Naked Hero - The Journey Away

Marie. “Do you know otherwise?”
    She gave him another smile. “He’s very fond of you, obviously. Why invite you here if not? I would say extremely fond of you… but wary.”
    “He’s right to be wary,” said Lee. “But I know how I fit in. It’s his relationship with Scott that’s the mystery. What are you implying?”
    “You haven’t guessed?”
    They had danced around it long enough now, and Lee Porter was not someone to shy away from his cue. “Oh, I think I know about Scott. Call it a sixth sense, I can usually spot them. But how does Lewis feel? He has no idea, has he?”
    Marie took that in her stride. “I would say not.”
    “How did you know?” asked Lee, impressed by the Frenchwoman, “Chantal... something from his past perhaps?”
    “No. Chantal does not suspect. She is far too busy with her own dramas to concern herself with anyone else’s. My own sixth sense, I suppose, when we had dinner together. Such an awkward meal! I would have had much more fun if you had been there instead.” The compliment came with a sarcastic smile, but Marie was genuine in what she said.
    Lee looked at his ally in the making: a formidable woman indeed, and one that he would not cross swords with lightly. Sure in his mind that he and his like were not what Lewis Macleod needed in his life - and sure that he could no longer play his game without concern for the impact on Lewis himself, Lee decided to go for broke and try to make everyone involved a winner. Let them all end up with a prize.
    “Does Lewis want him?” he asked. “And does Scott want Lewis... I suspect he does?”
    “Deep down, Lewis wants love,” replied Marie. “If Scott Taylor can give that to him... Well, it’s difficult to say - so much is speculation at present. It would be interesting to know how Lewis would react if he also was to develop a sixth sense... Very favourably, I suspect: he totally idolises the man and clearly wants to keep Scott in his life. As for Scott, yes I think he wants Lewis. Whether he wants him enough to actually declare himself to him is another matter, however. And as for making it public! Well, that might just be a bridge too far, although who can say what would happen in time... But what is it that you want? What is it that brings you here, eating humble pie for breakfast and asking favours of Scott Taylor?”
    “There’s not much that gets past you, is there?” laughed Lee in response, before taking a moment to consider his answer. Strangely enough, something close to the truth was the chosen path. “I want Lewis to be happy. I want him to succeed and win the title. If a little notoriety rubs off in the process, then that’s a bonus. Scott could make him happy, if he had the balls to be honest about what he is.”
    “You’re sure that’s all you want, notoriety?”
    “I’m sure,” said Lee confidently.
    Marie was far from convinced, but she accepted the statement. “Then something must be done - but only if we’re certain that Lewis wants Scott. That is for you to find out. Be careful, though - our games must not affect the other games that will take place on court.”
    “Those are the top priority,” agreed Lee. “That’s why I’m here, choking on humble pie. Will you handle Scott?”
    Marie sucked in a breath. “I will need to think through a strategy,” she said as it was let out, “Chantal perhaps... then maybe not.”
    “How is she?” enquired Lee.
    “A bag of nerves, alas. Quarter-final today: so many losses at this stage in the past. She fears history. History can bring about so many losses if you allow it to... Are you certain about this? As I said, Lewis is very fond of you.”
    “I’m certain.”
    Marie wasn’t, but the next moves were for Lee to make, not her. She had time to reassess the situation before taking any actions of her own - time to decide in what manner she would repay the debt that she and Chantal owed Lewis Macleod. “You’re different from what I expected - much more interesting.” she said on rising to leave. A card was taken from her pocket – Marie Clement, like Lee Porter, always came prepared. “Here is my private number. Call me once you know for sure that I should speak to Scott.”
    Lee didn’t have the chance to reciprocate before Marie Clement had whisked herself away , turning as she left to nod politely in the direction of a flustered Herald reporter.

Chapter 43
    Lewis wasn’t exactly in the best of moods when he turned up at