Challenge: A Contemporary MMA Romance: Oni Fighters Book 3 (13 page)

“You mentioned before about going back to that kiss. I’m good to go if you are.”

“And there he is. The Seth I missed. But just let me clarify something first.”

“What’s that?”

“So kissing, even kissing the way we do it, that’s on the menu? Is it covered under being affectionate or is it too much?”

“It’s on the menu.” I decided firmly. No way I could give her chaste little kisses. The woman had a mouth that begged to be devoured and it was one of my favourite things to do.

“Well, in that case, I’m hungry.”

I grabbed her arm and half-pulled her out of the chair. “Then, what are you waiting for?”

“Absolutely nothing,” she said as her lips found mine.

The awkwardness between us seemed to have evaporated right after that discussion and the kiss. Oh, what a kiss it was! It was definitely a turning point for us.

Suddenly, we felt right again. I could touch him and it felt
normal
. We could chat without the stiltedness that had previously been in our relationship after he woke up.

Now, all I had to worry about was what I was going to do on Monday.

I needed to go back to work.

Then, there was the question about what we were going to do when Seth was ready to come home, which I figured would be in another week or two.

“What’s the matter, babe? That’s one hell of a frown you’re sporting.”

“Oh, nothing.” I tried to wave off. I hadn’t realized I was projecting what I was thinking.

The look on his face said
“try again.”

“Isn’t this what this new phase for us is all about?” He pushed a little more when I tried to shrug it off.

He had a point. It was what I was wanting and had asked for. The only problem was, I didn’t want him to worry about me or anything for that matter while he was laid up in hospital. I just wasn’t sure how to avoid this conversation. It was kind of inevitable.

“I’m worried about going back to work.”

“Why?” He looked surprised.

“John wasn’t happy that I took time of as holiday leave. I’m just trying to figure out how I can make sure you’re fine and keep my job.”

“From what you’ve said, the guy’s a dickhead. I can’t say I’m happy about you working for an arsehole like that.”

“I’m not real fond of it either. And the way he carried on when I asked to take my holiday time really pissed me off. But I need a job. I was hoping this one would do until I had enough money behind me and experience to open my own place.”

“Yeah, I figured that. So, what are you going to do?” He looked at me expectantly. It quietly pleased me to know he’d been taking notice of stuff about my life even if he hadn’t previously appeared to be interested.

What was I going to do?

Wasn’t that the question? I’d been tossing it around in my head for the last couple of days. The closer D-day, or Monday, came, the more I was dwelling on it.

“I was thinking I’d go to work on Monday as normal and try and talk to John about it. I want to see if he’ll let me work from home when you come out of the hospital.”

“Can you do that? I don’t want to be a burden, I’m just not sure…”

“…I want to be there for you, Seth.” I cut him off before he had time to talk himself out of the sense he’d just shown. This was the first time I could remember Seth ever admitting he needed help.

“I should be able to. Shit, most of the stuff I do is just update real estate websites with listings. All I need is an internet connection. John just likes to have his minions around. Unfortunately, I’m his main one.”

Seth looked a little shocked. “I’m sorry I didn’t realise you hated your job.”

I nodded slowly. “It’s not my job I hate but working for John. I love the industry. My biggest dream now is to open my own real estate agency.”

“What’s stopping you from doing it now? Didn’t you just complete all the courses or something?”

His question stunned me. Open it now?

“Well, yeah, I did complete the courses, it just a paperwork issue but I need the experience and well I don’t have the finances to be able to open and do what I need to do.”

He looked at me thoughtfully and nodded. I could see his mind was racing. When Seth wasn’t clowning around, training, or trying to seduce me, he really was an incredibly intelligent guy. You didn’t get a Masters Degree in Geology and be in hot demand, if you were stupid. He was always getting calls from companies wanting him to look over reports or take a field trip somewhere—most of which I’d seen him turn down. That didn’t seem to stop people asking though. He definitely had no shortage of people wanting to engage his professional services.

Seth stared at me some more. He was looking at me but not focused. I could see his mind trying to piece something together.

“You know what strikes me about the real estate industry?” He finally levelled at me.

“No? What?” I was really curious now. Seth could be surprisingly profound at times.

“Other than some listings online, nothing has changed in the way agents deal with sales in the last fifty odd years I’d guess. Most real estate agents are living in the eighties with their thinking.”

Now, it was my turn to be wondering with my mind racing trying to align to whatever he was thinking.

“What are you getting at?” I asked finally.

“I know a little about real estate, certainly from an investment perspective anyway.” I’d wondered, of course, but never asked. He was currently renovating the property where he lived, and I’d spent a lot of time.

However, a few times I’d got the feeling he had other properties, I’d just been too hesitant to ask. I didn’t want to pry and Seth wasn’t exactly forthcoming with that sort of information.

“I’ve managed to pull together a portfolio of about half a dozen properties and I’m looking at a couple more now. At least I was before this.” He gestured to his pelvis with his hands. “I have no idea if those properties are even still available. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is, why can’t you start a virtual agency?”

A virtual agency!

There was an idea. One I’d never really considered. Didn’t you need to be super tech smart or something to do that?

“I can’t say I’ve given it much thought. Once I pulled my head out of my butt and decided what I wanted to do, I just focused on getting my qualifications. I mean, I have a dream of opening an agency some day, preferably sooner rather than later…”

“…You just haven’t really figured out the detail of the dream,” he finished for me with a grin.

That surprised me. It was as if he’d plucked that thought right out of my head.

“Yeah, that’s exactly it.”

“I really don’t see the point of bricks and mortar. At least, not in the beginning. There’s no reason you can’t start this now, you know.”

“Are you serious?” My mind was now whirring with the possibilities he just created. He’d taken my mental roadblocks away.

“Absolutely.”

I was surprised how strongly he said that word. In fact, the whole conversation was surprising me.

“Do you really think it’s possible?”

He didn’t even hesitate. “Not only do I think it’s possible, I also think it’s sensible. If you set up virtually then you can build your clientele at a fraction of the cost of having premises and everything that goes with it. Once you get to a certain size, then you can make the decision as to whether you need a real office.”

Then something dawned on me—I didn’t know the first thing about finding clients in an online environment.

“Um, how do I get clients?”

He looked at me a little weird. “You set up a website then start to drive traffic via social media and other means. You didn’t learn that in your course?”

“Not really. We learnt about the law and contracts, finances, trust accounts. Stuff like that.”

“Well, I guess that’s what being a real estate agent is about. You know Dane is pretty talented at all this online business and marketing stuff, right?”

Dane!

“Ah, no. I mean I know he has that online martial arts site.”

“Yeah, that store that he started from nothing and now turns over some serious dough. He learnt how to do it all himself, you know. I’m sure if you asked him he’d be happy to give you some advice. I also know a couple of guys that do something similar. They owe me a favour or two. I gave them a mining stock tip and let’s say it paid off.”

“You play the stock market too?” He was just full of surprises today.

“I only invest in mining stock. Stuff I know.” I was impressed and he sounded a little defensive, almost as if he’d disclosed more than he’d intended.

Then, something else started to make me wonder. “How did you get started with both portfolios?”

He looked a little sheepish then shrugged. “I guess it’s not a secret. My grandfather left me a modest chunk of change. It paid for me to get through university and it was also my stake money for both. I used the prize money I got from the couple of pro fights I won to pay off the first property and to buy a couple more. It’s just grown from there.”

Shit!
Seth was a high achiever.

I knew he wasn’t struggling but I had no idea he was this financially organized.

Behind the carefree and Mr. No Commitment was actually a man who had a clear and well executed plan for his life. He was streets ahead of me. I was just starting to get my shit together, if the truth be known.

I had so much ground to make up.

“You think I should leave my job and start an internet real estate company?”

“I think you should do what you think is right for you. I’m merely pointing out options and where it seems logical to me the market is going. I guess I’m just saying, there’s a way you can make your dream come true quicker and it may be a better option in the long run.”

Excitement danced in my stomach and my mind raced with possibilities. Suddenly, the idea of going back to work tomorrow didn’t seem as bad, and that was because I had options. One conversation with Seth and I could feel a new perspective on things happening in my head.

I didn’t have to be stuck working for John if I didn’t want to.

“I’ll give it some thought.”

“You do that.”

He gave me a smile that started as encouraging then turned into something a lot hotter. I reached for his hand and he let me take it and squeezed mine back gently. It felt right.

His thumb immediately began to stroke the back of my hand. It was comforting and sensual at the same time.

“You’re looking at me with longing in your eyes, babe.” His voice was barely more than a whisper.

“I’m fighting the urge to climb up there beside you and snuggle in. The only thing that’s stopping me is I know that jostling the bed around will more than likely cause you pain.”

“I’d like that too. Unfortunately, you’re right as well.”

“Holding hands it is then.”

He gave me a little sideways smirk. “Oh, I don’t know, kissing works too.”

“Is that you suggesting you’d like a kiss?” We both knew it was, I just wanted to play a little.

“I’m not suggesting, Soph, I’m demanding. Get over here, sexy girl.” He gave our joined hands a tug and I complied.

It was no hardship to kiss Seth Harris.

“
N
ice
of you to join us today, Sophia. How’s the patient?”

Every head in the office turned to look in my direction as John breezed in and announced my business to every one of my co-workers.

“Doing better, thanks for asking.” Never let it be said that I wasn’t polite.

“I want to see you in my office in ten minutes.”

I gave him a stiff nod and went back to my emails, dreading whatever he wanted me for. Sniggers went up around the office, mainly from my male colleagues.

Yeah, I’d been back at my desk a whole thirty minutes and already I was dreading it. In fact, I hated it. These people were vultures waiting to pick over the carcass and I think they all knew it was about to be me.

Ever since my discussion with Seth, I’d been in two minds about this job. I could leave and I knew for a fact John would be unlikely to give me a reference—not that I was convinced a reference from John was actually worth much.

My other option was to suck it up and take a leap of faith. I’d be without a pay cheque for a little while until I could generate some income, however, I had managed to stash away a reasonable nest egg that would see me get going particularly if I didn’t have the outgoings of a building lease or the need to fit out an office.

Ten minutes ticked by and I rose from my desk and wondered what Seth was doing this morning. Probably more physical therapy and walking. As I moved across the floor to John’s office, my mind became more and more sure and settled. If John was going to lay shit on me, I was out of here. Screw him!

“Close the door and take a seat, Sophia,” John instructed with a smug look on his face.

I did as he asked and sat on the chair opposite his. His large glass top desk separated us. The first thing I noticed was his eyes dropping to my legs and I immediately regretted wearing a fitted knee-length skirt. The hem had ridden up a few inches when I sat. I’d be damned if I’d touch it and let him know his gaze worried me.

Instead, I leveled my eyes on his.

It was now or never with John. I wasn’t backing down.

Rather than open with a line asking about how I could help him, which is what I normally would have done, I bit my tongue and waited on him. He’d asked me in here, after all. It was his meeting.

“I’ve had some thoughts while you were away and I wanted to discuss your career path here at Tanner Properties.” Was it my imagination or did he seem a little uneasy when I was openly challenging him?

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well, I think a move sideways into our rental division would serve you well at this particular point in time. I think you need more experience in the industry in general before you step up to becoming an independent agent in your own right.” I saw red. Anger flashed through me.

The fucking rental pool.

I could run the rent roll with both hands tied behind my back and we both knew it. No, this was plainly an attempt by John to keep me in my place, well, at least the place he perceived I should belong. It was also his way of punishing me for taking leave for something he didn’t approve of.

I gritted my teeth and schooled my face to remain impassive. I really wanted to reach across the table and bury his head face first in the glass.

The silence hung between us and I held his eyes with mine. I wasn’t backing down an inch. There was no way in hell I was going to be intimidated by him.

“What do you think about that, Sophia?” he finally asked impatiently, no doubt expecting me to comply.

“I think it’s demeaning and a waste of my talents. Why don’t you just come out and say what you really want to, John? The way I see it, you’re annoyed at me for taking the holiday leave, which I was legally entitled to.”

He frowned at me, his eyes narrowing into evil looking slits. “Yes, I am annoyed at you. I’m annoyed that you put sitting with some guy in hospital above furthering your career and being responsible to this company.”

Nope, my temper wasn’t fading at all.

“I spent time in hospital with my boyfriend who has had a very serious accident.” Then something in me couldn’t stand it anymore. If this job was going to blow up, then let it. I was over John thinking he had more of a claim on me than as an employee. “It’s actually timely that you called me in here. I wanted to discuss the possibility of working from home when Seth comes home from hospital. He’s going to need someone around to make sure he’s okay.”

John shoved his finger down between the collar of his shirt and neck as if to loosen it.

I’d been more brazen than I’d ever been before, but fuck it, I was done being a door mat for him.

“Working at home is not going to be an option. How do I know you are even working?”

“I guess the same way you know I’m working here. I send you a link to all the properties that I’ve established and listed during the day.”

“There’s far more to it than that,” he countered.

“Really, because that’s all I’ve been doing of late. I haven’t left the office in months. When I first started working here, you took me on appraisals, amongst other things. Now, I do nothing but update real estate websites.”

“Well, if that’s all you’re doing then obviously you lack initiative as well as commitment to this career path.”

Yeah, that would have stung, except we both knew it wasn’t true. I’d been coping shit jobs ever since I’d pushed back on John’s not-so-subtle advances a few months ago. That was the real truth of it…

“As far as I am aware, I’ve carried out every instruction you’ve given me. To date, you’ve never indicated there was something else you wanted me to do.”

He was squirming in his chair and damned if I didn’t enjoy that just a little bit.

“There’s no way you can work from home. That’s not how I run my business.”

Now, I was about to pull out my last card…

“Fine, well then I’m going to exercise my right to take compassionate leave.”

“You’re not entitled to carer’s leave,” he blustered.

“Actually, I am under the terms of the Real Estate Industry Award contract. Seth is my fiancé. I’m entitled to carer’s leave. Rather, I’m offering to work from home carrying out my normal duties to avoid disrupting the operations of your business.”

John looked horrified.

“You’re making it up. You’re not engaged to Seth.”

“Actually, I’m his next of kin as he is estranged from his mother.”

“You’ve never mentioned any of this before.”

“No, I haven’t, because it’s none of anyone’s business but mine. Plus, you’ve made it very clear discussing personal relationships was not something you wanted happening in the office.”

“You don’t wear a ring,” he protested.

“I don’t wear any jewelry,” I countered. Occasionally, I’d wear earrings or a necklace on the weekend. It was just easier not to bother with training.

His eyes did a survey of my neck, ears, and hands as if to catch me out.

John was grasping at straws.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much your attitude disappoints me.”

Oh, that little chestnut—the disappointment, guilt card. It may have worked if I had any level of respect left for my boss.

He let out a theatrical sigh. “Well, Sophia, I don’t see any other option but to terminate your employment.”

It was right where I’d expected we’d end up and exactly why I’d had my phone set to record in my hand while this conversation had taken place.

“I see.”

“You’ve left me no choice but to request you take your personal belongings and vacate your desk immediately.”

“That’s fine, John. It’s a shame we couldn’t come to a satisfactory arrangement. I trust the appropriate monies you owe me will be in my account by the end of the day.” He gave a terse nod. With that, I rose and spun on my heel. Five minutes later, I was walking out the front door. Goodbye and good riddance.

Should I have felt terrified?

Because all I felt was relieved and, actually, a little elated.

I’d always been assertive. Martial arts had given me even more confidence. I wasn’t going to be pigeon holed or pushed around by anyone, certainly not a creep like John.

* * *

“
W
hy aren’t
you at work?”

“Aren’t you back a week early?”

My mum and I stood looking at each other in shock for a second before we threw our arms around each other. I could have sworn they weren’t due back from their trip for another week.

“What’s going on, Carol?” my dad called out from somewhere deeper in the house.

“Soph’s just walked in, Noel.”

“What’s she doing home?” His voice from the deep echoed through the house.

“What are you doing home? You’re not sick are you?” My mother asked, concern etched into her voice.

“I’m fine, Mum. I just lost my job is all.”

“
Lost your job,
” she shrieked. “Why? How?”

“John was a dick and I called him on it.”

“Don’t speak about your boss like that, Sophia,” she scolded.

I rolled my eyes. Seriously, sometimes my mother was clueless.

“Mum, he committed about every sin a boss could. In fact, I’m about to talk to a lawyer about taking legal action against him.”

Her eyes went wide. My mum was the “don’t rock the boat” type of person.

“Sophia, but what will you do? You loved that job.”

“I love real estate, Mum. Not that job. I’m going to open my own agency. Don’t worry about it.”

“How can I not worry about it? You’re my daughter.”

“I’ve got this, Mum. It will be fine.” I really hoped the reality matched the conviction in my voice.

“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I nodded, trying to close out this subject.

“Now, am I mistaken or are you guys home a week early?”

“Yes, your father had enough of living out of a suitcase.”

“Fair enough.” I didn’t blame him at all. Dad had spent years as an interstate truck driver. He was currently on long-service leave. I doubted he wanted to be away from home the whole time.

“Just wanted to be home for a bit.”

As if to confirm my thoughts, he walked in and pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the cheek. My father was almost a head taller than me and still in great shape for a man in his late fifties. Us girls definitely got a lot of our genes from him.

“Fair enough.”

I stepped back from Dad. “So, I just popped home to grab some training gear. I’ve got a session at the dojo with Dane and Xander.”

Mum was horrified—she was struggling to fathom that I would be at the dojo during “work hours.”

“Don’t you have a few minutes to catch up?” She looked forlorn and I immediately felt guilty. She wanted to tell me all about her trip.

“Why don’t you put the kettle on, Mum? We’ll have a cuppa before I head off. I’ll grab my gear together.” I glanced at my watch. I could fit in a quick coffee if I hurried.

“Well, we can always do it over dinner tonight. I thought I’d do a roast. You girls always love a roast. Maybe Eden and Xander can join us?”

“Um, I don’t think dinner will work tonight. Xan’s teaching and I’m at the hospital,” I flipped over my shoulder as I headed for my room.

“Hospital! What are you talking about? Who’s in hospital?” The worry was back in her voice.

“Seth, Mum. Remember? I told you.”

“You mentioned he’d had an accident but that was weeks ago.”

“It was bad.”

“What? He’s still in hospital?”

“Yeah, he was in a coma for days and smashed up his pelvis and punctured his bladder.”

“Oh, good lord! I didn’t realise!”

“Yeah, he was pretty beaten around.”

“Is he going to be okay?”

I sighed. “The doctors say so but it’s going to be a long road. He’s only barely walking and with a frame at that.”

Then, mum looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“How much time have you been spending at the hospital?”

“A lot. Why?”

“I thought Seth was just a friend and a training partner. Is he something more?”

What did Mum care? It wasn’t like I was a kid. I’d been an adult for a few years now. These were the times I hated living at home. Usually, it suited me just fine. Dad was always on the road and mum was often working crazy hours.

Lately, they’d been travelling. All this meant I generally had the house to myself. Well, that wasn’t quite true. It had been Eden, me, and Tori, until Eden had upped and married Xander. Now, it was just me and Tori.

“We’re seeing each other,” I explained, not really comfortable with labelling our relationship.

Mum’s eyebrows hiked together in the middle of her forehead. “Isn’t he the wild one?”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t call Seth wild. He’s definitely full of life and very active. That’s a big part of the reason being in hospital is driving him nuts.”

“Weren’t you girls all saying how he couldn’t keep it in his pants a few months back and what? Now, you’re seeing him.”

When she put it like that…

“He’s well behaved with me.” Mostly, but I wasn’t about to tell my mum what Seth and I got up to. I did have no doubt though, that he’d been faithful to me. Besides, gossip was often just that, gossip.