Forever Love (Fghter Club 1)

by Marie Dominique

  ‘No please don’t apologise, we can see you are busy, we’ll have three Smirnoff’s please....actually bring six and then it keeps us going for a while.’ Alexia smiled at the bartender as he nodded his head at her and got their drinks. As Alexia was paying, suddenly there's a commotion going on behind them. Alexia turned to see as a fight broke out but didn’t take any notice, she turned back to talk to Sarah and Tracy.

  ‘Kids these days! They need to be shown a thing or two.’ The bartender laughed with them but seemed to turn a blind eye to it ‘Does that always happen?’Alexia asked him.

  ‘Only if they’re in debt,’ he shrugged.

  ‘In debt?’ She looked at him confused.

  The bartender didn’t respond and she knew not ask anymore. They sat down with their drinks and took a few minutes to look around the club. It was just one massive square room but it had a bar in the shape of a circle in the middle of it. At one end of the room it had a stage where they DJ was set up and along all the walls were high tables and stools but apart from that it was just a dance floor.

  ‘Right then Tracy,’ Sarah said, ‘tell us how this “pulling a man” thing works these days.’

  ‘How would I know?’ Tracy replied innocently.

  ‘Well you were shocked about the last time we went out and you come in to the office after a night out with the “I’ve had sex” look.’

  ‘I do not!’ Tracy gasped trying to defend herself, but it didn't work, she couldn't get anything past the girls. In fact the girls had been really close but yet respected each others privacy so never questioned each other about their personal and private lives unless that person brought it up.

  As the night started to liven up all three of them were getting a lot of attention from the men who were unfortunately well on the way to being pissed. Some of the chat up lines had Alexia feeling embarrassed for them.

  * Do you believe in love at first sight, or shall I walk by again? Oh dear, you really do love yourself, Bog off!

  * I seem to have lost my number, can I have yours? Nope! BYE!

  * Is it hot in here or is it just you? Oh please, I was saying that at high school.

  * Did it hurt when you fell out of heaven? If my mother’s vagina is heaven then yeah....wait....EEEEEWwwwwwww, did I just put my mother’s vagina and heaven in the same sentence?......shame on me, time for another drink now I have mentally scarring images in my head!

  * Do you believe in helping the homeless? Yes....Then take me home. No thanks, you’re not homeless but you sure smell like you are.....Geez kids these days fall for that smell.....shame on them.

  Alexia, Tracy and Sarah were now a little on the tipsy side.....Oh who am I kidding? They were absolutely rat arsed and therefore care free on the dance floor. Being dance professionals they stole the floor and soon everyone had formed a circle around them watching but dancing along as well.

  One drunken man came out of the crowd and started dancing with Alexia, which she didn’t mind until he put his hands on her. She pushed them away and he put them back. After a few moments of repeatedly pushing his hands away she finally turned round and pushed him. He got really angry and grabbed her by the throat, she watched as his arm went back and closed her eyes getting ready for the blow but suddenly she felt him been jerked away. She opened her eyes and everyone was stood staring at her, she looked around but couldn’t see the man anywhere, she then looked at Tracy and Sarah who were oblivious to the whole thing.

  “What the fuck?!... What just happened? Where did he go? Not that I care but he’s just vanished,” she thought.

  She decided she needed a drink and a sit down so walked over to the bar to order a shot. As she waited for her drink she could feel eyes on her, she felt the eyes of one person....her ex, the twins’ father. She tried to discreetly look around for him but there was no sign of him. Shivers ran through her. It must be him. Only he had ever had this effect on her. Then she saw there was a red light on the camera pointing straight at her. She got her drink, stared right down the lense and raised her glass at it. Knowing now that it was him that had something to do with the man who had tried to hit her, she downed her drink and then she slammed the glass on the bar and turned to get the girls to go home.

  5

  James Taylor sat in his office monitoring the nightclub as he usually did when he was there. He was watching the camera at the entrance of the club when he saw two women he knew, Sarah and Tracy. There was a third woman who had her back to the camera. He was about to shout for Matt and Sam when the woman turned round, his heart went into his throat when he realised that it was Alexia. All the feelings he had for her that he learnt to push to one side came straight back up to the top and all he could do was sit and watch her every move. He got really irritated when he saw three guys approach them and started talking to them but calmed down when he saw Alexia’s unimpressed face. As the night went on, they started to get a bit drunk and started to dance more carefree on the dance floor. James called Sam and Matt to join him in watching them.

  ‘Guys, check this out. It’s our ex-girlfriends,’ James couldn’t bring himself to say her name.

  ‘Holy shit!’ Matt said.

  ‘Damn, they look smoking hot too!’ Sam said as the girls suddenly broke into a dance routine on the dance floor. Their eyes were fixed on them.

  One guy fancied his chances with Alexia and started dancing with her, at first she didn’t seem to mind but James had his hawk eye on him. A few minutes later Alexia started to push his hands away but the guy didn’t get the message and James’ blood started to boil.

  ‘Someone needs teaching some manners,’ he said as he stood up and stormed out with Sam and Matt after him.

  As they stormed up to the guy James saw him bringing his arm back to hit Alexia and she had her eyes closed waiting for the blow but James grabbed the guy and dragged him off her before she saw him then dragged him to a corner to punch him in the face.

  ‘That’s my girl your trying to hit pal,’ he said through gritted teeth. “What the fuck? Where did that come from? Not your girl anymore JT, you blew your chance,” he thought to himself and his stomach tightened at the reminder that he had broken her heart. Knowing what James was capable of when he was angry, Matt pulled him back.

  ‘Leave this to us James, you can’t get messed up before your next fight.’

  He left the guy in the capable hands of Sam and Matt and went back to watch Alexia on the dance floor. He ran back up to his office and as he sat down and looked at the screen he noticed her looking right at him and his heart started pounding again, “Oh shit, she knows it was me, she knows I’m here,” he thought to himself. “Shall I go speak to her? NO! Leave it!” She held her drink up to “cheers” him, downed it in one and slammed the glass down on the bar. James sat there and smiled at himself, “Your welcome baby,” he thought and he knew that she still felt it too.

  6

  The next morning the girls arrived at Tony’s house to have breakfast with the kids, they all got out the car and walked up to the front door and let themselves in as usual, expecting to find him in the garden.

  ‘Hey Dad,’ shouted Alexia as she walked in, but as she passed the front room she saw him lying on the floor not moving.

  ‘OMG,’ she screamed, ‘NOOoooo.’ She ran to him and he was barely breathing, Sarah ran upstairs to check the kids and to her relief they were still asleep and Tracy called for an ambulance. Alexia travelled with him to the hospital leaving the kids with Tracy and Sarah.

  As they arrived at the hospital they rushed Tony in to the A & E department and a nurse took Alexia to the waiting room and got her a drink. Twenty minutes later Tracy showed up to be with her. ‘Hey,’ Tracy said as she walked up to Alexia and hugged her. ‘Any news yet?’

  ‘No not yet. The doctor is still with him,’ Alexia replied.

  ‘Well hopefully we will hear something soon. Sarah is at home with all the kids. I’ll go get us some coffee whilst we wait,’ said Tracy.

 
After several cups of coffee and what seemed like a life time the doctor came into the waiting room.

  ‘Hello, are you Mr Clay's Daughter?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Mr Clay, your father, is lucky to be alive. He’s taken quite a beating. He has two broken ribs, his right leg is broken, his left arm is broken and two of his fingers, he has a broken nose and two black eyes and has some quite severe swelling to the brain so we have put him into a medically induced coma whilst it goes down and then when we can investigate the extent of the damage, if there is any. It really is now a case of waiting.’

  ‘Ok thank you,’ Alexia said and held out her hand for him to shake it. ‘When can I see him?’

  ‘I will go and get a nurse to take you through now.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She whispered as tears ran down her face.

  ***********

  For the two weeks that followed Alexia had been backwards and forwards dividing herself between home and the hospital. She had broken down quite a few times as it brought back memories of when she was looking after her mother before she died. Finally the day had arrived to take Tony out of his coma. As Tony came round he was very confused and could only respond slowly to what was going on around him. The doctors did their checks and then let Alexia see him for a while.

  ‘Dad, I’m here. You're in hospital.’ She said in a whisper as she cried, he didn’t respond and just looked at her confused but after a while he managed a smile.

  The next day when Alexia went to see him it was like seeing a totally different person, he was completely alert.

  ‘Hi Dad, How are you feeling?’

  ‘Oh god I hurt,’ he said in a whispered voice.

  ‘I’m not surprised, you took a good beating,’ she said looking at him as uncontrollable tears started to fall.

  ‘Hey baby girl, don’t cry. Please don’t cry, I’m here and ok.’

  ‘How can you say that dad? You’re not ok look at you, you had a god damn beating for god sake.’

  Tony looked at her and knew he’d have to explain to her why, which was going to hurt more than the actual pain he was feeling.

  ‘Tell me what happened dad.’

  He sighed and looked down at the floor, and composed himself.

  ‘About a year ago I was struggling for money as the garage went through a dry spell. There was no work for me so I went and took out a loan. Because of everything that went on with the divorce from your mother, I can't get a loan from a bank so I had to pursue other options,’ he looked at her with shame, eye contact seemed too much to bear.

  Alexia was gobsmacked to say the least and sat dumbfounded. ‘Oh my god dad....why didn't you come to me? I would've helped you, you know how much mum left me when she died.’

  ‘I know but I didn't want you to think I was using you for your money and I didn't want to take anything away from you and the children.’

  ‘Dad! Mum left me £3 million. I have done what I need to with it. I have paid off my debts, bought a house, a brand new car and sorted the rest into savings for me and the kids for rainy days. How much do you owe?’

  Tony just sat and looked at her ‘DAD?’

  He signed again. ‘£200,000. I borrowed enough to pay off my debts but I’m a month late with my payment and when I got home from shopping with kids for snacks I noticed a black SUV sat opposite my house and I knew who it was. I drove round to see if they would get bored but it didn’t help. The kids were asking what I was doing but I couldn’t think of an excuse other than “The car feels funny,” but I never thought those guys would have come in knowing the kids were there.

  ‘Where do I find this loan shark?’ Alexia growled with anger for her dad and kids.

  ‘Forget it Alexia, you’re not going there!’ Tony said with a stern voice.

  ‘Hell, I'm not, I'm going to go pay him his money and make sure I insert it where the sun doesn’t shine, the bastard!!’

  ‘Alexia there is no way I’m going to tell you so drop it, I’ll sort it out.’

  I’ll go to your house right now and ransack the place if I have to dad. You must have documents...letters...bank details even of this arsehole! I will find out.

  ‘He’s dangerous Alexia, he’s known for it, he’s a cage fighter and a good one at that. He’s not to be messed with,’ he signed.

  ‘A cage fighter...well he won’t be to hard track down then. Just tell me his name. I promise I won’t do anything stupid. I just need to pay him his money so nothing like this happens again. The kids were there dad...’

  She was right. Tony knew he had to give him his money. He had discovered that JT, the loan shark was the very same James who was the twins’ father the day he had put up the photos in Ben and Amber’s room and knew then that it was only a matter for time before all this came out.

  ‘His name is James Taylor.’

  Alexia felt her heart stop beating. ‘James Taylor? My James? As in the twins father James?’

  She couldn’t speak. She told herself there must be hundreds of James Taylors’, but the coincidence was too strong. A few weeks ago in the club....and now. It had to be him, she felt it.

  ‘Yes your James. I’m sorry Alexia, I had no idea of the connection until I saw a picture of him.’

  ‘Oh god...,’ her voice trailed off as her mouth went dry.

  7

  The next day Alexia drove to James’ office with Tracy after spending the evening with her and Sarah explaining what happened but she left the important detail of “who it was” out, Tracy thought it would be best to go with her knowing what loan sharks could be capable of. Alexia was in full “don’t mess with me mode” as she pulled into the car park, parked the car, got out and stormed in to the office with Tracy running behind her. Alexia marched straight up to a woman sat at her desk on her own.

  ‘Where can I find James? I want to see him now!’ She said through gritted teeth and the woman looked up to her knowing she was obviously out of her depth.

  ‘I will call his P.A….er..wife to come through,’ she said as she tries to find her fingers. ‘Hi there’s a very angry woman here to see Mr Taylor... ....yes..... OK.’ The woman puts the phone down and looks back at Alexia, ‘Mr Taylors’ wife Rachel is on her way down now.’

  “RACHEL!” Alexia saw red at hearing her name. ‘Forget it, I’m not waiting for that home wrecking bitch!’ she says and storms through the door leaving Tracy in complete shock and still catching up. Alexia headed towards James’ office and met Rachel on the way. But she just pushed past her and ignored her shouting.

  ********

  James was sat at his desk talking to his two best friends and right hand men Sam Knight and Matt Williams when he heard his wife shouting. ‘You can’t go back there you bitch, he’s mine now....he’s my husband’. Just as they stand up to see what’s going on, the door flies open and he watches a woman walk up to him and slap him hard across the face.

  ‘You fucking bastard,’ Alexia screams at him, ‘You really are in the fucking gutter aren’t you, you piece of shit!!!’

  It took James a few seconds to work out that the feisty woman was Alexia. He looked at her and then to everyone around the room ‘Everyone get out,’ he ordered with the tone in his voice everyone feared, apart from Alexia. She continued to stare him down whilst everyone got out but he saw a movement next to her as Rachel sat down. James didn’t take his eyes off Alexia, he couldn’t of even if he’d wanted too, as he spoke again.‘I said get out Rachel!’

  ‘You don’t really think I'm going to leave you with her do you?’

  ‘GET THE FUCK OUT!!’ Rachel jumped and scuffled out like a child who had just been sent to they’re room. Once she closed the door James walked round and sat on the desk in front of Alexia. She tried not to let her knees buckle in front of him, not because she was scared but because he looked and smelt so good. He sat there wearing a black three piece suit and tie with a white shirt, his black hair was short and he had a few days worth of stubble on his jaw and those all fami
liar and unforgettable green eyes never moving off her. Her heart beating so fast she could feel it her ears. He was the image of her favourite male model Derron McLaury. After what seemed like a lifetime James spoke. ‘Alexia that was quite an entrance after nine years, but I’m not sure why I deserved that slap across the face,’ he didn’t take his eyes off her “and after I fucking got that dick off you at the club that night....thanks!” he thought to himself.

  ‘Well apart from the fact that it’s the first time I’ve seen you since you broke my heart and married the fucking bitch you cheated on me with,’ She saw him flinch “Yeah you can fucking flinch you bastard” she though to herself but carried on ‘I then find out that you lent my dad money and because he can’t afford to pay it back you sent your two heavies round to beat him up and put him in hospital!!!’ She stopped and took a breath, ‘Which I have just discovered is Sam and Matt, so they want to stay out of my fucking way to, I’ll be sure to tell Sarah and Tracy!’ she added.

  ‘Your dad?' He looked at her confused, 'you don't have a dad.’

  ‘Not that it’s any of your business but I do actually, I found him when my mother died and I want to pay off his debt to you.’

  ‘Your mum died? Alexia I had no idea, I’m sorry,’ he looked at her with genuine sympathy.

  ‘Cut the crap James! I’m not here for your Mr Nice….Mr Loving side or whatever you want to call it!’

  He looked at her and sighed. ‘What's your dad’s name?’

  ‘Tony Clay.’

  ‘Tony Clay? He’s your dad? How did I not make the connection? Well then now I know he’s your dad, he owes me nothing.’

  ‘I told you cut the crap James!’ She said again angry with him and herself for feeling... aroused by him. Being this close to him was almost too much. ‘You’re not holding anything over me, I want to pay it off!’ she put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  James sat and admired her but couldn’t take it anymore. He has loved Alexia since they were fifteen and she was making him painfully hard. She was wearing a long black flowing skirt, a white vest top and black sandals. Her brown shoulder length hair was flowing nicely over her shoulders and her light blue eyes staring into his. He stood up and hit a button on his desk locking the door. He grabbed her slamming his mouth down on hers as he picked her up. Her body betraying her as her legs automatically wrapped around him as he spun her around to sit her on the edge of the desk so there was no escape. His mouth never leaving hers, his hands grabbed her ankles and moved them slowly up her legs pushing her skirt up as he does, when he finds his way to the top of her thighs he lifted her up and pushed it up around her waist then sat her back down. He pulled away from her and put his hand between her legs to run his finger over her lace underwear as she lets out a quiet moan, he moved them to the side and inserted his fingers in and she gasped.