“Mum,” Steven said. “Come on now.”
“How could she do that? To you of all people. When we lost your father, you stepped up. I can’t stand this.”
Steven understood her pain.
“Things will be okay,” Andrew said. “Honestly they will. Kyle has taken her for a ride. It’s going to be a hard lesson for her.”
He stared over the top of her head at Steven. He had genuine fear in his eyes. Was this shitshow going to break up their family as well as Udo and Steven?
“He’s right,” Steven said. “We won’t let an insect like him break our family up.”
They continued to hold each other. Yet now it felt like giving strength instead of comfort. The Cox family were made of stronger stuff than this.
TWENTY-FOUR
UDO
Training hadn’t gone so badly. Of course, Shaun tried to goad him at every opportunity. The others were slowly coming onto his side. Goran’s child was still very poorly. By now, the press had got hold of it, giving Howard another headache.
Udo had been disappointed that Steven wasn’t there. He desperately wanted to see him. Conversations on the phone weren’t the same and never would be.
As soon as he’d got home, Udo had stood in the shower for ages. He couldn’t be too long, because he had a telephone appointment.
After towelling off, he threw on a pair of grey sweatpants and a white T-shirt. Falling down on the bed, he dialled.
“Udo?”
“Hi, Rob.”
“Buddy. How’s it going? Stupid question. I’ve been trying to get hold of you.”
To his shame, Udo had been ignoring everyone except his mum. She’d been on the phone almost constantly since the scandal broke.
“I’m sorry.”
“I was relieved to get your text this morning,” Rob said. He was talking unusually quickly. “Thing is bud, I’ve got some bad news.”
Great. Just what I need.
“Go on.”
“I’ve been speaking to the partners and we don’t think we can represent you well enough at this time. You need someone who’s more…accustomed to this sort of thing.”
Was he fucking kidding?
“Any suggestions?”
“Sorry.”
Udo rubbed the bridge of his nose. He didn’t see much point in arguing. If Rob, or his bosses, wanted out, then so be it.
“Fine. Thanks for the last few months.”
“Udo. I really am sorry.”
“Same here.”
Udo terminated the call. He didn’t want to hear any more false platitudes from Rob. What a piece of shit he turned out to be.
