Chapter 68

Dominik Weigand had recently become one of the most respected and admired players in the history of soccer, winning lots of awards and recognition. In his time, he could brag about being the only one, so far, to win two club championships, simultaneously, one European cup, one World Cup and two Ballon d'Or consecutively.

At age 31, going on 32, he was recovering from an injury he suffered some four months back. During that time, he got full on into the direction of the Germany Football Team, given that, the moment he retired from the field, he would start working with the coaches.

His retirement was announced for the year after, and this year, he wanted to enjoy playing the exhibition games they already had scheduled.

He was not summoned for the elimination rounds for the next World Cup since he would no longer be playing.

His marriage with Dihanna was solid and they had a five-year-old named Abraham, who looked just like Dominik.

The family residence was located in a house right outside of Bavaria.

Dihanna Wickmar moved in definitely, leaving behind her hometown of Napanee. Her musical career ceased. She was dedicated full-time to her son and being an executive producer for a German label.

“Alright, boys. We're here” Dustin Kleiber's voice, Ewald's new assistant, woke Dominik.

Dom looked out the bus window and could not fight the nostalgia. After such a long time, he was back in Los Angeles. He had been back many times before, with the same feeling of desire. Many times he dreamed of running into Samanta on the street, or the airport, but he finally understood that was nothing but a wild dream.

It was about 1 pm and the Rose Bowl was prepared for the exhibition game between the United States and Germany.

Dominik got off the bus and greeted a couple fans, waiting outside the stadium, expecting them. Some came up to him and kindly asked for a picture or an autograph. He was very focused, taking a picture with a girl, to realize someone was coming up to him.

A hard hit on his face made him stumble to one side. In a matter of seconds, the attacker was immobilized by several men from the security squad. People started screaming, wondering what the hell had just happened? Dominik was shocked, unable to understand why did he just got hit like this. His vision blurred and he had to blink several times in order to focus his eyes. He brushed his hand over his mouth to discover he was bleeding from the corner of his mouth. He set eyes on the person who hit him. He frowned when he recognized him.

“Carlos?”

The alluded struggled violently, trying to free himself from the grip of the security team holding him.

“SEVEN YEARS! Seven years, you scum! Seven years have I been waiting for a chance to give you what you deserve” barked Carlos.

“What the fuck?” Dominik started to impregnate with the violence Carlos emanated.

“You're a worthless piece of shit… You disgust me!”

“What the hell is going on here?” Ewald got off the bus, furious. “What is the meaning of this, Dominik?”

“Me? He hit me” Dom seemed offended.

“Why would he hit you?” The head coach was ironic with his rhetoric. He knew Dominik was no saint.

“I have no idea” the victim muttered.

“Who is this?” Inquired Ewald, staring at Carlos.

Right then, Friedrich managed to push through all the on lookers. He had noticed something from the distance.

“What's going on?” Asked the publicist, but nobody seemed to pay any mind.

“He is friends with Samanta” Dominik told Ewald.

“Holy Lord” the man knew this was something serious and did not want to keep a show going in front of all these people. “Take him inside” he demanded, making a gesture with his hand to the men holding Carlos.

“We'll work this out the only way I like to. Discreetly” said Ewald and walked towards the entrance to the stadium.

*****

Carlos' hands were sweating and he was shaking in anger. He was cuffed and forced to wait sitting on a stool in the dressing room. Every member of the German team looked at him like he was some sort of freak, which he was. Who in their right mind would punch Dominik Weigand in broad daylight? He would.

The police came asking pertinent questions. Dominik refused to press charges when they asked him, he said he only wanted to talk to Carlos, find out the reasons behind the attack. The police offered to escort the aggressor outside the stadium anyway.

“Let me talk to him” requested Dominik.

“Please, Dominik. The game starts in a half hour, you have to go warm up with everybody else” yelled Friedrich.

Dominik turned to Ewald asking for his approval with his eyes.

“Five minutes, Weigand” said the coach.

“Leave us” asked Dom.

“I don't think you should” commented Treadaway.

“Wait outside, Friedrich. Will you?”

No. He wouldn't leave him alone with this man, God know what he would say to him. Friedrich was pouring sweat. He was terrified.

“I am not leaving you alone with him” his friend muttered.

“Then be quiet.”

Dominik walked up to Carlos and sat down next to him.

»Are you going to punch me again?” He asked, noticing the icy stare.

“How can you be so cynic?” Carlos glared at him. “I wanna punch you 'till you're disfigured” He muttered with notable despise.

Dominik leaned his head back and put his hand on his head.

“I don’t understand. Why do you hate me so much?”

Carlos huffed loud and laughed sarcastically.

“Don't you dare play fool with me, I know what…” Carlos stood in silence, realizing Dominik was confused. He had no clue—. You honestly don't know?

Friedrich cleared his throat, getting their attention.

“Your five minutes are up, Dominik. Time to…”

“Fuck off, Friedrich” snapped Dominik. He set his eyes on Carlos once again. “Know what?” He inquired.

“About Samanta” said Carlos.

“Dominik. Ewald will be mad if…”

“Fuck, Friedrich! What is it with you? Do you mind?” He turned to Carlos again. “Proceed. What am I supposed to know about Samanta?”

Friedrich felt his heart beating out of his chest any time now, he was nervous. Carlos stopped to look at him and he noticed something very strange about this man.

“Samanta told you and you replied” Carlos stood up and walked towards Friedrich.

“I don’t know what you mean. I know nothing from her since the day I went to look for her and you told me yourself she had left for Egypt.”

“If that wasn't you. Who?” Carlos surrounded Treadaway, like predator would prey. “I think your friend here knows. Right?”

Friedrich gulped and his heart started beating even harder.

“What is he talking about?” Dominik came up to Friedrich. “What do you know that I don't?”

“Go on, tell him” Carlos urged Friedrich to confess. “Tell him you knew Samanta was pregnant with his child.”

“What?” Dominik felt a shiver running down his spine.

Friedrich closed his eyes and gulped. His charade was crumbling.

“Ehmm… I… no…” muttered the publicist.

“Is that true, Friedrich? Have you known all along that Samanta had my son…”

“Daughter” added Carlos.

“…and you did not tell me?” Dominik got even closer to Friedrich.

“I'm sorry, Dominik. What I did, I did for your…”

“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?” Yelled Dominik. “You knew what she meant to me and how badly I tried to find her.”

“Ha! How do we even know that was your child?” Commented Friedrich with disdain. “I did what was right for your career.”

Carlos faced him and killed him with his eyes. How dare this man imply that about Samanta?

“The text message. What did he write in the message to Samanta?” Dom asked Carlos.

“Horrible things” he answered. “Hideous things.”

“YOU MOTHERFUCKER!” Dominik snapped and jumped onto Friedrich. “YOU KNEW. YOU KNEW I DID THE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND HER.”

“Oh My God!” Ewald showed up along with Rodríguez and Brauer. “What is going on here?”

“I did you a favor” said Friedrich, trying his best to get him off. “Had I not done that, you would have thrown it all away for that woman who would only bring you trouble.”

“Pull them apart!” Shouted Ewald and the men tried pulling Dominik off of Friedrich. “Can somebody explain to me what the fuck is going on here?”

“This piece of shit has been lying to me, manipulating me all these years” Dominik pointed at him. “I trusted you. I thought we were friends. Why would you do that?”

“BECAUSE I WAS IN LOVE WITH YOU” growled Friedrich. “BECAUSE I LOVE YOU, I ALWAYS HAVE.”

Carlos, Rodríguez, Brauer and the two police officers present, were shocked by Treadaway.

“Holy crap!” muttered Ewald.

“I have dedicated every second of my life to look after you, to help you, protect you. Not a single minute goes by that I would not rather be next to you” tears were pouring from  Friedrich's eyes. “Everything I did was for your own good.”

Dominik's heart was beating furious in his chest, his cold hands were sweating and his eyes turned red, but there were no tears. He clenched his fists as he noticed wrath taking over him.

“Out of mi sight. I don’t want to see you ever again” said Dom, trying to hold back his tears.

“You should talk to your wife. She's not innocent” he spat out the last bit of venom he had in him right before leaving.

Dominik took a deep breath and swallowed his tears. It was too much to take in so quickly. In a matter of seconds, he had just found out that Samanta, the only woman he had ever loved had had his daughter, that his best friend was in love with him and that the woman he married also had lied to him.

“I'll restructure our squad for today” commented Ewald. “Dominik, go back to the hotel. Boys…” he looked at his other two players. “Let's go. The game will begin shortly.”

Saying this, one by one, they headed out of the locker room, leaving Carlos and Dominik with the two police officers.

“Mr. Weigand? What do we do with him?” one of them asked, referring to Carlos.

“Let him go. He is no threat.”

Both men nodded, released Carlos and left.

“Sorry I thought so poorly of you” said Carlos, making Dominik laugh.

“What are you doing today?” asked Weigand.

“Nothing” Carlos shrugged.

“Come with me to Egypt. I need to set things straight.”

“What? What about the two games you have here?”

“I could not care less.”

“They could fine you.”

“Let them. I have been trying to please everybody all these years. Time to please myself.”