Free Player's Ultimatum by Koko Brown

The Atrium.
    “Hey, don’t I know—”
    “I wil have to pass on the refreshments, s ignorina ,” he interjected. “I never eat while I’m working. Now if you would excuse me.” He inclined his head slightly then scurried off out onto the landing and down the stairs.
    Close on his heels, Yvonne took the steps two at a time. She entered the kitchen, Helena and Robbie were sitting at the kitchen counter sipping coffee and sharing a slice of tiramisu. A black tape recorder sat conspicuously to the side. Malfi stood in the corner watching the two of them.
    Yvonne placed a well-rehearsed peck on Robbie’s cheek. “You two haven’t drunk the entire carafe of coffee have you?”
    “Thanks to you there’s more than enough.” Robbie chuckled at the private joke. Out of guilt over their deception, Yvonne had overcompensated by ordering enough food and coffee to feed a party of ten or a quarter of the soccer team, which ever came over first.
    “How did you two meet?” Helena stared at Robbie intensely over a pair of half-rimmed spectacles.
    Robbie set his cup down and cleared his throat. “We grew up together in the same neighborhood in Orlando, FL. Yvonne and I even went to the same grade school. I’m slightly younger, so mothers made us walk to the bus stop every morning. Ever since then she’s looked out for me. You know like a big sister, but then one day love struck. We’ve been together ever since.” To seal the il usion, Robbie leaned over and kissed Yvonne on the lips.
    “Wel I see both of you are definitely in love,” Bracci drawled, though not sounding entirely convincing. “But why have you never spoken of her before and al owed the rumors of your supposed homosexuality to simmer for so long?” Knowing Robbie tended to blow his top over the intrusive gossip even now after so many months later, Yvonne spoke up.
    “Robbie came over to play a sport he loves, not to hang his private life out to dry for everyone to see. He’s a very private person. He didn’t even want to do this interview. But I insisted, so we could get the spotlight redirected from unimportant things and back to the real reason why he’s here in Italy. To play footbal for Roma Internazionale and to help them win the European Grand Cup.”

    Yvonne almost patted herself on the back as the conversation turned to other things. She’d rehearsed her lines in the bathroom while getting ready.
    They’d only limited the interview to an hour and a half, but Helena Bracci extended it and monopolized their time for over an hour and a half as she tried unsuccessful y to glean more information. However, like the good footballer wife, Yvonne skil ful y shifted the conversation from their personal lives back to footbal .
    The public didn’t need to know if he snored at night or if she had to beg him to take out the trash.
    Getting nowhere, Helena final y gave up. “I thank you for your warmth and hospitality. It’s time for us to go. We have a deadline to meet. Malfi!” She shrieked at the top of her lungs thoroughly spoiling her regal image.
    “ Si, Signora ?” Malfi mumbled appearing at the patio door off the living room. He’d excused himself earlier to smoke a cigarette in the garden.
    “We have taken enough of this lovely couple’s time!” Without waiting for him to catch up, Helena headed to the front door with Robbie and Yvonne fol owing in her wake.
    “Helena, it was a pleasure having you,” Yvonne called after the woman. “Please come back again.” Helena didn’t bother turning around. She simply raised her hand and wiggled her fingers while Malfi hustled her into a black Mercedes resembling a clown car. Figures, Yvonne mused. She’d dropped al pretenses of politeness when she failed to get what she came for.
    Yvonne shut the door and spun around. Robbie was already waiting for her with his palms held out in front of him.
    “Can I get a high five?”
    Yvonne slapped her hands against his. They’d just pulled the wool