Shameless Exposure Read Free Page A

grounds that she would be bored. In fact, she was riveted, and left her seat only once when the ball flew into the net, deflected off one of the men in red, and everyone around her leapt to their feet and punched the air. Andreas, overcome with joy, hugged her enthusiastically.
    “I told you he’s a genius, our boy Clint.”
    “Yes, but didn’t it hit a red man’s foot? Isn’t that a penalty corner?”
    “A what? You must be thinking of football – an incomplete pass. This is soccer,” explained Andreas, though Caroline was none the wiser.
    As they sat down again, a thousand strong male voice choir started a melodious chant, echoing to the vaults of the stand:
    “He scores with his left, He scores with his ri…ight
    Our boy Clint Dempsey, Makes Torres look shite…”
    When half-time came most of the crowd disappeared back into the concourse. Caroline and Andreas stayed in their seats.
    “So what d’you think of soccer?” he asked.
    “I love it. It’s like when I go to the theatre in Frankfurt. I can feel the drama, even though I don’t understand the words. How do the crowd know what’s happened when it’s so fast? They seem so certain.”
    “I don’t know. It’s easier in America because they review it all on a big screen and then the officials decide. Here, the crowd decides and then the referee blows his whistle. You better tell me why you really want to come back from Frankfurt. It must be something serious when you’re doing so well. Is your marriage suffering?”
    “I can’t pretend it’s easy with Robert. We’re both away so much we have little time together.”
    Andreas nodded agreement. “It’s the same for me and Trish. She stayed back in the States. You can’t put your whole life on hold. You still have to enjoy yourself a little. We’ll find you a desk back in London and work out the details later.”
    “You mean you agree?”
    “Yes, of course. Not all Chiefs are bastards.”
    “Thanks, Andreas. I really appreciate it.” She returned the hug she had received when Clint scored. Their embrace was interrupted by the return of Americans bearing gifts of foot long hot-dogs and plastic bottles of coke. As they sat eating and trying not to spill mustard on their clothes, Andreas turned to her.
    “There is one condition, though.”
    “Yes, of course, what?”
    “You’ll have to spend more time with me. The board is prioritising succession-planning. They want me to consider having a deputy. You’ve joined the list of possibles but you’ll need to learn the ropes to have any chance.” She resisted making a joke about how she was already quite good with ropes. She was glad he didn’t know about the training she had received from his predecessor.
     
    ♥ ♥ ♥
     
    Robert lay with his back to her, refusing to respond to the hand she was running up and down his back.
    “Robert, we should talk about this now. They say you should never go to sleep without clearing the air.”
    “I don’t understand you. How could you?”
    “It was a work thing, that’s all. It was a once only opportunity to speak to the Chief about getting back to the UK. It just happened to be a football match.”
    “I don’t mind you going to a football match. I always said you would enjoy it. But I saw you jumping up and down and hugging Andreas when they scored.”
    “It wasn’t just me. Everyone was doing it.”
    “No, Caroline, not everyone. It was offside, it shouldn’t have been allowed. And the penalty wasn’t a penalty. He dived.”
    She renewed her attempts at appeasement, moving lower with her hand.
    “Well it all worked out in the end. He’s agreed to me coming back to London which means you and I can spend more time together.” She reached further and felt a stiff prick. She put her hand around it gently. “You’re not really upset about me, are you Robert? It’s because your team lost and Andreas’s team won.” He didn’t deny it. “Let’s play the game again. I’ll put those