occasion?” Komi asked first, her eyes flicking between the two with a smile that was equal parts motherly and teasing.

Olivia glanced toward Izan before answering, a soft grin tugging at her lips.

”Izan said he wanted to take me out. Something about compensating for not being around much,” she said lightly, though her tone carried the warmth of the gesture.

She smoothed her dress almost self-consciously, then tilted her head at the two women.

”What do you think? How do I look?”

Komi’s response came instantly, almost reflexively. ”Gorgeous,” she said, her voice full of conviction, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Hori, however, wasn’t as quick to oblige.

She arched a brow, her lips tugging into the faintest smirk.

”I’m sure you’ve already had an endless stream of compliments from him before you even made it down the stairs,” she said dryly, her eyes flicking toward Izan.

”So I don’t see why you’d need me to repeat them.”

Olivia laughed softly, though she gave Hori a playful narrowing of her eyes.

”So you’re just going to deprive me of one?”

”Completely,” Hori said, her tone flat but the slight curve in her expression betraying her amusement.

Komi let out a little sigh, shaking her head at her daughter. ”Don’t mind her,” she said, directing her words toward Olivia and Izan.

”She enjoys pretending she’s above these things.”

Then, softening, she leaned a little on the counter and offered a warmer smile.

”Have fun today, both of you.”

Olivia returned the smile with a nod, and Izan gave a small wave of thanks, already half-preparing to steer them toward the door.

But Komi wasn’t finished.

”And Izan,” she added, her eyes narrowing playfully in his direction, ”don’t forget to embrace the publicity. People want to see you.”

That stopped him mid-step.

He froze for half a second before shaking his head, his hand coming up to rub the bridge of his nose, a tell he could never quite suppress when slightly embarrassed.

”Not you too, Mum”, he muttered, his tone hovering between exasperation and amusement.

The memory of Miranda’s constant reminders about interviews, appearances, and ”building the brand” had been a running nuisance in his life ever since breaking out in Valencia and now the fact that Komi had now echoed that same sentiment felt like a betrayal of sorts.

Komi only chuckled knowingly, her towel now folded neatly over the counter.

”What can I say? She rubbed off on me,” she said, her tone almost casual, as though she’d rehearsed it.

Olivia, catching Izan’s resigned look, couldn’t hold back her laugh.

She slid her arm through his as if to steer him away before he could get pulled into another lecture while Hori watched the whole exchange with quiet satisfaction, the corners of her mouth twitching upward as though she’d just witnessed a small victory.

Izan muttered something under his breath, shaking his head with a reluctant smile as he let Olivia tug him toward the front door.

Komi’s laughter followed them faintly down the hall, a sound that warmed the otherwise pristine, glassy silence of the house.

As they stepped out onto the wide compound, Olivia’s heels clicked softly against the smooth stone, her eyes already flicking toward the line of cars parked neatly along the side of the garage.

She slowed, tugging lightly on Izan’s hand.

”So... which one are we taking?” she asked, her voice equal parts curious and suspicious.

Her gaze naturally lingered on the Gemera, its sleek outline practically gleaming even in the muted daylight.

She knew as well as he did that anyone within a mile radius of London football would recognise it as Izan’s, as the car had become part of his public image, whispered about on fan pages and snapped in blurry photos outside training.

”And the Benz is gone,” she added with a small frown, remembering.

”Miranda took it, right?”

Izan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he let that knowing smirk creep across his face, and that made Olivia narrow her eyes because it always meant he was up to something.

He gave her hand a firmer tug, steering her away from the obvious row of vehicles and toward a quieter side of the garage.

”Where are we going?” she asked, tilting her head.

”You’ll see,” he replied simply, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, like he was enjoying the little suspense more than he should

A/N: This is the last of the previous day. I will see you in a bit with the first of the day and then the last as well as the GT Chapter.