Page 238 of Wrong Pucking Player

“He thinks Winchester is going to get him out,” Caren chips in, drawing our attention to her. She looks completely focused as it looks like a light bulb flicks on from the way her eyes light up.

“The advance drama. It proves Jayce got a huge advance. Everyone knows the amount that will be deposited in cash. Fernandez is going to suck up to Winchester to give him some of that advance to free him of his debt, right?”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Mitchel admits.

“But if that’s the case, why would Fernandez be planning Winchester’s downfall when he’s currently his saving grace?” Leo questions.

“Well, this is where I’m confused,” Mitchel admits and further leans in like he’s revealing a secret. “Apparently, Winchester is actually broke.”

“What now?” multiple guys say at once before Caren laughs.

“I’m sorry, but that’s hard to believe when that boy brags every chance he gets.”

“Here’s the thing,” Mitchel whispers. “I think Winchester used those same connections to get a lump sum of money with the promise of scoring a multi-million-dollar contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

That has our attention as Mitchel looks serious.

“You can’t tell anyone this, but I overheard my dad talking to someone in Korea who’s one of the biggest private investors. They were talking about Winchester and some other high-up family. I think their surname starts with an S, but I couldn’t catch the name. They were saying an exchange was made on the premise that Winchester would not only excel and bring revenue to the hockey industry, but ensure he got a solid multi-million-dollar contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.”

“But hold on,” Kane interrupts. “His advance did say he gets a three-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs after he’s done a season with the Saskatchewan Pincers.”

“Yes, but it’s not a multi-million-dollar contract,” Diesel reminds. “He didn’t even get a million from our current contract. With his recent performance, they may not honor the contract for him to be taken onto the team, but they might as well lower his initial pay because he’s new if they do. Plus, do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs give a shit if you’re a rising star? Our experience is nothing in comparison to some of the players that have been loyal to the team for years if not decades.”

“He’s right,” Royce agrees. “To be honest, we have a higher chance of making ten times more than current players in the league because we’re newly established and igniting a wave of interest in the realm of hockey and sports in general. I doubt Winchester thought that would happen.”

“He didn’t,” Mitchel emphasizes. “Which is why I think he’s fucked.”

“How so?” Cole asks.

“You think those people he asked money for are gonna come after him?” Ryler wonders.

“Why wouldn’t they?” Silas questions. “I mean, this may be all superstition, but when you lay everything down, it sounds like Winchester bit more than he can chew, and it’s about to bounce back at him in a negative way.”

“Think about it,” Mitchel stresses. “Why do you think Winchester has been skipping practices to get all these deals left and right? Why is he focused on garnishing all these sponsors who only work in his name and not the team? He’s doing everything to make enough money to probably pay back these people he promised years ago.”

“Which is why he can’t give shit to Fernandez,” Oscar mutters. “Fernandez won’t be happy with that.”

“Exactly,” Mitchel bobs his head in agreement. “I overheard someone saying Fernandez thinks Winchester is the reason why his girl broke up with him. He’s also mad ‘cause he can’t get back with his previous ex he dumped for money either.”

“Why is he so thrilled about getting back with either girl?” Xandra questions. A side glance her way confirms she’s not impressed in the slightest. “You mentioned this girl was broke as fuck and he was working diligently to make them money while cheating and basically fucking Winchester. Why would he want his girl back or even the girl he dumped when he got temporarily rich?”

“‘Cause they’re wealthy as fuck,” Mitchel announces.

I’m looking over to Oscar who meets my gaze with a similar look.

Intriguing.

“Wealthy? Who said that?” Xandra asks.

“That’s what’s being shared on the grapevine,” Mitchel emphasizes. “That his girl is from an extremely wealthy family but she’s super down to earth and hasn’t touched her inheritance. As for his other ex, her family works with an organization that deals with crime or some shit. Taking down bad guys and stuff. I think he wants to get back with her in hopes of saying Winchester conned him and destroy his career as a form of repayment.”

“Repayment and be dismissed from his financial hardships,” Caren mutters. “Smart way of bringing someone down.”

“So basically, they’re using each other to try to bring one or the other down,” I summarize. “And we’re only being used for show, but Winchester is just in all of this to make back the money he gained from lenders who are waiting to get their coin back.”

“Why can’t Winchester be honest and admit he underestimated what he’d earn?” Silas asks. “It was stupid of him to think otherwise, but he can just prove he’s working on getting their money back and apologize.”

The way multiple guys laugh proves that’s not something Winchester would do.

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