Read Online Romance: Her Fighter by Penny Ward - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Penny Ward
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students coming in, there’s no money coming in.”
I sat down in the chair across from Mitch, knowing that this was going to take a little longer than I’d anticipated.
I didn’t mind.
I understood his need to tell someone his issues.
Maybe it wasn’t the most professional thing, but I’d come to realize that most of what Mitch did wasn’t in the professional sense but because he felt like it and it kept his employees happy to work with him despite the lack of funds coming their way.
He was a decent boss.
“Did you know that this place used to brim with students? We had people come from everywhere to train with our fighters. We went to every competition that existed and brought back hundreds of awards.”
I knew all of that.
I’d seen all the medals and trophies lining the walls.
There was always names etched into them, whether the name of the winners or the title of the competition itself. This place had been a big deal, once upon a time.
It was Mitch’s hope that this competition coming up would return it to its glory days, and in a way, I hoped for the same thing. I liked working here, and I really had no desire to leave. I didn’t want this to be a temporary job.
I wanted it to be a permanent one.
When I left Mitch’s office, it was hard not to look out at the training floor while returning to my office, but somehow, I managed it.
I had a few more pieces of paperwork to file and I wanted to clean up a little before I left for home.
First thing's first, I needed to call a cab to pick me up.
There was no way I was going to let Ryan walk me home.
Not after today.
Calling a cab only took a couple of minutes and cleaning the office a couple more after that.
I’d told the cab to be there in fifteen.
What could I do with that remaining time?
I didn’t know, but I didn’t want to stay holed up in my office just to avoid Ryan.
I was avoiding him.
I didn’t really have anything to say to him that would come out pleasant or nice.
Worse, I was afraid I might break down if I were to stick around and talk to him.
No, it was better that I avoid him for the time being.
The sound of yelling drifted through the wooden barrier of a door.
It was Derrick.
There was no mistaking his voice. His words were a little harder to distinguish, but I knew he was yelling at Ryan.
Feeling a bit like an eavesdropper, I creaked the door open to listen to what was being said. It wasn’t that hard.
I only had to open it a crack to hear Derrick as he tore into Ryan.
“You need to stop thinking about that woman and concentrate on this match!” he screamed. I knew that if I could see him, he was probably clenching his fists and beet red in the face. As it was, I could see Ryan’s face through the crack. There was a shame-faced expression I’d never seen cross his features before.
It was odd to see, and I felt a slight ache in my heart.
Was I the cause of such pain? Was I the woman Derrick spoke of?
There was no telling, really.
“You have to win this match, Ryan. You know how important it is—not just for me or you, but for this gym. Do you like working here?” I couldn’t hear his low reply from where I stood. “If you want to continue working here, you need to pull your head out of your ass, do something about the woman, and get your head on the mat again. And now.”
With a disgruntled huff, Derrick walked away, leaving Ryan alone looking at the floor in shame.
He appeared to be vulnerable and unsure.
Seeing Ryan that way was heartbreaking, in a way.
As if he knew I was watching, he looked up at me, catching my eyes.
The pain in his eyes was clear, and I knew I was the cause of it.
It didn’t matter why.
I was the cause.
I didn’t understand that when it was him with a new girlfriend, not the other way around, but I knew it was true.
A car horn honked outside, signaling the arrival of my cab.
Closing the office door behind me, I turned away from Ryan and
I sat down in the chair across from Mitch, knowing that this was going to take a little longer than I’d anticipated.
I didn’t mind.
I understood his need to tell someone his issues.
Maybe it wasn’t the most professional thing, but I’d come to realize that most of what Mitch did wasn’t in the professional sense but because he felt like it and it kept his employees happy to work with him despite the lack of funds coming their way.
He was a decent boss.
“Did you know that this place used to brim with students? We had people come from everywhere to train with our fighters. We went to every competition that existed and brought back hundreds of awards.”
I knew all of that.
I’d seen all the medals and trophies lining the walls.
There was always names etched into them, whether the name of the winners or the title of the competition itself. This place had been a big deal, once upon a time.
It was Mitch’s hope that this competition coming up would return it to its glory days, and in a way, I hoped for the same thing. I liked working here, and I really had no desire to leave. I didn’t want this to be a temporary job.
I wanted it to be a permanent one.
When I left Mitch’s office, it was hard not to look out at the training floor while returning to my office, but somehow, I managed it.
I had a few more pieces of paperwork to file and I wanted to clean up a little before I left for home.
First thing's first, I needed to call a cab to pick me up.
There was no way I was going to let Ryan walk me home.
Not after today.
Calling a cab only took a couple of minutes and cleaning the office a couple more after that.
I’d told the cab to be there in fifteen.
What could I do with that remaining time?
I didn’t know, but I didn’t want to stay holed up in my office just to avoid Ryan.
I was avoiding him.
I didn’t really have anything to say to him that would come out pleasant or nice.
Worse, I was afraid I might break down if I were to stick around and talk to him.
No, it was better that I avoid him for the time being.
The sound of yelling drifted through the wooden barrier of a door.
It was Derrick.
There was no mistaking his voice. His words were a little harder to distinguish, but I knew he was yelling at Ryan.
Feeling a bit like an eavesdropper, I creaked the door open to listen to what was being said. It wasn’t that hard.
I only had to open it a crack to hear Derrick as he tore into Ryan.
“You need to stop thinking about that woman and concentrate on this match!” he screamed. I knew that if I could see him, he was probably clenching his fists and beet red in the face. As it was, I could see Ryan’s face through the crack. There was a shame-faced expression I’d never seen cross his features before.
It was odd to see, and I felt a slight ache in my heart.
Was I the cause of such pain? Was I the woman Derrick spoke of?
There was no telling, really.
“You have to win this match, Ryan. You know how important it is—not just for me or you, but for this gym. Do you like working here?” I couldn’t hear his low reply from where I stood. “If you want to continue working here, you need to pull your head out of your ass, do something about the woman, and get your head on the mat again. And now.”
With a disgruntled huff, Derrick walked away, leaving Ryan alone looking at the floor in shame.
He appeared to be vulnerable and unsure.
Seeing Ryan that way was heartbreaking, in a way.
As if he knew I was watching, he looked up at me, catching my eyes.
The pain in his eyes was clear, and I knew I was the cause of it.
It didn’t matter why.
I was the cause.
I didn’t understand that when it was him with a new girlfriend, not the other way around, but I knew it was true.
A car horn honked outside, signaling the arrival of my cab.
Closing the office door behind me, I turned away from Ryan and
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