Premier Deception by S J Crabb Page B

manager receive things like this?” Allison laughed and
said, “well probably not flowers but he did receive rather a lot of
wine and spirits in his time.” “They are really lovely and the
scent is amazing. I can’t possibly keep them all in here though.
Would you be able to help me collect the cards and then distribute
them among the staff? I must send a thank you to all of them.”
Allison agreed and they set about removing all of the cards.
    Charlotte spotted a small lone bunch of
carnations that looked very out of place among the huge hand tied
bouquets. She couldn’t find a card but there was a small piece of
paper stapled to the cellophane. Removing it she read it, all it
said was, “soon!” “Allison, do you know who sent these?” she asked
thinking it a very strange gift. Allison came over and said, “No I
can’t say that I do, they must have been hand delivered because
they weren’t in here earlier. Maybe Annette on reception knows and
brought them up; I’ll give her a call and let you know.”
    Once Allison had left with the last of
the flowers that were being re distributed Charlotte made a coffee
and sat down to look at the mountain of paperwork that had appeared
on her desk. Before long Allison popped her head around the door.
“Have you got a minute?” she asked. “Of course come in,” said
Charlotte smiling. Allison took a seat and said, “we have had so
much media interest that we need to start making some decisions.
The phones are ringing off the hook from everyone from Talk Sport,
Question of Sport and Sky sports news to Loose Women, Hello
magazine, Good Morning Britain and even a lad’s magazine asking for
a raunchy photo shoot.” She said this so seriously that Charlotte
looked at her incredulously and they both exploded with laughter.
“I don’t know,” said Charlotte finally when she had calmed down.
“The obvious ones are the sports ones, I mean I am not really ready
for day time TV and magazines, but I should speak to the sports
media.” Allison replied, “well we can set up some phone interviews
with the radio shows but the owners wanted you to raise the profile
of the club and get into every sports bulletin and show possible.
It may be a good idea to go on one TV show, one magazine and one
radio programme to start the ball rolling. Would you like me to
check with Elsie as to which ones they want and get back to you?”
“Yes that would be great,” said Charlotte; I will keep on looking
through this paperwork in the meantime.”
    Allison went to leave but remembered
something and said, “Oh I spoke to Annette. She did bring those
flowers in but they were on the reception desk when she came back
from lunch. Elliott the security guard said that a fan had brought
them in for you, he didn’t get his name though.” “Oh that was sweet
of him,” said Charlotte, although the note was a bit weird she
thought. Soon she was absorbed in her paperwork and the hours
passed. She didn’t even stop for lunch until there was a knock on
the door and Allison came in. “Charlotte one of the team players
wants a word, Ben Murphy, can you see him?” “Of course,” said
Charlotte wondering what he wanted, “send him in.” Allison did as
requested and Ben Murphy came into her office. He was a small lad,
about 18 years old, with short brown hair and twinkling green eyes.
He looked nervous and must have come directly from the training
ground. It struck her how out of place he looked and seemed to feel
in her office. She smiled and pointed to the seat in front of her
desk, which he lowered himself into and looked around him obviously
feeling very awkward. “Would you like a coffee?” she asked going to
the machine. “I was just about to have one myself.” He nodded
gratefully and sat quietly whilst she made them. She passed him his
coffee with a couple of biscuits and said, “how can I help you
Ben?” Nervously he coughed and said, “I am sorry to bother you Miss
Dawson, but I was