Chapter 6
After I left the locker room, I knew Javier went straight to the office to smooth things over with her.
I went back to the speed bag but couldn’t concentrate. My eyes kept swinging to the office window, and I was glad he opened the blinds. I watched her grin at something he said. I wanted to yank him out of there by his shirt but went the safer route—training.
Javier is a good person. He has a way of making people feel at ease but couldn’t help myself.
I can tell he is pissed that I barged in, pushing the door open, interrupting his conversation with our new employee by his hard stare. He knows not to make a scene in front of the guys. He needs to leave her to do the job she was hired to do.
Besides, what if she doesn’t last the week? I’m a well- known fighter, and the last thing I need is a female selling a story on how she met Rey “The Silent King” Vicente to the tabloids for a payday.
Javier: Why did you open the door like that and tell me to leave the office? I don’t start training until tomorrow.
Rey: You were in there long enough. She can start organizing and cleaning the office before she starts the paperwork. Then she can deal with the merchandise. It will take her a week to get that place decent enough to start on the files anyway.
Javier: You should introduce yourself. She’s nice. I think she will be good for us. She already found the employee form and filled it out without me even telling her to do it. She took the initiative. It looks like she’s had a rough couple of days.
A rough couple of days?
Javier pockets his phone, grabs a clear bag from the ice machine, and fills it with ice. He ties the knot and grabs a towel.
I pinch my brows in worry. Why does he need ice? Is he hurt? How did he get hurt when he hasn’t trained today? I tap him on the shoulder and nudge my chin toward the bag of ice.
He holds out the bag. I take it while he places the towel over his shoulder. He slides his phone out and texts me.
My phone vibrates, and I hand him the bag of ice so I can take it out of my pocket.
Javier: Relax, It’s not for me. It’s for her shoulder. She thought I didn’t notice it bothered her when she handed me the paper.
I fired a quick text and almost regretted it. I shouldn’t give a shit.
Rey: How ?
He shakes his head and texts me before grabbing the bag of ice and towel.
Javier: She didn’t say.
Every weekday for the past week, I look at the time on my phone every fifteen minutes starting at 2:15. When it’s finally three o’clock, the front door to the gym opens, and she walks in. Aria Jenson, but I’ve seen my brother call her Ari.
I looked at her file from the background check we had done on her. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She’s an only child with a clean record and working-class parents. That’s all I read. I could have hired someone to dig for more, but I didn’t. Her personal life is none of my business.
When she shuts the door, I don’t miss the way the guys stop to look for a second. She must be aware of the attention because she hurries toward the office. Right before she shuts the door, her eyes scan the gym until they find mine and every time, I look away.
I haven’t introduced myself, nor do I feel the need to. She comes in on time, stays late, and handles the office. My brother convinced me to make her a key a couple of days ago so she could lock up. I’m not sure I like the idea of her being the last one to lock up on her own. It’s not that I don’t trust her, but I keep telling myself I care for her safety. But deep down, I know it’s more than that.