February in Rio de Janeiro was a season of relentless heat. The warmth rose from Copacabana beach and climbed the hills, enveloping the city in a sprawling, humid sauna. Sophia Finnegan stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of the FIFA-designated hotel. From the twenty-fifth floor, the crisscrossing streets below had shrunk into a miniature model, the traffic crawling like slow-moving beetles. The air conditioning hummed above her, stirring the loose strands of hair at her temples. She remained still, watching her own reflection in the glass—dark brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail, with a few damp curls clinging to the side of her neck.

She had rolled her white shirt sleeves up to her mid-forearms, revealing lean, defined muscle—the result of years of rock climbing. It wasn't bulky, but every inch looked firm and capable. The hem of her shirt was tucked into the waistband of slate-gray dress slacks, tracing a narrow, supple waist. Standing just over five-foot-five, she felt like an interloper in a land of giants whenever she was among professional players, yet her back remained perfectly straight, the curve of her neck as elegant as a fine instrument.

Her phone vibrated twice in her pocket. She pulled it out and glanced at the screen. Three unread messages from three different numbers: Manchester, Munich, Barcelona. She didn't open them. Instead, she turned the phone face down and looked back out at the city. Only two days ago, she had been in her London flat, editing a paper on the relationship between creatine kinase and high-intensity interval training. Three days ago, she had received her Master's degree. Four days ago, a frantic summons from FIFA had landed in her inbox. Five days ago, she had arrived here, poised to become the youngest official nutrition specialist in World Cup history.

There was a knock at the door. Three beats, perfectly rhythmic.

"Come in."

The hotel's executive manager entered. He was a stout Brazilian man with meticulously groomed hair, carrying a stack of gold-embossed files. "Miss Finnegan, the dietary restrictions and allergy histories for all players have been compiled. Also—" He hesitated, a subtle expression flickering across his face, something between sympathy and amusement. "The coaching staff has decided to move today's welcome reception from the conference room to the pitch-side lounge. All the core national players will be there, including the ones you'll be coordinating with directly."

Sophia took the folder, her fingertip tapping the cover. "What time?"

"In twenty minutes. A car is waiting to take you there."

She nodded and waited for the manager to close the door before opening the file. On the first page, a sticky note was marked with three names in different colors, followed by hurried scrawls: Harry Rawlins, sugar dependency, body fat red zone; Klaus Steiner, over-disciplined eating disorder, abnormal muscle recovery cycles; Xavi Mendez, seafood allergy with irritable bowel syndrome, history of pre-match binging. Below those was a smaller line of text: VIP-level additional requirements list, to be handed over in person.

Sophia closed the folder and stepped into the bathroom to touch up her lip balm. It wasn't a bold color, just a thin, shimmering layer that made her full lips look softer. Her features weren't striking individually—her eyes were moderate in size, slightly upturned at the corners, with a light amber-brown hue like sun-drenched honey. Her nose was straight but with a slightly rounded tip that gave her a touch of innocent vulnerability. Her mouth, however, was her finest feature, with a thin upper lip and a plush lower one that maintained a natural curve even when she wasn't smiling. Together, set against her narrow oval face and porcelain skin, they created a contradiction—cool yet soft, making it hard to look away. Her colleagues used to say she was like unsweetened almond milk: plain at first, but leaving a long, pleasant aftertaste.

She gave the mirror a small smile, watching a shallow dimple appear on her left cheek.

The pitch-side lounge was larger than she had expected. The entire south wall was made of glass, facing the emerald expanse of the training field. The setting sun dipped behind the silhouette of Sugarloaf Mountain, staining the grass a molten gold. The room was already crowded, players scattered in small groups between the sofas and the bar. The air was a heavy mix of aftershave, sunscreen, and expensive woodsy incense. The moment Sophia walked in, several gazes drifted toward her, then lingered.

Near the bar, a blonde man leaned against the counter, whispering to someone. He wore a navy training shirt, the sleeves stretched tight over his biceps. A faint silver scar ran from his elbow to his wrist, shimmering in the warm light. At the sound of the door, he turned, revealing a face that had graced countless sports magazine covers—deep-set eyes, high, sharp cheekbones, and a jawline that looked carved by a blade. Harry Rawlins. He was raising a glass of orange juice to his lips, but his hand froze mid-air the moment he saw Sophia. He lowered the glass slowly, his gaze pinning her like a nail, scanning her from head to toe before returning to her eyes.

In the sofa area near the window sat another man, his posture entirely different from Harry’s. He was reclined deep into the cushions, long legs crossed, writing in a black-covered notebook with a fountain pen. He looked up as she approached, and the coldness in his eyes was enough to freeze the humidity in the air—pale grey irises like a frozen lake in winter. Klaus Steiner. He watched her for perhaps two seconds, his gaze lingering on the Ginkgo Brooch pinned to her collar. He went back to his writing, but Sophia noticed his knuckles whiten against the pen, a stray drop of ink blooming on the page.

By the locker room door, a third man was on the phone with his back to the room. He was speaking Spanish, his words rapid and carries the distinct rolling trills of the Catalonia region, gesturing in the air as if drawing an arc. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he turned—Xavi Mendez. He saw Sophia before the person on the other end could finish their sentence. His words tripped over themselves. He mumbled a quick "Wait" and hung up, standing perfectly still like someone had hit a pause button. A few seconds later, a grin spread across his face—a smile so clean and direct it looked like a child opening a gift.

Behind them, more eyes converged from every corner. Near the tactical board stood a tall, dark-skinned man spinning a water bottle on one finger. His gaze hadn't moved from Sophia since she entered, and the half-smile on his face held a touch of effortless, French aggression—Kylian Mbappé. Next to him, leaning against the wall in a Portugal training jacket, was a man with a back as straight as a pine tree and features like wind-worn granite. He didn't move, only tilted his head, his heavy gaze pressing down on Sophia with the weight of scrutiny and years of experience. Cristiano Ronaldo. Further off, a smaller man sat on a low stool, hesitantly fumbling with a packet of biscuits as if fighting his own hands. He looked up at the commotion, his eyes gentle and weary, like a traveler who had finally seen a light in the distance—Lionel Messi. And in the corner by the door stood a towering blonde youth, arms folded like a silent wall. His eyes, a blue so pale they were nearly translucent, followed Sophia’s every step toward the center of the room. Erling Haaland.

The lounge fell silent for two seconds. Then Harry set his orange juice down, the glass clinking sharply against the bar. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he opened his mouth to speak, but Xavi beat him to it. The Spaniard strode across the room, stopping right in front of Sophia with a tilted grin. In heavily accented English, he said, "So you're the legend? The nutritionist who decides if I'm fit to play? You're much—" He winked, "—better looking than I imagined."

Klaus flipped a page in his notebook. The sound of paper dragging was soft, but everyone heard it. His voice drifted from the corner, low and flat with a German lilt. "Xavi, your gastrointestinal tolerance report only arrived this afternoon. I suggest you read it before deciding on your tone."

Harry walked over from the bar, stepping directly between Xavi and Sophia. He stood half a head taller than Xavi, glancing down at the Spaniard before looking at Sophia. A smirk that was part provocation and part charm played on his lips. "Ignore them. You're with me, right? I mean—" He paused, the tips of his ears turning a suspicious shade of red. "I mean, you're assigned to the England National Team."

"She is a FIFA official specialist." Klaus had closed his notebook and stood up without anyone noticing. He walked to Harry’s side, his grey eyes fixed calmly on Sophia. "Theoretically, she serves every player in the tournament who requires her expertise."

"Theoretically," Xavi chimed in, squeezing between the two with a bright smile, "my team was the first to receive her customized meal plan. I remember quite clearly—my inbox lit up at 9:03 this morning."

"That’s because your allergy history is a mess and the priority system flagged you first," Harry said, nearly through gritted teeth.

The three of them formed a semi-circle around Sophia, standing close enough that she could smell three distinct scents—Harry's citrus body wash, Klaus’s faint scent of disinfectant and paper, and Xavi’s hint of olive oil and rosemary from a kitchen. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over their faces with practiced composure. Then, she did something no one expected—she lifted her folder and gave Harry’s chest a firm but measured tap.

"As for who I 'belong' to," she said, her voice quiet but every word as clear as ice cubes dropping onto porcelain, "we can discuss that once the body fat percentages for the three of you drop below eleven percent."

Harry looked down at where he had been tapped, stunned for a moment, before a low chuckle rumbled in his throat. Xavi laughed outright, and even the corner of Klaus’s mouth twitched ever so slightly—an arc so small it was almost invisible.

From behind her came a soft hum in French. Mbappé had wandered closer. He set his water bottle on the bar with a thud. "Eleven percent," he repeated, his tone lazy and nasal. "The data for those three from England suggests they have a long way to go. However—" He tilted his head over their shoulders to look at Sophia, his lips curling into a faint smile, "—if you need someone to help with the supervision, I’m always available."

"Kylian," a deep voice called from the window. Ronaldo had joined the edge of the group, hands in his jacket pockets. He looked relaxed, like a bystander, but the pressure in his gaze was impossible to ignore. "I am the first person on her service list, if you’ve forgotten."

"Cris, that was an application, not an approval," Mbappé replied with a grin, switching to English so everyone could understand.

In the corner, Messi finally put down his packet of biscuits. He stood up slowly, as if trying not to draw attention, yet the atmosphere shifted the moment he rose. He didn't approach, staying by the window, watching Sophia from a few meters away. His voice was soft, almost like he was talking to himself. "Don't scare her."

Haaland was the last to move. He walked over with heavy, steady steps, stopping at the outer edge of the group. He looked down at Sophia—he was a full head and a half taller than her. The angle should have been intimidating, but his Norwegian-accented English sounded oddly earnest. "My training match is in forty minutes, and I haven't had my pre-training meal yet. Are you free now?"

Everyone turned to look at him at once.

Sophia stood in the center of the circle formed by the world’s most elite footballers. Her amber eyes moved slowly from face to face. The sunset flooded through the glass, outlining her silhouette in gold and red, and the Ginkgo Brooch on her collar shimmered. She could feel her own heartbeat, but her face remained as still as a lake reflecting the dusk.

"Gentlemen," she said, opening her folder and pulling out a schedule filled with notes. She held it up to block the heat of their collective gaze. "Physical assessments begin tomorrow morning at 06:00. Nutrition screening at 07:00. At 08:00—"

"06:00?" Xavi groaned.

"That’s too early," Harry frowned.

Klaus said nothing, but his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Mbappé let out a laugh. "Six o'clock. I’ve memorized your first schedule."

Ronaldo nodded, a hint of approval in his voice. "06:00. Good."

Messi said softly from the window, "I can be on time."

Haaland asked seriously, "Is that GMT or local time?"

Sophia lowered the schedule and gave these notoriously difficult men her first real smile of the day. Her dimple appeared fully, nearly translucent in the fading light. She looked at the faces that were bound to cause her endless trouble and spoke softly.

"From now on, I am the one setting the time zones for all of you."

The moment the words left her mouth, Harry’s ears turned bright red. Xavi dramatically clutched his chest. Klaus looked down, his thumb stroking the cover of his notebook. Mbappé looked away, muttering something low in French. Ronaldo’s mouth twitched into a smile before he quickly suppressed it. Messi, still holding his biscuit, watched her for a long moment. Haaland pulled out his phone and solemnly typed "06:00" into his memos, adding a note in parentheses: Her time zone.

Sophia turned and walked toward the door. Her back was straight, the rhythmic click of her heels on the floor sounding like an undeniable countdown. Behind her, a dozen pairs of eyes followed her across the room. Men of different nations, skin tones, and ages were suddenly, for the first time, in perfect unison—their collective gaze pinned to the doorway as she disappeared, like hungry men watching the only source of food leave the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

The lounge was silent for a few seconds before Xavi spoke first, whispering in Spanish, "We're in trouble."

Harry didn't look at him or anyone else. He stared at the closed door and replied in English, his voice low, "Yeah. We really are."

Klaus opened his notebook and wrote a single word on the first blank page: Sophia. His pen stayed there for a long time, the ink bleeding into a dark circle.

Mbappé leaned back against the bar and drained the rest of his water. His Adam’s apple moved once as he swallowed, then he crushed the bottle and tossed it into the bin. "This World Cup," he said in French, "just got interesting."

Ronaldo leaned back against the window, arms folded. His eyes were fixed on the darkening sky, and this time, the smile stayed on his face. He whispered something in Portuguese, so low only he could hear: "06:00. I’ll be waiting."

Messi sat back down on his stool and slowly finished his biscuit, chewing carefully before swallowing. He looked out the window where the pitch was fading from gold to grey. He hadn't felt expectation for a long time, but suddenly, he felt that tomorrow morning at six o'clock might be worth the wait.

Meanwhile, Haaland finished his memo, titling the entry: Her Time Zone.

In the hallway outside, Sophia leaned against the wall. She gripped her Ginkgo Brooch, her thumb tracing the cool, smooth metal. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them to check the three unread messages.

The first was from an unknown number: "Hope you like Rio. See you tomorrow morning." No signature.

The second: "Have you reached the hotel? Dinner at seven, I’ve saved a seat for you." No signature.

The third was the shortest: "Welcome."

She stared at the screen for three seconds before locking it and sliding the phone back into her pocket. At the end of the hall was the elevator, and beyond that, the night of Rio de Janeiro was unfolding. She had until six tomorrow morning to prepare—to prepare for this World Cup, for those names, those gazes, and the fire that was destined to burn her way.

As the elevator doors opened, the metallic mirror showed her reflection. She gave herself a small, determined smile and stepped inside.

---

Become a nutritionist for soccer superstars — Chapter 3

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