“I’ll give you some minutes,” Stefano said.
“He’s addicted to work, that one,” Javier said.
Both he and Steven looked at each other and burst out laughing. Who were they to talk?
The menu hadn’t changed much since they first started visiting. They had a specials board but Steven knew what he wanted without even looking.
“Meatballs, please,” he said. “And a glass of chianti.”
“Calm down, Hannibal Lecter,” Javier replied. “Why not live a little? The seabass is amazing.”
Steven shook his head. It wouldn’t be the same.
“Fine,” Javier said. “Same for me. Let’s see what all the fuss is about. But a bottle not two glasses. Far cheaper.”
Steven chuckled. They were both doing pretty well. Yet, Javierhated waste. At work and at play. Deep down Steven respected him for that. Even if it got a bit annoying at times.
“Okay,” Javier said, laying his menu down. “Holtmann. What’s going on?”
The abrupt change in conversation took Steven aback.
“Oh right. Well. Pretty good, I think. Why, has he said something?”
“Relax,” Javier said. “I’m allowed to ask.”
Get it together, you knob.
“Sorry. We’ve been working on our players’ styles. I want him to know which way they’re going to go at the same time that they do.”
Javier nodded. “A good team should always be on that level. It’s early days. But then Jerzy is gelling far better.”
The last thing Steven wanted to do was to betray Udo’s confidence. Yet, he had to share any worries he had.
“Between you and me, there is something.”
“What?”
Steven shrugged. “I don’t know yet.”
Javier sighed. His brows furrowed.
“I wonder if it has anything to do with him dropping Max Bryant?”
Steven’s eyes widened. “I never thought of that. It did happen pretty quickly.”
Max Bryant was the best sports agent. Not just in the UK but arguably internationally. To lose a client so abruptly would have hit him hard.
“Any gossip?” Javier asked.
“Not that I’ve heard,” Steven replied.
“We need to know. If we’re going to help him prove that goal wasn’t a fluke.”
“I agree. I can’t put thumbscrews on him though. What am I supposed to do?”
“You’ll have to think of something.”
Steven hated having an ulterior motive where Udo was concerned. He’d been enjoying getting to know him on a completely different level. But if this secret was affecting Udo’s gameplay, he would have to act.
