Knuckle Up

Trouble

Jared was already in his office when I showed up. He does this whenever he signs a new fighter to ensure there aren’t any mistakes or loopholes in their contract. The world didn’t deserve his humbleness. He was so kind even when he went through tough situations which would have made a person think he would be angry with everyone. Only it was the other way around. Jared is tough on being truthful with his fighters and never makes a promise he can’t uphold.

By the time Jared realized that it was morning and he has stayed up through the whole night—I made sure I picked up clean clothes and ordered coffee and breakfast.

He gave me a grateful smile when his things arrived. “What would I do without you?” He asked. Eyes filled with exhaustion.

“Probably starving and running late for your heap of meetings,” I held up the files he required to make it through the day.

He looked at the files with a hopeless look in his eye. “I guess taking an early day is out of the question,” Jared noted and accepted the files.

“I will have Starbucks on hold for the rest of the day to ensure you get through,” I only teased. Jared wasn’t much of a caffeine lover. He loves one cup a day and rest of the day he will take a protein shake and down two gallons of water.

“I might just take you up on that,” He turned slowly and put out a foot in front but he halted for a second. He turned back around to look at me again.

“I’ve wanted to ask you this since I found you brawling in the underground,” Jared said crossing his arms in front of his chest making the shirt he was wearing pull tight around his muscular biceps and making them pop.

I controlled my brow from rising.

“Why fight in the underground and not ask me to sign you?” He asked. “It’s obvious you are talented. Hell, you’ve got more talent than half the guys I’ve signed and you can make so much more with UFC, EFC or Invicta FC,"

I smiled at him. “I am not a limelight seeker. It’s an after-work activity to ensure I don’t punch the next guy who comes through those doors where I have to listen to them talking about my ass,” It's been a long time dream of me to sign with UFC but who my father is, put a halt of my dreams.

Jared’s face lit up like a Christmas tree before laughter erupted from his broad chest. “You don’t even flinch, Sabrina. It’s hard to consider you throwing a punch out of anger,”

“The first rule of MMA is to calm the storms and find your centre,” It’s a meditation technique each fighter goes through before getting inside the cage to exchange blows with their opponent.

“You know a lot for someone who pretends she doesn’t know anything about fighters getting into a sparring match,” He noted.

I raised my shoulders. “There’s a thin line between work and what I do after I leave my desk,”

“Maybe you should really consider getting signed. With fists like yours—I am pretty sure you can start a war and make your way to the top,” Jared said with determination.

“Your business speech is appealing but I have to pass,” Maybe if I had a different surname I would have jumped at his proposal and let him sign me but I love how things were working out for me in the underground. I was just a faceless warrior kicking ass and getting paid. Out there in the real world, I will have a face and have cameras shoved into my private life.

The underground is a place where an amateur fighter can release aggression or to kill beef. Some fighters brawl to try and find themselves while some do it for the attention. I was the one who was refining her skills for the one day I am ready to go out in front of cameras.

Jared wasn’t impressed with how I was pushing this topic about me aside but he didn’t bring it up before leaving to get to his meetings but I knew he will bring it up again once he gets a chance.

He was a determined man and there wasn’t a single soul with the talent he will overlook. If we were in a different century, I would have considered ripping his shirt apart and throwing him over his desk while my tongue was penetrating his mouth.

Fortunately for him, I knew how to control my emotions around him and create a distinctive line between my small crush on him and work. I didn’t want to become one of those girls who sleep with her boss. I wasn’t a dirty girl looking to play with fire with the knowledge of getting her hands burned.

When the office door shut behind Jared, I got up from my chair and went to refill my cup with tea. Jared has built an empire over the course of five years and by so he has employed quite a lot of people. People I barely hang out with. I got hurt by people who were supposed to love me and accept me for who I am.

Staying with her my father created a dark cloud that follows me around wherever I go. My pitiful life is too much for people to handle and they leave before they even get to know me. The judging faces of people I used to call my friends were enough to make me nauseous.

I heard the other employees talk about Jared as if he was their friend and the female interns couldn’t stop to express their delight in his handsome looks and riches.

“Sabrina,”

I raised my head at Jared calling my name. I caught a few eyes focusing on me while Jared made his way over to me.

The first thought that crossed my mind is that I did something wrong and he was upset with me but there wasn’t any rage in his eyes when we locked eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I asked wishing he could have waited for me at my desk. He was supposed to be in a meeting.

“You are heading out with me. Clay got into trouble,” He ordered without removing his eyes from me.

“Trouble? What kind of trouble?” Isn’t this the part where he lets law enforcement do their jobs?

“I will explain on the way. Grab your things and meet me outside,” He didn’t give me any time to react as he left the lunchroom in a hurry.

I didn’t even bother with my tea as I gathered my things as ordered and met him outside where he was waiting for me in his SUV.

“Are you going to tell me what kind of trouble Clay got himself into?” I asked, fastening the seat belt after I got in the passenger side.

“He is caught fighting in the underground,” Jared said with a clenched jaw.

I blinked and looked at him. I was a bit confused by his anger towards Clay for fighting in the underground. Every fighter started somewhere. “What’s wrong with fighting in the underground?” I asked.

“The police just raided one of the fights,” Jared said with a hopeless gaze.

“So, Clay is in cuffs and you were called to bail him out,” I noted and realized why Jared dragged me along. I pulled out my phone to check every site that could have published a story of Clay’s arrest. Oregon law specifically bans mutual combat and illegal fighting doesn't fall in the agreement that is authorized by the law.

“His dad already bailed him out but the media is going to be all over this,” Jared remarked.

“I am not getting much. Just some articles about arrests but their names weren’t mentioned,” I informed Jared and watched him pull up in front of the gym I have been working out at for the last five years.

I was aware that Clay Agos has some kind of celebrity coach who is famous for turning fighters into the best. Coach Mason was good but he wasn’t one of the names who fell under the lines of training champions.

I followed Jared out of the car but I could barely keep up with his big strides and I was completely unaware of how this was going to play out. I kicked off my heels to catch up with his strides and almost found myself colliding into his stiff back when he came to a sudden stop.

Jared glanced at me over his shoulder and I stepped out behind him to his side finding coach Mason sitting beside a bloodied Clay Agos. His eyes were swollen. His nose was crooked from the punches he took and both his lips were busted.

He took quite a beating but that was the reality of fighting in the underground. There were no rules. Nobody cares about you fighting to the death. It’s all about the entertainment and how much they are cashing in.

The underground wasn’t made for the weak and certainly not fighters like Clay Agos who didn’t know what true violence felt like. "What were you thinking, Clay? I organized a fight for you that is happening in two months and this action of yours might just close the doors before they are even opened," UFC doesn't allow their fighters to get involved in something illegal. No substances are allowed. Neither is fighting in the underground.

Jared was talking to him but I could barely concentrate on what he was saying to him. Coach Mason was looking at me with an arched eyebrow and I knew exactly what was going through his mind.

“Never thought I will ever see you in a skirt and heels,” Coach Mason remarked getting to his feet.

Jared stopped talking to Clay simultaneously to look at me. “You two know each other?” Jared asked.

I shrugged. “Every fighter has to learn to calm the storm from someone who knows what it takes to become the best version of themselves,”