Hostile Takeover

Chapter Fourteen

The roar of the crowd intensified as the Alpha's took hold of the ball, both down in the stadium below and here in his private box with the various people he employed to help him manage his football team. Damien, the coach was the most vocal as he yelled into his mouthpiece like an auctioneer at the car sales. The ball was in safe hands, his captain, Dave was running it toward the try line. But he could see the opposition encroaching, the halfback for the other team catching up to him. The race was on and Gray knew Dave wouldn't win it. He was fast and fit, but the other player had youth on his side. Where was Dash? Beside him, Summer was getting anxious. She didn't often come up to the box anymore, not since his impending divorce with Quinn, but today was a quarter-final so she wanted to be here, not so much to be where the action was, but Gray suspected it was more to calm her nerves judging by the way she was pressed against the glass. Gray didn't mind. Summer, Kat, Dave, and Max had become his friends, too while he'd been married to Quinn. He missed their company.

"Come on, babe," Summer yelled.

Gray looked across the field, Dash was still nowhere to be seen and the gap between Dave and the opposition was closing. Then like a phoenix rising, Dash emerged from the rabble of players, caught up to Dave and called out. Dave passed the ball, the other player almost intercepted but Dash used his long reaching arms and snapped it from the air. Then he ran and Gray thought he'd never seen a more beautiful sight. Dash was a magnificent player, if only he was consistent. It wasn't until Dash planted the ball firmly on the grass in the Alpha's try line that Gray realised he'd stopped breathing. He fist pumped, the only sign he was pleased.

"That's your star player?" came a familiar voice beside him.

Gray turned to see his brother. Beside him stood Bell McNamara. He glanced at Summer who was edging toward the door.

"I'd be giving him a salary cut for that," Dylan continued.

"How did you get into my box?" Gray said, looking around for Curtis at the same time.

"If you're looking for Curtis, he's on a pee break. The rest of your contingent is seriously lacking."

Gray hid his annoyance. He would talk to Curtis later about addressing his security staff.

"What do you want, Dylan?"

"To take advantage of the premier seating and free alcohol."

"It's not free. I pay for it."

"Consider it a business deal then," Dylan said and Gray knew he was referring to the newspaper and possibly also trying to get him to back the T.V. show he wanted to produce.

"Drink my alcohol, I don't care, but I'm not talking business today."

He guessed that was the reason Bella was here, too. He watched as she moved to place herself strategically on his left.

"Bit of a nail-biter today," Bella said.

"Well, it is the quarter-finals," Gray said.

"You probably should've benched Dash, then," said Bella.

Gray raised an eyebrow. Obviously, she still held some animosity toward her ex. Something he could totally understand.

"Gray, I'm just going to head down to the WAG's section," Summer said, interrupting.

"Okay," Gray said and walked with her toward the door. "You should be proud of Dave today."

"I am."

"I'm sorry about Dylan and Bella showing up. I didn't know they were intending on gate crashing."

"You don't have to explain anything to me."