Page 12 of Playing the Game
“I told you,” Adam replied. “It’s the prestige.”
“How about you make them worth something this season then?” Jonas asked.
A ripple of chatter went through the lads.
“And how would that work?” Adam said.
“Easy,” Jonas replied. “Pick the most trustworthy one of us to keep a tally. At the end of the season we can have the big reveal.”
Who the fuck does he think he is?
“Fine,” he said. “Colin!”
Colin pushed past Edi and Ingvar. “Yes, Skipper?”
“You’re keeping tally.”
“Me?”
Give me strength.
“Yes. Colin. You.”
“Okay, Skipper.”
“What’s the prize?” Jonas asked. The power in his eyes did something to Adam and it wasn’t good.
“Hundred grand,” Adam replied quickly.
A collective gasp came from the whole squad.
“Nice,” Jonas said.
Adam wouldn’t be belittled in front of his team by anyone.
“Okay everyone. Introduce yourselves then out there in five. Let’s hope they play better for Brockton.”
Before Jonas had a chance to reply, Colin shook his hand violently.
“So good to have you here,” he said.
Adam made a sharp exit. Colin’s introductions tended to include an element of life story when he was nervous.
He stood to the side of the throng and watched. Steven approached him.
“Everything okay?”
Adam shrugged. “Well I’m a hundred grand down. Can I put it through expenses?”
“Can you fuck,” Steven replied.
“You need to tell him to take it down a notch,” Adam said. “I mean it. I’m not having any crap in the team.”
Adam watched Jonas introducing himself to Alain.
“I’ll have a word,” Steven said.
“First impressions count,” Adam replied. “Typical Canonbury shit.”
