Premier Deception by S J Crabb Page B

everyone like dirt and as for
the new players they don’t get half the respect they deserve. They
are the new young blood, talented, keen and very skilled. The older
players resent that, it makes them fear for their position in the
team so they belittle them and intimidate them so that they feel
uncomfortable. They don’t get many chances to play because the
captain has his own gang and looks after them. You can see what the
results are by the placing at the bottom of the table.” “Well why
doesn’t Luke give the newer ones a chance?” asked Charlotte
confused, “surely he will pick the best one for the team?” “Not if
the others won’t work with them. Football is a team game after all;
you rely on each other to pass the ball, set up the set pieces etc
etc. They actively exclude the newer players and make them look bad
on the pitch and it intimidates them.” Charlotte was still
confused. “But Luke should go to the owners and tell them what is
happening.” Rose laughed loudly. “Not whilst Mitchell’s golden boy
is captain they won’t, he is the son he never had, the apple of his
eye, thick as thieves those two. It would be a brave man, or woman
I may now add to come between those two. Why do you think Luke
always looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders?
His hands are tied and he knows it.” Colin approached and Rose fell
silent, probably thinking that she had said too much thought
Charlotte, however she was grateful to her as it all began to make
sense now and slot into place.
    Suddenly there was a chink of glasses
and Ronnie called everyone to attention. “Thank you all for
coming,” he said somewhat slurring his words. “Just wanted to say
welcome to Charlie, can’t wait to get to know you better and I
speak for the team in saying we will all do our best for you this
season.” Everyone clapped and cheered. Charlotte was waiting for
the joke to follow but it never did. Ronnie looked at his wife
standing next to him and said. “And thank you to my lovely wife
Sylvia who organised this at a moments notice, I am the luckiest
man in the world to have her, although probably every man here and
probably woman wishes they could have her too if you know what I
mean, but only if I can watch,” he said laughing raucously.
Charlotte saw Sylvia blush really red and tears welled up in her
eyes. She was shocked, what a pig, fancy humiliating his own wife
like that in front of everyone. She saw Luke standing on the other
side of the room a murderous look in his eyes and his hands
clenched in fists beside him. Most people were embarrassed and
didn’t know where to look. Sylvia tried to laugh it off and then
luckily the waiters came in with mini deserts to hand around.
    Charlotte suddenly felt really sick.
What sort of world had she fallen into? These were privileged
people acting like school children with no respect for their wives.
She was sickened and suddenly longed to get out of there back to
her loving family and normal life. She saw Ronnie run his hand up a
pretty waitress’s arm who gazed at him adoringly. That was it, she
stood up and made her way over to Sylvia. “Thank you so much for
your hospitality Sylvia, I had a lovely time but I must go now as
it’s been a long day. Please can you let me know where Max is and
if he can take me home now?” “Of course,” said Sylvia, “follow
me.”
    They headed out into the hallway and
Sylvia said in a weary voice, “I hope that you don’t think too
badly of Ronnie, he has had a lot to drink and because he doesn’t
get to very often it goes to his head a bit.” Still making excuses
for him thought Charlotte sadly. They reached the kitchen and
Charlotte saw Max sitting at a table talking to a pretty waitress.
He was laughing and looked relaxed. The girl was looking at him
adoringly and flashing her eyes at him. Charlotte felt a surge of
jealousy run through her wishing that it was her who had spent the
night in his company rather than