Dark Horse

by Wilde, Rhea

  “He’ll be fine, Maxwell. He’s a strong man. This is what happens when you fight. And he’s not finished yet.”

  “I know… I just…”

  “Listen, Maxwell.”

  I made my way over to one of my dresser drawers. I reached inside and pulled out my checkbook. I scribbled on it then ripped the check out and held it out to him.

  “This is your share,” I said. “Ten-percent. You keep Henry in shape and I’ll get him the big fights. We’ll all win.”

  “Yeah…” Maxwell trailed off as he took the check.

  “Make sure I see him as soon as possible. The sooner we book his next fight, the sooner we’ll make more money. I think it’s time for a step up in competition.”

  “Okay.”

  Maxwell sighed as he looked down at the check in his hand.

  “I suppose you should make sure your boy is all right,” I said. “Make sure you send Octavio in here on the way out.”

  Maxwell nodded then made his way out of the room. I took a sip of champagne as I waited for my servant to return to me. When Octavio stepped inside of the room, I took a seat on the couch.

  “My feet ache,” I said to him. “Massage them.”

  While I enjoyed my champagne, I extended my legs across the couch. Octavio took a seat at the other end and removed my feet from my heels.

  “Are you okay, Ms. Zara?” he asked me.

  “Of course I’m okay. I just won. This is going exactly as we planned.”

  “And what do you have planned next for Henry?”

  “He looked impressive tonight. I think he made a believer out of everybody. So it’s time to find some real competition for him.”

  “Are you sure that Henry is ready to step-up?”

  “He’ll be ready. This is all about making money, Octavio. People are going to start betting on him.”

  “Is it already time, Ms. Zara?”

  “Yes, Octavio. It’s time. I never made money by betting on the favorite. Henry’s the favorite now. It’s time to cut him loose.”

  Chapter 17 - Lanea

  Several days passed and I didn’t see either Maxwell or Henry. I assumed that they were out celebrating his last victory. I imagined that it was more money than either one of them had ever seen in their lives.

  As I sat in my suite, I instructed Octavio to try and get a hold of either one of them. I lounged on my couch and waited patiently for a response.

  “I’m having trouble getting in contact with them,” Octavio said to me, hanging up his phone after another failed attempt.

  “Well, call them again. They’ve had enough time to themselves.”

  “Ms. Zara, what needs to be done will be done. He will need time to recover from his injuries in any case. He won’t go into his next fight unless he’s able.”

  “Yes, he will. Henry isn’t the type to back down because of a few bruised ribs. Just… try again, Octavio.”

  “Why exactly is it you needed to see them again?”

  “Because we need to plan for his next fight, that’s why. The sooner it’s booked, the sooner we all get paid.”

  Octavio nodded then once again tried to get in contact with them. It had only been a few days since I’d seen them. The truth was that this was about more than just the fight though. I had grown somewhat attached to seeing Henry. A part of me wanted to spend time with him. It was the same part of me that enjoyed the way he ravaged me the one night his hormones got the best of him. My body had a craving that hadn’t been satisfied in a long time.

  “Maxwell,” Octavio said as he spoke into the phone. “Ms. Zara would like to speak to you. With Henry. Is he capable?”

  I listened attentively as I waited for Octavio to tell me what I wanted to hear.

  “Good,” Octavio said. “Make your way here as soon as possible. Ms. Zara has business to discuss with you.”

  Octavio ended the phone call and told me that they were both on their way. Henry had recovered sufficiently enough from his injuries. I sat on my couch in eager anticipation of their arrival. After what seemed like an eternity, the doors opened and Maxwell and Henry stepped through the doors. Henry’s head was bandaged along with one of his hands. I sat up from my seat and stared at them.

  “What did I tell you about your outfit?” I said to Henry.

  “What does it matter any longer?” he replied. “Everybody who will be attending the next fight already knows what I’m capable of. There’s no need to dress me up any longer.”

  “… I suppose.”

  I sighed as I leaned back in my chair. I instructed Octavio to make a drink for Maxwell and me while I turned on the television to scout our next opponent.

  “So, what’s going on?” Maxwell said as he rubbed his hands together. “Who’s the next chump Henry is going to knock on his ass?”

  “I think Henry is ready for a step up in competition,” I said. “It’s time to stop playing games.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Wilson was a good fighter. Too good. He was a favorite and more than capable. Now than Henry has beaten him, there isn’t much competition left already. He exceeded expectations after only two fights in The Pit.”

  “So what are you saying?” Maxwell asked. “There has to be someone who can get us the odds we want.”

  “There is.”

  I clicked through the television through all of the various fighter profiles. I stopped when I found what I was looking for.

  “And here he is,” I said.

  “You’re not serious, are you?” Maxwell said.

  “I’m very serious.”

  “Who is he?” Henry asked.

  “His name is Anderson,” I said.

  “That man is dangerous,” Maxwell said. “You don’t seriously expect to put Henry in the ring with him.”

  “I’m very serious, Maxwell. You don’t think Henry is capable of winning?”

  “It’s not that. It’s…”

  We watched the highlights of Anderson as he decimated each of his opponents. He was a man that was just as tall and imposing as Henry’s last opponent. The only difference was that he moved with the swiftness of someone half his size. I knew all about Anderson. I had studied him for years. I just never found the opportunity to ask him for a fight.

  “Anderson has killed men in the ring before,” Maxwell said. “I don’t think this is worth it. There has to be someone else.”

  “There is no one else,” I explained. “Not only did Henry beat Wilson, he spared him. He’s a fan favorite. The only way we could get people to look the other way is if we get a fighter like Anderson.”

  “Yeah but—”

  “I’ll put it to you like this,” I interrupted Maxwell. “You get ten-percent of all of the winnings I get. Anderson won’t fight if he’s playing for chump change. We’re talking millions of dollars here.”

  “I don’t need millions of dollars,” Henry said. “I only need enough to get by.”

  “I know that. That’s why you’ll only get a percentage. Beat Anderson and you’ll have more than enough money for the rest of your life. You’ll never have to fight again. Hell, you’ll never have to work again. You can retire.”

  Maxwell and Henry stared at one another while they considered my proposal. I knew that they couldn’t turn down what I was offering to them. This was the opportunity of a lifetime.

  “So, what do you say, boys?” I asked. “Shall I get in contact with Anderson’s people and tell him to book his flight here?”

  Henry stared at the screen with the same intensity he always had. I turned toward the television and observed it as well. Anderson looked impressive even on the television screen. His hulking muscles were hidden by his dark skin in a way that made it look like they were trying to jump out of his body. His head was shaved clean along with the rest of his face. Tattoos adorned both of his arms and worked their way all over his chest.

  “It’s your call, Henry,” Maxwell said to him.

  “I�
�ll think about it,” Henry said. “This isn’t a decision I can make right now.”

  “Henry,” I exclaimed.

  “I’ll make the decision when I’m ready,” he said.

  “Very well, Henry. But don’t wait too long. In the mean time, Octavio, get in touch with Anderson’s people. Check to make sure that his schedule is clear in the next few weeks.”

  “It will be done, Ms. Zara,” Octavio said to me.

  He moved to the side of the room and began making the phone call. I clicked the television off and stood up from my seat.

  “I suppose you’ll need to get ready for your next fight, Anderson or not,” I said. “Maxwell, make sure your boy is ready.”

  “Don’t worry,” Maxwell said to me. “Henry will be ready to fight when he needs to be.”

  “Let’s go,” Henry said.

  Before the two of them could leave, I stopped them.

  “Henry,” I said. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “What is there to discuss?” he asked.

  “Henry, please.”

  “All right, Lanea. Go ahead.”

  “In private.”

  He sighed then looked over at Maxwell. They knew better than to argue with one another. Maxwell shrugged his shoulders then excused himself from my suite.

  “Octavio,” I said. “Keep Maxwell entertained while I discuss my business with Henry.”

  “As you wish, Ms. Zara.”

  Octavio quickly left the room and I was once again alone with Henry. I stood there in front of him in nothing but a bathrobe. I smiled at him in an attempt to crack him but he wouldn’t budge. He only stared back at me with a look of resentment on his face.

  “Do you loathe my company so much that you can’t enjoy it, Henry?”

  “We already went over this, Lanea. I know who and what you are.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  I turned my back to him and paced around the room. I searched my head for the best thing to say to him. As I looked out of the window and down onto the city, I started to smile.

  “You’re wrong,” I said to him. “From up here, I can look down upon everybody. I see people who are going about their day and trying to make a living. They work their nine-to-fives just for the chance at another day. They struggle their entire lives, rarely getting the opportunity to enjoy themselves.

  “But the problem with being up here is that I don’t get the complete picture. I’m so far away from them that I can’t see that they’re more than just people who are less fortunate than I am.”

  I turned around and slowly made my way back to Henry.

  “You’re one of those people,” I said. “One of those people who works so hard. You’re not asking for thousands of dollars. You’re just looking for an opportunity to make a living. And I can see that now.”

  “What do you want, Lanea?”

  “I just want to thank you. You made me a lot of money and I want to show my appreciation.”

  “Lanea—”

  “Henry, please. Why is it so hard for you to accept my gratitude? I truly am grateful for how hard you’re working for me.”

  I stared into his eyes, trying to get him to see things from my perspective. His silence told me that I was getting through to him in some way, even if it wasn’t completely.

  “I know that this is just a business relationship,” I said. “But is there any harm if there’s anything more? I can see it in your eyes, Henry. There’s something there. You’re a man. There’s a fire that burns inside of you. It’s more than just a simple desire for my body. I want you to know that it’s okay. I want you to win not just because of the money but because I care about you.”

  I leaned in closer to Henry. As I moved my face nearer to his, I hoped and prayed that he wouldn’t reject me. I closed my eyes and suddenly found my lips pressing against his. I did my best to stop from smiling as I kissed him. After a few moments, Henry pulled his lips away from me.

  “We shouldn’t,” he said.

  “You shouldn’t mix business with pleasure,” I said. “But there’s an exception to every rule.”

  “Lanea—”

  “Take the fight with Anderson,” I whispered to him.

  I placed my hand upon his chest and wrapped my other arm around him. He didn’t resist me as I hugged his hard body and leaned against him.

  “I don’t want you to take the fight just because we can both make a lot of money,” I said. “It’s because I know you can beat him and you can finally stop having to fight just to make a living. And I can stop, too. There will be no reason for me to watch any of these fights. I’ll have found the man and the fighter I’ve been looking for all this time.”

  I hugged Henry as tight as I could. His rigid muscles pushed through my bathrobe and pressed into my soft skin. I slowly pulled away from him and looked up into his eyes. I could see a tenderness in his stare that I hadn’t noticed before.

  “You’re not like any other man I’ve ever met, Henry. If you can beat Anderson, you can end this. You can change me.”

  I stood there in front of him, waiting for his response. He exhaled a deep breath through his nostrils and looked around the room. He finally looked back at me. I tried to hide my anticipation of hearing exactly what I wanted him to say.

  “…Okay,” he said. “Book the fight with Anderson. I’ll beat him.”

  “You will,” I smiled. “And when you do, you’ll get all of the rewards that come with it.”

  I leaned in close to him and kissed him softly on the cheek. As I pulled away, Henry didn’t look back at me. He quickly turned around and left the room.

  “Please make sure that you send Octavio back in here when you see him,” I said. “I have to inform him to get in touch with Anderson’s people.”

  Henry didn’t respond. He opened the door and disappeared behind it. When the door clicked, a smirk developed on my face. I made my way over to the bar and made myself a drink. I was giddy with delight. Henry was still recovering from his injuries but I still managed to convince him to take the fight on such short notice. I had him exactly where I wanted him.

  Octavio returned shortly while I took my seat back upon the couch.

  “Is everything in order, Ms. Zara?”

  “Yes. I’ve convinced Henry to take the fight.”

  “I expected as much. I’ll get in touch with Anderson’s people to let them know of your interest.”

  “Everything is going according to plan. Once Anderson confirms that he’ll be heading over here, bring all of the bettors together. Lucas and all of his friends. Everybody with money.”

  “Ms. Zara?”

  “Anderson fights overseas. They won’t know much about him. I’ll make them realize that Anderson isn’t that much better than Wilson.”

  “And when they do, they’ll decide to bet on Henry.”

  “Precisely. Everybody will bet on Henry. And when they do, Francis will give me the odds I want on Anderson. I’ll win big and we can move on from this.”

  “Anderson has quite the reputation, Ms. Zara. Is there any concern that he might bring Henry to a permanent end?”

  I considered what Octavio said. It had already crossed my mind before but my answer hadn’t changed. This was the plan since the beginning. I just never expected Henry to be so adamant about getting this far.

  “You’ve seen good fighters before, Octavio. There have been men inside of The Pit that were champions. But just as soon as they reached the top, they quickly fell down. I saw that with Fabian. I saw that with everyone that came before him. Henry is different.”

  “In what way?”

  “Henry is a fighter. Not just in the ring but in life. He has a resolve that’s greater than anything you can learn in a gym or see in a video. I can’t describe it. It’s partly why I—”

  I stopped myself before I continued. I had almost grown attached to Henry but shook away the thoughts. I was only attracted to him because of what
he looked like. The rest of his admirable qualities were simply means to making more money.

  “Anderson is putting the man out of his misery. There is no point in him continuing his life. There are so many men who struggle through their lives. That’s the reason they’re here in the first place. They fight because they have no other option. I’m doing him a favor by offering him this fight. He’ll be better off for it.”

  “You have such an exquisite way of putting things, Ms. Zara.”

  “It’s not the way I’m putting it. I’m only telling the truth.”

  Everything was in place. Now all I had to do was wait for Anderson to arrive so that I could finally celebrate what this was all building up to.

  Chapter 18 - Lanea

  The hardest part was convincing Henry to take the fight. Now that he agreed to a bout with Anderson, all of the other pieces would fall into place.

  I instructed Octavio to host another get-together in the lobby of my building. It was reserved for only those who had the money to splurge down in The Pit. These were the bettors I knew would be more than willing to put their money at risk on the big fight I had planned.

  I stood in front of the small group as they gathered around me. All of them were talking among one another. Men in suits accompanied by hussies in tacky dresses. I was going to enjoy emptying all of their pockets.

  “Good evening, everyone,” I said to all of them. “As you know, The Pit has been hosting underground fights for several years now. It’s become the hot spot of entertainment for the city’s elite. I’m glad to have been responsible for so many years of entertainment. My goal is always to give you all a form of entertainment that you can’t find anywhere else.”

  “What is this about, Lanea?” Lucas said to me from his seat. “You’ve never spoken about this outside of the arena.”

  I looked over at the old man as he began to get the crowd riled up. I coughed and cleared my throat to quiet them down again.

  “Thank you for interrupting me, Lucas,” I said to him. “I was just getting to that. In only a few days, The Pit will play host to the biggest fight in its history.”

  I could sense the eager anticipation from the crowd. I had to stop myself from smiling as they waited for me to make the big announcement.