Vicki Essex - In Her Corner

This wasn’t a Fiore studio run by her family and close friends—it was an official UFF gym, backed by one of the biggest MMA fight promoters in the world. What were the rules and expectations here? Were they stricter about how employees used their time?

“We’ll also be hosting a booth at a local health and fitness fair on the first weekend of November. You’ll be expected to take a shift, give demonstrations and do the setup and takedown.”

She scanned the schedule Kyle had handed her and scowled. “What’s ‘Bootyfit’?”

“It’s a class primarily for high-impact aerobics and core strengthening. It’ll be your responsibility to pull together the program.”

“And this—‘Girlicious Foxy Boxing’?”

“Women’s-only kickboxing. Noncombative striking, aerobic focused. Tito helps out in that class. You two can put your heads together and figure out how you’ll teach it.”

“Why didn’t you call it aerobic kickboxing?”

“Because guys who are serious about fighting would be disappointed by the class and girls won’t join it at all. These classes are meant to attract members outside our core demographic. I don’t know if you noticed, but this is an MMA gym. That label doesn’t inspire a lot of women to come through those doors.”

“And nothing reels women in like a class that teaches them to shake their booty while men gawk at them from the weight room.” Most women she knew would be happy to simply work out in a fun class. They didn’t need to be reminded that they had to be foxylicious or bootytastic or tittytacular or whatever.

His look grew stony. “The classes are held in the upper studio. And you should know that there are strict rules about harassment in place here at Payette’s. All my employees and clients are expected to behave appropriately. No double standards.” His viciously stern tone made her flinch. Bella did not like being talked down to. She was on the verge of snapping back at him when, thankfully, Liz intervened.

“Boss? Everything okay?” She glanced between them questioningly.

Bella hadn’t realized they were standing toe to toe like two growling pit bulls. Kyle broke away and rubbed tiny circles into his right temple. “It’s fine. It’s nothing.”

The receptionist gave him a look like a mother threatening a time-out, then went back to her desk.

Bella let out a breath. Less than an hour in and she was already picking fights with the boss. She knew she was antagonizing Kyle partly because it was too easy to mess with someone that uptight. Kyle reminded her of her grandfather—as unsmiling and unyielding as a stone gargoyle. The guy had to have a funny bone somewhere beneath all that tightly wound muscle. She could practically see his high blood pressure throbbing through the veins on his corded neck. What he needed was a long vacation.

Or a good lay.

But as much as she wanted to shake him up, she couldn’t keep poking the bear. Bella folded her hands behind her and bowed her head. If she wanted to work with the best wrestler in the biz, she had to dial it back. “I apologize. Again.” She had a feeling she’d be doing that a lot with him. The thought grated. “As long as there are people taking the class, it doesn’t matter what it’s called.”

“It’s half-full now,” he said tautly.

He ran through the rest of the schedule with her. She would teach four classes a week and give physical assessments and personal training sessions. The rest of the time she could spend training.

“Don’t expect my guys to drop everything for you,” he warned. “Some have their own fights to train for and clients on the side. Do you have fights coming up?”

She’d been looking, but opponents in the women’s 155-pound weight class were few and far between. “No.”

“Then you won’t be a priority. We focus on the clients with upcoming matches as we get closer to the dates.”

And just like that, he’d dismissed her again. “I’m still looking for my next fight. But in the meantime, I’m happy to settle in here, learn the ropes.” She tried for a smile but was sure she was baring her teeth at him.

Kyle nodded. “Good. I’ll have Tito start conditioning with you.”

“And then?”

“And then we’ll see.” He started to walk stiffly away, but paused and said over his shoulder, “I wasn’t scared, you know.”

“Scared?”

“When you came up to me on your bike. I wasn’t scared of you. But you messed with my car. If you’d been a guy, I would’ve probably punched you in the face.”

Bella tilted her chin up unapologetically, not in the least intimidated. “This is going to be a thing between us, isn’t it?”

His look was stone-cold. “Just don’t touch my car again.”

* * *

AT THE END of the day, Bella opened the windows in her apartment to let in the damp night air. If she closed her eyes, she could almost pretend she was back in São Paulo. Of course, there it would be getting hotter as summer encroached while in New Orleans, the summer season was tapering off. The idea of living through two winters in one year kind of depressed her—not that winter in New Orleans would be like anything she’d experienced when she’d gone to university in Canada. She was grateful for that.

She checked her watch and right on time, the phone rang. She picked up.

“Querida, tudo bem?”

“I’m good, Mamãe.” Her mother, Ana, had called every day since she’d arrived in New Orleans. “I started at Payette’s today.”

“Did you make any friends?”

“I suppose.” Except for Kyle, she thought acerbically. But that had been partly her fault. “Cómo está o Papai?”

“Your father misses you, but Fulvio keeps him too busy to mope.”

“Is Fulvio still mad?”

“Your grandfather?” Ana blew out a breath noisily. “Who knows? He hasn’t said anything, but that’s Fulvio. You know what he can be like when he doesn’t get his way.”

“I guess the silent treatment is better than the yelling treatment.” Though Bella wasn’t entirely certain that was true. They’d parted on terrible terms, and the guilt of storming out on him ate at her conscience. She loved her grandfather—he’d taught her almost everything she knew about fighting. But she couldn’t let him dictate her future.

She asked after her brothers, and her mother went on at length about their various clients, fights and adventures in the gym. Bella was content to simply listen. She could tell Ana missed having her daughter around to talk to. She missed her mother, too. But Ana understood why she’d had to leave.

“So, did you get your driver’s license yet?”

“I told you, my bike is enough. I didn’t go through the trouble of shipping it here so that I could buy a car.”

“No one in America rides bicycles. Some crazy idiot in an SUV is going to get you killed.”

She thought about her encounter with Kyle and smiled to herself. “I’ll be fine. My apartment is barely a thirty-minute ride from the gym. I rode everywhere back home, and you never complained.”

“You never heard me complain is all. Worrying about you took years off my life.”

“I wear a helmet. Besides, I face worse every time I spar.”

“Don’t remind me.” She sighed. “I realize this is your dream, Bella, even if no one here approves. But I want you to know I love you and all I want is for you to be happy and safe.”

“I can promise I’ll be one of those things. But probably not both. Not by your definition.”

“Bella...”

“I’m taking all the precautions. I never do anything I don’t think I’m capable of. I was trained by the best.”

After they hung up, Bella was restless. Her first day had been a paperwork and orientation kind of day, and while her brain was tired, her body wasn’t. She got dressed and went for a walk.