by P. A. Jones
***
Gavin wouldn’t come back until late that evening, so I decided to grab lunch from a pizza joint I spotted earlier. I opened the big glass door, and heard Mark calling me from inside. I turned to look at him, and then…
BAM! The ground was coming to meet me quickly. I was falling fast. Somebody had pushed me so hard that I was on my way to kissing the hard wooden floor. I closed my eyes, knowing I’d get a bloody nose when I hit, but then a hand swiped under my chest and flipped me in midair so I landed on my back. We stared at each other for a moment. He had beautiful brown eyes.
It hurt, but not as much as it would have if I had slammed my face on the ground. When I opened my eyes, I saw the face of the mystery man who saved me. But what was he doing so close to me, his breath caressing my cheeks, his hair scattered on my forehead?
"What are you doing, Mister..." I saw his face clearly, dark brown eyes with a hint of haze’ in them. A rock hard jaw, and a fully grown beard. If I wasn't in my current situation, I would’ve taken a moment to appraise his beauty. Yes, he was beautiful, in his own terms.
"I should ask you that, miss. I'm bored with girls like you hitting on me like this." His voice was rough, and arrogant.
"What the heck? What do you mean by that?" I stood up the moment he moved away. I smoothed my jeans and looked at him.
Eddie was handsome, but not as handsomely beautiful as him. He was wearing a black, sleeveless tee, and a white jacket on top of it, with dark-washed jeans. I suspected any clothes in the world would look awesome on him. But he seemed like a jerk, who didn’t know how to talk to girls.
"I meant what I said." He was staring at me with those arrogant, dark eyes.
"What the heck are you talking about?"
"Come on, don't be naïve. I know your tricks. You were opening the door, and when you saw me walking in, you just turned back and stumbled on me. I guess you were planning some meeting, like a cheesy romantic movie." He smirked.
If I could I would’ve wiped that smirk out of his face right there, but couple of trainers rushed in to see what had happened.
"Are you all right, sir and ma'am?" one of them asked us.
"I'm fine. Just take care of this lady." The arrogant man grumbled before jetting out of there. He didn't even have the courtesy to say thanks to the trainers.
"Thanks. I'm fine." I smiled at them and walked out. I wonder where the hell Mark vanished after calling me. He was responsible for the accident with that jerk.
I walked away. No doubt he was handsome, but I was done with men after recent experiences.
I decided to shop, to better this fucked up evening. Yes, shopping would ease my mind for sure. I decided to catch a cab and visit the mall. I’d get my lunch there. But before I could call a cab, a man stumbled upon me, again.
"What..." I cut my words as I saw he was an elder, in his late sixties.
"I'm sorry, miss. I just didn't know that you were there. I hope you’re okay,” he said in a lenient voice.
This was the kind of man I wish most could be. This man had also run into me, but he had the manners to ask me if I was all right.
"I'm fine. How are you, Mister…?"
"I'm Sam. Nice meeting you, young lady." He gave me an innocent smile.
"Same here, Sam." He was a gentleman. I guess it was the generation difference that made this man a kind one and that man I met at the pizza place a jerk.
"See ya around." He smiled and walked away.
I watched him go round the corner and disappear. "I wish brown eyes, could be as good as him, handsome,” I whispered.
Chapter 7
Noah
"Gavin's Fight Club. What a lame name," I muttered as the neon sign flashed in front of my eyes. My friend had recommended me to join this particular club. Nina wanted me to fight again. But did I have to join this lame club? I could pass on it without a second thought.
I'm here, so I might as well try this one and then decide.
I took a deep breath and opened the gate. BANG, a girl banged on my face, her pony tail crushing in my eyes, and I lost my balance. I was falling down fast along with the girl, and she would smash her face on the ground. I could have saved myself easily, but with an unintentional reflex my hand moved and flipped her in the mid air by grabbing her chest so she could hit ground on her butt. I fall on her because there was no time to save us both.
Next moment, I was an inch away from her eyes, dark purple beautiful eyes, like Tonya. Tied in a perfect pony tail, exactly the way Tonya tied her, swung in the air. My heart pounded faster than ever, it was like seeing Tonya again. No, it can't be true. She left my life for good. She wasn't coming back. And the girl wasn't Tonya, she was someone else, she had a spark in her eyes which I never saw in anyone. But she disgusted me by turning purposefully so I could fall her in trap.
She wasn't half bad, but the way she tried to lure me in her trap was an atrocious way.
"What are you doing Mr." She pushed me away. Now she was showing me arrogance.
My voice raised as I stared at her. "I should ask you that, miss. I'm bored with girls like you hitting on me like this."
"What do you mean by this," she said, in a very melodious voice. She had an amazing voice, if it was a different time I would have loved to hear her talking for hours, just to listen to that voice. But she wasn't the girl I would ever listen to. I hate girls who try to act smart to get rich men like us in their bed.
"I mean what you heard."
"What the heck are you talking about?" She rolled her eyes. God those purple eyes, I could swim in those eyes.
"Come on, don't be naïve. I know your tricks. You were opening the door, and when you noticed me walking in, you turned back and stumbled up on me. I guess you were planning a meeting like a cheesy romantic movie."Someone, please stop this girl talking anymore. I just hate these types of girls. I wanted to walk out of there, never to comeback. Joining the lame club was turning a stupid idea already.
"Are you all right, sir and ma'am?" Two people showed up. Damn, they were so late to interfere. If they had come a little sooner, I could have been saved from the chit-chat with this arrogant girl.
"I'm fine. Just take care of this lady." I walked inside the club. I had enough of her already.
"Where is Gavin?" I asked a man near the door.
"He is out. How can I help you?"
"I’m Noah Rich. Do you work here? I want to meet your boss."
"No, I don't work here. But I'm a member here. I'm Mark Peterson.” He gave me a quick handshake. “Gavin will be back in a half hour. If you think you can wait, I’ll show you his cabin."
I could walk out and visit another club. But then I canceled a few of my meetings to come here. Walking out now would waste my time, without even inquiring about the club.
"I will wait. Please, show me his cabin," I replied.
"Follow me. It won’t take long for him to show.”
***
"Hello, Mr. Rich." A man in gray suit walked into the cabin. When I heard his name first, I thought he would be an old man. But he was a young man who owned this club. " How can I help you?" He took a seat across the table.
"I want to join your club. I used to be a fighter, and want to fight again."
"Let me ask you one question, Mr. Rich. Why do you want to fight?"
What kind of question that was that? "I don’t understand."
"Let me tell you about my business. I only train people who are serious about the sport. So, tell me the reason you want to fight in the ring. If you satisfy me with your answer, I will take you in. Otherwise, there are plenty of other clubs out there." He looked at me with a complex expression.
Why did I have to tell this guy anything? Who was he, with his dumb questions? But I decided to answer him. I didn't want to waste my complete morning.
"I want to join, because my therapist advised me to." It was simple, I didn't care if he knew that owner of Orange Computer Systems visited a therapist. Nobody cared, a
nd I didn't care even if someone cared for it. It was my personal life.
"Join another club," Gavin replied. "I can even give you a couple of recommendations if you wish."
"What the fuck? I gave you an honest answer, and you’re telling me to fuck off?" A nerve on my forehead popped out. But why would he do that? I just told one of my secrets to him, and he just declined me? "Do you even know who am I?"
"I know you well, Mr. Rich. Every other month you’re on the cover of some men's magazine. And it may be the deepest secret you have, but you aren’t honest with yourself. I don't take people in just because they think they are being honest."
He paused, and looked into my eyes. "Everyone has a motive for fighting in the ring. Some form of emotion. You aren’t doing this for money, so you better tell me what emotion that is.”
"But it's the truth. I have no other answer to give you," I replied. What could I have told him differently to convince him? But why was I convincing him at all? His club wasn't the last remaining fight club on the earth. There were three different clubs I knew of in L.A.
Fuck you, man. I will be out in no time.
I got up from my chair. I hated that man. No one insulted me. I could easily destroy his business with my money.
But you won’t do that, Noah. You have to give him a correct answer, because you want to get her out of your mind, I thought.
"Listen, Gavin." I put my hands on the table. "I want to live. If I don't fight, my therapist thinks that I’ll never come out of the trauma I'm facing."
Gavin looked at me, but this time, his eyes had something different. I think he saw hope inside me. At least, I felt like he did. "Come tomorrow, and be prepared. I will test you and decide where you fit."
***
The next day, I arrived at the club, and was instantly thrown in the ring. "You’re up against Oliver." Gavin introduced me to a man in a track suit. He was well built, and covered his fists in cloth, which I didn't like to wear. When I used to fight, many people advised me to cover my hands, but I loved the feeling of fighting with them bare. Though it made me prone to injuries, I still went with what I liked.
"How old is he?" I asked.
"Old enough to kick your ass," Gavin chuckled.
"We will see." I walked into the ring. I had just gone through my stretching regime, and I was already feeling good by just the thought of fighting again.
Oliver entered and we bumped our fists. It was a ritual they followed in the GFC.
"Watch yourself, kid," I advised. I wouldn’t go easy on him. I had a point to prove, and this first match was a good platform to do so.
Oliver gave me a cunning smile and then took his stand.
The whistle blew, and the match started. Oliver charged. A rookie mistake. No experienced fighter would charge his opponent. He tried to punch me, which I dodged. I hit his oblique with a punch from my left hand. Oliver was pushed back by the blow, but he still had a smile on his face.
Why is he still smiling, even after I hit him first? Something was missing.
He charged me again. This time, I didn't dodge him. I instead blocked his punch with my arms. To counter, he balanced himself and hit me with a swing kick. It was unexpected, and I wasn't prepared. An acute pain struck my shoulder, which forced me to take a step back, leaving my face open. Oliver took that chance and hit my jaw hard with his other hand. I lost my balance and slammed to the floor on my back.
Oliver smirked at me and walked back to his corner. He had shown me my place. The metallic taste of blood, and the bitter taste of defeat covered my mouth. I had become a novice after leaving the ring for almost three years. I was nothing but a noob in front of some stupid kid.
I looked around. People had gathered around the ring, and I could see a smug smile on everyone’s face, expect for two people. Gavin wasn't smiling. He looked completely serious. And there was that girl with the purple eyes and blonde ponytail. What was she doing here, and why wasn't she laughing at me?
If Tonya was here, she wouldn't have laughed.
Fuck you. I stood up, anger consuming every ounce of blood in my body.
"Oliver, focus." I cried, charging towards the kid.
He wasn't ready, and I could see the surprise on his face. He didn't expect me to get up and run.
He took a quick defensive stance, but I didn't care. When I reached him, I dropped on the ground and performed an angular kick. He expected that, and jumped in the air, like I knew he would. I changed my stance mid-kick and jumped on him, my fist hitting his jaw.
He fell back on the ground. Surely he wasn't ready for that. I put everything I had in that punch. Now that kid knew where he stood when I was in the ring.
"You never smirk at Noah Rich, kid," I whispered, walking out of the ring. Gavin was standing there, waiting for me.
"Congrats on the win,” Gavin said dryly. “But if you hit another guy in the ring with that kind of remark, I will kick your ass out of the club."
"Okay boss," I replied with a winning smile. I didn't care what he said. I had just shown him what I was capable of.
"Let me introduce you to the trainer we have selected for you,” Gavin said.
"A trainer?"
"Yes. A therapist who will make sure you break no bones or tear down your muscles. You need her to work on you after every fight."
"So you’re gonna squeeze every penny out of my pocket." I chuckled.
"Not as much as you squeeze from consumers’ pockets," he replied swiftly.
We walked to the lift and went directly to the third floor.
"Julie," he called. One girl came forward. She walked like a fighter. She didn’t have much of a curvy body, but she had actual muscles. Her purple eyes looked at me with hatred. It was her! The girl I stumbled up on yesterday! I despised her from the moment I spotted her resemblance to Tonya. "Meet your first client, Noah Rich."
She extended her hand to me. "Hello, Mr. Rich."
I wanted to ask Gavin to assign me some to other trainer, but then I got an idea. I could make her life miserable, then she’d resign from the club. I didn't want a Tonya look-alike roaming around me.
"Interesting,” I muttered.
"What did you say?" Julie asked.
"Nothing. Nice to meet you, Julie." I shook her hand and smiled. But all I had inside were hatred. She would get her life fucked up, very soon.
Chapter 8
Julie
God, the man I stumbled upon yesterday was standing in the ring when I hit the club, wearing a sleeveless tee and track pants. He looked ready, like a fighter. But he wasn't wearing cloth around his wrists. Was he crazy? He could really get hurt.
Muscles expostulated through his sleeveless tee. He was handsome. If only he wasn't the biggest asshole I’ve met lately, I would’ve liked to watch his match closely. I was about to walk away when I heard a loud sound. Someone hit the ground badly. My eyes turned towards the ring to check who it was. It was the man. He had his back on the ground, completely beaten. The twenty-year old kid was smiling at him. Well, he deserved that.
But before I could move away, he caught my eyes, and something happened. A rage emerged in his deep brown eyes. He stood up and challenged the kid. Then I saw something unusual, a jump-punch which knocked out the kid completely.
I hate him. I hate him. I walked away. He had something unique in him, but I wished he was beaten by the kid and made a mess out of himself. He was a jerk, and he deserved to lose.
But that didn't happen. That jerk won splendidly, in a very unusual way. I knew fighting. I was trained in martial arts, but I never saw someone make a move like that. No one win with a jumping punch, at least not him. A rage was building inside me when I reached the third floor. I wanted to punch the crap out of that man.
"Hello there." Rose greeted me, as soon as I reached the third floor.
I ignored her. I wanted to get ready, and ask Gavin to assign a client so I could keep my mind busy.
"Julie." Now it was Gavin who called me
. I turned around. "I'm here to introduce you to your first client. Meet Noah Rich."
To my deepest fear, it was the man who knocked me down. Noah Rich. God, even his name sounded arrogant. Who keeps a word like Rich in his name? I wanted to punch him, but that would definitely get me fired on the first day of my job, and unfortunately, I couldn't afford that.
"Hello, Mr. Rich." I extended my hand.
You can handle this, Julie. Keep your patience. You can do it.
"Interesting,” the jerk muttered, under his breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, Nice to meet you, Julie," he said coyly.
"She will work only for you, for at least a month. She’s new, and when we hire someone, we assign them to a month of exclusive training to a single client. That way, they learn the work culture of the club. Your advantage is that she is trained in MMA," Gavin said.
My heart stopped when I heard the word exclusive. Me stuck with this asshole, for a whole month?
"So you know fighting?" Noah asked with a brow raised, like he didn't believe it.
"I can kick your ass quicker than that kid you fought in the ring," I said. Man, I wish I could punch him right now.
"I’m sure you could,” Noah said, giving an arrogant laugh. “Thank you, Gavin. I know I have many things to learn from her."
"Well, she’ll make sure you don't get hurt. But if she wishes, you two can spar for practice." He stared at me. "I'll leave you two alone to plan your details."
"Spar with you my foot." I mumbled as Gavin walked away.
"Easy, lioness. Why are you jumping to conclusions already?" Noah rolled his eyes.
"I'm declining training you straight away. You’re the biggest jerk I have ever seen in my life." Even the thought of fighting with him was disgusting. He thought I was trying to sleep with him. Who the hell did he think he was?
"Why don't you try one match, before you tell your decision to Gavin?" he asked.
"And why would I do that?" What was he thinking?
"If you go now, Gavin will think that you’re rejecting a client bluntly. It will affect your career in the club. No one refuses to work with their first client. After one match, you can tell him whatever you want. Maybe you can say that I tried to hit on you and you don't want to work with me,” he said.
