Page 113 of Playing for Keeps
“Continue,” Jamie said.
“We’ve all heard rumours about this player or that,” Javier continued. “Tito Lopes for one.”
Those were very well-known rumours that the man himself appeared at no urgency to dampen.
Howard sighed. “Tito Lopes is not going to sign for Brockton.”
“You don’t know that. There are others and no, I’m not naming them. They’re good though.”
They all looked to the screen. Meera shrugged.
“One of our Formula One drivers is marrying one of our ex-drivers. I think we’ve made it clear how we stand. We’d support this.”
Steven stifled a yelp.
“Jamie?” Meera asked. “It’s visionary. You were telling me the other day how you wanted to put your own stamp on the club.”
“I didn’t expect it to be a frigging rainbow.”
With the high tension in the moment, that comment made everyone convulse with laughter. Now Steven did have to take a seat on one of the sofas.
No one was laughing more than Jamie.
There was another knock and a confused-looking Veronica stuck her head around the door.
“Jamie. I’m really sorry. I’ve got your dad on the line. He refuses to wait.”
The smile dropped from Jamie’s face.
“Oh fuck.”
“We’ll leave you to handle that one, Jamie,” Meera said.
The screen went blank.
“Shall we leave you to it?” Steven asked.
Jamie shook his head. “No. You can get a taste for what I have to deal with. Put him on speaker.”
Veronica nodded and closed the door behind her.
“That went well,” Javier said, sitting next to Steven.
Jamie didn’t get a chance to answer before the speaker crackled to life.
“What the hell is going on?”
Terence Walter had managed Brockton for thirty years. He was old-school through and through. And more than a little terrifying.
“Dad. I’m here with Javier, Steven and Howard.”
“Sack them.”
Poor Howard whimpered.
“I will do no such thing.”
“When I gave you control of my club, I didn’t expect this,” Terence continued. “I bet South Tel are losing their shit.”
