“Well, my friend at church has this nephew…”
“No.”
When Steven woke on Monday morning, he found himself nervous to embark on Mission Udo. He wasn’t the usual type of footballer. Udo had a vulnerability about him that intrigued Steven. How had he survived all these years?
The urge to protect him was strong and unexpected. Steven had done this kind of work with some of the younger players before. They’d had the confidence of youth but lacked the focus. Udo Holtmann was a totally different prospect.
He arrived at Brockton FC’s training ground, Newby Park. A brilliant white two-storey building that presided over a full-sized pitch and practice areas. Inside they had a state-of-the-art gymnasium and briefing rooms as well as the offices filled with people who made the juggernaut of a Premier League football club stay on the tracks.
Steven had managed to swallow down his hesitation about how to deal with Udo. He might not be the usual footballer type. No girls, bling or partying for Udo Holtmann. But he must still have the competitive spirit he’d shown over the years. It might be dormant at that moment. Steven simply had to find a way to wake it up.
Inside the gleaming building lay the answer. If Brockton Park was the showroom, Newby Park was the nerve centre. Things always kept as safe and secure as possible. A place to build up players before unleashing them on unsuspecting opponents.
Javier and Steven shared an office here. The first floor held the business centre and, ultimately, Jamie’s suite of offices which overlooked the pitch.
Truth be told, Jamie terrified Steven. He’d only been summoned upstairs once when he’d had an altercation with an opposing team’s coach. On the whole, he kept on Jamie’s good side. It seemed to be wise.
For the morning session with Udo, he’d booked a meeting room rather than any early arrivals seeing them in the office. He knew that Udo feared reprisals for this unusual move by Steven.
To his surprise, Udo had beaten him to it. He sat at the table with a nervous expression. His deep brown eyes fixed on Steven.
Udo’s model looks were always a little disconcerting. He kept his golden blond hair short and with the new warm weather, he’d picked up a tan. It suited him.
“Udo,” Steven said, sitting opposite him. “You’re early.”
“I’m that kind of person,” Udo replied with a shrug. “I hate to be late.”
“You rhymed.”
Udo frowned. “Sorry?”
“You…never mind. Are you raring to go?”
Udo settled his arms on the table and studied them. “I’m not sure what this is. Can I ask you one question?”
“You can ask me many if you like,” Steven replied.
“Is my time at Brockton FC in danger?”
Shit. Talk about going for the jugular.
Steven had never lied to a player before and he wasn’t about to start now.
“After Saturday, you are in Jamie’s sights. Yes.”
Udo bowed his head. Steven’s heart went out to the guy. To fly high for years, then suddenly cracks appear. It had been a devastating blow when it had happened to him. One Steven hadn’t fully recovered from. He still hated that injury had ended his own career. He’d missed that last game, the fans cheering and everyone celebrating his achievements.
“Doesn’t mean you have to prove him right.”
Udo looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Between us, we can rescue this. I’m pretty sure of it.”
“I’m thirty-four. You’d retired by my age.”
“Yes, but not through choice. There’s nothing wrong with you physically. It’s your spirit that’s the problem. Now that is my speciality.”
“How so?”
