CHAPTER 29
I barely slept all night, rising early for the most daunting of days and left out a splendid black, tight Dolce & Gabbana catsuit, complete with signature gold, branded belt, knowing it'd accentuate the curves of my chest, rear and thighs, and knee-high gold boots.
If I was surrendering my club to a group of people who hated everything about me, I figured I may as well surrender it my way and in style.
Before I dressed, I opened my bedside drawer and stared down at my diamond encrusted butt plug. I hadn't worn it in months – not since I'd been with Joe.
I grabbed lube, lay back on my bed and carefully inserted it to the hilt, gasping as I reached my most precious point. Then I calmed.
I only hoped it'd keep my nerves as calm when I entered the boardroom and sat down to meet with the consortium.
It was 8:22 am, on the eve of the penultimate match of the season away to East Fife, when I set my first gold boot out of the Porsche and onto the tarmac of the car park outside Lady Macbeth Park.
I looked up at the main stand, unable to take it in that this would be my last time as owner and chairperson.
Groundsman Willie McGlinchey was stood at the entrance, looking rather sullen.
I lowered my head as I started to walk towards him. I didn't feel like I'd made anybody proud, and certainly wouldn't inspire the next generation by folding now. But I had to. I needed to go for my own mental health.
“Ma'am, could I have a word?” Willie asked.
I let my long hair hide the defeat in my eyes. “It'll have to be quick, Willie.”
He stood awkwardly.
“Willie, please, I'm in a bit of a rush here.”
He took a deep breath. “Ma'am, I've something shameful to confess. I'm so, so sorry.”
I brushed my fingers through my hair.
“This is awful, I don't know how to tell you, but... Ma'am, the truth is I've not been honest with you. Not completely... No, not at all.”
I narrowed my eyes on him.
“I was against you buying the club from the beginning. Not just in my opinions, but with my actions too. Shortly after the start of the season, I was involved in meetings to try to find a way to force you out of the club.”
“Who with, Willie?” I demanded, my pulse thudding.
He scratched the back of his huge neck and avoided eye contact.
“Who, Willie?!?”
“With Kyle,” he said, his voice low.
“Who else was involved?”
“Just me and Kyle.”
“I don't believe you. Tell me the truth.”
“Well, Kyle was involved with some people outside the club. Supporters, if you will. People against you being here. They started to organise the protests. Others set up a group to fund a takeover of the club.”
“Tell me names, Willie.”
“One of them's here now.”
My heart pounded.
“It's Drew Heseltine, ma'am. I'm so sorry.
I knew it all and said nothing. I should've said something sooner, I know that.
I got to know you, and I really started to take to you.
I got you all wrong at the start. I'm sorry.
I severed contact with the groups months ago.
I didn't want to be involved anymore. But I still had conversations with Kyle.
I learnt stuff. He told me something he did, bragging about it.
He said he threw a brick through a window in your house.
Then results started going against Joe and Kyle set himself up to be manager, bringing in Drew.
I knew what he was and what it'd mean for the club's future.
They've conspired against you all along and I didn't do anything to stop them.
They've won, ma'am. The club will be in their hands by the end of the day.
They'll get the credit if we get promoted.”
I was seething, my teeth steeled together. “You were like a father figure to me, Willie.”
“I know,” he said, breaking down in tears. “I confessed everything to my wife last night. She was ashamed of me. She told me I have to make this right.”
“You can't make this betrayal right, Willie... It's too late.”
He sobbed louder. “I know my decades at the club are over.”
My head was spinning. Not even bringing Dex's evidence to the table at this hour would make a difference. The consortium, the lawyers, the Maynes, everyone was due to arrive at any minute.
“I offer you my resignation, ma'am.”
“Willie,” I said firmly, leaning upwards and locking my gaze on his. “With reluctance, I fully accept your resignation.”
I was joined around the table in the boardroom by my lawyers and by Isobel, her lawyers and several leading members of the consortium. I wondered how many more lurked unseen in the shadows outside.
There were only so many I could keep away for so long.
“Ms Liu, thank you for meeting with us today,” Isobel said. “Finally.”
I maintained my ice cold exterior, yet I could feel my anus tightening around my butt plug as the situation played Russian roulette on my nervous system.
The lawyers initiated their exchange of paperwork.
One consortium member whispered to Isobel.
She glanced to the boardroom door, then turned back to him and nodded.
I was furious within the confines of my catsuit.
How a series of events had been manipulated against me.
How the full force of hatred had scarred me.
And at the underlying reality that this club was no longer my home.
It rang strongly in my ears, and I was already regretting that I'd resisted terminating Kyle and Drew's contracts out of spite before selling.
The lawyers spoke quietly.
A consortium member coughed.
Isobel made eye contact with me.
I wanted to rip out her perfect throat. “Isobel,” I started gently, “may I ask what the consortium's plans are for the current staff at Broxburgh?”
Too many eyes for my liking darted to mine.
Isobel leaned to one member and listened to what he had to say. “The majority will be retained,” she explained. “There'll be a voluntary redundancy offer made available to some, while others will regrettably have to be let go.”
I didn't like it.
One of their lawyers watched me for a few seconds over his glasses, then returned to his paperwork.
“What about the manager and his assistant?” I asked. “As I'm sure you're aware, Kyle Guernsey is still operating only in a caretaker capacity.”
Another consortium member spoke to Isobel.
She took the information on board, then relayed it to me. “Ms Liu, not that this is pertinent to the takeover, but the plan is for the duo to remain until the end of the season for short term stability, then their positions will be reviewed in the close season.”
I sensed a tenseness in the air as silence engulfed the room. I knew they were lying. I tried to make eye contact with each member of the consortium individually.
Most looked away. They knew I knew they were lying.
I was certain of it.
“Where are Kyle Guernsey and Drew Heseltine right now?” Isobel asked. “We expected them to be here.”
I refused to answer, leaning to one of my own lawyers and whispering so low I doubted he heard what I said.
He nodded regardless.
“Ms Liu,” said one of the consortium members.
Isobel turned to him. “Let me speak-”
He dismissed her with his hand. “Ms Liu, I, personally, have admired what you've achieved here in a short space of time. I'm certain I speak for everyone else when I say we all do. We respect your work ethic and your ambitions, and we wish only to take this club to the next level.”
I wondered if he realised how close I was teetering to changing my mind, and if he did was he unaware how patronising I found such lies?
“May I remind you that if the club secures promotion to League One through the play-offs this season, cash will need to be readily available to ensure there isn't an immediate relegation next season?” He cleared his throat. “To be frank, you can't provide that. We can.”
I wanted to do what was best for Broxburgh.
“It's the right thing for the club,” he said.
Not just for the club but for the town.
“Do the right thing, Ms Liu.”
I didn't want to see the place suffer because of my struggles with bigotry.
The lawyers were all looking at me.
A set of pages were set in front of me. A pen too. There were bottom lines to sign.
I lifted the pen.
Shoulders around me tensed. Deep breaths were taken. Isobel pressed her palms together.
I might not have had the satisfaction of sacking Kyle or Drew, but I reasoned I'd still have my say about their misconduct via the media after selling the club. I'd ensure I destroyed both their reputations and their careers. “What's this?” I asked, reading the opening words of the first document.
“It's a non-disclosure agreement,” answered one of their lawyers. “It covers all information, both personal and business, related to the club and its personnel in your time here.”
I looked to one of my own lawyers.
“You won't be legally permitted to reveal anything about the goings on at the club,” he said.
“It's a formality to protect all parties,” said the consortium lawyer.
My chest heaved in my catsuit as I sucked in breath. “This protects secrets?” I asked.
“Essentially.”
“For everyone,” added another lawyer.
My head was spinning. It was another victory for them. For Kyle. For Drew. For all those people who'd tried to force me out from the beginning. My lips would be legally bound and sealed.
“We insist,” Isobel said.
I recalled my conversation with Blair McKay the day before, how the captain of the team had spoken up when not a single other player dared, how he'd told me his fears for the future amid the death of the dreams I'd inspired.
“Sign it, Ms Liu,” said the consortium member. “Please.”
I glanced to the wedding ring on my finger.
“Do the right thing.”
I hadn't worn it in several months.
“Let us save this club.”
I knew how happy I'd made Aroon when he first slipped it on me, how it was his dream to take the club up the divisions to the Scottish Premiership.
“We can make Broxburgh FC a true force in Scottish football.”
I'd be betraying every memory of the man I loved if I signed a single document in front of me.
“Everyone here knows you can't,” he added. “None more so than you.”