Page 10 of My Billionaire Seal Next Door

We do some stretches and start shaking out our muscles to wake them up and get ready for the more challenging movements. Isabella is laughing and I can see she is enjoying the movements and stretching her muscles out. I am surprised to see how relaxed Isabella is and how well she is taking my instructions. She seems to be loving this and I swear her confidence is already blooming. I knew this would help her.

I keep glancing over at Alex, but his face remains the same - plastered with a tight, intense expression. At one point he even takes his phone out and is not even watching his daughter's first class. That seems odd. Why wouldn't he want to pay attention - see how much she is enjoying it? Maybe he really just does not care about any of this. I am getting annoyed watching him, so I turn my attention back to Bella.

Well, this class is not about him. Isabella is clearly loving it, so I will just focus on her and ignore her overly grumpy, good-looking father.

We move on to the next step and I start showing her basic blocking techniques as well as ways to dodge and even how to fall safely without hurting herself. I show her how to maneuver if someone pins her to the ground and then after she has worked up a little sweat and she is warmed up nicely I take out the boxing gloves and lead her over the boxing bags.

I want her to feel her own strength and gain some confidence in that.

We work with the gloves, moving slowly at first.

I demonstrate the move in slow motion and then do it again faster so that she can see how much strength she can put into the punches when she is ready. Bella makes little huffing sounds as her fists hit the giant bag and she beams with delight when it swings away from her. She is really starting to get into this, so I teach her the basic left, left, and right sequence and she practices it. I tell her to keep her chin guarded and she corrects her posture instantly. She was born for this. I can see she is a natural.

She repeats the sequence over and over again until she is breathing heavily and grinning wildly.

"Bella, you have done so well," I say with pride.

"I did, hey. I did really well." She smiles back at me.

"Well, you can stop for the day, and we can do a little cool down quickly then."

"Oh no, not yet. Let me do ten more of the sequences things and then we can do the cool down? Please?"

I laugh. "Of course, sweetheart. Go for it. I am going to watch you. I want you to pay attention to your stance and I want to see nice clean punches, ok?"

"Yes. Ok." She says and starts to move confidently, working through the sequence and counting out loud.

I step back to give her some space to gain that feeling of independence. Only once do I have to remind her to keep her stance neat. When she is done, she runs over to me, her hands still in the gloves she reaches up and shouts "High five." I laugh and high-five her glove.

"Next time we can learn a few new sequences. You will work with a partner and take turns holding the handheld punching pads and the gloves. It is quite fun when you start learning to move your feet as well and how to dodge."

"More fun? Oh, my goodness this was so amazing." She squeals with delight.

"OK, let's do some stretches so that you can cool down. Come here and let me get those gloves off you."

She holds out her hands so that I can unstrap the pink boxing gloves and she is chatting the entire time. I can see how good this was for her.

We do some gentle stretches, reaching down to touch our toes and walking forward on our hands. Then a few back stretches to arch out any tightness from the boxing and a couple of floor moves to make sure she won't be stiff tomorrow.

Finally, when we are done, I tell her "High five." And she jumps up and high-fives me hard, with lots of confidence, then runs over to where her father is sitting. She is talking fast and excited about her next class.

Alex does not stand up and stays sitting and looking awkward while she chatters to him. He nods at her and tells her "Well done. You did really well."

Can he not see how happy she is? Can't he even manage a smile? How can he not see how well that went?

I move over to stand near them, and he picks up her little gym bag, putting it on his lap. He takes her water bottle from her and packs it away.

"So, Alex?" What did you think? She did really well don't you think?"

"Ye - uh - she did great."

Why is he being so weird? Does he have to ruin the entire mood with his grumpy attitude? What a grump - can he not just show his daughter how proud he is of her?

"So, do you think she can come to the class tomorrow afternoon? It is a group class at four o'clock with the other kids. I think she will do really well in the team setting?" I ask, trying to encourage him to set a proper appointment. "Otherwise, we can do another private class if she prefers."

"Tomorrow? Uh - I mean - tomorrow." His voice trails off without actually answering my question. I want to ask again, but I know he heard me the first time so what is actually going on here?

Ugh - I want to ask him what the hell his problem is - but firstly he is a new client and secondly, he is my neighbor and I rather like my new home and do not want to start causing any issues with the people who live next to me. "I am finally settling into the place and all my boxes are unpacked," I say, trying to change the subject to see if maybe it improves his mood at all. He does not respond and even takes a little step away from me.

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