Chapter 10

Ardal

I can tell from Kadeem’s expression that he’s surprised by my anger. He stares at me, swallowing slowly as he studies my tightened features. But I don’t allow them to smooth no matter how long he stares.

In fact, my face doesn’t even change as I notice a shift in his gaze. It’s subtle, faint - but I swear I see something - something familiar.

It almost looked like…arousal - a stare I’ve seen from Kadeem plenty of times. The suspicion causes only my stomach to turn sour as the look disappears, causing me to question if I’d actually seen it in the first place.

Maybe I hadn’t. Yes, I must have been mistaken. Kadeem would never look at me that way again - I’m sure of it.

“Alright,” Kadeem says finally with a breath. Only, he then stops to clear his throat, seeming to regain himself. Still, I remind myself that it’s not at my expense, believing he’s just caught off guard by my continued annoyance.

I wait for him to continue, watching his every move as Kadeem pauses again, almost looking as though he’s retreating in his thoughts. I’m sure that must be the case as he begins to speak again.

“But I have one last request,” he says, making me want to roll my eyes.

“What?” I ask coldly.

“I will agree to your terms,” Kadeem says smoothly despite my anger. “Under the condition that you also act as my personal fitness trainer.”

“What?” I repeat the word, but this time it’s with more surprise.

He wants me to train him!?

“You will be responsible for teaching me how to swim,” he carries on, ignoring my shock. “And accompany me during my daily workouts.”

I have to pause to breathe as I take in his request, hesitant from what he’s asking.

“Why me?” I question. “You have plenty of other trainers.”

“Not important,” Kadeem answers immediately, not letting his guard down. I wait for him to say more, but quickly it becomes clear that he won’t.

I want to huff in response, still not understanding. And I definitely don’t want to take the deal - the last thing I want is to spend more alone time with him.

“No,” I say. “That’s ridiculous.”

“What’s the matter?” Kadeem asks, beginning to mock me again. “Afraid to be my sparring partner? I guess I understand. After all, I am the center’s fighting coach and I’ve won three consecutive werewolf world fighting competitions.”

His voice is smug as he rattles off his accomplishments, only adding to my irritation.

“Is that supposed to scare me?” I ask. “I’ll have you know that I’m also a trained fighter. I’m not afraid of you.”

“Oh good,” Kadeem says then, smiling wickedly at me. “Then you’ll have no problem meeting my request.”

He was baiting me - I can tell from that stupid smile. I want to slap it right off his face right here and now. But I also can’t ignore how he’s challenging me again, making me tingle with annoyance.

“Write up the contract,” I say, showing him he can’t shake me. “I’ll do it.”

A quiet chuckle leaves Kadeem’s throat, causing me to scowl. However, he doesn’t notice it as he goes to his computer, making edits to the first contract he tried to offer me. When he’s done, he prints it out and slides it over to me.

I give him one last glare, but sign the page without hesitation, soon shoving it back in his direction so he can see. He picks it up, looking over my signature as a smile begins to appear on his lips - though it's more sincere than the one he wore before. I almost turn my head away at the sight of it.

But I can’t look away, not as I watch Kadeem’s gaze lift back up to me. However, it soon begins to wander, running all over my figure and studying every curve. Still, that secretive smile doesn’t disappear, making my skin crawl.

If I’m not mistaken…he seems to enjoy what he sees.

The idea makes me jump out of my chair, my feet already shuffling me back toward the door.

“I need to get to work,” I say. “Tell me when our first lesson is - I’ll be there.”

I then turn to flee, but five words follow me as I slip out the door - words that I’m sure I misheard.

“I look forward to it.”

~

It’s remarkable that Susan has made such a swift recovery following yesterday’s injury - allowing her to already be back at work. And she’s anything but happy when it’s announced that afternoon that I’m now on the management team.

Her eyes follow me no matter where I go in the gym, and she finds something wrong with everything that I do. When she’s finally “had enough” she decides to assign me to my first personal client to train, making me begrudgingly follow her into her office.

“Here he is,” Susan says smugly once we’re alone, handing over his file. As I open it up and stare down at the man - James’ - membership picture, I realize right away why she’s so content.

Conventionally, the man is not the most attractive person - as much as I hate to admit it. I’m sure she’s making fun of his weight considering he’s on the larger side and his face sags as if he’s wearing a constant sneer.

But what really concerns me are the offenses listed in his file. Apparently, he’s a very wealthy man and listed as a main VIP for the club. However, it’s also stated that he likes to take advantage of the club and tends to be violent.

“Be careful with that one,” Susan voices wickedly. “He once beat a female coach to a pulp after she set him off. She even tried to use fitness equipment to fight him off - didn’t work.”

I ignore her words, keeping my eyes on the file as I begin to wonder why they still allow this man in the club, but soon I find my answer. According to the paperwork, he pays an additional and generous membership fee to pay off the staff. That’s how he’s capable of keeping his name clean.

Once more, Susan and Kadeem prove that everything can be solved by money.

Really, this whole scheme is insane - Susan is insane. She can’t really expect me to take this client when he’s clearly a danger to me and many others.

“Thinking of turning down the client?” Susan asks, practically hearing my thoughts. “I know he seems like a handful.”

A handful doesn’t even begin to cover it.

“But - I should probably mention,” Susan continues. “That whichever choice you make comes with a price.”

“What kind of price?” I ask coldly, my eyes moving to glare at her.

Susan smiles in turn, already eating up my reaction.

“If you decide to train him then I’ll make sure everyone knows that you’re okay working with known dangerous clients and even accuse you of gladly providing sexual favors to clients to get ahead.”

I have no time to react before Susan’s tone becomes more wicked.

“But if you decide you won’t train him then I’ll show everyone you have no professional ethics,” she finished smugly.

My scowl becomes harsher as I nearly growl at her. Once again, I have found myself at the center of another one of Susan’s plans.

Either she wants me to resist and turn down the deal, resulting in me likely being fired. Or she wants me to accept the deal and humiliate me, slander my name. Susan’s cruelity has no limits.

“It’ll be your word against mine,” I tell her. “I could easily prove the truth.”

“Ah,” she says then, waving me off as clicks her tongue. “Did I forget to mention that I have cameras set up and happen to be recording?”

What!?

“With a little editing,” she begins again, giving another smile. “I could spin this story however I want.”

Oh Goddess. How had I not noticed before? Staring into the corner, I can now see the flashing red light, indicating the camera set up.

Maybe I would have been more perceptive under different circumstances, but I had already been distracted by the man’s file. And now…whatever decision I chose can only end badly. Susan has basically put me in a nearly impossible position and she knows it too.

“I’ve got out, bitch,” she says, wearing a sinister smile. “I’ll make you learn your lesson - there’s no end to offending me.”

This can’t just be it - I have to figure a way out of this. Both options are horrible…but I need to somehow decide which one is the better of the two.

I can’t lose this job - that’s for sure. I need it - and after Kadeem’s agreement to raise my pay - it would be foolish to let this position slip away because of Susan’s tricks.

I have to provide for the babies - get Erbao his surgery. That’s what matters. So I’ll have to figure out a way to also keep my name clear from Susan’s claims.

“I’ll train him,” I state then.

Susan’s smile only grows.