Eye on the Prize

by Dmytro Holmes

  “Uh, yes. I’m just going to grab my purse,” Caitlyn stammered, almost running behind her mahogany desk. Mikai stood, partially in shock, partly in anger as she hurriedly gathered her belongings, shooting him a pleading look. As if he had just realized Mikai was standing there, the man twisted in the leather chair to look at him.

  “You need something, bub?”

  “No, Patrick,” Caitlyn jumped in as Mikai opened his mouth to answer. “Mikai was just leaving. He had some questions about the corporate party next Saturday.”

  Patrick rolled his brown eyes and snorted.

  “What do you need to know, buddy? They’re boring as sin. You have your work cut out for you. Make sure you bring your cell phone so you can watch some porn or something because God knows nothing exciting ever happens at Entrance’s gigs. If you ask me, they waste money throwing these things but some idiot in HR seems to think they’re good for morale or some shit. It’s just a tax write off I’m sure. Anyway, they suck. Come on, Caitlyn. I have meetings this afternoon. Let’s go.”

  With that, he grabbed Caitlyn by the arm and hustled her out the door, leaving Mikai staring after them, seething. He loathed Patrick and while he understood consciously that he was basing his opinion on the fact that he was intensely attracted to Caitlyn, he also recognized that there was something distasteful about her fiancé. Mikai exited the office, trying to shove the scene he had just witnessed from his head, attempting to forget the rage he felt watching Caitlyn being touched by another man. She is not yours to fight for, he told himself, not for the first time. But it did not matter. Mikai knew that he needed to possess her and he realized that he would stop at nothing to do exactly that.

  5

  Chapter Five

  “Wow, Mike, what happened to your face?” The questioner was Thom, one of the chartered accountants. He peered somewhat drunkenly at the security guard and examined the shiner around Mikai’s eye admiringly.

  “You should see the other guy!” Mikai joked lightly, taking a sip of his beer. Aside from Caitlyn, he had not formed any alliances inside Entrance and his very private nature kept him from divulging his boxing life to co-workers. It’s none of their business. This job doesn’t mean anything anyway. I don’t need them asking me stupid questions I don’t want to answer. “Ooh, a bar fight?” Thom pressed and Mikai raised an eyebrow mysteriously.

  “Something like that,” he agreed, turning away from the man, ignoring Thom’s approving nod. Under normal circumstances, Thom would not have given Mikai the time of day but seeing as the man was three drinks in he was suddenly Mikai’s conjoined twin. Mikai was having a hard time getting Thom off his arm and he felt himself getting more and more annoyed with each passing moment. The fact that Thom kept calling him “Mike” and he drank the same beer as his father stirred up some memories that Mikai could have done without. Mikai had been at the function for just over an hour and he was already contemplating leaving. He grudgingly admitted to himself that Patrick had been right; the party lacked lustre and Mikai wondered what he was doing there in the first place. Looking around at the same dull individuals whom he saw day to day, he noted with some contempt that they were just as rigid in a party setting as they were in their own offices. Even their spouses look lame. How do these people sleep in the same bed at night? I can’t imagine having to share a mattress with any of them.

  Sighing, he wandered back toward the bar. At least it was an open bar and the aromas of the impending dinner wafting from the closed dining room were enticing. I’ll eat and then head home. Maybe I’ll swing by SkyTrain afterward and let off some steam. Again, Mikai’s eyes flitted around the room. He was looking for Caitlyn but she had not arrived. Since the day Patrick had shown up at the office, Caitlyn had maintained something of a distance but Mikai had been relentless in his pursuit of her attention. He had learned her routine within the work day and whenever she was in town, he invariably found himself “accidentally” bumping into her in the break room, running into her at the coffee truck outside the building lobby or checking the parking lot when she was getting ready to leave for the night in her Lexus. She was aware of his conspicuous actions and did little to dissuade him but she did not instigate initial contact. Mikai confessed to himself that he had only attended the work function that evening in hopes of spending time with Caitlyn even though he was aware that Patrick would more than likely be present. Sighing to himself, he turned to the bartender who was staring at him impatiently, awaiting drink instructions.

  “Gin and tonic,” Mikai finally said and the woman nodded crisply, immediately starting on his order. “Wait! Make it a double.”

  Again she nodded without speaking and added another generous shot of liquor to the mix. So much for going by the gym after. Joe will have my head if he smells liquor on my breath. The stern looking blonde placed the tumbler glass before him on the countertop and Mikai took a deep sip through the small straw. He located a five-dollar bill in his wallet and left it on the bar for the server, shooting her a winning smile. I should probably get on her good side. I have a feeling she and I are going to be friends tonight. He turned back to the party and his heart stopped beating. At the entrance to the reception room where the cocktail hour was being hosted stood Caitlyn. She glanced around the room uncertainly, looking stunning in a strapless red gown which swirled sensually around her perfectly shaped calves, accented by six inch black stilettos. The bodice of the dress pushed up her firm, mature breasts into a breathtaking cleavage. A small heart-shaped diamond pendant dangled between them, catching the glimmers of blue and green in her lovely cat-shaped eyes. Mikai had never seen such a spectacular beauty in all his life. He wished he could stay frozen in time, drinking in every detail of her perfection for eternity. She looked like a fairy tale princess, waiting for her prince. She’s waiting for me, Mikai thought, a lump in his throat. I’m the one that needs to rescue her.

  “Damn, I would love to tap that,” Thom hissed in his ear, following Mikai’s gaze, and without thinking, Mikai reached sideways, firmly pushing the intoxicated accountant to the side. Without ensuring Thom’s well being, he moved toward Caitlyn who had not yet seen him. Abruptly, he stopped in his tracks. Surely Patrick would be at her side in seconds. Mikai stood as if paralyzed, unsure of what to do. To ease his discomfort, he took another swig of his drink, finishing it. I need to get out of here, he told himself. He quickly placed the empty glass on the bar and ducked his head down, hoping to avoid being seen by Caitlyn.

  “Hey! Where you going, slugger?” Thom yelled after him as he tried to covertly duck out the back exit. “The party’s just getting started!”

  Caitlyn’s head whipped around at the loud question and awkwardly, Mikai found himself staring into her eyes. Neither moved for a few seconds until suddenly, Caitlyn’s lips, painted a dark apple red, curved into her trademark smile. Mikai had the same sense he had prior to gearing up for a fight; his bowels seemed about to turn to water and he began breathing heavily. He reverted to his childhood with Derrek Jameson, and with some shock Mikai realized he was suffering from a panic attack. Get it together, man! He screamed inwardly at himself. She is just a beautiful woman. She is no reason to act like this. But Mikai knew that was not true. Caitlyn McCormick was more than just some random woman. She was intelligent, witty and a boxing fan. She was gorgeous, successful and stable. She was everything that he desired in a woman. She was perfect for him. She’s engaged, he yelled at himself but the cry seemed less intense than the first as Caitlyn strolled across the room, her even steps accentuating every curve of her body. Mikai was vaguely aware that his mouth was slightly agape as he waited for her to approach but he did nothing to right his lips.

  “Hi,” she said, gently curling a loose curl around her finger. The rest of her locks were pinned up in an elegant French twist at the base of her neck, leaving the contours of her flawless shoulders exposed.

  “Hi,” he answered but his voice seemed to be a croak. He cleared his throat, embarrassed.


  “How are you?” he continued in his normal, deep sonorous tone. She shrugged her shoulders and while she kept the beam firmly on her rosebud lips, it did not quite meet her eyes.

  “I’m good, Mikai. I’m glad you’re here,” she told him.

  “I’m glad you’re here too,” he immediately replied. He was not ashamed at the confession. He had no doubt that she was aware of his feelings toward her and while he knew they were wrong given the circumstances, he did not regret them. He had always scoffed at people who had allowed themselves to get involved with married men or women. He had always attributed those relationships to sheer weakness, people unable to control their own selfish desires. He had always vowed he would never be the person to break up a marriage, especially after what his father had done to their family, to his mom. But suddenly Mikai knew none of that was true. Sometimes you don’t meet your soulmate until it’s too late for both of you, he thought with a deep, sickening sadness. He could almost identify with his dad for the first time and it shamed him endlessly. This is not the same thing. Caitlyn is not married. Not yet. Patrick doesn’t deserve her anyway. He can’t feel about her the way I do. Mikai knew he was making excuses for his desire. He knew that his step-mother had probably said the same thing to herself when she was running around with his father.

  “Where is Patrick?” Mikai asked, choking on the man’s name. The beam slipped off Caitlyn’s face now.

  “He didn’t want to come,” she answered truthfully. Actually, Patrick had said,

  “There is no way in hell I am going to another one of those boring ass functions, Catey. I’ll be at the strip joint for a boy’s night tonight.” Of course, Caitlyn said none of this to Mikai. The reality was, she was relieved that Patrick had opted out. She had been hoping Mikai would be there.

  Mikai nodded, remembering her fiancé’s flippant remarks about Entrance’s parties.

  “Bad for him, good for me,” Mikai replied lightly. “Buy you a drink?”

  Caitlyn’s brow furrowed.

  “It isn’t open bar?” she asked in surprise.

  “Oh, it is,” he told her. She laughed and playfully whacked his arm. She stepped back to look at him, taking in his pristine black suit.

  “You look very handsome, Left Eye.” Mikai felt an almost sexual thrill run through him as she used his boxing nickname. He looked at her intensely.

  “I have never seen a more beautiful sight in my whole life than you walking through that door tonight,” he answered honestly. Caitlyn’s face went through a variety of changes, eventually settling on awe, heat coloring her complexion.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, looking downward and shifting her feet.

  Suddenly overcome by an urge to sweep her into his arms and kiss her, he stepped backward and forced a jovial grin he did not feel.

  “Now how about that drink?”

  The night, which had begun at a painful pace, seemed to fly past with Caitlyn’s arrival. She led him to a table filled with IT consultants and despite his resolve to hate them, Mikai found himself intrigued by the group. They lacked the pretentious air that the other employees of Entrance seemed to have and as the evening progressed, Mikai felt an affinity with them. He wondered idly if it had anything to do with the fact that he had been perceived as such a geek in his childhood. The reason did not matter. The drinks continued and the conversation flowed. Caitlyn remained at his side, seemingly proud to be on his arm, even in pretence. When the music started, she imploringly looked at him with huge eyes.

  “This is my jam!” she proclaimed as an old-school R&B song filtered through the speakers. Mikai, who strictly reserved his fancy footwork for the ring, found himself following Caitlyn onto the dance floor. He was vaguely aware that he looked like a fool but he was so enthralled with her swaying hips that any outsider opinion was the last thought on his mind. The combination of alcohol and infatuation had put him in a dangerous place and as the festivities began winding down, Caitlyn found herself pressed tightly against Mikai’s muscular frame, involved in a rhythmic dance which had nothing to do with the music softly piping into their ears.

  “Caitlyn, I – “

  “Shh! Don’t speak. Don’t ruin it,” she whispered back, her face buried in his shoulder.

  “No, I need to say this – “

  “Please, Mikai, don’t say anything. I know what you want to say.”

  “Just listen to me!” Mikai pulled her tighter toward him but she stiffened suddenly as reality began to sink in past her content state of intoxication.

  “No!” She pushed him back and looked at him, her eyes misting over with tears. Without waiting for him to say another word, she hurried out of the banquet hall. Mikai stood in shock for a moment but quickly regained his composure and took off after her. He caught her on the curb, trying to hail a taxi. He grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face him.

  “Please, don’t,” she begged, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I am getting married in six months.”

  He did not respond with words. Instead he leaned forward and softly placed his lips upon hers. She did not immediately give into his silent plea so he kissed her again. And again, until she eagerly wrapped her arms about his neck and pulled him closer. Mikai was filled with the sense that he had found something long lost to him, something which he never knew he had been seeking. A cab pulled up to the curb and honked its horn impatiently. The new lovers pulled apart and stared at each other.

  “Your place,” she breathed and he nodded, scrambling into the car at her side where they resumed their passionate embrace and did not stop caressing until dawn the next morning.

  Joe Baronewas concerned but he did not know why exactly. There had been a change in his protégé in the past weeks, an elusive quality which Joe recognized but could not name, although the name of what was troubling him lay on the tip of his tongue. Mikai had been training religiously, following instructions and progressing at a pace which would have normally made the seasoned trainer very happy but for the fact that Mikai never seemed to be there. It’s almost as if he is on auto-pilot, he thought, watching the younger man spar with another gym member. The blows landed on target, his stance was perfect and yet…Joe shook his head.

  “Hey, Left Eye. Let’s take lunch,” he called. Mikai’s competitor spit out his mouth guard and grinned broadly.

  “That was insane, man! Thank you so much!” he told Mikai, bumping his gloved hands together in excitement. “Wait ‘til I tell the guys in class that I got a chance to spar with you!”

  The kid jumped out of the ring and scampered away like a child instead of a twenty-year-old man. Mikai blinked as he watched his opponent leave and turned to Joe with a puzzled expression on his face.

  “What was that about?” he asked, peeling off his own gloves. Joe glanced at him and realized that Mikai was genuinely confused.

  “Haven’t you talked to Miles lately?” Joe asked, throwing a towel at his student.

  “Not since my last fight with Gillies. What happened?” Mikai quickly wiped his face, turning his full attention to Joe.

  “Your last match against Pauly Piper moved you up the NABF rank. You’re fighting Manuel St. John next month. You know what that means.” Mikai knew exactly what it meant. It meant that he was only four wins away from a shot at being in the big time. If he won against his next four opponents, he would be taken seriously, given a pay raise and have a real chance at winning the NABF championship. From there, the World Boxing Council was at his fingertips. Mikai stared at Joe dubiously, excitement exploding on his face.

  “What? Seriously? That’s incredible!” Impulsively, he hugged the older man and Joe returned his embrace sincerely. Mikai had become like a son to him over the past twelve years and every victory he claimed felt like a victory for him also. He reminds me so much of me at his age, Joe thought ruefully when the hug broke. I hope he doesn’t succumb to the evils I did. If he can keep his eye on the prize, he will be a champ. “Ready to grab lunch?” Joe asked, tilting h
is head toward the door but Mikai was grabbing his gym bag.

  “No…uh, I can’t…” he stuttered. “I…uh…I have to be somewhere.”

  Disappointment overwhelming him, Joe nodded understandingly.

  “No problem. We’ll do it another time,” he replied but as he watched Mikai leave, he was again filled with the sense of unease which had been plaguing him about the boy.

  “What? That’s amazing news!” Caitlyn squealed, throwing her arms around him as he stood in the threshold. Slightly embarrassed at her childlike demeanor, she quickly backed away and gestured him into the office. She shoved the door shut and pressed her lips against him passionately. Mikai responded with fervor almost knocking her off her feet as she fell backward. Caitlyn rewrapped her hands about his neck and returned his kiss.

  “Mm…let’s get out of here,” Mikai murmured in her ear hotly. Goosebumps lined her neck and she shivered with pleasure.

  “I wish,” she replied. “Few more hours.”

  “Yeah? Then back to your place?” he urged. The party had been two weeks previous and they had spent every moment possible together inside the office. Mikai had been reprimanded for neglecting his duties twice but he didn’t care. He was addicted to the smell of Caitlyn, the way she spoke, her easy nature. He had never known the emotions that were now surfing through his body but he knew he did not want them to stop. Caitlyn smiled slightly and pushed him back.

  “Your place,” she replied. Mikai found himself scowling.

  “I thought your fiancé was away for the week on business,” Mikai snapped, irritated. “What difference does it make if we go to your place?”

  Caitlyn placed her hands on him placatingly.

  “I live in a condo, Mikai. I can’t risk the neighbors seeing us,” she pleaded. “Try to understand.”