By the time the three of them came out of the cafe, it was already past noon. They randomly found a restaurant to have lunch and took a short break before driving to the Football Association's headquarters: SOHO Square.
Tang En had never been to the English Football Association, be it as Tang En or as Twain, he had never been there before. He searched for SOHO Square along the way according to his common sense in China. But when the car stopped and Lawyer Randy got out, he was still sitting in it.
"Mr. Tang En?"
"Ah? We're here? " Tang En got out of the car and looked at a small patch of green. There were a few English platanus trees planted on it. Their branches almost covered the entire square. It was winter now. If it were summer, he would probably only see dense leaves when he looked up.
This is the square? Tang En felt that compared to the squares in his country that were as big as two football fields, this was at most a small dam in his hometown.
"Uh, it's my first time here, and it's not very eye-catching …" he explained. The square was surrounded by very short buildings. Tang En only then noticed that he rarely saw those towering skyscrapers ever since he entered London. Most of them were old Victorian buildings of three or four stories. The Football Association building in front of him was similar, just that the exterior had been renovated. It was said that the modern buildings were in the new area in the east, but the Football Association was clearly not there. The Football Association was in the center of London, on the north bank of the Thames River, south of the famous shopping area of Oxford Street.
"The English Football Association." Randy introduced the place to the two visitors. "In 1863, eleven English clubs met at Fleet Street and established the legal body responsible for all football matters in England. It is the oldest governing body for football affairs, even older than UEFA and FIFA. "
Tang En sneered behind him. "But I only smell a rotten smell."
Evan turned back to look at Tang En. "I think so."
"Mr. Tang En." Randy stopped in his tracks and turned to Tang En in front of the Football Association's glass doors. "Your current state of mind is not conducive to the upcoming hearing."
He knew that the lawyer was right, but Tang En just could not stand his superior tone. So he laughed dryly. "I didn't know Mr. Randy was a part-time tour guide."
For the first time, Randy felt that perhaps a lawyer like him could not win a football coach in a quarrel. Therefore, he decided to remain silent. After all, the other party could be considered his employer.
The three of them had just stepped into the main entrance of the Football Association when a professionally dressed woman walked towards them. She saw the three people entering the door and went forward to ask, "Mr. Twain?"
Tang En stood out. "I am Tang En."
"Hello!" The woman smiled and extended her hand. "I'm Faria Alam. Please come with me."
When Tang En heard this name, he was a little startled. Then he turned his attention back to the woman opposite him. He wanted to take a closer look at how a 38-year-old woman had the charm to seduce two famous men into bed and turn the English Football Association upside down.
She had shoulder-length black hair, mixed features, skin tone, eyes … It was said that she used to be a model. Tang En's evaluation of her was average. She was not as seductive as he had imagined, but she was not ugly either.
"Mr. Twain?" Aram realized that Twain was only staring at her, but did not follow her. She was very happy that this man had such a reaction. It meant that she was still attractive. But how would she know what Tang En was really thinking?
"Uh, sorry. I was distracted. "Tang En shook his head. Evan, who was behind him, chuckled.
Aram was very satisfied with the men's reaction. She had just started working at the Football Association for three days. She had big dreams and did not want to be an ordinary secretary for the rest of her life. The way these men saw her made her full of confidence for the future: I, Faria Alam, still have a fatal attraction to men.
Tang En followed behind Aram to the hearing venue. He watched the woman's coquettish way of walking, her butt swaying left and right. He could not help but smack his lips in his heart. She was already walking so coquettishly. One could only imagine how logical that matter would be in the future. But how would he know … in a sense, it was his performance in front of Aram, the new secretary of the Football Association, that led to a sex scandal that would shock the English football world in the future?
Tang En had once imagined what the English Football Association's hearing would be like. Would it be like those courts he saw on television? But when Aram opened the door for him, he realized that it was just a slightly bigger conference room.
"Please come in, Mr. Tang En." The person who stood up to welcome him looked familiar to Tang En. It was the Football Association's Chief Executive Officer, Mark Palios, who would have a passionate spark with Faria Alam in the future.
Palios saw Faria Alam open the door and was momentarily stunned. Then, his gaze stopped on the retired model. Tang En took in all the expressions of this big shot. He laughed to himself: So the two of you, adulterers, met because of me? Very good, very good!
With that thought, he threw the troubles of the hearing to one side. He felt a sense of accomplishment: So the world-famous gossip scandal had started here. It had started with him.
All in all, when Tang En thought back to what he had seen at the Football Association today, the only thing he would remember deeply was the scene where Pallios and Aram met. It was really like Mars colliding with Earth, dry wood meeting a raging fire. On the contrary, Tang En himself and the hearing had become secondary. Tang En saw many times during the hearing that Palios's eyes kept glancing at Alam, who was standing at the door. The model's figure was definitely not ordinary. Her age of 38 might not make her as fresh and delicate as a young girl, but it added a hint of seasoned charm to her.
Lawyer Randy was still worried about Tang En's attitude at the start of the hearing. Tang En's performance was an eye-opener for him. Tang En, who was still dismissive of the organization outside the Football Association's building, was as obedient and docile as a sheep during the hearing. Not only did he admit that he had used the wrong words, but he also sang praises of the Football Association led by Palios. At the same time, he stated that what he said in the interview was a misunderstanding by the media and that he did not mean to target the Football Association. That was the irrational behavior of a newly appointed manager who was under too much pressure after losing a match. After he came to his senses, he completely realized what a terrible mistake he had made. So, he had long been looking forward to the hearing. Because Tang En felt that it was not enough to express his remorse through the media or the club's fax, or even through the phone. He had to express his apology to the Football Association in person. He believed that football's oldest governing body in history, under Palios's iron-fisted leadership, was bound to move from one glory to another.
Watching Tang En's performance, Randy, who was specially invited by the club to help solve the thorny problem, became a complete spectator. He suddenly felt that he had been cheated by that man. Evan, on the other hand, tried his best to hold back his laughter at the side when he saw the Football Association officials enjoying it. The originally serious and tense hearing had been turned into a British-style satirical comedy by Tang En. Seeing him express his repentance with a straight face and say nonsensical praises, it really felt like black humor.
Tang En's performance left a very good impression on the Football Association. Therefore, when the punishment was decided, it was much lighter than what Randy had originally expected. He had originally thought that the Football Association would issue a super fine of "a ban for eight matches and a fine of 100,000 pounds." He did not expect that in the end, it would only be a ban for two matches and a fine of 20,000 pounds. It was practically like scratching an itch.
"Mr. Tang En …" After the hearing ended, Tang En and Evan had to return to Nottingham. As they were about to part ways, Randy did not know how to explain what had happened today. He had taken his employer's money and wanted to use his expertise to help his employer solve the problem. He did not expect that he would end up as a spectator.
Tang En was very happy to see the arrogant lawyer's expression of helplessness. However, it was better not to be too ruthless. This was a principle that he had realized after his "rebirth." Why could he not get along in the past? It was because he was too ruthless and did not leave any leeway. In the end, he hit walls everywhere in this society. He took the initiative to extend his hand and shook Randy's hand. "Mr. Randy, thank you very much for the advice you gave me. I hope next time … "He suddenly realized that it was not good for him to say that." … Ah, damn it! I hope we never meet again! "With that, he chuckled.
Randy knew what Tang En meant, and he laughed as well. "With all due respect, Mr. Tang En. I think we will still have the opportunity to meet in the future. If you need a lawyer, please give me a call. "He handed a business card to Tang En. Tang En received it with both hands.
"I'm sorry, I don't have a business card for you …"
"If I want to find you, I'll definitely get your contact information from the newspaper."
"Hmm?"
"You'll become a news figure in the future."
Tang En shrugged. "I really don't know if that's a blessing or a curse."
Following that, the two of them burst into laughter.
After sending Randy off, Evan, who had been silent at the side, said to Tang En, "The two of you seem to have a good relationship, like old friends."
Tang En opened the car door. "You know, Evan. In the past, I didn't know how to conduct myself. I was completely immersed in my own world, as if I was living in a virtual world. Until I … "He touched the back of his head. Evan knew what he meant. "I've been enlightened! Take this hearing for example. If it were me in the past, I would definitely be tough to the end with those big shots in suits and leather shoes. I wouldn't admit that I said something wrong, nor would I apologize. I don't care how they punish me. But in reality, you've seen it. The matter has been resolved perfectly. "With that, he got into the car.
Evan also got into the car. "That's right, it's perfect. You scolded the referee and the Football Association, vented your dissatisfaction, but it seems like you didn't receive any punishment. I think when this decision is announced, the referee and the West Ham manager who were scolded by you will definitely feel that they were the ones who were raped. "
Amidst the laughter, the car slowly drove away from the Football Association building and headed home.
While Tang En and Evan were still speeding down the M1 motorway, the English Football Association held a simple press conference. They announced the final punishment for this incident.
Pallios personally attended the press conference. The person beside him who placed the microphone and served him water was the retired model, Faria Alam, who had just joined the Football Association for three days. She faced the scene with a smile and handled it with ease, which made Pallios like her even more. A reporter accidentally took a photo of Pallios and Aram looking at each other. The photo was fixed with a warm smile on their faces. At that time, even the photographer himself quickly forgot about this photo. But who knew what kind of high price this photo would fetch when he dug it out a year and a half later …
The star of the press conference was, of course, not the still unknown Alam, but Tony Twain. When Pallios announced that the Football Association had imposed a two-match ban on Forest's acting manager and fined him 20,000 pounds, the press conference venue was filled with chaotic discussions. The Football Association was deeply enraged by the media beforehand. They did not expect the result of their anger to be so insignificant.
Who was the beneficiary of this farce? Perhaps it was Pallios who met Alam for the first time. But if this question was discussed a year and a half later, perhaps Pallios would say that he was actually the biggest victim …
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