CHAPTER 4
Joe parked the Porsche outside the ground early on Thursday morning.
“Are you planning on getting your own car again?” I asked, trying to start an argument.
He planted his palm between my thighs, then forced my legs apart and fondled me under my skirt.
“Joe...”
He shushed me.
“Someone might see.”
He grinned.
“Stop, please.”
“The world knows about us now, honey,” he said, and slowly removed his hand. “Let's go inside, see if Eddie's here yet.”
I couldn't get out of the car quick enough.
Joe was around to my side in a flash, and took my hand.
I could feel my skin crawl at his merest touch, but my world had imploded and somehow I seemed forever cemented to be his. Almost as if I were property.
Joe unlocked the front door, and we walked into an empty reception.
“He's not here,” I said.
Joe checked his mobile. “He says he's running late.”
I sighed, then looked down the corridor. “Joe, you wait for him here. I'm going to head up to my office.”
He nodded his approval.
I started to walk away.
“Wait,” he snapped.
I turned.
He pointed to his lips. “Forgetting something?”
I strutted to him, one stiletto in front of the other, and placed my mouth on his.
“Good girl.” He slapped my ass, then sent me on my way.
I was furious as I staggered to my office, resenting every aspect of my life with him.
I found my door unlocked – not unusual, I'd a habit of forgetting to lock it most days – and walked in.
I didn't immediately notice the item on my desk, my eyes weren't exactly peeled.
I just needed a few minutes away from Joe.
I slid the strap of my purse from my shoulder and set it down on my desk. It was then I noticed.
“Bastard,” I muttered, and picked up my pink panties.
Realisation dawned on me as quick as regret. DeShaun had been here. He'd left them there for me to find. And I'd missed him. He was clearly angry with me, deliberately leaving them there to be found and he didn't particularly care whether I was the person who found them.
I brought them to my nose and inhaled, hoping for a remnant of his scent.
I found none. If only I could find him, I could explain things to him and he could still hate me, but he'd know the truth.
Unfortunately, I didn't know where he was staying or have a contact number for him.
And I didn't want to confront him at the training ground.
Especially not when I'd been avoiding Kyle too-
There was a powerful knock on the door behind me.
I stuffed my panties into my purse, and spun around.
“Ms Liu,” he said. “We need to talk.”
I gulped.
“I want to know what the hell's going on here.”
“Kyle,” I said quietly. “I'm sorry.”
“What were you playing at, offering me the job, no, promising me the job and telling me Joe was for the chop?”
I hesitated.
“I've a good mind to tell him, because he clearly knows nothing about it.”
“Don't do that, Kyle, please.” I rushed across the floor and closed my door over, fearful of Joe overhearing.
“What's going on then?”
I didn't know what to say to him. I didn't know if it was safe to say anything to him at all.
“Was I just a pawn in some power struggle, is that it?”
I shook my head.
“Then tell me, I deserve to know where I stand.”
I put my face in my palm and tried to find my nerve.
“Was the offer ever genuine?”
“Yes, Kyle,” I insisted, letting my palm slip from my face. “It really was.”
“But you and the gaffer are... Together.”
I sensed the phobia in his tone. No matter how hard he tried to mask it, it was right there. And yet still I knew he had the upper hand. “I didn't know Joe was going to do that on Saturday.”
“What?”
“Tell the world.”
Kyle shrugged.
“It changes everything.”
“How?”
I let out a long exhalation. “You don't understand, Kyle. The media attention on the club, the focus on Joe and I, it's spun the timing out of my control.”
“Has it?” he asked, as if he didn't believe a word I was saying.
I touched his hand, expecting him to recoil.
He didn't.
“The job will be yours. I just have to figure out a way to tell him.”
Kyle looked unconvinced.
I was lying, to myself as much as him. “I mean it, Kyle. I want you to be manager. Last night, the team got a break. But it was down to luck as much as anything-”
“Ms Liu, let me stop you there. And you can fire me if you want. But, with all due respect, do you hear yourself?”
I pulled my hand from his.
“The media, last night's win... These are all just excuses. If you want to fire Joe, then fire him.”
I nodded. “I know, I'm just...” Terrified.
“I spoke to Joe on the way in.” Kyle leaned down ever so slightly on me. “He says you two are gonna do an interview with Eddie Mayne, talk about how happy you are together and the bright future you have as a couple.”
I cringed. It was true.
“This isn't the behaviour of someone who's about to part ways.”
I didn't fucking want to do the interview!
He turned and put his palm on the door handle. “I'll leave before I say something I regret, but I really thought you were different.”
“I a-”
“You're not different, ma'am. You're as business first and personal second as the rest of them.” He opened the door wide. “Except you like to mix business with pleasure.”
I watched him walk out of my office, then listened to his footsteps thunder heavily away down the corridor.
I was seething.
You like to mix business with pleasure.
“On that note,” I whispered to myself, and grabbed my purse from my desk.
I headed out of my office with purpose and went straight to Joe's office.
It too was unlocked. I let myself in, found the master key for the players' lockers and walked back out.
My heart was pounding, knowing Joe and Eddie could appear at any minute, as I made my way down to the dressing room.
My rectum tightened on my butt plug when I walked in, but I didn't have time for a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
I quickly located DeShaun's locker, unlocked it and stuffed my pink panties inside.
I hoped he'd understand the meaning behind it.
“We could do the interview, as you suggest, in the boardroom this afternoon,” Eddie said, nodding. “But I think it'd be better done at your home.”
“I like that,” Joe said, clutching my hand. “It gives it a more personal touch.”
“Exactly, and the media will eat it up.”
As I knew they would, and I wanted to find a way to get out of it.
“It'll be great exposure for the channel to get this exclusive,” Eddie continued.
Joe coughed suddenly and loudly, covering his mouth with his free hand. “Excuse me, I don't know where that came from.”
I felt his grip on my hand tighten.
“You have training as normal today, Joe?” Eddie asked.
“I do.”
“Okay, how about we shoot the interview tonight? I could have the footage edited and ready to go online by Friday night at the earliest, perhaps Saturday at the latest.”
“We play Elgin City away on Saturday,” I said.
They both looked at me.
I knew it was the most pathetic attempt to delay the broadcast.
“Indeed,” Joe said, his eyes dismissing me. “Eddie, be at ours for seven o'clock tonight. We'll be ready.”
Joe fixed his tie as he gazed into the mirror in our bedroom.
“You do look handsome in that suit,” I said, genuinely appreciating the efforts he'd gone to with his appearance. “But I still prefer you with stubble.”
He turned, looking me up and down. “How I'd love for you to sit for this interview dressed like that, Sasha.”
I was stood in a black lace bra, matching suspender belt, stockings and a black micro g-string. “I don't think our viewers would agree, Joe.”
The doorbell rang.
“That'll be Eddie. Joe, could you let him in, while I finish getting ready?”
He grinned. “I swear, baby, you're ready as you are.”
I tutted. “I haven't even finished my make-up.”
Joe pulled at the front of his shirt. “Is it just me or is it really warm in here?”
“It's just you, now go. Get the door.”
He ran his fingers across my rear as he left. “I can't wait to fuck you after this.”
I picked out my most expensive jewellery, diamond earrings and a matching necklace with a single diamond, and hoped Aroon would've approved. I knew he wouldn't. Every single day, I desecrated my dead husband's memory more and more.
Joe and Eddie spoke downstairs, as Joe led him into the living room.
I tried to find the most flattering dress, understanding as much as anyone that this deceit was to portray us as a loving, intimate couple and perhaps hoodwink a corporate sponsor sensitive to the nature of our relationship.
I wondered if DeShaun had found my pink panties yet.
I tried on several dresses before settling on a strapless emerald green one, slit to the lower thigh. I tested it by sitting on the bed, and spotted how my stocking top would almost be visible.
I changed my jewellery at the last second, opting for emerald green earrings and a matching necklace.
Aroon's presence still loomed as I opened the double doors and left the bedroom.
“The sex is very good,” Joe said, his laughter echoing off the walls of the living room as the interview ran past the thirty minute mark.
I was livid as my eyes languished, fixed, on the main camera beside Eddie and my smile became more forced than ever.
“It's always been very good.”
I patted Joe's knee gently, trying to encourage him to stop.
“We could barely keep our hands off each other from the moment we first met, isn't that right, honey?”
I knew we could kiss goodbye to Broxburgh attracting a big name sponsor if this part of the interview aired in any shape or form.
Joe coughed for several seconds, then held up his hand to indicate he was okay.
“Sasha,” Eddie said, turning to me.
I flashed my eyes from the camera to him.
“You once said in a previous sit down interview with me that you wouldn't date someone who worked for you.”
I could feel my face redden with embarrassment. “That's right,” I said, instantly paranoid at how Eddie's brother David had also highlighted the fact.
“Well?” Eddie gestured to Joe. “It wasn't exactly the truth, was it?”
I felt like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Was it a little, white lie?”
I felt my augmented chest expand with the deepest of anxious breaths.
“Because you'd been in a relationship with Joe from, what was it, three days after you first met?”
I was stone silent, convinced he was about to expose my night with his younger brother.
Joe took hold of my hand and rubbed it gently. “Eddie, the rule doesn't apply to us. Sasha and I are not a mere employer and employee. I'm not her underling, I assure you. I'm her equal and we're a team.”
Eddie smiled. “Is that to say you wear the trousers, Joe?”
“When the lady looks this good in a dress, it'd be a crime if I didn't,” Joe replied.
I feigned yet another look of joy.
Joe pulled the top of his shirt and tie out from his neck.
“Well, we've covered everything about your relationship. But, Sasha, Joe, I'm sure all our supporters want to know one thing more than any other... Can a rejuvenated Broxburgh really challenge for promotion this late in an up-and-down season?”
“Undoubtedly,” Joe said.
“Sasha?” Eddie asked.
I leaned forward. “DeShaun will be back soon. He's the man.”
“Do you think we'll reach the play-offs?”
“DeShaun is the man, Eddie,” I said, hoping if he ever watched this interview he'd understand what I meant. “With DeShaun, anything is possible.”
Eddie nodded. “Joe McDonald, Sasha Liu, thank you for your time.” He switched off the main camera. “Thanks, guys, that went great.”
Joe hauled off his tie and undid the top buttons on his shirt. “Baby, could you get me some water? I'm not feeling great at all.”
I demurely stood. “Of course, dear.”
I closed the front door behind Eddie and felt my body tense as Joe walked out of the living room, repelled by the thought of him fucking me again.
“Sasha,” he started, “I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to bed. I feel really unwell.”
“Not at all,” I said.
“Sorry, I can't... Y'know.”
“It's okay, Joe. You're maybe just tired. It's been a hectic week.”
He looked at me in my dress. “You do look stunning.”
“Thank you.”
He set one foot on the stairs.
I started for the living room.
He stopped.
I stopped too, sensing something was wrong.
“Do you think they'll ever find his body?”
I froze.
“Aroon's?” he said.
“Joe,” I gasped. “Why would you say that to me now?”
He trod up the stairs without another word.
I slipped off my high-heels, then went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine.
I ended up drinking it all, then decided to sleep on the sofa, planning to pretend I'd passed out.