The Race

by Alice Ward

  And that was just within the first five pages. I’d just finished reading up on the benefits when there was a knock at the door. A few seconds later, a young man in a crisp-looking uniform of a white button-up, black trousers, and black tie came up alongside me and offered me an empty glass.

  I took it, about to object that I could drink straight from the bottle when he opened the bottle of mineral water and filled the glass before walking around the desk and doing the same for my soon-to-be sponsor. Then he set down a veggie and cheese tray and disappeared right back out the door.

  “Help yourself,” Caleb said, watching me with those intense eyes.

  My stomach was so tied in knots I thought I’d better not put anything in it. “I think I’ll just focus on water for now, thanks,” I said, turning back to the contract.

  I was no expert, but everything seemed pretty fair. I had an active choice in pretty much everything I did. I had the responsibility of showing up to fights, doing my best to keep healthy, and training as hard as I could, but that was about it. No signing my life away. Mr. Birchmeir didn’t control everything. Instead, he would be responsible for everything but the fighting and take all financial risk.

  Even the pay was pretty fair too. I was paid my stipend of three grand per month, and that would be raised to five grand once I was actually fighting, with performance bonuses based on my wins. Birchmeir & Cain — whoever Cain was — would be paid a majority of my winnings and any sort of ads I picked up until the expenses of my initial training and promotion were covered, and then I would be getting a solid ninety percent while my sponsor received only ten. I could see how it was a good business idea for him. If I was a success, he would be making a nice penny off my winnings.

  “You’re a good business bet,” he said as if he’d heard what I was thinking. “Your success would open the door to bringing more athletes on. Maybe start an entire fighting network. The opportunities would be exponential.”

  “A fighting network,” I repeated. The idea was amazing and lit a fire in my blood, which I contributed to the rising heat in my body, not the man studying me so thoughtfully.

  It took a solid hour, with me going back to reread parts to make sure I understood them correctly, but the longer I paged through the contract, the more I realized that this was real. Somehow, fate was smiling down on me, offering a door to the big leagues.

  “Do you have a pen?” I asked finally, setting the stack in front of me.

  If he was surprised, he didn’t let it show. “So, you’ve decided already?”

  “Yes. I have. I would love to work with you, and I think we could make a great team.” In truth, I didn’t care if we made the worst team. He had the means to help me achieve my dream career, and that was enough for me. It would be a bonus to be able to take in his magnificent form from time to time.

  His voice dropped the tiniest bit lower as he smiled, and the tension within me ramped up. Geeze, I really needed to get laid. “I’m glad we could reach an accord.” Reaching into his desk again, he pulled out a beautiful gold pen and handed it to me.

  He called Chris back in to witness as I quickly initialed, initialed, signed and then initialed once more before handing the pen back. He did likewise, and just like that, my life was changed forever.

  “Now that that’s settled, would you like to look at the coaches I thought would be the best match?”

  “Oh, that would be amazing.” I couldn’t stop a grin from taking over my face. I felt like I could do aerial arts with no equipment to help.

  “While you decide, I’ll get in touch with payroll and have them issue you a check then run it here before you leave.”

  I should’ve stopped being surprised by the way he could make things happen on command by now, but I couldn’t help the slight widening of my eyes as I comprehended what he said. “Wait, I get paid today?”

  “It’s a well-known fact that financial stress can distract from any sort of performance, so I would prefer you not having to worry about your bills or groceries. And your diet will change, become more expensive as you fuel your body with what it needs. We’ll discuss a dietician later. So yes, you will be paid today. I would like to get this ball rolling as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

  “Right, yes, of course.” My mind struggled to comprehend the idea that I was about to be handed a cool three grand after the money I’d received last night. He seemed to have a sort of flippant attitude about money. What a strange thing to be so loaded that handing over a trio of stacks was a blasé affair.

  Our eyes locked across the space of the desk and a current of something — familiarity, interest — passed between us.

  I took a second to control my breathing. “So, who’re these coaches?”

  He gave a half smile and turned his chair away as he pulled his phone out and pressed some prompts, and suddenly a white screen was rolling down from the ceiling against the wall behind his desk, and a projector booted up from over our heads.

  After just a few seconds, I was looking at headshots of two middle-aged men and one woman, all who displayed a level of fitness that was impressive.

  “These are the top coaches who have availability and are willing to work in our area. We have Bradley Steiner, Felicia Tanaka, and Andre Cianetti.” He then went into a long and involved slideshow of all their pros and cons.

  Yet again, I found myself a bit in shock from how fast everything was moving and the quality of the resources he was providing. I knew that each of these coaches demanded toward the six-figure range for just preparing a fighter to go pro, and that didn’t include all the help they would need once they actually did get into the professional leagues. They would provide first-rate services that I would never have been able to afford on my own.

  By the time the presentation ended, my brain was threatening to shut down from information overload. My mind was filled with stats, teaching styles, and win/loss ratios, leaving room for little else.

  “So, what are your thoughts?” Mr. Birchmeir asked, shutting down the system and turning back to me, roving my face with pale blue eyes that seemed to take in more than was fair. “Do you have a preference?”

  “I’m not entirely sure,” I answered honestly. While I liked to think of myself as a confident woman who knew what she wanted, I wasn’t afraid to admit when I wasn’t certain about something. “I’m leaning toward Andre, but Felicia also seems really great for my fighting style, and she’s a woman too, so she’ll understand more of what it’s like to be in my position.”

  “Fair enough. If you want my opinion, I recommend Andre. I believe he has the right style to really polish your technique and push through the plateaus.”

  I studied him for a second but looking into his eyes made me feel like I was trying to stare into the sun. I had the idea that he knew what he was talking about and that I should trust him. “Okay, Andre it is then.”

  “I’ll give him a call now and see if he’s available to come down.”

  “Wait. Now? As in right now?”

  He raised a single eyebrow as he picked up his phone once more. “Quick and efficient, remember?”

  “Oh… yeah.” I watched, a bit in awe, as he dialed up the trainer and got to talking. Less than a handful of minutes later, the man was hanging up and looking at me with quite the satisfied expression.

  “He says he’ll be able to make it here in half an hour, but I would expect an hour. If you want to get dressed and warmed up, you should be ready for your evaluation right when he gets here.”

  My heart rattled around in my ribcage. “He’s gonna evaluate me today?”

  His eyebrows came together. “This whole process will go much more smoothly if you stop questioning the expediency in which I do things.”

  I blinked. He was straightforward, I’d give him that. “I’ll try. But certainly you understand, it’s not every day a fighter is signed to a sponsor, coach, and is evaluated in less than twenty-four hours.”

  His face softened, and s
omething deep and wicked in my stomach twisted. “Of course, and I appreciate you putting your trust in me. Just believe that I don’t intend to waste either of our time.”

  “I’ll try to get that through my head. Thank you for everything, Mr. Birchmeir.”

  “Please, call me Caleb. My father is Mr. Birchmeir, and I think I have quite a few years before I reach his level of… experience.” He looked down at the contract for a moment then back to me. “You’ve only been in Louisville a few years. Moved from a small town.”

  That he knew more about me than I’d offered stunned me for a second.

  “I make it a point to thoroughly investigate any potential investment.”

  My cheeks went hot, and I cast about for an answer. “A farm. It was a transition, but necessary.”

  “Ah, that makes sense then. You’re pretty, Miss Cherry Bomb, but I’m sure you hear that all the time.” There was something about the way the man gave compliments that just made them feel so nice. Maybe it was because he didn’t change his tone or inflection to make it seem like he was intentionally giving his approval. He kept the same frank, low pitch he used for most things, and I found myself basking in the warmth of his regard.

  “Thank you. And no, most people don’t compliment me. Usually, it’s dirty jokes.” My cheeks got hotter when I realized what I’d said.

  One incredibly sexy eyebrow quirked up, and I found myself wanting to trace my finger over it. “Ah, bunch of bastards they are. Now, if you can remember your way to the locker rooms, I need to place the call to payroll I mentioned earlier. Feel free to ask Chris to get you some ice for your water, should you need it.”

  “Okay, I’ll catch you in a bit then.”

  He nodded and turned his attention back to the laptop on his desk. I showed myself out, thinking if I could ask Chris to ice me down I might be able to think. Somehow, I managed to make it to the end of the hall before my knees grew weak with everything that had happened in the past hour. Sinking to the floor, I took several deep breaths and tried to collect myself.

  Ever since Dad passed, my family had been struggling just to get to the next day. After years of clawing and biting for even the smallest bit of relief, we suddenly didn’t have to worry anymore. We’d made it, despite all of the odds stacked against us, we were finally on the other side. And I had to make sure we stayed there.

  “Are you alright, miss?”

  I looked up to see the same young man who had served us the mineral water and got back to my feet. “Yeah. Just needed a minute.”

  “I understand. Life around Caleb can be a little intense sometimes. Do you need anything?” The way he said it hinted at more than just Caleb’s personality.

  “Um… I think I might need the locker rooms pointed out to me again. I’m a bit turned around.”

  “No problem. Right this way.”

  In the women’s locker room, I managed not to dillydally in my admiration and changed into a spandex training outfit suitable for hitting the mats.

  Just like Mr. Bir — Caleb had said, Andre didn’t show up until an hour later, after I was warmed up. He strolled in exactly how I’d expected, in a tracksuit with his dark locks tied up neatly in a bun behind his head. Assessing blue eyes shown from a nut-colored complexion. He took one look at me, then Caleb, and walked straight over to the mats and ordered me through another warm-up.

  “I’ve warmed up already,” I informed him.

  To which he barked, “You haven’t done anything unless I’m here. You’ll have to go through it all again.”

  The next thing I knew, I was doing squats, pushups, lunges, and jump rope in rapid succession before we moved on to the punching bags.

  The rest of the evaluation went by in a sweat-drenched blur, and when it finally ended, I was exhausted.

  “Not bad,” Andre remarked casually. “But you really favor your right side, and you have far too little torsion behind your punches. Your reflexes aren’t where they could be on your left side, and you lead too much with your head. We definitely have our work cut out for us.”

  I swallowed pride that reared up at the critique. He was right. If I was good enough to be pro, then I would be professional. I needed him to be honest with me if I wanted to improve enough to make it to the big leagues.

  “Thank you, Andre,” Caleb said, startling me. I hadn’t realized he’d been watching from the corner of the room. The large man could move quietly. “Cherry, if you want to hit the showers, Andre and I will handle the paperwork.”

  “My least favorite part,” my new coach remarked, grabbing the bag he set on the ground when he entered.

  “But it is how you get paid.”

  The big man laughed. “Which is my favorite part, and that’s why I tolerate paperwork.” Coach Andre nodded to me, a kind expression crossing his broad features for the first time. “Good job, kid. I look forward to working with you.”

  “Likewise,” I panted, trying not to seem as out of breath as I was and failing miserably. “I’ll see you…”

  “Tomorrow,” he answered quickly. “At one p.m. sharp. Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t.”

  He gave me a short nod, and then the two men walked off, leaving me to limp to the showers.

  I took my time in the shower, enjoying the hot spray that lasted way longer than the water heater at my house could ever hope to aspire to. The curtain was thick and completely opaque, but unnecessary since the shower I’d chosen was in a spacious bathroom closed off to itself, and as nice as one you’d find at a spa.

  It had to be at least forty minutes before I walked out of the locker room, still slightly damp. My bag now felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, and I had to struggle to walk like everything was fine.

  I reached the entrance to see Caleb standing there, and the receptionist desk was now occupied by two women.

  “I thought I would offer to give you a lift home,” Caleb said, just as matter-of-fact as ever.

  “Oh. I-I’m good taking the bus. It gives me a chance to clear my head and wind down before I have to deal with my siblings.”

  “Please, I insist. If you won’t accept a ride from me, then I’ll call a driver for you. I’m sure you’re exhausted. As my investment, I need to make sure you arrive home safely.”

  I bristled a bit at being called an investment, but I guessed I was, and what he said made sense. Plus, I really was exhausted. I nodded and followed him to the fancy silver Mercedes parked at the curb.

  He opened the door for me, and I slid into a seat that felt like home. When he came around and started the engine, the sexy rumble of the engine made me wish he would step on the gas and see how fast it could go. When he turned to me and grinned, the adrenaline already rushing through my blood had me wishing he would lean over a few inches and kiss me. His blue eyes went straight to my lips and lingered there until there was no oxygen left in the car. Then he abruptly faced the windshield, threw it into gear and stomped on the gas, pinning me to the seat.

  His expression was tight and unreadable when he reached the speed limit and eased off the gas. “Do you have a large family?”

  “I guess so. There are six of us, including me.”

  “And you’re sure three thousand will be enough?”

  “Why, are you willing to offer me more?” I joked.

  He shot me a quick look. “If necessary. I’m just not sure how a family of six can live off so little.”

  Wow, he really had a whole different perspective on money. “My mom works too, so we’ll be fine. We’ve gotten by on a lot less.”

  I gave Caleb my address, and he typed it into the GPS. It hit me then that he would see where I lived. I’d never been self-conscious before about where I lived, but now a strange heat filled my body, warring with the tingling sensation that filled the air between us.

  It took only ten minutes to arrive in front of my house, and while Caleb didn’t look like he was judging the surroundings, there was a slight frown on his face.

&n
bsp; I didn’t know what to say, so I quickly opened the door. “You have a good day now, Caleb.”

  “You too.”

  I slammed the door before he could say anything else. It didn’t matter that I lived in an obviously poor area and he probably lived in a swanky condo. I already had plenty to digest and didn’t need to add anything else to my mental load.

  As I went up the walk to the front door, I felt his eyes on me the whole way and tried but failed to keep a satisfied grin from my face.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Caleb

  I hadn’t realized how hypertuned I was to the sound of the gym door ringing.

  For the past several weeks, I’d gradually begun changing my schedule to allow me to be here to witness some of her training. Her progress. Her.

  I’d told myself it was smart to be involved so thoroughly in a new sort of investment, but since my cock swelled when I glanced to the security camera feed on my computer to see Cherry walk in. Even the with the grainy picture, my libido picked up, my palms sweating. The truth was… I wanted her, dammit. I was drawn to her in a way I’d never been to a woman, had no control over it really, and that scared me. I didn’t have time to date, needed all of my focus elsewhere.

  She was a bit early and not looking as hurried as she had the first day she’d come in, since I’d started having a driver pick her up and take her home.

  I frowned as I followed her progression until I could see her from my office door.

  Her gym clothes were sculpted to her body, making it impossible for me to leave my desk just now. But they were cheap, as yesterday’s set had been. They did nothing to detract from her looks, molding tightly to curves wavy enough to give a weaker man a heart attack.

  I was going to need to buy her better gear if I wanted her to perform at peak proficiency. And she needed to look like she fit in under Birchmeir & Cain. I should wait until I was sure she was going to stick around. As with most investments, there was always the possibility that she could pan out or backfire, resulting in a loss.