“What’s that?” I asked, only half paying attention as I pulled out of the driveway.
“You remember your trip to New York in a few weeks, right?”
“Yep,” I said before blowing out a deep breath. New York was one of the last places I wanted to go to anytime soon. But I had to be there. I couldn’t put business off forever. Not when I signed a contract.
“Okay, I’m trying to make your travel arrangements, but it’s hard to do since I don’t know where you’re flying in from.”
“Huh, I can see how that’s an issue.” Biting my bottom lip, I thought about it. I could tell my assistant where I was, but I'd come to enjoy my anonymity in Harlington.
While I trusted Demetria not to run to the press and spill my location, I also wanted to keep where I was close to the chest for the time being.
“Um, how about I work out the travel details for this trip.”
I could picture her face twisted in confusion as she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Thanks. Is there anything else?” I turned onto the main highway that led to Gabe’s office.
“Uh, well, one more thing,” Demetria said. There was a high-pitch in her voice that wasn’t usually present.
I held my breath, thinking I already knew what the next subject would be about before she mentioned it.
“Nate called and said he needed to get in touch with you. He insisted that it was urgent.”
“I know.” I let out a sigh. “It’s okay you gave him my number. He’s called already.” Luckily, he hadn’t called back since that initial call. But I knew he’d given my parents my new number.
I brushed aside thoughts about Nate. “Anyway, I’m on my way to lunch. I’ll reach out to you if I need anything before New York.”
“All right. If not, then I’ll see you in New York.”
I flinched, not wanting to go. I had to tamp down on the urge to ask Demetria to reach out to DeLuxe Makeup and reschedule the photoshoot.
I hung up with my assistant and refocused on spending my afternoon with Gabe. More importantly, getting this much needed conversation out of the way. It would clear the air for both of us.
* * *
Gabe
“Sure thing, Mr. Townsend,” the owner of the local Thai restaurant said. “Your order will be delivered in about thirty minutes.”
“Thanks,” I said as I stood in the center of my office, rubbing my hands together. Lena was on her way to No Sweat for the first time.
I planned to show her around the facilities before bringing her up to our offices for lunch.
“Hey?” Preston called as he knocked on my opened door.
“Yeah.”
“We need to work out the details for Eli’s fight in New York,” he said, as he entered and sat across from my desk.
I sighed. We were able to schedule Eli's first exhibition fight as an NFA fighter. The fight wouldn’t count on his formal record, but there was a $50,000 payout per fighter, and it would showcase his talents to sponsors on a larger stage.
I would take the trip with him since I needed to be in New York for my own sponsorship deals.
“What’s that look?” Preston asked.
“Do you think he’s ready for this?” I had some lingering doubts about Eli that I couldn’t shake. We talked to him a few days after he was a no show to training. He explained that a flat tire had derailed his getting to practice that day.
But Preston and I were more interested in his connection to Roger Wolcott and possible betting rumors. Those were the most detrimental to his professional career. He’d sworn up and down that he didn’t know shit about any illegal betting and that he’d never lost a fight intentionally to win a bet.
