The crowd cheered and shouted in appreciation or frustration. It was impossible to tell the difference. I looked at Jim, dumbstruck.

“I told you.” He shook his head and chuckled to himself. “Fucking lunatic.”

The next fight was evenly matched, and a tall Asian guy with metal teeth named Jeff won on points. When another break was called, I refused to budge from my spot. There was no way I was going to risk missing a second for the rest of the night.

“So the next two fights will determine who’s in the final.”

“My money’s on Cheryl’s husband and Leo.”

“Leo’s a sure bet, and I think you’re probably right about Cheryl’s old man. You’ve got a good eye, Jules.”

Sure enough, the next two fights we watched saw the ginger ninja and Leo claim a spot in the final. I was worried for Cheryl but thrilled for Leo. He had held little back in his two fights, but I had a feeling he would unleash the beast for the ultimate win.

When the time finally came, the fight that unfolded was like nothing I could’ve conjured up in my very vivid imagination. Leo, in Jim’s words, was a fucking lunatic, and I was a puddle of desire, anguish and unfulfilled need. Ginger gave it his all, and Leo certainly didn’t get the easy win he had in his two previous fights. There was, however, one clear dominating force, and Leo was declared the ultimate winner.

He showed little emotion while the referee raised his hand, and within moments, he exited the cage, barely acknowledging the referee, officials or the chanting crowds.

“Hey, Leo!” a voice from the crowd shouted.

My eyes were fixated on the retreating figure, and I was surprised to see that he stopped but didn’t immediately turn around.

“Ya fight like ya mummy!”

The crowd had gone silent, which was odd given I’d have thought those types of goads were not unusual. When he did turn around, I immediately felt intimidated and small, overcome by the power of his icy stare. Shirtless, his tanned torso, just like his beautiful back, was a powerful mass of sculpted muscles, slick with sweat. His dark hair was short but still had a sexy, tousled look. He strode back across the cage until he was only a few feet from me. Striking blue eyes scanned the audience a few times before coming to rest on mine.

I felt shockwaves pulsing through my body and rocking my core. It was unlike anything I’d experienced, and it was a life-altering rush. His cold expression remained unchanged and he said nothing. After what felt like minutes, but was more likely a few seconds, he turned and disappeared.

The noise level in the warehouse stayed low for a few minutes. Hushed whispers soon became excited cheers before the crowd started to dissipate. I just stood there motionless and unsure of what had just happened. Had he actually seen me? It felt like he was looking straight at me, but perhaps that’s how everyone in the room felt with his overwhelming presence. Monthly fight nights had become my third guilty pleasure, and the thoughts running through my head felt like the ultimate sin.

I got back to my apartment around four in the morning, buzzing with excitement. Sleep came quickly. Images of a six-foot-something, muscular Adonis conquering his unworthy opponents flooded my brain, making my body relax with a smile.

Chapter Six

Juliette

I woke up still smiling. My grin was bigger than usual as I stretched my arms above my head and allowed myself to relive the night before in exquisite detail. My smile faded when I glanced at the clock. It was almost lunchtime, and Richard would be picking me up in about four hours. Poor, oblivious Richard. The contrast to Leo, who was still at the forefront of my mind, was too extreme to deal with, especially without coffee.

“Morning, George,” I said cheerily. My coffee machine had a name. It seemed right to refer to him as George—a good, strong name befitting the greatness he offered. I was physically dependent on him and he never let me down.

I flicked the power button and he sang a little tune of beeps in reply. As he warmed up, I set about making myself a sandwich. Similar to a fight, it was all about the combinations. Sometimes you had to take a risk to achieve greatness. Sia understood my sandwich prowess and benefitted regularly from it, but Richard mocked my enthusiasm. He encouraged me to sample his gluten-free alternatives and, if he didn’t serve a purpose, it would be an irreconcilable difference.

The character I’d been playing every day for as long as I could remember was well suited to him. Sometimes I wished I weren’t such a good actress. Unfortunately, that would mean he might notice the disingenuous smiles, gritted teeth, self-protective body language and shortness of breath as I struggled to breathe under the lies. Suffocation was a miserable way to die.

The aroma of hot water flowing through freshly ground beans and into my favourite coffee mug reminded me why I’d never give up this actual drug addiction. Richard’s daily lecture on the detrimental effects of caffeine on the body elicited a tight smile and the occasional nod. He no doubt misinterpreted my smile as appreciation.

As if he knew I was having impure thoughts about him, my phone rang and his name flashed up. I squeezed my eyes shut tight as I answered with as cheery a greeting as I could muster.

“Morning, babe. How was your night?” His cheery tone matched mine exactly.

“Oh, you know. Same as usual,” I lied. “How was yours?”

“Fantastic.”

“Really? Why?”

“Your mother called.”

How that could possibly be fantastic was well beyond my imagination.

“And what did Isabel have to say?”

“She wants me to give a speech at the event tonight on the investment opportunity of philanthropic funds. She asked me to come early to rehearse, so I drove up this morning.”

Of course he’d left me behind to go running to my mother’s lair. I was completely thrilled by the change of plan.

“Oh, right. So…” I took a sip of my coffee and inhaled the delicious fumes, hoping he couldn’t hear the smile in my voice.

“I’m sorry, Juliette. Are you okay to drive yourself? If not, I’ll drive back now and get you.”

“Oh no,” I said, possibly a little too enthusiastically. “I’ll drive up later. No problem.”

“Drive carefully in that ridiculous little car of yours. It’s more powerful than you might think. And make sure you’re here no later than four so I can run through my speech with you.”

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I knew exactly how powerful my car was.

“Bye, Richard.”

I’d read about a coffee house in a small town not far from where the event was being held. It wouldn’t be too much of a detour—best coffee in the Yarra Valley, apparently. How could I resist verifying that claim?

With my sandwich and coffee, I sat out on my small balcony overlooking the river and the city skyscrapers. I had just enough room for a table with two chairs squeezed amongst the mini jungle of greenery I tended daily—a small oasis where I could let my mind float away. Within seconds, I was mentally recounting a documentary I’d watched fifteen times about dangerous jobs. My favourite were the avalanche ski patrollers who headed out in the first light of dawn each morning to assess the mountains for danger. They carried dynamite in their backpacks and they knew every time they did their job, their life was on the line. From my cushy apartment, which Dad had bought me as a graduation gift, and job, where the most exciting thing to happen would be a stock suspended for unknown reasons, the sadness descended.

Knowing I couldn’t procrastinate any longer, I headed back inside to get ready. One of the emails from my mother had informed me that the theme was ‘Black and White’. My mother was famous for elaborate and over-the-top extravaganzas, so this theme showed great restraint. She’d already asked me to wear a conservative white dress to give Richard some visual hints. We’d been dating for three years, and my mother was determined to have me married off as soon as possible. The thought made me nauseous, but I would wear the damn white dress she bought me because that’s what I always did. When I slipped the white lace over the fitted underlay, I felt like the fraud I was. I was already a prisoner in my own life, but marriage would be a life sentence.