Page 54 of Off Balance

Fighting by a clear set of rules puts me at an immediate disadvantage. This isn't about fighting style or keeping things clean and above the belt. This is about doing whatever it takes to get your opponent on the ground and beat him unconscious. Good luck tapping out, either. You either win, or you wake up bloody. And in my case, a knockout could come with a price. So I have to get with the program real quick.

I spend most of the fight dancing around the bigger fighter, dodging and pissing him off with little jabs to his torso and kidneys. There aren't any rounds to be called or breaks to be had, so it's not long before I'm winded and sweating. But by then, theother guy is struggling to keep up. I can't help but grin, almost wishing Cam could see me putting all his training to work. I bob and weave and spin around the big guy without feeling dizzy myself even once.

There's a moment where I think I overhear my name being said in the crowd, and I falter. My opponent is quick to take advantage, and clocks me hard. His knuckles glance off my jaw, snapping my face to the side. Blood and spit fly into the crowd that is closing in around us. I stumble to the side enough that the crowd actually pushes me back in to be caught by "Big Eddy," chanting his name as they do. I take a knee to my gut and heave over while Big Eddy takes a moment to cater to his crowd. They all yell out ways to put me down, each more brutal than the next. His hesitance is just enough for me to work up to sucking a tiny bit of air into my lungs, and I'm able to dodge him as he comes rushing at me. He takes out a member of the crowd before he gets back to his feet to face me again.

After running at me two more times in an attempt to bulldoze me over, he changes tactics and kicks his leg out to trip me. I've been waiting for him to do something to try to catch me off guard, so I'm able to jump back to miss his leg. He ends up over-extending to reach me and falls to a knee. I should probably take the shot now, but I wait until he clamors up before I go for the kill. I'm in his guard, throwing punches as fast and hard as I can, driving him back through the crowd until his back is against the bar. Once he's stunned enough to drop his hands completely, I throw three quick jabs at the center of his face, before uppercutting him hard enough that he falls backwards, and the back of his head hits the bar on his way down.

Putting my hands up in front of me, I step back and let the game master check on his fighter. A pulse check and some smellingsalts later, the big guy is on his feet and actually laughing maniacally at being beaten. I feel more in danger when he picks me up in a big bear hug than I did when I was fighting him.

The game master begrudgingly hands me a wad of money, which I set on the bar in front of the guy I knocked out in the first match before I walk out.

A woman in a short, tight dress approaches me as I'm making my way upstairs again, and for the briefest moment, I consider falling back into old patterns just to keep my mind on something other than the troubles that are plaguing me, but I’m just not interested.

She's not him.

CHAPTER 15

CAMERON

That stupid flash drive taunts me, but I don't want to see it. I already know Emile isn't good for me. Having another reason play out in front of my eyes is not going to make things any easier.

Because I'm stuck.

As of right now, Emile holds the keys to my entire future. He can make me or break me. One word from him could ruin my reputation and block me from any dance company in the country. I'm acutely aware of this when he calls me to his office after rehearsal. I thought he wanted to discuss tonight's opening show, but instead, he slides some papers over to me. It's my application to the World Ballet Competition.

"Where did you get that?"

"Does it matter where I got it? Why were you hiding this from me?"

"I… I wasn't hiding it. It was going to be a surprise," I lie through my teeth. Emile's eyes narrow, and I know he doesn't believe me. "Why would it matter, anyway? It's during the off season, it wouldn't affect the company at all."

"It would affectmycompany if you go there and embarrass yourself."

"It's just the solo competition. It wouldn't be in your name."

"But you will use my choreography for your audition tape, yes?" He points to where I've written the name of the dance I'll be performing.

"I don't understand." It's completely normal to use any piece you've performed for a private audition. There are no copyright laws that prevent it, and it's also common practice. This is how it's done. There's no reason I shouldn't be allowed to perform any dance I want for this audition.

"So my name will be on it. They will know you came from my company and therefore are an extension of me. The answer is no."

"I'm not going to embarrass you, Emile. If I'm not good enough, they'll turn down the application. And if I am good enough, then that could only mean good things forDe Pointe Elite, right?"

"Per the contract that you signed, you agreed to a non-compete. This discussion is over."

Even after he dismisses me, I stare at him like he's grown horns and a tail.

"That contract was for my internship. You promoted me. Shouldn't I have a new contract now? Can we negotiate this?"

He looks up at his desk with an expression of utter boredom.

"You are filling an empty position until an official decision can be made. A decision that only I can make. And even then, I write the contracts."

Without spelling it out, he's saying that he owns me. I have to play by his rules, or he'll take it all away. Everything I've dreamed and worked so hard for is at the whim of this man.

Emile smiles, and while I'm sure he's attempting to come off as kind, it just looks calculating. "Are you ready for the performance tonight?"

I nod blankly. "I am, yes."

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