Chapter Text
“Well, we knew it was going to happen.”
“Never should’ve happened, it’s a fucking fluke. That idiot couldn’t coach a five-a-side team of eight year olds, never mind a premiership team.”
“Now, now, Nathan. Don’t worry.” Rupert stood and clapped his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “We’ve got this.”
“Yeah, yeah we do” Nate nodded, his anger still loitering in his veins like a two day hangover. He was glad to be rid of AFC Richmond, glad to be away from the team, the coaches and Ted fucking Lasso. However, their last match meant that Richmond were now promoted to the premier league once more, meaning they’d be having a lot more run in’s with the idiotic cowboy and his band of brothers in red, yellow and blue.
“They’ve got no chance against us.” Rupert grinned “Not with you on our side. You’re our lucky penny, Nathan Shelley.”
Nathan felt appreciated. Rupert made him feel like king of the fucking world, he knew he was a bloody good coach. He was undervalued at Richmond, playing third fiddle to two yanks and an angry has-been.
“You know how they think, you know the players, their strengths and weaknesses, you know the coaches, you know what’s going on in their heads, how they think—that’s what we need. And now with Lasso’s mental health getting called into question every other week and my silly ex-wife’s choices, we’re unstoppable.” The older man smirked, tipping his coffee mug towards Nate. Nate grinned back, trying to match Rupert’s smirk.
“Ted will be even more distracted now that he’s bedding Rebecca” Nate stated, getting himself comfortable in his chair. He failed to notice the grimace that fell over his bosses face and the slight twitch in his right eye at the mention of his ex-wife’s new relationship.
“Yes, well, Rebecca’s always been a bit randy.” Rupert groaned “Didn’t expect it would be too long before she bedded some halfwit to keep her occupied.”
“She’ll do anything for him, you know?” Nate inquired, turning to Rupert “She’ll protect him, and the team, at any cost, she’s got some brand new sense of loyalty about her—”
“Don’t you worry about Rebecca” Rupert grinned, rubbing his chin. He leaned forward in his chair and smirked, a devilish glint in his eyes “I’ve got plans for her.”
“Yeah?” Nate asked, a strip of anxiety marking its way down his spine at the look in his eye.
“She forgets that I know her. I know her strengths and her weaknesses, I know her biggest fear is being alone.”
“She’s never alone now, not with Ted—and Keeley bloody Jones hanging off her like a lost puppy—”
“Oh, I know Keeley Jones. She’s doing quite well for herself over at Richmond is she not? Think we could coax her over here?” Rupert asked, not really wanting Keeley over at West Ham, but faking an interest to find out just how to go about his plan.
“Doubt it, she’s like Rebecca’s lapdog.” Nate rolled his eyes and swung slowly from side to side in his chair, his hands folded over his stomach as he fought back a yawn.
It was just after seven thirty in the morning, but he had wanted to get a head start on training plans, he and Rupert had planned to spend the day going over the trick plays Richmond had up their sleeves and plan their own counter attacks in preparation for their first head-to-head with the new premiership team in two months time.
“Don’t you worry about that; I’ve got just the plan.”
.
Roughly an hour away Ted Lasso was in bed, awake, watching his girlfriend sleep. He knew she’d kick off that he’d switched off her alarm, but he needed a few more minutes for the two of them.
They had been together almost six months. After months of skirting around each other, trying to ignore their feelings it had all come to a head. Ted had found out about Rebecca joining some online dating app that Keeley had forced upon her, and it made his heart ache just a little too much to be ignored. He tried to be a good friend, tried to encourage her if that’s what she really wanted but after her second failed date she had called him and asked him to meet her at the pub.
Ted had quickly pulled on some dark jeans and a shirt, leaving his flat he saw her standing outside the pub, tall, elegant, her blonde hair curled, shining in the late evening light, the sun having just sunk below view, leaving the sky painted pinks and oranges. She was in a pale pink coat and sky high heels; she literally took his breath away.
Rebecca had complained about her date, how dull he was, how awful the food was and how she wasn’t ready to head home and mull over about how alone she felt, despite the online dating app. They had sat in the back booth of the Crown and Anchor sharing nachos and chips, drinking them down with Richmond’s finest G&T’s and draught lager.
At the end of the night, Rebecca had told him it had been the most fun she’d had in years, sitting with him, chatting about everything and nothing, putting the world to rights. He had tried to hold back, convince himself not to ruin the friendship that they had but it was impossible. With her smiling at him, a full smile, rare for Rebecca Welton. The kind that made her green eyes shine like diamonds; her hand wrapped around his arm. Ted leaned in at that moment and kissed her. He felt her gasp against his mouth and almost pulled away, until he felt her hand on his neck, her fingers in his collar keeping him there, pressed to her with his whole body, hips to hips, chest to chest, mouth to mouth.
They had kissed against the wall of the pub for a good five minutes before a few rowdy teenagers cheered and leered at them.
And that was it. The start of something beautiful.
He snuck his hand beneath her silky strap top, gently tracing his fingers back and forth across her abdomen as he pressed his lips to her bare shoulder.
She moved slightly, burrowing herself in the covers, pressing her head into the pillow. Ted grinned and moved himself back, he gently turned Rebecca onto her back and slid himself beneath the duvet. He could feel her waking up, her breathing changed as he began lifting her top, sliding it further up to just beneath her breasts.
“Ted—” She mumbled; her voice thick with sleep.
“Good morning, sunshine” He smirked as he kissed her stomach.
“Jesus!” She grunted, slapping his shoulder as she caught sight of the time “I’m going to be so late—get up!” She laughed as his kisses continued, slipping completely beneath the covers to her right thigh.
“Ted—” She moaned an elongated version of his name, her fingers tangling in his hair as his mouth reached the hem of her silk shorts “We don’t have time—” She pouted, pulling on his hair, attempting to drag him back up her body.
“You’re the boss, boss.” He groaned, slowly making his way back up her front “You can do what you want” He squeezed her thighs, smirking as she gasped.
Rebecca moaned as his mouth teased her nipples through her silk top “Uhh, shower—” She whimpered “Now.”
“Yee Ha!” Ted exclaimed, haphazardly jumping from the bed, his legs getting tangled in the covers causing him to trip and Rebecca to burst out laughing.
He grabbed her hands and yanked her off the mattress and dragged her into the en-suite bathroom, grinning as she cackled the whole time.
.
“Goood Morning. Ernie Lounds, Journalist. What’ve you got for me?”
“Is that really how you’re greeting people nowadays, Ernie?” Rupert laughed down the phone as he swung himself from side to side in his office chair.
“Mannion? How are you, my man?”
“Not too bad at all, Mr Lounds.” He smiled to himself “I think I might have a story for you.”
“Oh really?” Ernie perked up.
“Two conditions.” Rupert spoke sharply “One; this never, ever came from me. Two; do as much damage as you can.”
“I can definitely give it a shot” Ernie agreed to Rupert’s terms.
“I’m going to send you some images, text messages, that sort of thing. It’s all real, none of it is faked. Say an anonymous source sent them to you or something, you’re smart, you’ll figure it out.” He smirked, starting up another mobile phone in his hand and connecting it to his office Wi-Fi.
He hung up with the sun journalist and found the images and screenshots he needed and sent them to the other phone on his desk. He chuckled to himself, already imagining the potential fallout. It wasn’t so much that it would cause a scandal, not like the ones that broke down his marriage, but it would cause personal pain, and it’s what she deserved.
He had let his guard down towards the end of his marriage, he had gotten a little too careless, convinced himself that Rebecca was too broken and desperate not to be alone to leave him for good. He certainly hadn’t banked on her taking the club in the divorce. But he knew her, she forgot that. He knew her biggest fears, her weaknesses, what she craved the most.
Hiring Ted Lasso had been the maddest decision she had ever made, he couldn’t fault her for that. She wanted to make a name for herself, show herself to be one of the big wigs, pretend that she knew what she was doing, trying to remake the team from the inside out. Rupert still couldn’t figure out whether her decision to hire Ted was deliberate or not, did she plan for things to turn out this way? Or had the whole thing ended up veering down the opposite path?
He had watched for months as the team rallied around their new boss. Support for Rebecca had been low in the beginning, the fans thought of her as a bitchy wannabe for kicking Rupert out and replacing him. But things had started to perk up for the team, they began winning, and winning, and despite their relegation, fan support continued to grow and now AFC Richmond were back in the premiership league.
He couldn’t deny it, the team had done well. They had some excellent players. But destroying the team wasn’t something he cared about anymore.
Destroying his ex-wife however, making her miserable enough to give up, that would just have to do.
And taking down her biggest supporters one by one seemed to be the best way forward.
.
“Fuck—”
Ted had her pushed against the tiled wall, water cascading down her back like a waterfall. She could feel his erection pressed firmly against the swell of her backside and grinned as she rolled her hips and he groaned.
“Best start to the morning” He muttered in her ear, kissing down her neck and across her shoulder.
Rebecca hummed in agreement and encouraged him on. He pulled her hips to him and sank his length into her from behind. Shower sex left her lightheaded, the heat from the water, steam swirling around them like a blanket, his body pressing hers into the wall, his cock cramming her so full she was sure she could feel him in her throat.
“Harder—” She mumbled, her fingers slipping on the wet tiles as she tried to grip on for dear life “Please—”
It never took her long when she was with him. He knew exactly how to work her body. She was panting and whining in minutes, her sounds echoing throughout the room, bouncing off the tiles, making him harder than he ever thought possible.
Rebecca reached one hand back, her nails digging into his hip as she clutched his wet skin, jutting her hips back and forth in time with his, both of them chasing their impending orgasms.
She had never been more grateful for his arms around her than she was the moment her orgasm hit; her body trembled, slipping against the tile, struggling to keep herself upright she fell backwards against his chest, clinging to him as her body shook and her climax ripped through her veins.
She was breathless and exhausted, the heat of the room leaving her dizzy as he kissed her back to reality, she hadn’t even been aware he’d turned her around and pushed her back against the wall, his hands on her face, his lips on hers.
Whimpering against his mouth, Rebecca wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him. She smiled against his lips, gently nipping his bottom lip with her teeth as he ran his fingers through her wet, tangled hair.
“Good morning” Ted smirked.
She laughed and slapped his back “Good morning to you, too.”
They stood pressed together beneath the water for a few minutes before Rebecca forced him out of the shower, they were already late as it was, shower sex had just made them even later.
“I’ll start breakfast” Ted squeezed her ass as he opened the cubicle door and hopped out.
.
“You got ploughed this morning”
“Shit! Keeley!” Rebecca yelped and clutching her hand against her chest as she entered her office just after half past nine.
Keeley was sitting on the large beige couch, her shoes kicked off, legs crossed beneath her and a pillow in her lap as she scrolled through her phone.
“Hey babe” Keeley grinned “Fuck, you did get ploughed this morning” She smirked, “You’re literally glowing.”
“Shut up” Rebecca rolled her eyes, her own smirk painted on her lips. She walked past her friend and dumped her handbag underneath her desk, she turned on her computer and sat down.
“So, fancy a double date this weekend?” Keeley asked. “My friend’s uncle owns that new Thai place that’s opened up down Cambridge Road. She’s asked if I’d try it out and post about it, give it some free press.”
“Yeah, sounds good. Ted’s already planned to facetime Henry on Saturday afternoon anyway instead of at night, morning time for Henry, just before he goes to his baseball practice, or t-ball, whatever the hell they call it. He has a tournament on Saturday.” Rebecca replied with a wave of her hand as she checked her emails.
“Aw, that is so cute.” Keeley grinned.
“He sent through photos of him in his little uniform the other night, he does look bloody adorable” Rebecca smiled back, her heart thumping hard.
Henry had called Ted that night and the first thing he had said was “Is Rebecca there?”. The two had chatted for roughly twenty minutes before Ted even got a look in. Her relationship with Henry had been almost instantaneous which had surprised her. The little boy, upon being told about his father’s relationship had been pleased, asking if she could join them on their facetime calls sometimes, and if she could help dad build the LEGO sets they were making together via facetime because apparently Ted was being too slow on his own.
“Right, I’ll go and tell the boys right now then.” Keeley grinned. “I’ve got a meeting at ten but after I’m absolutely wanting all the sordid details of this morning’s escapades between you and Ted.” She flipped her hair and blew a kiss.
“Not happening! —” Rebecca called after her.
“Please! Just one sentence!” Keeley cupped her hands together and pouted as if begging.
Rebecca rolled her eyes and ran her tongue over her teeth as she smirked “Shower.” Was all she said, and Keeley squealed, yelling “So fucking hot!” as she bounced down the stairs leaving Rebecca chuckling in her office.
.
The pre-match press conference at the end of the day seemed as good a time as any to Ernie to ask Ms. Welton her thoughts about the story that he himself was supposed to break. He felt unnerved about the whole thing, which was strange. After the texts and photos came through from Rupert, he had studied them closely, gathering as much information from them as he could. He even printed some of them out, he felt like they were burning a hole in the inside pocket of his jacket, hidden away in a brown envelope.
He hung around after the conference, hiding out of sight so he wouldn’t be seen. He’d watched the rest of the press core wander aimlessly out of the building, he himself followed before sneaking back in unnoticed.
.
“Keeley said something about a double date?” Ted asked as he got himself comfortable on the couch in her office.
“Yeah, her friend’s cousin’s wife’s brother or something like that” Rebecca waved her hand and rolled her eyes “I actually think it’s an uncle, I was a little distracted this morning when she was talking—”
“Oh really?” Ted smirked as she fell onto the couch beside him. His arm wrapped around her shoulder on the back of the couch “I wonder why that was—” He spoke softly, leaning in to kiss her neck.
“Ted—” She gasped as his lips pressed against her pulse point.
“Hmm…” He moaned, his other arm skirting its way up her thigh.
“You’re incorrigible” She laughed, pushing him away.
“Your fault” He mumbled, sliding his hand up her waist and over her chest, eventually landing on her cheek, pulling her mouth to his.
“Oh, is it?” She cackled, kissing him with a grin “How’d you work that one out?”
“I can’t concentrate around you” He whispered, “You’re mesmerising”
Rebecca felt her heart leap. She pressed her lips to his, moaning softly when his fingers tangled in her soft, blonde hair. She felt like a teenager. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt like this, with anyone. Even she and Rupert hadn’t had this sort of honeymoon period, just constantly wanting to be together, to be touching and kissing and wanting. Six months had felt like six days with Ted. She never wanted to be without him, it was strange feeling for her. She had spent so much time during her marriage, alone against her will, pottering around the big empty house while her husband was out, doing god knows what. Only after her divorce had she found being alone a pleasurable experience, ironically, since she had hated being alone during her marriage. Yet now, with Ted, she wanted to be with him as much as possible, to wake with him in the morning, to sleep with him at night, curl up on the couch and watch bad tv and old films, sit in the kitchen with him while he cooked. She felt herself falling deeper and harder in love with him than she had with anyone in her life.
A sharp knock at the door startled the pair, they broke apart and looked at each other, shrugging.
“Come in!” Rebecca called.
Ernie Lounds popped his head through the door and Ted immediately jumped to his feet, “You can’t be in here, Ernie” He said.
“No, I know. I’m not here to cause trouble” Ernie held both his hands up by his shoulders, “I just really need to talk to Ms Welton” He nodded towards Rebecca, who was now standing in front of her desk.
“Whatever it is now, my answer is still no comment” She spoke sharply.
“Nah, it’s not—well, I don’t really know how to go about it to be honest.” Ernie ran his hand over his head. He looked almost nervous, which caused both Ted and Rebecca to look at each other with a questioning gaze.
“If this is another story about Rupert—” Rebecca started.
Ernie held a hand up “It’s not—well, it is, but it’s not like the others—”
Ted started to feel nervous, he felt his heart pumping fast in his chest. He’d learned very quickly since moving to the UK that the tabloid press was never good, especially towards Rebecca. She had been plastered all over the pages of the Sun and the Daily Star for months when he’d first arrived, it continued for a good four months until things slowly started to die down. Only for another Rupert Mannion scandal to hit and she’d be dragged up again, old photos of the pair of them printed as a reminder of what he did and how he treated her for over a decade.
“I got sent this information—an anonymous source” He added quickly, hoping Rebecca wouldn’t catch on to the little white lie, “I got told to run the story, but I don’t want to—I don’t like running stories where kids are involved”
Rebecca’s heart sank.
“Let me guess, Rupert has a secret child?” She asked, trying not to let her emotions show, keeping her well-built walls as high as possible “That he fathered during our marriage?”
Ernie looked between her and Ted, “Eh, something like that” He said quietly.
“No comment.” Rebecca growled, moving to sit behind her desk to hide the fact that her legs were shaking, and her heart was racing faster than she ever thought possible.
“No, no I don’t want a comment—” Ernie started, he pulled the brown envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket. “I’m not running the story, like I said, I don’t like doing stories about kids, it’s not fair on them, especially when they’re old enough to read it.”
Ted’s eyes widened. The child would be old enough to read it, that meant it had happened early on in their marriage.
“Ms Welton, do you know someone called—” Ernie lifted the papers from inside the envelope and scanned the contents.
“Florence Eloise Collins?”
Ted’s heart dropped to the floor.
“Yes” Rebecca rolled her eyes “Why?” She hadn’t caught on to what he was asking, but Ted did.
“Rebecca—” Ted spoke softly.
Rebecca looked up and watched as Ernie emptied the envelope and handed her the contents. The first page made her want to vomit.
There was a yellow post-it note stuck to the middle of the page OFFICIAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE written is scribbly block capital letters.
Date of Birth:
Twelfth February 2007
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Chelsea, London.
Name and Surname:
Nora Emily Rebecca COLLINS
Rebecca felt acid burning in her stomach, making its way into her throat, she gulped down and tried to hide the gag, disguising it as a cough. Sassy and Darren were listed as Nora’s parents so why the hell was Ernie fucking Lounds bringing her this. She flipped to the next page.
Ted watched as Rebecca’s face lost all colour. She went white as a sheet, the paper in her hands twitching as she started to tremble.
“Okay, Ernie, I think it’s time you—” He started, moving towards the journalist.
“Yeah, yeah—” Ernie held up his hands “I’m out.” He said quietly. “I’m sorry, Ms Welton, I know I said I’m not going to print it, and I won’t, it’s not fair on the kid, but I figured you should know that the information—it’s out there, someone has the proof. And if they’ve seen that I’m not printing it, they might take it to someone else—" He said as he made his way out of the office.
DNA TEST REPORT.
Name of CHILD:
Nora Emily Rebecca COLLINS.
Name of ALLEGED FATHER:
Rupert Graham Alexander MANNION.
Probability of Paternity: 99.9998%
.