THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME-Chapter 713: A Night of Celebration

The warmth and elegance of Drapers’ Hall embraced Zachary as he moved through the high-ceilinged rooms, taking in the wedding atmosphere. Golden lights reflected off ornate fixtures and historical paintings, casting a glow over the guests who mingled and sipped champagne.

Emily’s wedding had drawn an intimate crowd of friends, family, and a few familiar faces from his time in Turin. As Zachary scanned the room, he recognized Bjørn Peters, his former fitness trainer, alongside his wife, Inger.

Bjørn spotted him first and raised his glass in greeting. Zachary grinned, quickening his pace to meet the couple.

"Zachary! Look at you, Liverpool’s rising star," Bjørn said, giving him a hearty handshake. "Congratulations on an impressive start to the season—and on making the Ballon d’Or shortlist!"

"Thanks, Bjørn, Inger," Zachary replied, returning their warm smiles. "It’s all about keeping the momentum. Liverpool’s a good fit for me."

Inger leaned in with a twinkle in her eye. "You look the part tonight too—though what’ is missing is just your plus one on your side. Would you like me to introduce you to some of my friends?"

Zachary chuckled, shaking his head and waving off Inger’s teasing. "As long as they are half as gorgeous and good as you in the kitchen, I can meet them anytime. It might be my chance to meet my other half."

They shared a laugh, and the conversation naturally drifted to memories from their time in Italy, stories of intense training sessions and post-match dinners. However, as Zachary noticed more and more curious glances directed his way, he offered a polite farewell to the couple, who bid him goodbye with encouraging smiles.

Winding his way through the hall once again, Zachary finally spotted Emily. She was standing near a group of guests, looking radiant in her simple yet elegant wedding gown. Beside her stood a tall, distinguished man dressed in a sleek tuxedo. Zachary assumed this was the groom, and he smiled as he approached them.

Emily caught sight of him and excused herself from her conversation, tugging the groom along with her. "Zachary! You made it!" she exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement as she reached out to hug him.

"Congratulations, Emily," Zachary said warmly, taking her hand and giving it a light squeeze. "You look incredible. And this must be the lucky guy?"

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The groom extended his hand with a polite smile. "Sebastian Sykes, pleasure to finally meet you, Zachary."

"Likewise, Sebastian," Zachary replied, shaking his hand firmly. He offered Sebastian a smile, but as they exchanged pleasantries, he found their conversation somewhat stilted. Sebastian’s reserved manner and businesslike air contrasted sharply with the lively crowd.

He turned his attention back to Emily. "I’m thrilled for you both. I hope you’re enjoying every second tonight."

Emily beamed, her expression softening. "Thank you, Zachary. And I’ll be calling you the day after tomorrow to catch up on business. Can’t keep my best client waiting too long, can I?"

Zachary chuckled, nodding. "Looking forward to it. Enjoy tonight, Emily. You deserve this."

After exchanging a few more words, Zachary left the newlyweds to enjoy their evening, though the wedding atmosphere began to stir some complicated feelings within him.

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Weddings always held a strange power, bringing dreams of the future to the surface. Though he hadn’t dated in a long time, Zachary couldn’t help but wonder when he would get his own chance to settle down. Lost in thought, he shook his head with a rueful smile as he approached a waitress holding a tray of wine glasses.

The waitress offered him a dazzling smile, and as he reached for a glass, Zachary’s gaze lingered. She had striking blue eyes, a warm, radiant face framed by golden hair, and a figure that stood out even in the modest black and white uniform. Her charm was impossible to ignore, and he found himself admiring her elegance as she moved.

Before he could say anything, though, a familiar, sarcastic voice spoke behind him. "Enjoying the wedding, I see?"

Zachary turned, only to be met by Kristin Stein, his personal assistant, a loyal presence who had been by his side since his early days. Tonight, however, she was far from her usual business attire.

Kristin was a striking vision in a deep emerald green gown that hugged her figure, accentuating her slender waist. Her long, blonde hair cascaded over her shoulder in soft waves, framing her face, which held a bemused and playful expression.

Zachary smiled, feeling a wave of surprise at her elegant transformation. "Kristin, you’re a knockout tonight. Not that you don’t look great in a blazer, but this—this is something else."

She harrumphed, glancing pointedly at the waitress, who quickly blushed and hurried away. "Well, I’m glad I’m still in the running, even with such stiff competition."

Zachary chuckled, noticing the glint of mischief in her eyes. "No competition at all. You win, hands down. Would you like to accompany me as my plus one for today?"

"Thought, you would never ask!"

Kristin’s expression softened, her smile becoming genuine as she met his gaze. They drifted naturally into conversation, talking about Emily’s wedding and the unique beauty of the night.

Zachary felt the earlier weight of the evening lift, replaced by the ease of Kristin’s presence. With her by his side, he moved through the motions of the reception, including cake cutting, dinner, and toasts.

They slipped effortlessly into a rhythm of laughter and shared glances, and as they moved between conversations and events, he noticed several other guests sneaking glances their way. It wasn’t hard to imagine what they were thinking: was this striking woman beside him his girlfriend?

Zachary didn’t mind the curiosity. With Kristin, he felt comfortable in a way that made him forget the public scrutiny.

As the evening progressed, the guests began to shift into smaller groups, and conversations became more personal and reflective. Bjørn and Inger joined Zachary and Kristin, reminiscing about their years in Turin and Norway while also sharing stories from the rigorous training that had shaped their lives. They laughed at inside jokes and remembered the trials they’d endured together, the memories of sweat, triumph, and growth drawing them closer.

Bjørn leaned back, giving Zachary an approving look. "Seems just like yesterday that you were running drills in Turin, and look at you now. A Ballon d’Or nominee!" he said, raising his glass in a toast.

Zachary smiled, a hint of pride warming his cheeks. "I owe a lot to those days—and to you, Bjørn. The foundation was set early."

Inger grinned, nudging her husband. "Sounds like you didn’t let him slack off, did you?"

Kristin joined in, smirking playfully. "Actually, Zachary never needed a push. If I remember right, Bjørn was usually telling him to tone down the training, not ramp it up. Zachary was practically addicted to pushing himself to the limit. Bjørn was more of a regulator than a motivator."

They all laughed, sharing a knowing look, and Zachary shook his head, feigning exasperation. "You all are relentless! I’ll have you know, I have always regulated my training, ensuring that I don’t go over my limit."

Kristin raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Really! Maybe, only on that day in Lubumbashi. That’s the last time I saw you looking at ease. Who would have thought you’d become the guy tonight with everyone stealing glances at him?"

"Lubumbashi!" Bjørn exclaimed, his curiosity piqued as he exchanged a glance with Inger. "Come on, Kristin. You can’t just tease us with that. Tell us more."

Kristin’s face softened as she recalled the memories. "Well, my grandfather and I were visiting the trials there, scouting. It was his last big recruitment effort before he fully retired from the academy. That’s when I first saw Zachary, running around. He seemed not to be giving his all, but he looked totally at ease—like he was born to be on the pitch. You should’ve seen him. He didn’t say much, but his skill spoke for him. He couldn’t be ignored."

"Not saying much sounds about right," Bjørn chuckled, nudging Zachary.

Zachary, sipping his wine, nodded thoughtfully. "Lubumbashi was a whole different world for me back then. But the trials… they set me on this path. That’s where I met your grandfather, Kristin, and where everything started."

Kristin smiled. "That was a special day. Grandfather was immediately impressed, and once he gave his approval, I knew there was something to pursue. The academy became like family after that."

Bjørn nodded, his expression shifting to one of nostalgia. "Those were the days. I remember Zachary joining us at the NF Academy, where I was coaching then. He was all determination—didn’t care if he was the youngest, he just kept pushing."

Zachary’s gaze softened. Memories of those days—the endless drills, the late-night practices, the dreams that felt so distant—came flooding back. "You and Coach Johansen were instrumental. Speaking of, Bjørn, do you still keep in touch with him?"

"I actually spoke with Johansen just last week," Bjørn replied, his voice tinged with pride. "He was recently appointed the head coach for the Norwegian National Team."

"No way!" Zachary’s face lit up, genuinely happy for his former mentor. "Coach Johansen… he’s perfect for that job. Norway is in good hands."

The conversation lingered on Coach Johansen, their memories of him bringing smiles to the group. Zachary’s mind drifted back to the days spent under Johansen’s mentorship, the lessons drilled into him that were now ingrained in his very play style.

From there, they reminisced about their travels, particularly Zachary’s first youth tournament in Riga, Latvia, where he’d met Emily. It was a moment that had shifted his career’s trajectory.

"Ah, Emily," Kristin recalled with a smile. "From what I heard, she was so determined. I heard some of your academy teammates saying that she approached you like she was already your agent. No hesitation."

Zachary laughed, nodding. "Yeah, I remember. She just walked up, introduced herself, and told me she’d help me get to the top. No doubt, no hesitation. And here we are today."

The conversation drifted as the evening wore on, moving through memories of victories, challenges, and friendships forged along the way.

However, as the reception continued, Zachary felt a mixture of joy and fatigue wash over him. He had played a Premier League match, flown to London, and attended a wedding reception—all in one day. His mind, still sharp, began to register his body’s exhaustion.

Kristin, ever perceptive, caught his subtle glance toward the exit. She leaned in, her voice low and soft. "Ready to head out? You’ve earned a break, I think."

Zachary met her gaze, grateful for her attentiveness. "You read my mind, as usual."

Kristin smiled, a warm, knowing look in her eyes. "Already taken care of. I arranged for a car to be ready for us when you were talking to Emily earlier. You can just say your goodbyes, and we’ll be off."

Zachary gave her an appreciative nod, then glanced toward the front of the hall, where Emily stood with her husband, Sebastian, engaged in conversation with other guests. He made his way over, weaving through the clusters of people, offering polite nods and smiles as he passed.

Emily spotted him approaching and broke into a radiant smile. "Zachary! Leaving already?"

"Yeah, it’s been a full day for me. But I had to be here for you tonight. Congratulations, Emily. You and Sebastian make a great couple," he said.

Emily’s eyes softened, and she gave his hand a squeeze. "Thank you, Zachary. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about our catch-up. Day after tomorrow, right?"

Zachary nodded, a warm smile on his face. "Looking forward to it. Rest up. You deserve it."

Sebastian shook his hand with a nod, and with one final wave, Zachary turned to leave. Kristin joined him at his side, and together, they slipped out of the grand hall, the laughter and warmth of the wedding receding behind them.