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The next morning, your phone buzzed nonstop.

EMILIA [8:32 AM]
Y/N. Y/N. Y/N.

EMILIA [8:33 AM]
ANSWER ME I'M DYING

EMILIA [8:35 AM]
I saw the videos. Oh. My. God.

You groaned, already dreading whatever social media had cooked up this time. Sure enough, when you clicked the link Emilia sent, it led to a clip taken from outside the stadium parking lot.

[𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐊𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 MYSTERY GIRL❗🔥]

You watched in horror as the footage played out: you and Kaiser walking toward his car, him glancing at you with his signature smirk while you looked unimpressed. Then another angle—one of you sliding into his car.

You shut your phone off and dropped it onto your bed. Fantastic. You were viral. Again.

And worse? Kaiser had definitely seen it.

By the time you finally dragged yourself out of bed and texted Emilia back, she was already blowing up your phone with a call.

❝What the actual hell, Y/N?! ❞ she screeched the moment you picked up. ❝You were with KAISER and didn't tell me?!❞

❝Emilia you're the one who basically gave him my—❞

❝This is betrayal. Treason. I'm revoking your best friend status.❞

❝Oh my god, relax!❞ you groaned. ❝Nothing happened. He just gave me a ride home, that's it.❝

❝Yeah, and now the entire internet thinks you're his new fling!❞

❛ The.. entire internet? I thought those videos were enough ❜

With a deep breath, you opened Twitter. Sure enough, your notifications were a mess. Tweets upon tweets of people speculating who you were, analysing the blurry photos like they were solving a murder case.

❝Who is this girl with Kaiser??❞
❝She looks kind of familiar?? Does anyone know her??❞
❝Bro, not Kaiser pulling a WAG out of nowhere 😭❞

You slammed your phone down and groaned. ❝I hate that man.❞

Emilia was cackling on the other end. ❝Ohhh, this is only the beginning.❞

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That afternoon, you found yourself pacing back and forth in your house, debating whether or not to text Kaiser. You could just ignore it. Pretend the rumors didn't exist, let the internet move on.

But deep down, you knew that if you didn't do something, Kaiser definitely would.

And, knowing him, it would not be in your favor.

So, with a reluctant sigh, you picked up your phone and typed out a message.

YOU [2:05 PM]
This is all your fault.

The reply came almost instantly.

KAISER [2:05 PM]
Oh? Already blaming me? That's cute.

Your eye twitched.

YOU [2:06 PM]
Fix it.

KAISER [2:07 PM]
Fix what?

YOU [2:07 PM]
THE RUMOURS, KAISER

KAISER [2:07 PM]

Mmm, I dunno. I kinda like the attention

You wanted to throw your phone across the room.

YOU [2:08 PM]
I swear to god, Kaiser—

KAISER [2:08 PM]
Relax, Klose. No one even knows it was you.

That part was true—so far, you were still just 'mystery girl.' But it wouldn't take long for people to connect the dots.

And Kaiser?

That smug bastard was enjoying this.

You took a deep breath, forcing yourself to stay calm.

KAISER [2:10 PM]
By the way, training ends early today.

You frowned. And I care because?

KAISER [2:10 PM]
I'm picking you up. Be ready in 30.

❛ What. ❜

Your eyes widened.

YOU [2:11 PM]
EXCUSE ME??? NO YOU'RE NOT.

KAISER [2:12 PM]
Yes, I am.

KAISER [2:12 PM]
Be grateful. Most people would kill to be chauffeured by me.

You stared at your screen in disbelief.

Was he INSANE?!

You were about to type out an angry response, but another text came in before you could.

KAISER [2:13 PM]
You still owe me for last night Klose.

Your stomach twisted.

❛ OWE HIM?. ❜

Owe him? What the hell was that supposed to mean?

YOU [2:14 PM]
I don't owe you anything

KAISER [2:14 PM]
Oh? So I imagined giving you a ride home? Covering for you so no one figured out who you were?
KAISER [2:15 PM]
Tsk, Klose. I thought you were raised better than this.

Your fingers tightened around your phone. This man was annoying.

YOU [2:15 PM]
Wow, how ever will I repay such generosity. You want a medal?

KAISER [2:16 PM]

Nah, just be ready in 30.

YOU [2:16 PM]
I'm NOT going anywhere with you.

KAISER [2:17 PM]
Then I'll just keep showing up till you do.

Your stomach dropped. That was a threat if you'd ever seen one. Before you could type back, another message popped up.

KAISER [2:18 PM]
Oh, and wear something nice.

You shut off your phone, resisting the urge to scream.

He was doing this on purpose.

And the worst part? He was gonna get his way.

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Exactly 29 minutes later, his car rolled up outside your house. You had spent the last half hour debating whether to just ignore him, but knowing Kaiser, he'd probably honk his horn until your neighbors came outside to complain.

So, with a deep sigh, you grabbed your jacket and stepped out.

Kaiser leaned against the car, sunglasses perched on his nose. The moment he saw you, he grinned. ❝Right on time.❞

❝Shut up,❞ you muttered, climbing into the passenger seat.

As soon as you shut the door, Kaiser pulled off, one hand casually on the wheel. ❝How obedient...❞

❝WHERE are we going?❞ you finally snapped.

He smirked. ❝Somewhere fun.❞

You crossed your arms. ❝If this is your way of forcing me to watch another match—❞

❝Relax. No football today.❞

You narrowed your eyes. ❝Then what?❞

Kaiser tapped his fingers against the wheel, looking far too smug. ❝You'll see.❞

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Ten minutes later, he parked outside a small, exclusive café tucked away from the main streets of Munich. ❝...A café?❞

Kaiser shrugged. ❝Figured I should get to know my new favorite person better.❞

❝I'm not your favorite anything,❞ you muttered, but you still followed him inside.

The café was cozy, the scent of coffee and pastries filling the air. Kaiser led you to a booth by the window, sliding in across from you.

A waitress approached, smiling a little too brightly at him. ❝Herr Kaiser! Welcome back. Your usual?❞

You rolled your eyes. Of course he was a regular here.

Kaiser glanced at you. ❝Order whatever you want. On me.❞

❝I can pay for my own stuff,❞ you said flatly.

He smirked. ❝I know. But it's probably cuter when you let me.❞

You sighed, grabbing the menu and ordered. But Kaiser, being Kaiser, had other plans.

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. ❝So, Klose... tell me something interesting about yourself.❞

You didn't even glance up. ❝No.❞

Kaiser chuckled, clearly amused. ❝C'mon, humor me. I already know you don't like football, you somehow managed to resist my charm so far—impressive, by the way—and you have a very amusing scowl. But there's gotta be more to you.❞

You groaned. ❝Why do you even care?❞

He shrugged. ❝You're my latest controversy. Might as well get to know the girl who's ruining my reputation.❞

You finally looked up, unimpressed. ❝Oh, so you're the victim here?❞

❝Obviously. Can you imagine? My fans must be heartbroken by this mystery girl.❞

❝Yeah, I'm sure it's devastating for them,❞ you muttered, glancing out the window.

Kaiser grinned, but before he could say anything else, the waitress returned with your drinks. You took a sip of your coffee, letting the warmth soothe your irritation.

For a moment, there was silence. And then—

❝You know, you're different from what I expected,❞ he finally said.

You raised a brow. ❝And what exactly did you expect?❞

Kaiser smirked and leaned back, watching you with something almost unreadable in his expression. Like he was trying to figure you out. ❝Spoiled rich girl. Daddy's little princess. A total football nerd.❞

You snorted. ❝Wow. What a glowing review.❞

❝But,❞ he continued, swirling his drink lazily, ❝you're not even that. You're just... normal. Boring, even.❞

You scoffed. ❝Then why are you still sitting here?❞

Kaiser grinned. ❝Dunno, maybe because boring is refreshing.❞

You didn't know why, but that made your stomach flip.

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. ❝And because, Klose... you're the first person in a long time who looks at me like I'm not Michael Kaiser.❞

You blinked, caught off guard. ❝Then what do I look at you like?❞

Kaiser smirked, but this time, it wasn't quite as cocky. ❝Like you couldn't care less.❞

You hesitated, something about the way he said it making your chest feel tight. He made it sound like a compliment. Like.. he liked that you didn't fall at his feet like everyone else.

You shook your head, breaking the moment. ❝Well, you're right. I don't care.❞

He chuckled. ❝Good. That makes this more fun.❞

You rolled your eyes and sipped your coffee, pretending not to notice the way his gaze lingered on you.

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The next hour was...strangely normal.

Despite his usual annoying personality, Kaiser wasn't completely unbearable. He was still annoying, but between his playful remarks, he actually asked about you—your interests (outside of football), your thoughts on Munich and your plans (which you refused to share).

It felt like he was just Michael.

But of course, he eventually ruined it.

❝So, Klose,❞ he mused, sipping his coffee. ❝If I said I could make you love football, would you believe me?❞

You scoffed. ❝Not a chance.❞

Kaiser grinned, leaning forward. ❝Wanna bet?❞

You narrowed your eyes. ❝On what?❞

❝Give me a month. If, by the end of it, you still don't care about football—❞ he smirked, ❝I'll leave you alone.❞

Your breath caught. Was he serious?

One month.

And if he failed, he'd finally stop bothering you.

You hesitated. It was tempting.

❝Fine,❞ you finally said. ❝But when you fail, I want you to disappear forever.❞

Kaiser smirked. ❝Deal.❞

Just as you were about to respond, your phone vibrated. It was a text from Müller.

LUKAS [4:18 PM]
Hey, sorry to randomly text like this, but was it you in the video with Kaiser?

You nearly dropped your phone.

Of course. Of course Lukas Müller had to get involved.

Your fingers hovered over the screen. You could ignore it. Pretend you never saw the message. But knowing Lukas, he wouldn't let it go.

Kaiser, noticing your sudden shift in expression, tilted his head. ❝What's with the look?❞

You hesitated before sighing. ❝Müller just texted me.❞

Kaiser blinked, then smirked. ❝Oh? Finally admitting to your little Bundesliga crush?❞

You shot him a glare. ❝I do not have a crush on him.❞

He grinned. ❝Sure, sure. So, what does your favorite Dortmund boy want?❞

You debated whether to tell him, but at this point, Kaiser would probably find out anyway. You turned your phone so he could see the message.

His reaction was instant. His smirk widened into something even more smugger. ❝Ah he's checking up on you,❞

You scowled. ❝Shut up.❞

Kaiser leaned back, sipping his coffee. ❝So? What are you gonna say?❞

You exhaled slowly, then typed a quick response.

YOU [4:20 PM]

Mhm.. that was me.

Lukas' reply came within seconds.

LUKAS [4:21 PM]
Hm, I didn't expect to see you with him. Everything okay?

Your brows furrowed. That was... unexpected. It almost sounded like he was worried. But before you could think too much about it, Kaiser grabbed your phone.

❝What the—Kaiser!❞ You reached for it, but he held it out of your grasp, reading the messages with a smirk.

❝Oh, he's worried about you.❞ His tone was mocking, but there was something cold beneath it. ❝How sweet.❞

You groaned. ❝Give it back.❞

But instead of handing it over, Kaiser typed something.

Your heart almost stopped. ❝KAISER—❞

He tossed your phone back before you could snatch it and you frantically checked what he sent.

YOU [4:22 PM]
Don't worry, Kaiser's taking very good care of me!

You nearly screamed. ❝I'm gonna.. murder you.❞

He just laughed. ❝Relax, Klose. I'm just helping you keep things interesting.❞

You stared at him, seething, while your phone buzzed again.

LUKAS [4:22 PM]
???
LUKAS [4:23 PM]
Do you need me to come get you or something?

Your heart stuttered.

Kaiser, reading over your shoulder, whistled. ❝Damn. Prince Charming to the rescue?❞

You quickly typed out a response before he could steal your phone again.

YOU [4:25 PM]
No. I'm fine. He's just being annoying.

Lukas didn't reply immediately, but you could see the three little dots of him typing.

Kaiser leaned forward, watching you with an amused glint in his eyes. ❝Bet I can make him jealous.❞

You rolled your eyes. ❝Not everything is a game.❞

His smirk deepened. ❝Sure it is. You just don't know how to play yet.❞

Your phone buzzed again.

LUKAS [4:26 PM]
Okay. Just making sure. Lmk if you need anything.

You stared at your phone, rereading Lukas' message. It was simple, direct—but something about it made your chest feel weird.

Kaiser, of course, was still watching you intently. ❝You know, he's not exactly subtle,❞ he mused, swirling his drink.

You shot him a glare. ❝Like I said, not everything is some kind of mind game.❞

You sighed, pocketing your phone before Lukas could reply again. You didn't need to deal with whatever nonsense Kaiser was planning to stir up. ❝Anyway, this whole bet thing—you really think you can change my mind in a month?❞

Kaiser's smirk widened. ❝Exactly,❞ he drawled, resting his chin on his hand.

❝So what's your grand plan, then?❞ you asked, crossing your arms. ❝Gonna make me sit through another one of your matches?❞

Kaiser chuckled. ❝Oh, much worse.❞

That didn't sound promising.

Before you could ask what he meant, he grabbed his phone, casually snapping a photo of you.

❝Hey—❞ you gasped, covering yourself ❝What the hell are you doing?❞

❝Relax. I won't post it. Yet.❞

You groaned, dragging a hand down your face. ❝I hate you.❞

❝You keep saying that,❞ Kaiser mused, pocketing his phone. ❝And yet, here you are.❞

You wanted to argue, but technically, he wasn't wrong. And that annoyed you more than anything.

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The next morning, you had barely woken up before Emilia barged into her room, your phone in hand.

❝Oh my God,❞ Emilia gasped, waving her screen in front of Y/N's face. ❝Tell me why this looks like a soft launch.❞

You blinked blearily at the screen. Kaiser's Instagram story. A picture of a cappuccino on a café table. And in the corner of the frame—your hand.

Your jaw dropped. ❝You have got to be kidding me.❞

Emilia, on the other hand, was having the time of her life. ❝Ohhh, this man is playing dirty.❞

You grabbed your own phone, immediately pulling up your messages.

YOU [9:07 AM]
Delete that.

KAISER [9:08 AM]
Guten Morgen to you too, Klose.

YOU [9:08 AM]
Delete it.

KAISER [9:08 AM]
What, you don't like the picture? Thought it was cute.

You inhaled sharply. You were going to kill him.

YOU [9:09 AM]
Kaiser.

KAISER [9:09 AM]
Relax, Klose. Like I said — no one even knows it's you.

You groaned, flopping back onto your pillows while Emilia was still giggling.

❝This is literally my worst nightmare,❞ You muttered.

Emilia grinned. ❝No, this is entertainment.❞

You rolled over to glare at her but honestly you were already fed up by everything going on in your life — and there that stupid deal you and him made.
❝Maybe I should just.. avoid him completely❞

❝Eh-? Avoid him?❞ Emilia's eyes widened. ❝Well.. I'm afraid you can't do that tonight..❞

❝Huh, why not?❞ You raised an eyebrow at her.

❝Because.. we're going to another exclusive football club fan meet tonight and I kind of already got us tickets that can't be returned and Kaiser will most likely be there..❞

..

❝You WHAT?❞