All That Glitters (34 page)

‘Yep,’ Ella replied happily, as she sat down beside him. Nash was busying himself making toast in the kitchen, and Ella hoped he’d manage to do it without burning it like she probably would have. ‘We wanted to make it feel like “ours” rather than that of a couple of footballers’ wives. We think we did a pretty good job.’

‘But how did you afford it?’ Danny asked. ‘Did Freddie pay for it?’

Ella nodded. ‘And we’re working now, too.’

Danny’s mouth dropped open. ‘You’re working? God, so much has changed. What are you doing?’

‘We launched a website,’ Ella said smugly. ‘
And
it’s making money. We’re even thinking about getting an office and some staff.’

Danny shook his head. ‘I’m impressed,’ he said, and he took Ella’s hand and squeezed it tightly. ‘Actually, I’m more than impressed. I’m proud of you, too.’

Ella beamed, and in that moment she felt her hangover start to ease off a bit. All she needed was a can of Coke and perhaps a bacon sandwich and she was sure she’d be right as rain.

‘Um, I burnt the toast,’ Nash said quietly as he stuck his head around the living-room door, and Ella tried not to laugh. ‘I’m desperate for a bacon sandwich and some Coke . . . do you guys want some too? I’ll pop down the café to pick some up.’

Ella’s silent laughter vanished and she stared at Nash for a second. It was almost like he was reading her mind deliberately to wind her up, but that was impossible, wasn’t it? ‘Yes please,’ she said, and they both looked at Danny, who shook his head.

‘Aaron has me on this macrobiotic diet and I’m only allowed brown rice and beans. A bacon sandwich would definitely be “yin”.’

Ella tried not to look gobsmacked but she couldn’t hide the smile that played on her lips. ‘What? You’re kidding me, right?’

‘Aaron thinks it will help with my performance on the pitch,’ Danny said defensively, ‘and I’m willing to do what it takes. I haven’t scored a goal in four games now and I don’t want to get benched.’

‘Kingston United would never bench you!’ Ella laughed as Nash went out to get their breakfast.

Danny shook his head. ‘They would, you know,’ he said. ‘They’re all about results and at the moment we’re fourth in the table. If I play badly in my next game I’m done for.’

‘But Danny, eating rice isn’t going to help you get a goal. You know that. You need to work out what the real problem is and solve that.’

Danny was quiet for the longest time, and after a while he walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window so he could gaze at the city. It was beautiful.

‘Your exposé on Johnny and Sancho was really something,’ he said in a soft voice. ‘I was stunned when I read it.’

‘I know,’ Ella said, as she scrambled to her feet to join him. She could see condensation from Danny’s breath on the window, and she suddenly realised the flat was cold. She rubbed her bare arms with her hands. ‘It seemed they targeted me all along – that’s why I was invited on
Cooper’s Kingdom
, and that’s why I was given the presenting slot on
A Week in Wonderland
. Johnny wanted me in easy reach so he could seduce me.’

Danny sighed. ‘We should have seen through him, but your star was rising so fast that being asked to be a TV presenter didn’t seem so ridiculous.’

‘Even though I had no experience in it?’ Ella asked quietly.

‘We made a mistake,’ Danny said, as he looked at her guiltily. ‘Aaron made a mistake.’

Ella frowned. ‘You mustn’t think this was all your fault,’ she said. ‘Nobody could have known what Johnny and Sancho were up to.’

‘But we should have,’ Danny stressed. ‘We knew Sancho wasn’t about to stop blackmailing me, and we should have run proper checks on Johnny.’

‘But even if we had we never would have linked Johnny to Sancho. And besides, it’s over now. They can’t hurt us any more.’

Danny turned to look to Ella, and she was surprised to see there were tears in his eyes.

‘That’s where you’re wrong.’

‘So explain this to me again to see if I can make sense of it,’ Nash said as he massaged his temples. He clearly had a killer hangover, but his concentration was focussed solely on Danny, and Ella loved him for it.

‘The last time I heard from Sancho was when he emailed to thank me for the millions he’d made out of the photos of Johnny and Ella together,’ Danny said.

‘And now . . .?’ Nash asked.

‘Now Sancho’s been in touch again and he’s furious. He’s livid that Ella cottoned onto his honeytrap scam and he wants revenge.’

‘But how can he have revenge?’ Ella asked, as she looked worriedly at Danny and Nash. She was with two men who made her feel safe, but even their presence didn’t make her feel better about the situation.

Danny buried his head in his hands. ‘His email said that it’s not about the money any more; that it’s about him having retribution . . . and that he’s going to tell the papers I’m gay.’

Ella’s mouth dropped open. ‘But he can’t do that!’ she yelped. ‘What Chastity and I did has nothing to do with you!’

‘Sancho doesn’t see it that way,’ Danny said wearily. ‘He sees you as an extension of me – which is why he was so keen to get Johnny to seduce you – and now you’ve hurt him he wants to hurt me back.’

‘Oh for fuck’s sake,’ Ella groaned. ‘I knew this wasn’t over. I
knew
it.’

‘So what do I do?’ Danny asked, and as Ella knew the handsome, famous footballer was scared.

Nash moved over to sit next to Danny and put his arm around him. ‘We’ll work it out,’ he said as comfortingly as he could. Ella caught his eye and they gazed at each other for a moment. They had to find a solution for this. And fast.

‘Aaron says we should throw money at the problem – offer Sancho a million pounds, maybe two, but I know it’s not going to have any effect,’ Danny continued. His voice was dull, but it didn’t need any expression to convey how distressed he was. His face said it all. ‘It’s not about the money for Sancho any more, not really.’

‘But what is it about?’ Ella asked.

‘It’s about Sancho feeling exposed, and his website being taken down,’ Nash replied, as Danny nodded in agreement. ‘You effectively ruined his career, and now he wants to do the same thing to Danny.’

‘But he can’t do that! He just can’t!’

‘He can,’ Danny said.

‘Well, if he wants to ruin someone’s career he can ruin mine. He can go to the papers and make up lies about me or, I don’t know, say
I’m
gay.’ Ella knew she was clutching at straws, but she desperately didn’t want Danny to be revealed as gay in the papers. It would destroy him.

‘You’re gay?’ a voice said from the doorway, and all three of them turned to see Chastity. ‘Well, I’m definitely not. I just had the most
amazing
night with Adam.’

Ella stared at her friend for a moment, and then Chastity realised that they weren’t alone.

‘Oh, hi Danny, how are you?’ she said breezily as she threw her keys onto the table and flopped onto a chair with obvious post-coital exhaustion.

Danny glanced up at her, and Chastity looked shocked when she saw his eyes were filled with tears.

‘I’m fine, thanks,’ he said. ‘I mean, I’m a gay footballer, and Sancho Tabora is about to out me in the press to ruin my career, but apart from that things couldn’t be better. How are you?’

Chapter Twenty-Three

DANNY RIDING: I’M GAY AND NOT ASHAMED

Exclusive by
MATTHEW PARKER
, News Editor,
Daily World

KINGSTON UNITED
striker Danny Riding opened his heart last night to reveal he is gay. The football star said in an exclusive interview: ‘I’m proud of who I am, and I think it’s important for people to know the truth.’

Danny, who was recently married to ex-TV babe Ella Riding, admitted that since he’s played for Kingston United he’s felt isolated because he fancies men.

‘I never wanted to deceive my fans, but the football world can be a harsh place if you’re gay. I found it hard to tell people about my sexuality, and I felt isolated because of it. With Ella’s support and friendship I now feel ready to show the world who I really am.’

Danny, who is currently single, said that he had reservations about opening his heart.

‘Someone recently tried to blackmail me about my sexuality, and even though I managed to prevent this from happening it flicked a switch in me. I don’t want to live my life looking over my shoulder when I’ve done nothing wrong, and it’s because of this that I have decided to tell my fans the truth: I’m gay.’

ELL OF A GIRL

Danny admitted that loyal Ella didn’t know Danny was gay when they got married, but has been his rock since he admitted his sexuality to himself.

‘Ella has been brilliant,’ Danny revealed. ‘We were best friends when we married and despite my sexuality that hasn’t changed. She understands that I want to stop deceiving people and be myself, and it was with her encouragement that I’ve taken this step.’

ROYAL TREATMENT

When asked about how his fellow Royals teammates had taken the news, Danny said: ‘They’ve been great. Kingston United is one of the best clubs in the world, and it has some of the best players, who are also good friends. Many of them have said they’re not surprised about my sexuality, and they’ve closed ranks with me. I feel very lucky.

‘Justin Fashanu was the first footballer to come out, and he had such a negative experience that it nearly put me off telling the truth. But times have changed. Gareth Thomas, the Welsh rugby legend, has talked about how much happier he is now that he’s out and proud, and I’d like to be a role model like he is.’

Danny said that he hopes his revelations will prompt more athletes to admit their true sexuality to the public.

‘If I can do it I hope that other footballers will feel that they can come out. It’s 2012 and it’s time for us to show there’s nothing wrong with being true to yourself. The fans will accept you for who you are.’

‘I’m so proud of you,’ Ella sobbed, after she managed to get through the scrum of paparazzi outside Castle House and into Danny’s arms. ‘I can’t believe you came out!’

Danny shrugged, but he couldn’t hide his huge grin.

‘I decided enough was enough,’ he admitted. ‘And after I sat down with Aaron and told him what I was going to do I felt a massive rush of freedom. Once Aaron knew my mind was made up he was fantastic – he got the coach and the Kingston United PRs over, and we planned the best way for me to do it. Seeing the front page of the
Daily World
was the most amazing feeling – I’m free. I feel totally and utterly free.’

Ella laughed in delight. ‘And what’s the reaction been like?’ she asked.

‘It’s been incredible,’ Danny said, and he showed her the hundreds of bouquets of flowers that he’d been sent from well-wishers. ‘Nobody’s said a bad word about me, and even though Aaron’s sure there will be a backlash – and a few choice chants from the terraces when we play West Ham at the weekend – I’m ready for it. I’m just not prepared to lie any more.’

Ella wiped the tears that were running down her face. ‘Well, I think you’re unbelievably brave, and I’m behind you one hundred per cent.’

‘I know you are,’ Danny said, and he squeezed Ella closer to him. ‘I never would have even considered doing it if you weren’t.’

‘And what does Yves say?’ Ella asked.

‘He’s happy for me,’ Danny said. ‘He’s not ready to come out himself, but I think that given time he will do. I’m sure he will. I don’t think we could ever admit to being a couple – that might be a step too far for the Kingston United fans – but that doesn’t matter. I can be myself now, and guess what?’

‘What?’

‘A gay charity has been in touch and they want me to be their ambassador! It’s amazing; I’ll be able to help teenagers who aren’t sure about their sexuality, or are too scared to come out.’

‘That is amazing,’ Ella said. She was delighted for Danny – of course she was – but she was also slightly nervous for him. When the rush of exhilaration had gone Danny would find that his place in the football world had changed, and she wasn’t sure what that place would be yet. She hoped it would be okay.

‘And the BBC has asked me if I’d like to start appearing on
Match of the Day
on the weekends we don’t play – you know, so I can comment on games and players’ form and things like that!’

‘Really?’ Ella said. Her mouth dropped open.

‘Yeah. Aaron was a bit worried about the public reaction, and he got in touch with his TV contacts to see if there were any presenting roles available should I decide to retire from the game.’

‘Retire?’ Ella asked. ‘Would you do that? I thought you really wanted to play in the next World Cup!’

‘Oh I do, I really do, but if the fans decide they can’t cope with having me as a player then I’ll have to accept that . . . and being a football presenter is the next best thing.’

‘But, Danny,’ Ella began slowly. ‘You always said that football is your life, and that if you couldn’t play you don’t know what you’d do. I mean, the whole reason we got married was to boost your profile and to act as a cover for your sexuality, so that you could play and get great sponsorship deals.’

Danny shrugged. ‘I thought playing football was the be all and end all, but you know what? I was wrong. Being true to who I am is more important, and I’d rather be myself and happy than a miserable, closeted footballer.’

Ella shook her head in disbelief. ‘Do you mean that?’ she asked, and Danny nodded.

‘I want the fans to accept me – of course I do – but I’m a realist. Once all the fuss has died down the fans might decide they can’t cope with seeing an openly gay footballer on the pitch, and if that’s the case I don’t want to have to listen to homophobic chants and boos every time I get a touch of the ball.’

‘And if that happens you’ll pursue a presenting job?’

Danny smiled. ‘If that happens I’ll happily hang up my boots and try my best to make homosexuality more acceptable in football however I can.’

Ella gazed at her former husband – at his gorgeous, piercing green eyes, his reddish-brown hair, and his sensual full lips – and she smiled again.

He really was one of the most incredible people she’d ever met, and she knew, without a doubt, that Danny Riding would be okay whatever happened.