Page 34 of Playing for Keeps
Udo would really like his second drink after all that. Instead he forced a smile onto his face.
“Nothing,” he replied. “Shaun needed some cufflinks. He’s lost one of his.”
Steven frowned. “And he asked you?”
“Who else do you think had spares?”
It was a pathetic story. Udo had never been good at lying.
“Shall we?” Udo asked.
As they were about to rejoin the party, the hotel lobby doors opened and Udo’s blood ran cold.
There was Max Bryant.
Udo sprang back, using the wall for cover.
“Have I missed the meal?” Max asked the receptionist.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Good,” he said. “The food is shit here.”
Not lowering himself to wait for a reply, he swept through to the function room without noticing his old client staring at him from the shadows.
“Are you okay?” Steven asked.
Udo couldn’t answer him. He needed to get out of there.
He dashed out of the hotel and into the cool London night. His heart was racing. As he stormed down the street, he pulled his bow tie off. He couldn’t breathe.
All he knew was he had to get as much space between them as possible. And fuck what anyone else thought of it.
NINE
STEVEN
Seeing Udo take flight like that startled Steven for a moment. Then he set off in pursuit. The receptionist was watching them intently. No doubt the paps would be back in full force. He didn’t blame hotel staff for alerting them. It probably paid well.
When he got outside, he saw Udo heading off down the street.
He ran after him. Unfortunately one of the world’s top footballers could move fast. By the time Steven caught up with Udo, they were across the road from Hyde Park.
“Hey,” Steven said. “Slow down.”
Udo spun round.
“What are you doing?”
“Following you,” Steven replied. He was struggling to get his breath.
“Come on, let’s find you a bench, old timer.”
They crossed the road and made their way into the park itself. Steven was sweating and his shirt was stuck to his back.
“Over here.”
They sat side by side on a bench. Both staring out at the Serpentine. The lake that dominated the park.
