There was an odd expression on Rupert’s face as he watched Macio walk away. I couldn’t quite put a name to the emotion I saw there. Rupert turned and looked at me once Macio shut himself inside the bedroom. “How much will it take for you to go away?”
His question shocked me at first, but then anger set in. Did this dumbass think I was just another guy he could pay off? I wasn’t interested in Macio’s money. I only wanted the man. I told myself to be patient because I was sure Rupert had seen many ugly things in the business and knew nothing about me. I told myself that he’d trust me once he did.
“I won’t hurt him, Rupert. I don’t want his money. I don’t want to hurt his career. I only want him.” I was as honest as I could be and hoped it would thaw some of the tension between us. “Neither of us meant for it to happen. We both thought it was a one-time thing, but it developed into something more significant.”
“I want to believe you, Aiden, because I do want to see my boy happy.” Something in the way he said “my boy” troubled me. “I don’t think you’re what Macio needs right now. You’re both a distraction and a ticking time bomb for his career.” Rupert sneered at me and added, “But I’m not worried. You’ll be nothing more than a distant memory before long. Macio will fuck you out of his system, then go back to putting all of his energy in his training.”
His words broke my heart, but I’d be damned if I let him know it. Rupert didn’t know fuck about our relationship or what we were coming to mean to one another. There was no way I’d let him run me off. “I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we?”
Rupert opened his mouth to answer my challenge, but Macio walked back into the room.
“What did I miss?” Macio dropped a kiss on my forehead before he sat back down across from me.
“Nothing,” Rupert said. “I was just getting to know Aiden a little bit.” He offered Macio a saccharine-sweet smile before he turned his focus back on me. His countenance shifted from ally to enemy in a heartbeat. His eyes just dared me to open my mouth and tell Macio what he’d said.
I ignored him and focused my attention on the gorgeous man I wanted to share my life with. If Rupert thought he could scare me off, then he had another thing coming. I’d figure out what to do about him later, in the meantime, I sent him a look that said he could kiss my lily-white ass.
There was a chill to the room when I walked back in, something had transpired between Aiden and Rupert, but neither man said anything when I asked. So, all I could do was let it go… for now. I did want to reiterate to Rupert that I wasn’t going to give Aiden up, so I made a show of kissing him on his forehead, something Rupert had never seen me do with anyone else. He needed to know I was serious about this relationship.
“Rupert, I appreciate you checking in on me, but I only have a few more hours in this hotel room. I’d like to spend them with Aiden without you hovering,” I said.
Rupert’s body seemed to grow a little stiff, as if what I’d said insulted him in some way. On one hand, I felt bad. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. He’d been looking out for me, helping my career grow and keeping my secret. On the other hand, who the fuck did he think he was to come barging in on me in my private hotel room? So, he was just going to have to have hurt feelings today.
“It’s fine. I’ll leave you two alone, but we do need to talk. With last night’s win, that garnered you more business ventures, kid. I want to go over them with you today,” he said.
I smiled and nodded. “Sounds good. How about later this afternoon?”
“One?”
I had to check out of the hotel at twelve, so yeah, I guessed that was fine. “Sure. I’ll call you.”
Rupert nodded and gave another concerned look toward Aiden, then left. He may have said that he’d help keep my secret… he really had no choice, but there was something in his expression when he looked at Aiden that told me he didn’t approve. I was sure he wasn’t going to be the only one not on board with this risky business I had going on. Barry would no doubt voice his objections when I had to tell him. If I wanted to keep my relationship private, then he was going to have to know about it too.
That was a concern for another time. Right now, I was lost in the perfect blues of my sexy boyfriend. God, boyfriend. Is this really happening? I had no idea when or if I’d ever be able to use the term of endearment. I actually felt giddy inside, which was an odd emotion for someone like me who could break slabs of bricks with my elbows. That was what Aiden did for me. He smoothed out my rough edges and let me be open. Not even with the escorts I’d fucked in the past had I felt open to be gay. I could truly be myself in every sense of the word around Aiden. The fighter, the lover, and the man.
“Are you okay?” Aiden asked, sliding his hand across the table, covering mine in a comforting gesture.
I turned my hand around, taking his hand in mine. “I’m happy, Aiden. I…” my voice trailed off and I had to find it again in order to finish my thought. “When I’m with you, I feel this sense of freedom that I’d never felt before. You make me happy. I’m not a poet, and sometimes I struggle with saying the right words. All I can do is tell you honestly how I feel. I want you more than I’ve wanted anyone in my life.”
I watched as his throat grew tight as if he were struggling not to cry and that just made me want him more. To know that my words, as simple as they were, meant that much to him made me feel like a billion fucking dollars. I was just glad that I followed my heart and not someone else’s advice and pursued him. I didn’t want to think about this relationship not working out. Stranger things have happened, and maybe Aiden and I will defy all the odds and maybe we won’t. I’d never know if I didn’t hold on to him with everything I’ve got, and my grip was tight.
“I’m happy too, Macio,” Aiden said, grinning. “I love that you speak your heart, and that’s what you’re always going to get from me.” He leaned over, I met him halfway, and our lips touched in another hungry kiss.
I pulled back, smiling. “Let’s finish our breakfast.”
He nodded and we ate our meal. He left before I did, as not to arouse any suspicion. The moment when Aiden left my sight, I felt a pain in my heart at the instant loneliness. I sucked it up because it was something I was going to have to deal with. I pulled myself together, packed up my shit and left the hotel room, checking out. I put my luggage with bag claim and met Rupert in a restaurant three blocks away.
He was sitting in a booth and the host led me to his table where I slid in opposite him. “You know, we could have met in the hotel lobby.”
“I’m hungry and the food here is better,” Rupert stated.
“I’m not.”
His nostrils flared a bit when I said that. “I’m sure you enjoyed your meal this morning,” he commented. “You should at least have something to drink.”
When the waiter stepped up to our table, I ordered a tall glass of water. He nodded, took Rupert’s order, then left. “Okay, so what’s going on with this new business you mentioned?”
“Before we get into that, I’m going to have to express my concern for what you’re doing,” he whispered.
I took a quick look around the place. It wasn’t overly crowded, but I didn’t feel comfortable discussing my relationship with Aiden in a public place. Rupert should know this. I looked at him. “Now is not the time.”
He huffed, then sat back. “Fine. You’re right, you’re right. But we really do need to discuss this, Macio. I didn’t want to get into it at the hotel in front of your guest, but—well, we’ll talk,” he said.
“Fine, but my decision isn’t going to change. Just know that,” I warned him.
He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m going to move on for now. I got a call from Jackson Jock Spray and MaxPower energy drink. They both want you as their spokesman. We’re talking a combined one-point-four million-dollar endorsement deal, kid.”
I sat back in the booth, thinking about what he was telling me. I had to make the right decision on this
. I knew from other athletes that not every endorsement deal tossed your way was a good one. I had to protect my brand and not be everyone’s whore just because I was the undisputed champ. I had my pride, damn it. And not only that, I didn’t want to be pulled from all ends by these companies either. They controlled a huge portion of your life because they were paying you to be their billboard. Which meant I’d have to stop drinking Gatorade and only drink MaxPower.
This was a big deal decision. I couldn’t be hasty. “I’m not sure about that, Rupert.”
“What is it that you’re not sure about, kid?” he asked, eyebrows furrowed.
“I don’t want to have too many companies getting a piece of me and dictating my life. I already can’t wear Nike. I don’t want to give up drinking Gatorade. It has less sugars than MaxPower,” I pointed out.
Rupert nodded. “All good things to consider… I get you. Listen, we can turn down the MP endorsement. That’s not the one offering the most money anyway. What is your stance on Jackson’s Jock products?”
I sighed. “They’re good.”
“Okay, we can go with them and that’s a million-dollar endorsement deal.”
I nodded. “Fine. Make sure there’s no funny bullshit going on in the fine print. Then I’ll sign it,” I said, giving him my trust, as he hadn’t let me down yet.
Rupert smiled. “You know I’m going to look out for you, kid…” he leaned in, “Even when you don’t want me to, because I love ya and only want the best for you.”
I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I know. The feeling is mutual.”
The waiter returned with our drinks, bread, and Rupert’s salad. I downed the water to kill my thirst, then set the glass down.
“Are you sure you’re not hungry?” Rupert asked, taking a bite of his salad.
I shook my head. “I’m good. So, is there anything else—business related—that you wanted to discuss?” I asked.
He smirked. “The other thing I want to discuss is also business related, but it can wait.”
“It will wait and be damned,” I said, knowing he meant Aiden. I stood up, stretching my legs. “Catch you later.”
I didn’t wait for him to say anything else to me before I walked off. I went back to the hotel, grabbed my bag, then tossed it over my shoulder and walked to the parking lot. I groaned when I saw that fucking photographer again. What was his bitch ass name? Ahhh, right, Troy-I’m-Going-To-Get-My-Ass-Kicked-For-Being-A-Snooping-Bastard-Danvers. He was taking pictures of me as I walked up to my motorcycle.
“Hey Macio,” he said, grinning as he snapped some more photos.
“Isn’t there someone else you can fucking annoy, bitch?” I growled.
“Oooh, I love when you talk dirty to me,” he said. I snarled at him. “What, you gonna hit me? Go on, I’d love to get paid.”
I laughed. “I hit you hard enough, you won’t remember who to sue, bitch,” I snapped, then started my hog and pulled off, leaving him smirking that arrogant smirk of his that made me want to knock his fucking teeth into the next century.
I really had to be careful around that asshole. He was stalking me more and more these days. I wished he’d leave me the hell alone and find another athlete to obsess over, but I guessed I was it for now. Hopefully, he’d grow bored and move on. Maybe I needed to make him move on. I had an event coming up in a few days for Michaelson’s Sports. The big charity party they wanted their new manwhore to attend. I’d go to that and be social and do a few mini interviews… that should help. God, I hated this part of fame, I really did. People should be allowed to have a private life. Well, for now, I was going to focus on training and of course, Aiden. The thought made me smile.
“Hey, Macio, come here for a minute, we need to talk,” Barry said, stopping me from entering the ring with my sparring partner. Ahhh, shit… I could only imagine what this was going to be about. I walked over to him. “What’s up, Barry?”
“Follow me, Champ,” he said as he led me to his office.
Yeah, this wasn’t going to be good at all.
“Have a seat.” Barry motioned to the chair and I sat down. He opted to lean against the desk. “I’ve spoken to Rupert and he told me about this thing you have going with that reporter.”
I slouched in the chair and sighed. “His name is Aiden and it isn’t just some ‘thing’, Barry.”
“It’s dangerous, Macio. He could out you.”
“Aiden would never do that. If he wanted to, he could have done it after the first time we were together. He didn’t.”
“Okay, let’s say that he really wants to be with you… how are you going to even make this happen? Have you thought about that? You have paparazzi surrounding you at any given moment. All it takes is one mistake for you to be exposed by someone else.”
“We’ve talked about it, we’ll just have to be careful,” I said.
Barry sighed and shook his head. “Macio, buddy, I know you think you feel something for this guy—”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m some kid that doesn’t know his own feelings, Barry.”
“You may know your own feelings, but I don’t think you’re fully respecting the delicacy of your situation. You’re the champion in the most brutal sport in the world. A real man’s man blood sport. They aren’t going to take kindly to a gay MMA fighter. You’ll lose your fan base, sponsors, and the support of the promotion. Have you ever heard of a gay MMA fighter being successful?” he asked me.
I shook my head.
Barry rubbed his eyebrow, which was something he did when he was frustrated. “That’s because they aren’t. For all we know, there are probably more men in the sport who are gay, but they keep it under wraps.”
“That’s what I’m going to do,” I protested. “It’s what I have been doing.”
He shook his head. “Fucking an escort to get your rocks off is one thing. They are discreet and they are gone a few hours later. You’re trying to have some kind of relationship with this guy. That means a lot of sneaking around, never being free to date in the open. This isn’t going to end well, Macio. For you or him. It’s best to break it off now before you both get in too deep,” Barry said, which was a blow to my heart.
I wasn’t blind to the obstacles that surrounded us… I just believed that what we had outweighed the risk, and I still believed that. I had to. Even though Aiden and I had to keep what we had on the down low, I’d never been happier. I loved talking to him for hours every night skyping with him and even our phone sex was hot.
“I hear you, Barry, I do, but—”
“But you’re going to continue on with this relationship and risk it all.”
“I can’t help what I’m feeling for him, Barry.”
He threw his hands up. “You’re stubborn as fuck, kid.”
“About this, I’m going to have to be, yeah.”
“Fine. I’ve expressed my concern.”
“You did.”
“If you’re going to keep trying to have a boyfriend, I guess I have to help you two idiots out so you don’t fuck up and get busted,” Barry said.
I smiled. “Thanks. Oh, Barry, there is a certain paparazzi bitch that’s been stalking me.”
“Yeah, I know of the bastard. For some reason, he’s made you his object of obsession. Troy Danvers, which is one of the reasons I’m concerned about this relationship. But…” He put his hands up, stopping me from saying anything, “I’ll work with you. You say this guy makes you happy, I want you happy. But I think we need to give the media something to talk about. Something that may throw them off your trail. With you seeing Aiden, you need to solidify your straight persona.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, slightly confused.
“You have this event coming up tomorrow night. I’ll get you a female companion that I want you to be affectionate with for the sake of the cameras…but not too affectionate.”
Oh, I wasn’t sure about this. “Ahh, I don’t like that idea.”
“Tough shit, kid. You have t
he media in your business whether you want them or not. You want to date this reporter, who is openly gay, by the way. That just adds on a whole other dynamic that makes trying to hide your relationship so much more troublesome.”
“How is going to this one event with a woman going to help?” I asked.
“Oh, it won’t just be this one event. You’re going to have to establish a fake relationship with her in order to successfully hide your gay relationship with him.”
“She’s my beard?”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
I frowned. “How much is this going to cost me?”
He laughed. “Knowing Kathy, a nice pair of Manolo Blahniks and you paying for every meal you go out on.”
I blinked, slightly confused. Kathy was Barry’s daughter, who at one point, had a crush on me back when I first started training with her father. But once I turned her down… three times, she let it go. “Barry, I’m not sure having Kathy do this is a good idea. I mean, she did have a thing for me.”
“She’s over you, Macio, and she knows that you’re gay.”
“You told her?”
“She asked me after you turned her down when she was eighteen. I knew she would keep your secret, just like I know now. You need people who can be trusted to help make this work for you,” Barry said.
“I feel weird doing this with your daughter,” I said, feeling skeptical.
“Listen, kid… if you were straight and ended up dating my daughter, I’d be perfectly fine with it. You’re a good man, Macio. Besides, you would just be putting on a show and hanging out as you’ve done in the past on several occasions. Therefore, the media will be happy that you two have finally come out in your relationship. Star athlete dating the coach’s daughter is a fairytale in our world. Look at how the public ate up that wrestler marrying the boss’s daughter in the WEW,” Barry pointed out. “They loved it.”
That was true. Maybe this could work out. “How is she going to feel about it?”
“Hell, it was her idea, but I’ve already discussed it with her. She wants to help you, Macio. You know that she cares about your happiness. See, I was planning on talking to you today about this Aiden James. I also knew you would tell me the same thing you told Rupert, so this was my plan B,” Barry explained.
Undisputed Page 10
