Read Online Tapout (The Submission Fighter Book 3) by Sophia Hampton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sophia Hampton
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shoulder and stroking the small of his naked back as she whispered that she loved him no matter what happened that night.
But tonight, her place was with the other VIP family members of the fighters. As she took her seat nearest to the black metal of the octagon ring, she took note of the other women she was placed by. All were dressed as equally fine as her. They looked on passively as if this was just another day. They chatted amongst themselves or with the few celebrities scattered behind them.
Alice, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel the sickening butterflies in her chest—the same she experienced the first time she watched Micah fight at Tiger Sports Arena back home. The program she was given was nervously ripped to fine shreds of confetti by her within minutes. She just wanted this to be over.
As the final bell rang on the preceding match, she began to scan the room once more, hoping to snag a glimpse at her fighter as he waited in the wings. But her view was quickly blocked by the thrones of cameras and reporters who suddenly perched themselves directly in front of her. The masses seemed to scream at her, thrusting microphones in her face.
“What happened at the airport today, Miss Cross?”
“Alice Cross, are you the girl from the quarterfinals?”
“How long have you been seeing Micah? Do you think your relationship is gonna ruin his fight?”
They were like vultures swarming about her, waiting for a moment of weakness to spring on her. She spun her body wildly to the side, attempting to avoid them, but she was trapped in her leather seat. She instinctively shouted, “No comment!” as if she had practiced it a million times. From her side, she could hear the other VIP women laugh. Alice was obviously new and her inability to handle something so routine to them was pathetically humorous.
Suddenly, the group of reporters kneeling before her parted, as she was trampled by security guard. He made room for Lucy, who grabbed the empty seat next to Alice. She looked bemused but irritated, as she looked at Alice up and down, the camera lights still flashing blinding lights in her eyes.
“Where in the world did you get that dress?” Lucy certainly didn’t want to take Alice shopping.
Alice stammered, “Micah… Micah sent it to me in my hotel room.”
Lucy planted a fake, sickening smile upon her face and turned towards her. She leaned in and whispered into Alice’s ear, “You need to go. You need to go, NOW.”
Alice was taken aback. She couldn’t understand what was going on. This wasn’t her doing. She just came to the event, wore the dress, and took the seat. Everything that followed was not hers to blame.
Lucy continued, “We told you to lay low. We told you to hang out. This spectacle you created is just going to take away from Micah. We need you to slip out of here and head back to the hotel. Can you do that?”
Alice was conflicted. As the ring was being cleared for Micah’s match, she could finally spot her boyfriend waiting in the wings to be announced. She sat up straighter, hoping he would see her, hoping that he could do something for her, but he had his head down and his earphones in. She was just an afterthought in this moment.
Alice looked back at Lucy, smiled, and then nodded. Loudly, so that the remaining press could hear, she exclaimed, “Lucy, can you show me to the restroom?” Lucy grabbed onto her arm and led her to the VIP area where she left her without saying another word. Then, Lucy straightened the black suit dress she wore and returned back into the stadium. Through the quickly shutting doors, Alice could make out Micah’s name being announced via the booming loudspeakers.
“Miss Cross?” An older man dressed in a black and white suit tapped her on her shoulder. “I was instructed to call the car for you. It’s waiting outside. Would you like me to escort you there?”
Alice sucked
But tonight, her place was with the other VIP family members of the fighters. As she took her seat nearest to the black metal of the octagon ring, she took note of the other women she was placed by. All were dressed as equally fine as her. They looked on passively as if this was just another day. They chatted amongst themselves or with the few celebrities scattered behind them.
Alice, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel the sickening butterflies in her chest—the same she experienced the first time she watched Micah fight at Tiger Sports Arena back home. The program she was given was nervously ripped to fine shreds of confetti by her within minutes. She just wanted this to be over.
As the final bell rang on the preceding match, she began to scan the room once more, hoping to snag a glimpse at her fighter as he waited in the wings. But her view was quickly blocked by the thrones of cameras and reporters who suddenly perched themselves directly in front of her. The masses seemed to scream at her, thrusting microphones in her face.
“What happened at the airport today, Miss Cross?”
“Alice Cross, are you the girl from the quarterfinals?”
“How long have you been seeing Micah? Do you think your relationship is gonna ruin his fight?”
They were like vultures swarming about her, waiting for a moment of weakness to spring on her. She spun her body wildly to the side, attempting to avoid them, but she was trapped in her leather seat. She instinctively shouted, “No comment!” as if she had practiced it a million times. From her side, she could hear the other VIP women laugh. Alice was obviously new and her inability to handle something so routine to them was pathetically humorous.
Suddenly, the group of reporters kneeling before her parted, as she was trampled by security guard. He made room for Lucy, who grabbed the empty seat next to Alice. She looked bemused but irritated, as she looked at Alice up and down, the camera lights still flashing blinding lights in her eyes.
“Where in the world did you get that dress?” Lucy certainly didn’t want to take Alice shopping.
Alice stammered, “Micah… Micah sent it to me in my hotel room.”
Lucy planted a fake, sickening smile upon her face and turned towards her. She leaned in and whispered into Alice’s ear, “You need to go. You need to go, NOW.”
Alice was taken aback. She couldn’t understand what was going on. This wasn’t her doing. She just came to the event, wore the dress, and took the seat. Everything that followed was not hers to blame.
Lucy continued, “We told you to lay low. We told you to hang out. This spectacle you created is just going to take away from Micah. We need you to slip out of here and head back to the hotel. Can you do that?”
Alice was conflicted. As the ring was being cleared for Micah’s match, she could finally spot her boyfriend waiting in the wings to be announced. She sat up straighter, hoping he would see her, hoping that he could do something for her, but he had his head down and his earphones in. She was just an afterthought in this moment.
Alice looked back at Lucy, smiled, and then nodded. Loudly, so that the remaining press could hear, she exclaimed, “Lucy, can you show me to the restroom?” Lucy grabbed onto her arm and led her to the VIP area where she left her without saying another word. Then, Lucy straightened the black suit dress she wore and returned back into the stadium. Through the quickly shutting doors, Alice could make out Micah’s name being announced via the booming loudspeakers.
“Miss Cross?” An older man dressed in a black and white suit tapped her on her shoulder. “I was instructed to call the car for you. It’s waiting outside. Would you like me to escort you there?”
Alice sucked
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