by Wilde, Rhea
“This makes sense, I guess,” I said. “I suppose I’m a little rusty and could use a little training. Do you know any of the trainers here?”
“I’ve got just the guy for you.”
I walked with Maxwell through the gym until we found a man in the back holding a pair of heavy pads. He was a big man with an equally thick beard. His bald head was shining with sweat. There was a focus in his eyes as he held the pads up. The young man in front of him punched away at them.
“Keep going!” he shouted at the young fighter. “One, two! One, two!”
The sweat flew as the young man maniacally punched away at the pads. The bald man stood firm as the man swung at him.
“Who is he?” I whispered.
“His name’s King. He knows better than anybody what he’s doing.”
“He certainly looks like it.”
King finally instructed the young man to stop. The boxer’s arms dropped down to his sides and he nearly collapsed on the ground.
“Good work, kid,” King said to him. “Take a break. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
As the young man walked away, King turned and noticed us standing there watching him.
“King, my man!” Maxwell said as he held his arms out to the side. “What’s going on?”
Maxwell smiled at him but King’s demeanor was not the same. The look of focus was replaced with one of disgust as he rolled his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Who let you in? Didn’t I tell you not to come back?”
“No, listen. I’m not here for me—”
“You’re always here for you, Maxwell.”
“Fine. But I’m not here for just me. I want you meet a new friend of mine. This guy’s a fighter. Henry, this is King.”
King looked at me as he unstrapped the pads from his arms. He tossed them to the side then looked me up and down.
“So, you’re a fighter, huh?” he asked me.
“Not professionally, no but—”
“Listen, kid,” he said as he walked up closer to me. “I’m telling you this because it’s for your own good. I train fighters in here. Real fighters. Boxers, kickboxers, wrestlers. These guys are martial artists. They’re not street thugs fighting for dollars like a couple of bums. The fact that you’re hanging out with this guy means that you’re not a fighter.”
“What’s the difference?” I asked.
“What’s the difference? The difference is that there’s more to it than just trying to make a quick buck or two. What you’re getting involved in—and I know what it is because this scumbag is standing right next to you—is something that I don’t want any part of.”
King turned around and started to walk away. I looked at Maxwell, waiting for him to answer.
“Wait!” Maxwell shouted at him. “Just listen—”
“I don’t need to listen,” King interrupted him as he turned back around. “Take this poor guy and get out of here before I start to lose my temper. You have no business in this gym. We’re training for ourselves, not to satisfy the bloodlust of a crowd.”
“King, please. This is important. This guy’s going to lose everything he has.”
“That’s not my problem.”
King turned back around and started to walk away. I looked at Maxwell and his head was down and dejected. I didn’t know why Maxwell thought it was so important that I talk to this guy. But something came over me. I yelled out to try and stop him.
“Wait!” I said as I rushed closer to him. “I need your help.”
King slowly turned around. He still had the same look of disgust on his face.
“You’re right,” I said. “This is wrong. I don’t want any part of this. But I don’t have any other choice. I need all the help I can get. I’m desperate.”
“King, please,” Maxwell joined in. “He’s going to lose his daughter.”
King looked less disgusted than he did initially. He stared hard at me as he looked into my eyes. I looked at him almost pleadingly to see if he could find any understanding.
“He doesn’t need much,” Maxwell said to him. “He already knows what he’s doing. He just needs a little bit more to take him over the top.”
King still looked hesitant to agree. Despite his initial reluctance, he finally sighed then nodded. He ran his hand over his head and wiped away the sweat.
“All right,” he said to me. “You put in the work and I’ll see what I can teach you. I’m not… I’m not used to teaching people the sort of things that they can’t legally do in a ring but if you show up, I’ll teach you.”
“Thanks, man,” Maxwell said. “I knew you’d come around.”
“And I expect to be paid for this.”
“Of course. We got the money for you, baby.”
King rolled his eyes then started to walk away.
“Tomorrow morning,” he shouted. “Four sharp. And make sure you’re sober.”
I looked at Maxwell in confusion.
“Did he say four?”
“Yeah. It’s usually earlier but he’s taking it easy on you since you’re new. That’s how he tests you to see if you’re serious or not.”
We stared at one another as the smile developed on Maxwell’s face. I sighed, not realizing what I had gotten myself into. But I didn’t have much of a choice.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Well, since you’re really serious about this, there’s only one person left to talk to. It’s time to make this official.”
Chapter 11 - Lanea
I lounged on the couch in my room. I was completely nude and enjoying this moment I had to myself. But I wasn’t having very much fun. In most cases, Octavio was enough to get the job done. I wasn’t in a good mood though. My mind was wandering too much.
“Stop,” I said to him.
“Ms. Zara?”
“I said stop.”
He worked his way up from between my legs.
“Is something wrong?” he asked me.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just want you to stop.”
“As you wish.”
He sat on the couch and straightened the tie on his suit. I looked at him for a moment then sighed.
We weren’t in the room I had constructed solely for pleasure. I only spent my time in the arena when I had to. Today, I resided in the penthouse suite of a hotel I owned. It wasn’t as decadent but it was just as glamorous. I almost preferred it here in some cases. It was nice to look down upon the city and see how much better I had it than all of them.
I wasn’t enjoying myself as I usually did though. I was frustrated that Henry had turned down my offer to fight for me. It was the first time it had ever happened. The fact that he was so unwilling to do my bidding tore me up inside. I suddenly found myself in an unfamiliar position.
“Will the arena be open tonight, Ms. Zara?” Octavio asked me.
“What? Of course it will. There’s still money to be made. Why would it stop?”
“You seem upset, Ms. Zara.”
“I’m not upset! But I will be if you keep badgering me. Now go make me a drink.”
Octavio headed to the bar and did what he was told. I looked through the large tinted window of my suite and pondered the man that had just turned me down a night ago. I couldn’t get him out of my mind. His face was tattooed in my memory. I didn’t know what it was. The fact that he was unwilling to make me even more money just made me more frustrated.
I sat up on the couch and stretched my arms out to the side. Octavio returned and placed the glass down in front of me. He took a seat next to me but I shooed him away.
“Go away,” I said. “I need some time to myself.”
“Ms. Zara.”
“You heard me.”
“Are you sure you don’t need anything else?”
“No.”
Octavio bowed his head and started to head out. My cell began to ring and I looked at the number.
“Wait!” I said to Octavio. “Don’t go yet.”
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It took me a moment to recall the phone number but then I was finally able to put a face to it.
“Maxwell,” I said as I answered the phone. “Tell me the good news you have for me.”
I paused and listened as Maxwell told me exactly what I wanted to hear. A smile came upon my face. Maxwell had finally done his job.
“I’m in my suite,” I said to him. “I’ll have Octavio escort you up.”
I hung up the phone and instructed Octavio to head downstairs to greet Maxwell and Henry. I stood up from my couch with a giddiness that I didn’t have just moments ago. I looked around and searched for a bathrobe to cover myself up. Then I took a seat back upon the couch and waited for them to arrive.
I took a sip of the drink Octavio had made for me when the door clicked open. My servant stepped in with Maxwell and Henry just behind him. I smirked as the two men looked exactly as they did when they left me. They came back. They always come back. I had to hold back every fiber in my being not to tell them to fall upon their knees before me.
“Gentlemen,” I said. “You’re back.”
“Yeah,” Maxwell muttered. “Uh, I managed to talk to Henry and convince him to fight for you.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Octavio, get these men something to drink.”
Octavio made his way to the bar once again. I stood up from my chair and approached the two men. The bandage on Henry’s head was stained with his blood. When I stared at him, I saw a bit of resentment in his eyes. It was something I hadn’t seen before. But it was okay. He was going to make me a lot of money and that’s all that I cared about.
“No drinks,” Henry said. “I can’t have any more alcohol.”
“But we need to celebrate our new partnership,” I said to him. “Maxwell, you can still drink.”
“I suppose I could have a drink or two,” he said. “But Henry is right. He’s a fighter now. He has to focus. There’s a lot at stake and he can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
“Focus,” I said as I stared at Henry. “I like that. Fine. Octavio. One drink for my friend Maxwell here and bring Henry a glass of water. You should at least have something to drink.”
Octavio returned with their drinks and I held my glass out to them.
“Now,” I said. “We should toast. To our new partnership. Henry. Maxwell. You two are going to make a lot of money.”
We held our glasses up against one another’s. I locked my eyes upon Henry as I sipped upon the alcohol, my lips dancing seductively on the edge of the glass. He quickly gulped his drink then set the empty glass down on the table.
“Well, that’s taken care of,” he said. “Maxwell and I will be on our way.”
“You’re all business,” I said to him. “That’s good. But you shouldn’t be leaving so quickly. There’s more to it than that. Please. Have a seat.”
I held my hand out to the both of them and they took a seat on the other sofa across from mine. I sat down then picked up the remote for the television.
“You’re not going to be fighting any bum we pick up off of the streets,” I said as I clicked the television on. “These are real professionals now. Higher stakes mean a higher level of competition. Are you sure you’re ready for this, Henry?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” I smirked. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
I flipped through the channels and loaded up the footage I was looking for.
“Let me see…” I whispered. “I have a database of the fighters available to us. These guys are much more dangerous but I’m sure you’re more than capable of handling it, Henry. We just need to find the right opponent for you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Maxwell said. “Henry will knock down any person you put it front of him.”
“I have no doubt about that. But Henry has only had one fight. Well, one that mattered. People still don’t know who he is. He’s a dark horse. We have to take advantage of that. That means we set him up with someone who will give him the best odds.”
“Then we bet everything we can on Henry and reap the rewards.”
“Exactly. Of course, if Henry manages to do his part then people will start to bet on him rather than against him. But we have the inside edge. So these first few fights will be very important.”
I clicked on the remote and sorted through the list of available fighters. All of the familiar faces flashed before me as I pondered whom he should fight.
“Anybody catch your eye, Henry?” I asked him. “We need to find somebody who looks like a threat but isn’t dangerous.”
Henry remained silent. I looked at him and noticed how focused he was, his eyes locked upon the screen. I couldn’t help but smile at him. Every instinct I had about him was proving to be true. He was exactly what I was looking for.
“Here we go,” I said as I stopped searching through the pictures. “This looks like the kind of guy that could get you some decent odds. Wilson Haugen.”
“Who’s that?” Maxwell asked.
“Just look at him,” I said. “Thick goatee. Burly muscles. The guy looks like he wrestles bears for a living. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does. He’s the perfect guy to get us the numbers we’re looking for.”
“He looks like a psycho. Look at him. The guy is twice the size of Henry.”
I clicked the controller and we watched some of the footage of the hulking fighter. While his opponents danced around him, Wilson just stood there and took all of the punishment before knocking him down with a massive forearm. His opponent collapsed to the ground and Wilson celebrated his victory.
“So he’s won a fight or two,” I said. “This is exactly the guy we’re looking for. People still don’t know who Henry is. When they see him in the ring with Wilson, we make our bets and walk away with everybody else’s money.”
“I don’t know about this,” Maxwell said. “But it’s not my decision. Henry… You can beat this guy, right?”
Henry’s eyes remained locked on the screen. Ever since I’d turned the television on, he had remained focused.
“I’ll beat him,” he said. “Just set up the fight and I’ll do it.”
I smiled at him even though he wasn’t looking at me. I didn’t know what had changed his mind so suddenly. Frankly, I didn’t care. I just knew that I had him right where I wanted him and all that I had to do was take advantage of his willingness.
Henry stood up from his seat and grabbed Maxwell by the arm.
“We have to go now,” he said to me. “Come on, Maxwell.”
“Wait a second. You don’t have to go so soon. Where are you going to go? This fight won’t be for a few days. You’ll have plenty of time to train and recover from your injuries.”
“What are you suggesting?”
I walked over to Maxwell and leaned my head in close to the side of his face.
“I need a moment alone with him,” I whispered.
Maxwell stared at me for a moment before nodding. He and Octavio made their way out of the suite and Henry started to follow them before Maxwell stopped him.
“Hold on,” he said to Henry. “She wants to talk to you. Just for a moment.”
Henry looked over at me for a second before finally agreeing to give me a moment of his time. The other two men left and I was once again alone with the man I had been thinking about this entire time. I walked up close to him and looked into his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile at him.
“You know, we’re partners now,” I said to him. “You don’t have to hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that I have to like you.”
“I think you’ve got me all wrong, Henry.”
“No, I know exactly who you are.”
“And who am I, Henry?”
“You’re exactly like Maxwell. You want to make a lot of money. And that’s fine. Because I want to make a lot of money, too. There’s no need to pretend like there’s anything else between us.”
I began to chuc
kle after hearing his comments.
“You’re really candid,” I laughed. “I like that. There’s nothing wrong with a little honesty. It’s severely lacking among my social circle. It takes a strong man to stand up to the truth and say it how it really is.”
I placed my hand forward and pressed it up against his chest. As I slowly lowered my hand, I felt the hard muscles pressing back against it.
“You’re my fighter now,” I said to him. “You can think whatever you want. But understand this. I’m looking out for you. Whether or not it’s in your best interests or mine, we both have the same agenda. That’s clear. So I’m going to take care of you. I want you to win, Henry.”
“I’ll win. I don’t need any of your help.”
“I believe that. But it’s not about me giving you my help. This is about making sure you’re in the best shape you can be before you fight. You saw the footage. Wilson isn’t a man you can take lightly.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“I have no doubt about that. But you can’t work too hard.”
“Stop trying to play games with me, Lanea. If there’s something you want, then say it. There’s no need to try and trick me.”
I smirked at him. I had never been with a man who was so forthcoming with me. He was a worthy challenge. I decided it was time I took a chance on him.
“We never did celebrate your victory properly last night,” I whispered to him.
“I’m not interested in celebrating,” he said.
He pulled away from me and my hand fell down from his chest.
“Fine,” I said. “Just win the fight. That’s all that matters. But like I said. You’re my fighter now. You’re going to have to look the part. We’re going out.”
“What?”
“We’re going out. You’re going to spend time with me. People are going to recognize you as my fighter.”
“That doesn’t make any sense? They’ll know that we have a business arrangement. They won’t bet against me.”
“But they will. Have you looked in a mirror before, Henry? You know what you look like? You look like some bum who just got off the street. Your clothes look like they’ve been picked out of a dumpster. That makes you look like a fighter. Someone who has nothing to lose. You’re going to spend some time with me. I’ll clean you up. Make you look like some pretty boy who’s by my side.”