up?”
“Can we talk in the office about rescheduling some of the instructors?”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you in the office.” She spun on her high heels and walked off.
Don’t run after her. Let her wait. She can’t expect you to drop everything when she
beckons.
Knox stood there with his arms crossed, pretending to watch two trainees swinging
and missing inside the ring.
Deacon sidled up to him. “You and Shiori are at it again?”
“Yeah, well, she can’t just show up, snap her fingers, and expect me to do her bidding.
I got shit of my own to deal with.”
“Like how long are you gonna let these wannabes pay tuition when they can’t fight
their way out of a paper bag?”
“They’re paid through the end of the month. Since there’s a ‘no refunds’ policy, it’d
be fairest to tell them they’re out of the program when it’s time to re-up.”
“I’d agree with that. I’d also like to hash it out on why we’re wasting our time on
these wannabes.” He ran his hand over his bald head. “Does Black Arts need the money
or something?”
“Doubtful, but I’ll ask She-Cat. See if she throws a hissy fit about me questioning
the financials.” Knox grinned at his own joke.
“Jesus. Can you two just fuck already? That’s obviously your problem.”
Knox scowled. “I’m not her type.”
“Whatever.”
Five full minutes later he strolled to the Black Arts offices. Shiori sat at Ronin’s
desk, pencil and Post-its at hand. “What’re you doing?”
“Checking the schedule to see where I can make changes.”
Knox moved in behind her, placing one hand on the back of her chair and one on the
desk as he loomed over her. “Why do we need changes?”
“Because I have to check out a factory Okada is interested in buying. Since geographically
I’m the closest rep, I’ve been selected to make the pitch.”
“Geographically the closest. What does that mean?”
“The factory is in Mexico. The United States is closer than Japan. But since Ronin
took the company plane back to Japan, I have to fly commercial.”
“Poor baby,” he said with zero sympathy. “I thought you quit working for Okada before
you came here.”
Shiori tipped her head back and looked at him. “I left my position in the company,
but I didn’t quit entirely. What do you think I’ve been doing during the hours I’m
not in the dojo?”
He blinked at her.
“Oh, so you assume I’ve been flitting around, shopping, visiting spas, and lunching
with all my friends?”
“Or maybe you were practicing your whip technique?” It slipped out.
“It takes practice, as I’m sure you know. But I am required to work for Okada, according
to the terms of my visa. Since I’m going out of the country, we need to shift some
instructors.”
“We’ll turn your classes into open exercises and that’ll fix it.”
She shook her head. “I can see that as a solution if I’d be gone only a day or two.
But I’m planning to be gone all week.”
His eyes narrowed. “Will this be a regular thing? Because you promised Sensei you’d
be fully invested with Black Arts. And now you’re taking off the second fucking week
Ronin is gone?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“Fine. Put Zach in your advanced classes. Chelle can cover your early classes. Then
we’ll have open exercises in the others.”
“That makes it easy. Thanks for your input.”
“No problem.”
They stared at each other.
“Is there anything else you need to fill me in on before you jet off to Me-hi-co?”
“No. Just that I . . .”
Knox leaned closer. He’d never seen her flustered. It’d be easy to fall back into
his dickish behavior, but he couldn’t quite do it. “Shitake, you don’t have to be
embarrassed to admit how much you’ll miss me when you’re south of the border. Word
is I’m a really great guy.”
She smiled as he’d hoped she would. “Only in your dreams,
“Can we talk in the office about rescheduling some of the instructors?”
“Why?”
“I’ll tell you in the office.” She spun on her high heels and walked off.
Don’t run after her. Let her wait. She can’t expect you to drop everything when she
beckons.
Knox stood there with his arms crossed, pretending to watch two trainees swinging
and missing inside the ring.
Deacon sidled up to him. “You and Shiori are at it again?”
“Yeah, well, she can’t just show up, snap her fingers, and expect me to do her bidding.
I got shit of my own to deal with.”
“Like how long are you gonna let these wannabes pay tuition when they can’t fight
their way out of a paper bag?”
“They’re paid through the end of the month. Since there’s a ‘no refunds’ policy, it’d
be fairest to tell them they’re out of the program when it’s time to re-up.”
“I’d agree with that. I’d also like to hash it out on why we’re wasting our time on
these wannabes.” He ran his hand over his bald head. “Does Black Arts need the money
or something?”
“Doubtful, but I’ll ask She-Cat. See if she throws a hissy fit about me questioning
the financials.” Knox grinned at his own joke.
“Jesus. Can you two just fuck already? That’s obviously your problem.”
Knox scowled. “I’m not her type.”
“Whatever.”
Five full minutes later he strolled to the Black Arts offices. Shiori sat at Ronin’s
desk, pencil and Post-its at hand. “What’re you doing?”
“Checking the schedule to see where I can make changes.”
Knox moved in behind her, placing one hand on the back of her chair and one on the
desk as he loomed over her. “Why do we need changes?”
“Because I have to check out a factory Okada is interested in buying. Since geographically
I’m the closest rep, I’ve been selected to make the pitch.”
“Geographically the closest. What does that mean?”
“The factory is in Mexico. The United States is closer than Japan. But since Ronin
took the company plane back to Japan, I have to fly commercial.”
“Poor baby,” he said with zero sympathy. “I thought you quit working for Okada before
you came here.”
Shiori tipped her head back and looked at him. “I left my position in the company,
but I didn’t quit entirely. What do you think I’ve been doing during the hours I’m
not in the dojo?”
He blinked at her.
“Oh, so you assume I’ve been flitting around, shopping, visiting spas, and lunching
with all my friends?”
“Or maybe you were practicing your whip technique?” It slipped out.
“It takes practice, as I’m sure you know. But I am required to work for Okada, according
to the terms of my visa. Since I’m going out of the country, we need to shift some
instructors.”
“We’ll turn your classes into open exercises and that’ll fix it.”
She shook her head. “I can see that as a solution if I’d be gone only a day or two.
But I’m planning to be gone all week.”
His eyes narrowed. “Will this be a regular thing? Because you promised Sensei you’d
be fully invested with Black Arts. And now you’re taking off the second fucking week
Ronin is gone?”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“Fine. Put Zach in your advanced classes. Chelle can cover your early classes. Then
we’ll have open exercises in the others.”
“That makes it easy. Thanks for your input.”
“No problem.”
They stared at each other.
“Is there anything else you need to fill me in on before you jet off to Me-hi-co?”
“No. Just that I . . .”
Knox leaned closer. He’d never seen her flustered. It’d be easy to fall back into
his dickish behavior, but he couldn’t quite do it. “Shitake, you don’t have to be
embarrassed to admit how much you’ll miss me when you’re south of the border. Word
is I’m a really great guy.”
She smiled as he’d hoped she would. “Only in your dreams,
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