Knockout

Chapter 7

I straighten my skirt for the umpteenth time. My finger nervously lingers on the black button next to the entrance of the Annihilation Gym. I can't even pretend anymore—I'm excited to see Xander again. Quite frankly, the feeling is as unwelcome as my interaction with Daniel was this morning, even if I reluctantly admit he had a tiny point.

Kyle had been my first boyfriend, and we'd been together for nearly seven years. I'd missed out on the butterflies, the heartbreak and excitement of crushes and disappointments that had occupied the other girls' teen years. I hadn't missed it at the time. I was far too entwined with ballet and Kyle to care, but now I'm single and with two men in my life who can leave me tongue-tied and with an ache between my thighs every time I see them.

I don't have time for any of it. Getting back into the company—that is my goal. That is all I need. I have to end the distractions. Both of them.

Xander's jacket feels warm under my palms. My thoughts have been wrapped around that leather all day. That rich scent of leather, oil and dark spice engulfed my whole bag, and then my room and slowly my life. Did I take it to him myself? Send it? Or plead with someone else to take it back?

A buzzer sounds and I tug open the heavy door and stalk up the metal steps, my heels clacking on the surface. Behind me taxis war on the busy road. The air of the street is thick with the smell of fried food and traffic fumes. It all drops away as the door closes behind me.

The steps lead to a large monochrome room, filled with only one long desk and a couple of doors. A gleaming circle staircase behind the desk leads up to another couple of floors. Walls made entirely of glass lead to a view of London or into a spacious, modern gym.

Unlike Dad's gym that's held together by congealed sweat and duct tape, this is all shiny new weight machines and row after row of black punching bags. Men and women in the latest gym gear wander about, sweat shimmering on toned and muscled flesh.

"Can I help you?" A deep voice disturbs my thoughts. I turn to see a tall, black-haired man walk behind the empty desk, his icy-blue eyes narrowing. A scar runs down through an eyebrow matching the silver streak in his hair. He's wearing top to toe gym clothes, the "Annihilation" logo stretching across his broad chest.

"I'm uh... I'm looking for Xander." I grip the jacket tighter, suddenly too aware of how I shouldn't be here. A couple of people walk past, glancing at me briefly. In my leather skirt and knee-high boots, I'm clearly not here to work out.

He grunts and raises his eyebrow even higher.

"I think you've wandered into the wrong gym, Miss Rose. Shouldn't you be looking for Daniel Knight." His gruff words, uttered with black humour, instantly turn my nerves to indignation. I step forward, but slowly. My face controlled, my hips telling a different story. His firm expression dips just a little. I hold up the jacket and smile sweetly enough I could rot his straight white teeth.

"I just want to give him this. He left it at the Team Knight event last night. I guess he must have gotten lost somewhere too."

A low growl emits from the back of his throat, and he rolls his eyes. Mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like "fucking Xander." He leans forward on the counter, dark tattoos leap out from his knuckles.

"I'm not here to poison his energy drink, OK? Can you just tell me... is he here, or isn't he?"

He stares at me silently, and I huff, my hand snapping to my hip.

"I could take that, save you dragging yourself all the way to the practice ring in those heels." He smirks, knowing he has me. Knowing full well I want to hand this to Xander myself for reasons I'm trying my best not to analyse.