White & Black (2 page)

“Okay, there’s a pot full dad. I just made it”

She went off to pour him a cup and returned just as the next round of the contest was starting, placing the mug in his good hand carefully.

A ring girl was parading a 4 sign above her head. She was very tarted up with a sparkling chopped off white tank top barely covering her assets, the tiniest white shorts exposing a fair amount of her pert backside and extremely high heels. God… how could they do that? Flaunting themselves in front of all these people wearing hardly anything at all? She didn’t think she could.

The fighters came out of their corners and resumed their fast and furious attack. Just the sight of them punching and kicking the living daylights out of each other made her want to go to rush off to the gym herself… she hadn’t been for nearly a week and she was getting an ache for it. It was becoming difficult to schedule it in with everything else snowballing in her life. She had a small punch bag in her room but that wasn’t the same. She needed a proper workout and maybe even a live session with her instructor Rob or another kickboxer girl, if one was about. Right now her muscles badly needed it, but more than that her brain most definitely did. She felt really guilty going out again, as she’d only just got in but she needed to throw a massive punch at the whole damn world right now.

“Dad… I’m going to the gym for an hour or so. Are you alright being alone?” She could leave him for a few hours here and there but not much longer. She worried about him doing something stupid or falling and hurting himself badly. She always let one of her neighbors know when she went out, so they could check up on him. They were so good, her neighbors. They even made him meals too, when she was working. She had the phone set up on speed-dial so that he could call either one of the neighbors, her or Jake if he had a problem. Both sets of her neighbors were retired and had insisted they were more than happy to pop in and give him some company whenever she wanted to go out, it was an enormous help.

“Yeah, you go Ells… s..s..s..see you love.” He patted her arm as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and placed the phone on the arm of his chair.

“Dad, if Jakey gets back before I do, tell him to stay in tonight, okay?” She didn’t know if her dad would remember that message. He did seem to be having more and more problems with poor memory. Probably another symptom of his permanent brain damage, she thought sadly.

She needed to sort Jake out somehow… get him away from that gang of older no goods who were turning his head the wrong way. He desperately needed some discipline and guidance in his life and Ella was the only one who could dish it out. Her dad could just about string a few words together and lived in his own little world most of the time. It was all up to her, like everything else was lately.

God, she didn’t know how to tackle all this, she was barely out of those years herself. Not that she had ever been rebellious or particularly difficult. Grumpy and uncommunicative and maybe a touch over emotional was as bad as it got for her.

It was times like this when she most wished she had her mother around. She could hardly remember her anymore… it was 14 years ago that she had died.

She went upstairs to her room and collected her gym bag. She slung it across her shoulder, ran downstairs and called out “Bye dad, love you” before making her way next door to tell her neighbor she was out. That done she got into her dad’s truck. She drove the five minutes to the gym playing some music really loudly and singing her heart out. She liked to feel twenty one at times and not the fifty odd she was becoming with all the worries of the world that were currently sitting on her young shoulders. The loud music stirred her and cheered her. She managed to fix a small determined smile on her face. She’d get through everything somehow.

And she’d just had an idea….

Chapter 3

Ella walked through the gym door and into the changing room quickly changing into her cropped black leggings and fitted gym vest. She tied up her hair in a pony tail and put everything in her locker, then went off to find her instructor, the gym owner Rob. He was next to the training area with a girl she recognized called Jenny. She’d sparred with her a few times.

“Hey Rob, Jen… Having fun?” She asked cheerily, walking up to them. It always put her in a better mood, being in the gym. She could almost forget real life in here. She started her warm up routine, doing some flexing, lunges, toe touches and waist swings.

“Hey Ella…yeah…” replied Rob while taking the almost non existent impact from Jenny’s rather puny punch in his padded hand. Jenny scowled at her. She wasn’t a very friendly girl. Obviously had issues…

“Fancy fifteen minutes with me Jen?” She asked hopefully, doing a little jog on the spot whilst flexing her arms behind her back.

“Can’t, sorry… gotta go … right now in fact… already late” Jenny replied breathlessly. She tapped her gloved hand against Rob’s signifying she was done. Then she removed her gloves and tossed them to one side, picked her towel up and rushed off towards the door.

“I’m sure she doesn’t like me much, does she Rob?” She gave him a quirky little questioning smile.

“It’s not you, it’s her. She’s a miserable bitch that one… don’t know why, she’s not much of a talker. Get some gloves on Ells. I’ll give you a half hour. I need some proper action after Jen’s weak left….come on give it to me…” The gym wasn’t very busy at the moment, just six people in there in total, he could give her some time.

Rob was a fifty five year old family man with two grown up daughters, a son and a grandchild on the way. They had always got along well. Extremely well considering the gender difference and age gap. He was still fit and toned, but had put on some pounds in the last year or so, since he’d developed a back problem which limited his activities. He took her first soft punch to the pad with a raised set of eyebrows.

“What was that
Jen
?” He grinned. “C’mon short and ugly – throw me a proper one.” He beckoned at her with his pad free hand.

She shifted to rear leg stance and threw a cross, one of her favorites, a power punch that took his arm back a good foot and then regaining her position swiftly she followed up with a real beauty of a side kick that smacked into his butt and really did knock him sideways. She grinned back at him “
Jen
who…?”

“There’s my girl… now try some fast combis… c’mon, I want to see some momentum.”

She started to relax into the routine, the work out getting into a good flow. Her frustrations with the world were working their way out through the release of her aggression. Her body began to sweat a little and her mind moved into basic primeval mode where only thumps, kicks and pushing her muscles to the limit existed. She could hear Rob’s voice checking her, correcting and coaxing her on. He had been her mentor since she was just 15 years old.

This sport was her lifeline. Where the hell would she be without it?

Her group of friends thought her sporting hobby was a little odd. The closest to a spar they had ever had was a little bump and grind at the Vegas clubs once a week. Now it had to be said, she loved all that young, fun, wild behaviour too, but this was different. It was challenging, intense, hard and had more than a touch of animal behaviour about it. It made her come alive. She often felt quite aroused at the end of a session. This was nothing to do with who she sparred with. It was the combination of adrenalin rush, the enthusiasm and effort she put into it and the amazing movements her body made. It was highly sensual. Probably most wouldn’t see it that way, but she felt it to her core. Forty hot minutes of hard hitting stress relieving action later she floated off in her sensual cloud to the shower. The hot water caressed her skin, soothing her tired shoulder and arm muscles… she washed her long hair and left the cubicle. She needed to speak to Rob about that little something now. Her idea….

Rob was in his office on the phone when she finally emerged dry and dressed again. She waited outside. He cast a look in her direction and gave her a ‘just one minute’ finger sign… The call completed she went inside his office.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Rob… Benny and Gill have cut my hours at the diner… I was wondering if you had any part time work here… anything at all? I’d love to be able to combine my workouts with doing some training for you here. It’d be better for my home life, you know my dad’s not doing too great…”

He looked at her sadly feeling really bad for her. She didn’t deserve the knocks she was getting in life. “Ells I’d really love to be able to help you, honest to God I would. But I can’t take anyone on. I’m just about breaking even as it is. I had to let Mark go yesterday. I can’t afford three trainers anymore, so it’s just me and Billy from now on.” Billy was his son, he couldn’t ever let him go… and he had a family on the way.

“Oh Rob … I’m so sorry to hear that. But it was just a thought… you know… worth a try. Thanks anyway Rob. If anything changes let me know, won’t you? I need to earn more money desperately.”

Rob suddenly remembered something which could help her out.

“Ells, there is something else I know about. Not sure you’d consider it though… I mean you could do it, with your looks and that, and I think the money’s quite good… but I don’t know how you’d feel about it…”

“What is it Rob? Come on tell me…” She’d consider just about anything right now.

“Well, I bumped into a pal of mine and we had a few drinks last night. He mentioned they’re gonna be taking on another couple of girls at the Arena Hilton soon … they’re extending the place now that it’s the world wide official center for mixed martial arts. Anyway it seems they’re doing a lot more shows, major fights, exhibitions and all that stuff and lots more television coverage, so they need more ring girls to do promo and ring work. They used to hire them from the gents clubs downtown, but now they’re all employed directly by Juxtar the promotional company my pal owns and runs…”

Her hopeful heart dropped…

“Oh no Rob… I’ve seen them on TV parading around like glamour models half naked. My dad would have a complete fit on top of everything else!” She just couldn’t do it to him, or herself for that matter.

“It’s just a bit of fun Ells, nothing more. You know I often go to MMA events with my wife. I think those fit fighters give her a bit of a buzz… It spices up our love life I can tell you!”

“Rob really! That was way too much information…”

“Yeah, sorry. It was, wasn’t it!” he chuckled “But look into it Ella. There’s real money to be made there. Some of those girls have made a name for themselves through the ring, made a career out of it, modelling contracts and getting their own fan following on the web, lots of TV exposure for them… Look at that Marcia Dean, d’you know her?”

“Who doesn’t?”

“Well she’s the top ring girl attraction at the Arena now. She’s made quite a pile out of it I’m sure”

“Well I don’t know Rob… d’you really think so? It’s worth taking a look at I suppose. Who do I call?” Her stomach was heaving at the thought of it, but she did need some money and fast.

“I can call my pal Tony for you now if you like… Want me to?”

“Hmmm… no harm in a call is there, but I’m really not sure I’m hot enough material for a ring girl Rob.”

He took a look at her in amazement. Was she joking? She was one of the hottest young women he’d ever seen… and he’d seen a lot of ring girls too, so he was a good judge of what was hot. He was a little sweet on her but being the good family man he was, with grown up daughters older than she was, he kept that well and truly to himself.

“Ella, believe me when I say this. You are.” He imagined her dressed or was that
undressed
ring style and quickly put that thought right out of his head. Her long blond hair with its tint of red, very pretty face and angelic blue eyes topped a body which could only be described as hot and fit and although he didn’t like to think the words, they just popped into his head….

She was stacked!

She was prime ring girl material if he ever saw it.

He picked up his cellphone and called Tony before she changed her mind. He had a feeling she could do very well out of this. It would suit her being an evening job and she could carry on studying and looking after her dad during the day.

“Hey Tony, its Rob … yeah fine, you? … Anyway, quick call… about what you said last night. I have someone here who’s interested in a ring girl job maybe…” He gave Ella the thumbs up. “…. Name’s Ella White. Yeah… Can I send her along?” He picked up a pen and started to write down some details on a notepad. “Tonight at 7.00, back door, ask for wardrobe, who?… Kim? okay…” He looked at her for confirmation.

She gave a small hesitant nod, her stomach flipped and butterflies started to fly around inside her.
Oh crap!
This was a rather sudden and scary turn of events.

Rob finished his call and came off the phone. He tore out the page and gave her the details. Audition with Tony Winchester, 7.00pm, Back Door, Arena Hilton, at reception ask for Kim in wardrobe, get there 15 minutes early.

“He said don’t bring anything, they have everything in the wardrobe department for the girls auditions”

“Oh my God Rob… what am I doing? Me a ring girl?” she couldn’t help a small mad laugh escaping from her mouth.

“Look, I’m sure tonight will be an interesting experience even if you don’t decide do it Ells. Just have some fun, eh? You have way too much serious stuff in your life. Enjoy it… Tony’s a good guy really, his wife’s nice too… I’m pretty sure he’ll take you on, if you want the job.” He smiled at her a little.

He’d be mad not to, he thought.

Chapter 4

Devlin Black drew up in the lot in his graphite grey Porsche and got out. His car was just three months old and driving it felt like a dream. He still loved his Harley and motor bikes in general which were his former choice of transport, but this car was now his new metallic lover and he was so hot for her… As he looked at her beautiful sleek glistening body he resisted the urge for a moment, then taking a quick look around the lot, he gave in to his moment of car desire and planted a quick kiss on her warm top. Smiling to himself in satisfaction he strolled across the lot towards the Arena back door with his holdall slung across his back.