Naked Hero - The Journey Away

would be over the moon if you were to consider working again with us,” prompted Jim, seizing his chance.
    “And what about you?” asked Scott. “Wouldn’t that undermine your position?”
    “I’ll be honest with you, Scott. I’ve decided it’s time for me to cut back on my involvement. Lewis has reached the stage where he needs a different man guiding him: someone who can help him to take the final step to reach the top... someone like you. I’ve spend too many years on the road now. Fiona and I would both like to spend more time at home. I haven’t said anything to Lewis, and won’t until the tournament is over, but I’m on the lookout for a replacement. You would be my first choice, and I would be amazed if Lewis didn’t agree.”
    “I need to think it through, Jim, but thanks for sharing that with me. I would have a lot to live up to. Of course, we would still need to know what Lewis thinks about the idea... It’s for him to make the decision, not us.”
    “I can sound him out,” said Jim, barely able to contain his excitement.
    “Perhaps it might be better coming from me. I’ve let him down already this week. I would need to give him some assurance that it wouldn’t happen again. Let him know exactly what the problem was. I’ll think this through then have a chat with Lewis if it’s appropriate.”
    “Now that I think about it, if you were of a mind to stay involved, for a trial period say - then letting him know before the final might just give him the extra lift he needs to spring another surprise.”
    “Yes. Another surprise!” said Scott fighting back a guffaw of laughter. “This tournament’s been full of them. But there must be room for at least one more.”

Chapter 49
    Lee had got to the house early, before Lewis returned from Melbourne Park. Fiona had contacted him and suggested they have a word before they went out on the planned trip. Lee could guess what it was going to be about...
    Who says that there’s no such thing as bad publicity? Lee had subscribed to that view until recently, but now had cause to change his mind. He was furious over the article in the Herald. He had expected stuff to come out - there was plenty to be revealed, and he had prepared the way with Lewis. But this was different - this was post-Lewis. He couldn’t quite fathom what that meant. Why it should make such a difference, but it did. They weren’t an item, and Lewis had made it clear that nothing would ever happen, so why should there be an issue? But he felt bad about it - the way it was aimed to hurt Lewis, using Lee as an easy vehicle.
    And it hurt Lee as well, which came as a surprise to him as he thought he was immune to tabloid smear campaigns such as this. It hurt because it proved Lewis’s point: he was no good for him, and he felt guilty about it. He had occasionally felt bad in the past about messing guys around, but never really guilty. So why should he now? There was nothing happening between them, and this incidence of promiscuous behaviour was from a time when they had only just met. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it was. It was irrational - but then so many things were irrational now for the Englishman with the perfect body.
    The resolve that Lee possessed before he arrived in Melbourne had all but evaporated. He had come with a plan: to use the connection with Lewis to gain publicity and a lucrative modelling contract, which would undoubtedly have opened many more doors. Then Lewis gave him everything on a plate. The lad understood the initial driving force which had brought Lee to Melbourne, knew that there was an agenda - not the details, but the underlying motivation. He understood that and was happy to go along with it. Encouraged it, because that’s what friends do. Help each other. The resolve went at that moment. Lee couldn’t use him any more, not in a hurtful way. It was better to help, genuinely help, and allow the benefits to come as a natural consequence.
    Lee knew that there was still plenty to be gained. The final was only one win away, and up until this morning, he’d been sure Lewis would agree to the favour, give him his title of ‘The Perfect Man’, if only as a marketing ploy - a fake for the day. And the sponsorship deal he was working on gave Lee the opportunity to demonstrate his ability to act on Lewis’s behalf. Lee had been stunned by some of the offers which had already come in, and could now fully appreciate the marketing potential that was