Page 6 of Legend

So many photos. So much smiling. My face muscles are going to need attention from the physio after this.

Chapter three

Tom

GideonCollier:My office please. As soon as you get here

I let out a sigh when I see the text from the team’s owner, and consider just backing out of my car space and heading home. But Gideon didn’t become the owner of a Premier League club from avoiding conversations, so I have no doubt he’ll simply call me at home if I skip out on the meeting. Okay, well, technically he became Pride FC’s owner because his grandfather left the club to him, but the old man wouldn’t have done that if he didn’t think Gideon was capable.

Resigning myself to a tongue-lashing, I get out of my car and enter the stadium, bypassing the training facilities and heading upstairs to Gideon’s office.

When I get there, I find not just Gideon, but Vinnie Bishop—the team’s manager—waiting for me.Great.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Ah, yes, Tom,” Gideon says, his smile more of a wince as he smooths down the front of his perfectly tailored designer suit. “We caught your interview earlier.”

I arch a brow at him. “And…?”

He sighs. “Look, it was mostly fine. But the comment you made about Archie Milligan’s orientation—” He glances behind him, and I realise that Abby Hook, the team’s PR rep is also in the room. She’s so tiny I didn’t see her at first.

“We realise it was a joke, but it may have been misconstrued,” she says. “And we’d prefer if Archie didn’t feel as though we’re taking his situation lightly.”

I let out a huff of frustration. “Well, I’m sorry for offending his delicate sensibilities, but—”

“Ah, see, it’s comments like that,” Gideon rushes in, interrupting me. “We’d really prefer to stamp those out.”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “You want me to treat him differently because he’s gay?” Bloody hell, if the bloke can’t handle a little ribbing every now and then how the fuck is he going to survive out on the pitch?

“He has a point,” Vinnie pipes in. “He’s an arsehole to everyone.”

“Thank you,” I say, throwing an arm out in Vinnie’s direction.

“Not a compliment,” he says with an eye roll.

Whatever. I’ve been this way for twenty years, they’re not going to change me now.

“Look, Tom, the point we’re getting at is that you’re a leader on this team. It’s up to you to set the example—” Gideon presses, his piercing blue eyes boring into me.

I let out a grunt of annoyance, cutting him off mid-sentence. “If one more person starts raving about how I’m a leader on the team, or a legend of the game, or some other bullshit like that, I’m going to do a murder.” And then I turn on my heels and stalk from the room.

As I’m leaving, I hear Gideon ask, “He wouldn’t actually do murder, would he?”

“I don’t think we should risk it,” is Vinnie’s dry response.

Later, once I’m done burning off my frustration in the training room, Vinnie corners me again, beckoning me into his office.

“If you’re about to start spewing the same bullshit from upstairs—”

He holds up his hands to ward me off. “Calm down and close the door.”

With a huff of reluctance, I close the door, leaning back against it.

“What the fuck is up with you?” he demands.

I scowl at him. “It’s like you said, I’m an arsehole to everyone.”

He shakes his head. “No, this is different. Something’s up. I want to know what it is.”

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