“This is probably the worst thing that will ever happen in my life.”
She sat at the next seat and pulled him close. He’d cried all his tears when he’d got into bed the night before. Now he was just numb.
“I have no words for you,querida,” she said. “You can weather this and survive though. I know you can.”
Steven nodded. “It’s not life or death, I understand that. I love him though, Nikki. I won’t be able to give him up.”
She took his hands. “And nor should you.”
“I could lose my job.”
“No one is losing their jobs.”
They both glanced up to see Javier stride into the kitchen. He too was wearing his work outfit. That gave Steven heart. If Javier planned on going into Newby Park, then maybe he should go with him.
“I should have declared it as a conflict of interest.”
“You did, kind of,” he said, sitting opposite them. “I asked and you told. We don’t need to go into the specifics with anyone.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” Steven said.
Javier grinned. He lived with a permanent twinkle in his eye.
“I’m the boss, remember. That much hasn’t changed.”
Nikki got to her feet. “Javier is in damage limitation mode. I’ll get more caffeine.”
She went through to the kitchen.
“Shouldn’t we wait and see what Howard has to say?”
Javier waved him away. “Howard can do what he does best. I’m talking about the team. Now we have to face facts. Some of them are going to have a problem with this.”
“Shaun will be fucking furious.”
Javier shrugged. “That man is getting too big for his football boots. I have no interest in his opinion. We need Adam, Ewen and Goran on side. If they are, then the others will follow. You mark my words.”
Steven considered this. Adam was the best captain he’d ever seen. The lads worshipped him. Steven had a great deal of respectfor Adam. Even so, the thought of baring his soul to the captain filled Steven with dread.
“I don’t think I can do it.”
“There’s no choice,” Javier said. “Think about it. You have the protection of me. I won’t leave your side for a minute. But Udo has no one. He will have to walk into that locker room totally alone. If you can ease that in any way, then you absolutely have to.”
He hadn’t seen it from that point of view. Poor Udo would have spent a sleepless night alone. He couldn’t see Howard having a sleepover.
Now he had to go into training not knowing what faced him.
“I’ll call him,” Steven said. “I’ll tell him not to come in until lunchtime. That will give me time to speak to a few people.”
Javier banged the table, making Steven jump. “That’s the spirit. Things will be all right. I run this fucking ship and I will make sure they are.”
Steven nodded. He knew how lucky he was to have a manager like Javier. Most of the neanderthals in top-class football would have happily sacked him. Job done.
“Thank you, boss.”
“Don’t mention it. I have no desire to break in another assistant. Now. I’ll make us my omelette special.”
“Oh I’m not sure…”
