Naked Hero - The Journey Away

Not happy with what he found in his wardrobe, Lee was considering a shopping trip in Melbourne when his mobile rang. It was Anthony Jenkins.
    “Mr. Porter, how are you this morning, sir?” the marketing man asked.
    “Fine thanks, I’ll be leaving soon for Melbourne. I’m looking forward to seeing the last of your countrymen get knocked out this evening. I assume you’ll be placing patriotism aside and cheer Lewis on as well?”
    “Not publicly of course, but I will shed no tears if Australia are not represented in the next round. Have you broached the subject of the final as yet?”
    “One step at a time, Anthony! That’s a conversation that will happen face to face, and only when the time is right. Lewis needs to get past a couple of tricky opponents first.”
    “Of course! His chances do appear to be increasing, though. I may have underestimated him. It’s your appearance at the final that gives me more concern at the moment. Apparently you have a rival.”
    Lee froze for a second, trying to guess who Anthony might be referring to. There could be only one person: a niggling American who was now turning into a major irritation.
    “I assume you mean Scott Taylor! He’s hardly a rival for what we need, Anthony. He’s been working with Lewis over the past week, and to good effect. I wasn’t aware that it was public knowledge, however.”
    Anthony drew out a smug chortle. “The Daily Herald is most resourceful - something you will find out for yourself soon enough. Are you certain that there is no more to the relationship than that of a coach? A romantic interest with someone else would seriously undermine our campaign.”
    “There is no more involved, Anthony. They had dinner together - it means nothing, despite what the Herald might conjecture by it. They will have a lot more to write about come tomorrow, I can assure you. Scott Taylor is a necessary bit player, nothing else.”
    “I hope you are right. But Lewis has undoubtedly incorporated a little discretion into his repertoire over the past few weeks. Perhaps your appearance tonight is intended to distract the media away from the real story. You did say that you were just friends.”
    Lee clenched his free fist. He wasn’t a violent man, but right at that moment he could have happily punched Anthony’s lights out with a well delivered left hook. “You concentrate on the preparations for the campaign, Anthony - I’ll worry about Lewis, and Scott Taylor. We’ll speak tomorrow after the match. Terms and conditions, Anthony - they need to be agreed.”
    “If he wins... Enjoy the trip.”
    “He will do... Goodbye.”
    Lee cursed to himself as he hung up, wondering exactly what the Herald had printed this time. He was sure that it was the dinner engagement - Lee couldn’t believe that it would be anything else. He realised that they must have been spotted together, and a story built around it. Lewis had told him yesterday that Scott had turned up, but made no mention of the press. But why would he? Media intrusion was part of Lewis’s life. It would have been just another photograph to him. ‘He can be so naive,’ thought Lee with a smile.
    H e was annoyed with himself though, knowing that he should have seen this coming. It would have been impossible to prevent, but at least he would have been prepared. He was slipping - it was another example where he was losing focus on the prize, dwelling too much on Lewis, and the prospect of seeing him again, instead of the reason for doing so.
    ‘A contract with HIM Clothing, and the title of ‘The Perfect Man’ - is that really the prize?’ Lee wondered. It was a question he had asked himself on numerous occasions over the weekend, and his answer remained the same. ‘It has to be. Forget about anything else: all this nonsense that’s been going around in your head that something could actually happen other than a hell of a good shag. Our lives are poles apart. We would destroy each other. Well, I would destroy him. Hurt him, yes, but not destroy him? No... Not now.’
    Lee resolved to steel himself against any emotional involvement, for both their sakes. Resolved to remain detached, and to take what he wanted from Lewis, as he had done with all the other men in his life. Resolved to end the speculation that had persisted with him over the weekend, about whether Lewis Macleod could ever be anything more to him than a casual fuck and a ticket to wider celebrity. Lee saw his purpose again, and