Karen Fitzroy couldn't have felt more proud as she and her husband Con walked past the array of press photographers into the swanky West End hotel. They were there to celebrate Blackport Athletics' biggest triumph since Con's playing days, winning the UEFA Federation Cup, having beaten some of Europe's best clubs on the way. Not only had their son, 22-year old Richie, established himself as a regular member of the first team, he'd actually scored the winning goal.
In the reception area a beaming young woman took their coats, and as they entered the ballroom, low lit with a glitter ball casting a strobe effect around the room, both were handed large glasses of champagne. Karen's eyes sparkled as she glanced around, spotting the famous players of the team and their glamorous WAGs, their grizzled Serbian manager, for once not looking like a bear with a bad migraine, and a few other parents, although only three of the first team were British and, Karen thought with a glow of pride, Richie was the only one Blackport born and bred. He saw his parents arrive and came over to give them both a big hug.
As Con drifted off straight to the free bar, Karen circulated among her fellow guests, swiping more champagne from the circulating waiting staff as she went. She was well known within the Latics circle, and with her 1980s-big auburn hair, her prominent bust (thanks these days to a reliable push-up bra) and standing five-feet-ten tall barefoot she really stood out in her three-inch high heels and glittery black trouser suit which sparkled as it reflected the various spotlights around the room.
Over the next hour or so Karen nibbled from the buffet but mostly quaffed champers as she made her way around the individual players congratulating them and giving each a peck on the cheek. The last one she approached was their blond star and captain, the 27-year old Estonian Mikko Sepp, valued at an estimated Β£90 million on a bad day. With a reputation as a slightly aloof figure, even among his teammates, he was standing slightly off to the side of the congregation, watching them with a small, perhaps condescending, smile of amusement, no wife or girlfriend apparent. A little tipsy by this point, Karen tottered over to him on her high heels, said "Onitlussed sulle", proud of herself for having especially learned an Estonian term of congratulations, and was gratified by his warm and genuine smile. She placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned down slightly to kiss him on the cheek. At the last moment he turned his head slightly so that Karen's sloppy kiss landed not on his cheek but smack on his lips, and at the same moment a jolt of electricity shot through her as Mikko's hand slipped between her legs and gave her crotch a firm squeeze. Then, with a wink, he moved off.