Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
STEVEN
Steven stared into the cup of coffee that had gone cold ages ago. He sat at Javier’s huge kitchen table that looked as if it had been made from one piece of wood. The kitchen was clinical white so the deep hue of the table really shone.
He had no interest in interior design. The story had broken an hour ago. He’d checked his phone from under the duvet and winced. The photograph that might end two careers.
Bastards.
Of course, the minute one paper had dropped the news, the rest of the gutter press fed from it like rats. They would be discussed on all the daytime shows. He screwed his eyes tightly shut. As a child he’d done that to block out the woes of the day. It didn’t work.
“How are you doing?”
Nikki swept into the kitchen. As always she looked sensational, in white linen trousers and an oversized striped shirt. Steven was in his work gear.
“This is probably the worst thing that will ever happen in my life.”
She sat at the next seat and pulled him close. He’d cried all his tears when he’d got into bed the night before. Now he was just numb.
“I have no words for you, querida,” she said. “You can weather this and survive though. I know you can.”
Steven nodded. “It’s not life or death, I understand that. I love him though, Nikki. I won’t be able to give him up.”
She took his hands. “And nor should you.”
“I could lose my job.”
“No one is losing their jobs.”
They both glanced up to see Javier stride into the kitchen. He too was wearing his work outfit. That gave Steven heart. If Javier planned on going into Newby Park, then maybe he should go with him.
“I should have declared it as a conflict of interest.”
“You did, kind of,” he said, sitting opposite them. “I asked and you told. We don’t need to go into the specifics with anyone.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” Steven said.
Javier grinned. He lived with a permanent twinkle in his eye.
“I’m the boss, remember. That much hasn’t changed.”
Nikki got to her feet. “Javier is in damage limitation mode. I’ll get more caffeine.”
She went through to the kitchen.
“Shouldn’t we wait and see what Howard has to say?”
Javier waved him away. “Howard can do what he does best. I’m talking about the team. Now we have to face facts. Some of them are going to have a problem with this.”
“Shaun will be fucking furious.”
Javier shrugged. “That man is getting too big for his football boots. I have no interest in his opinion. We need Adam, Ewen and Goran on side. If they are, then the others will follow. You mark my words.”
Steven considered this. Adam was the best captain he’d ever seen. The lads worshipped him. Steven had a great deal of respect for Adam. Even so, the thought of baring his soul to the captain filled Steven with dread.
“I don’t think I can do it.”
“There’s no choice,” Javier said. “Think about it. You have the protection of me. I won’t leave your side for a minute. But Udo has no one. He will have to walk into that locker room totally alone. If you can ease that in any way, then you absolutely have to.”
He hadn’t seen it from that point of view. Poor Udo would have spent a sleepless night alone. He couldn’t see Howard having a sleepover.
Now he had to go into training not knowing what faced him.
“I’ll call him,” Steven said. “I’ll tell him not to come in until lunchtime. That will give me time to speak to a few people.”
Javier banged the table, making Steven jump. “That’s the spirit. Things will be all right. I run this fucking ship and I will make sure they are.”
Steven nodded. He knew how lucky he was to have a manager like Javier. Most of the neanderthals in top-class football would have happily sacked him. Job done.
“Thank you, boss.”
“Don’t mention it. I have no desire to break in another assistant. Now. I’ll make us my omelette special.”
“Oh I’m not sure…”
“Thank you, boss,” Javier said, throwing Steven’s words at him.
He smiled. “Thank you, boss. I’ll go and ring Udo.”
Javier nodded and joined his wife in the kitchen. Steven took his phone from the table and walked out onto the terrace. The morning sun was getting warmer. At least it wasn’t raining.
He opened the screen and winced at the number of notifications from his socials and apps. The world had gone to shit and he was in the peace of the Tosar family compound. If only he had Udo there with him.
Instead, he connected the call. It wasn’t eight yet. Udo wouldn’t have set off for training.
“Hello. Steven?”
His voice sounded so frail Steven’s heart almost broke.
“It’s me. How are you doing?”
“I’m freaking out. We’re everywhere. What are we going to do?”
“We will weather this storm. I promise you. I’m going into Newby Park this morning and I’m going to speak to everyone. Javier doesn’t want you in until lunchtime.”
Udo was silent.
“Are you there?”
“Won’t that come across like I’m letting you fight my battles?”
“Babe, I’m fighting my own at the same time. It’s orders from the boss anyway. He’s being brilliant. We do not want to piss him off.”
Udo sighed. “I guess you’re right. Did you sleep?”
“What do you think?”
“I miss you.”
“Yeah. Me too. The club will send a car for you. I don’t want you driving. I presume you’ve reporters camped outside?”
“Oh totally. I can see them from the spare room window. Twats.”
Steven chuckled despite the situation. “I love you, Udo Holtmann.”
“I love you too. I’ll see you later.”
“Count on it.”
Steven terminated the call. He heard Javier and Nikki bickering in the kitchen. It hadn’t been twelve hours and he yearned for Udo’s presence.
Pushing the thoughts from his mind, he connected another call. It went straight to voicemail.
“Naomie. It’s me. Call me as soon as you get this, yeah? It’s important.”
He put the phone in his back pocket. Something wasn’t right.
Predictably the entrance to Newby Park was mobbed. Javier drove through it expertly as cameras clicked and a dozen questions were shouted. Steven shrank down in his seat.
Then it went to silence as they passed through the gates and down the drive toward the training centre. Now they were safely on private property, the press wouldn’t dare cross the threshold.
“Okay?” Javier asked.
Steven nodded.
They pulled up in the car park. It might still be early yet half the bays were already full. Steven didn’t know whether to take that as a good sign or a bad one.
He got out and silently followed Javier inside. He’d walked this path countless times. Never did he think he would be doing it in this position.
“Go to the office,” Javier instructed. “I’ll get them.”
Steven ran up the stairs and straight into Javier’s office. Thankfully he didn’t encounter anyone. He was not ready to face Jamie. He winced when he thought about that inevitability.
Steven paced the floor in front of Javier’s desk. Then stopped. He didn’t want to look too nervous. They would never respect him then. He went over to the sofas and sat down. First crossing his legs, then sitting with them sprawled out.
Why can’t I use my body?
The door opened. There stood Adam, Ingvar, Goran and Ewen. There was no sign of Javier.
“Can we come in?” Adam asked.
“Of course you can.”
They filed in. Goran and Adam sat on the sofa opposite. Ewen next to Steven and Ingvar perched on the arm of the sofa.
“You wanted to see us?” Goran asked.
Steven composed himself.
“I’m not going to piss you around,” he began. “I am in a relationship with Udo.”
The teammates exchanged glances. They had every reason to be wary of this new setup.
“It is a relationship,” Steven continued. “Not just sex or anything like that.”
“Do you love him?” Ewen asked.
Steven was taken aback by the comment. He didn’t suspect Ewen of having such depths of emotion as that.
“I do. So much so that I’m prepared to walk away from this place if that’s what it takes.”
Adam nodded. “A bit dramatic but I get what you mean. To be clear, you had our support before we came through that door.”
Steven froze. Had he heard that correctly?
“What?”
“He’s right,” Ingvar said. “You’re one of us. It’s a simple as that.”
“Some of the other lads might need a bit more persuading,” Goran warned.
Even so, that these four were on his side meant the world.
“Thank you. All of you.”
Adam winked. “Naughty boy. Alain will be pissed that you’ve bedded someone from the club and he hasn’t.”
They all roared with laughter.
Suddenly, the door burst open. The smile instantly fell from Steven’s face when he saw Jamie standing there.
Fuck.
“Out!”
Adam and the others scarpered like schoolboys faced with an incredibly pissed-off headmaster. Jamie strode into the office closely followed by Howard and Javier.
“Howard,” he barked.
A flustered Howard sat opposite Steven.
“I don’t need to say that we’re in the shit,” he began. “Of course the dailies are vying for an exclusive. We’ll have to do that in a day or two. For now I say we keep quiet. Let’s make sure no skeletons come out to play.”
“There aren’t any,” Steven said, firmly.
“I’d still like to be sure,” Howard replied in a shitty tone.
“And you don’t think you’re being slightly hypocritical?” Steven fired back.
“Meaning?”
Steven couldn’t control the rage building inside him. “You have a different man every bloody month.”
“None of them are Premier League footballers that I’m responsible for. Do you see the difference?”
“Enough of this,” Jamie said. “I’ve a good mind to fire the pair of you.”
Javier stepped forward. “You will not. I have control of my team.”
“You only think you do. I can overrule you at any time.”
Things were spiralling. Steven sat stock-still.
“Then you might as well look for a new manager,” Javier replied. “We narrowly missed relegation this year. I promise you that I can build a team over the summer that will bring a trophy. But I do it with Holtmann and Steven. Is that understood?”
Jamie’s face was immobile.
“We will see how the week plays out,” he said cooly.
He fixed his icy stare on Steven.
“You will only see Holtmann professionally for the time being. Is that understood?”
“What? You can’t—”
Javier sat next to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“The press will be after another shot,” Howard explained. “A tearful reunion. Better yet, an argument. It will keep the story alive. Udo is a no-go area for you.”
Steven wanted to scream. The thought that he’d be able to cradle Udo in his arms that night had been the only thing keeping him going. Now they were to be kept apart. Their love seen as toxic.
Yet they were all giving far more than other clubs would.
“Fine,” he said. “Whatever you think is best.”
The tears were fighting to come out. Steven absolutely would not cry in front of Jamie.
“I’m not doing this to be cruel,” Jamie said. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that you’ve been put in this position.”
Steven could only smile. If he uttered a word, he would be done for.
As if sensing this, Jamie gestured to Howard it was time for them to leave.
“I’ll give you hourly updates,” Howard said, getting to his feet. “For now, total radio silence. No matter how much those wankers try to goad you.”
Javier stood. “He’s staying with us for the time being.”
“Very wise.”
They left them to it. As soon as the door closed, Steven sprang to his feet. He walked over to the window. Javier stood next to him. He put his arm around his shoulder.
“Don’t fight it, my friend.”
So he didn’t. They both stood there. Javier protecting him as he sobbed. A heady mix of frustration, outrage and fear sweeping through his system.
How the fuck were they going to get through this?