Work today wasn't too much. I made a few coffees. Filed a few papers. Took a few phone calls. But other than that it was fine. I was also told Jonathan should be back tomorrow.

Great.

I got off a bit later than usual due to a meeting I was told to attend so when I got home I didn't have time to change. Only time to get my stuff and hop in the car with Eli.

"You do know we're going to the gym and not a press conference, right?" he asked.

I had on a tight top and short pencil skirt. I had a buttoned blazer over it but I took it off when I got home.

"You're hilarious. I got off later than I was supposed to and didn't have time to change when I got home." I explained.

"Hm," he said and looked at me. "You should do that more often." he stated and backed out of my driveway.

____________________________________

We arrived at the gym and I went into the locker room to change. I put on a black sports bra and matching tights and shoes then went back to the main area.

Eli was in there hitting one of the punching bags.

Surprisingly, his shirt was still on.

"Okay, I'm ready." I said when I got back to him. His eyes glanced over me. He took a deep breath with his eyes closed.

"What?" I asked, feeling like I did something wrong.

"Nothing." he responded.

"What'd I do wrong?" I asked.

"You didn't do anything," he said and kissed my head. "But if you keep trying to work with me half dressed then I'm going to do something." he stated into my ear. "Let's go." he instructed and walked back to his punching bag.

'You can't just say things like that and act like you didn't.' I thought to myself.

"I want fifty punches on each arm then fifty kicks on each leg," he instructed. "When that's done we spar."

"Excuse me?"

"Spar. It's like a practice fight."

"No, I know what it is and what you said but you want me to spar against you? Eli, you could throw me." I bet.

He chuckled even though I am very serious.

"I wouldn't go all out against you, baby. Maybe like 25%." he promised.

"Why does that still feel like too much?"

"Shut up and punch the bag." he instructed and I rolled my eyes.

"Roll them again." he demanded.

"Hm?"

"You heard me. Roll them...again."

I didn't roll them again.

He looked down at me, directly in my eyes with my chin resting between his thumb and index finger.

"Aww, you knew it was wrong without me having to tell you. That's adorable," he smiled and walked off to inside the ring.

I faced the punching bag and got in my stance then began my 200 swings.

After those were done, I had to step into the ring with Eli.

"My limbs are tired," I told him. "Can't we just wrestle or something?"

He looked at me like it was a dumb question.

"I'll tell you what, if you can move me from this spot, then we can do that." he promised.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Fine then." I said and pushed him.

He didn't move.

"Wait..."

I shoved him harder.

Nothing.

"What the fu-..."

I walked behind him and pushed him from his back.

Nothing.

"Are you made of fucking metal?" I asked and he laughed.

I stood to the side of him and pulled his arm. He leaned but his feet didn't move.

"Okay...fine, since this is how you wanna be," I threatened and went behind him again then took a few steps back. I could hear him snickering.

I did a little skip to him and then jumped on his back, he leaned forward a bit since he wasn't prepared but again his feet didn't move.

"Move, damn it!" I said and slapped his shoulder.

"Are you done, yet?" he asked. I sighed and let my body go limp on him.

"Yea, I guess." I said in defeat.

He grabbed onto me and pulled me around to the front of his body where my legs wrapped around his waist and my arms around his neck.

"You put up a good fight." He tried to encourage me.

"Don't lie. Your feet didn't even budge."

"They're planted." he admitted.

"Obviously."

"You're really sarcastic today," he said and put me down.

"I'm sorry, I've been on edge since I found out that asshole will be back at work tomorrow."

"Who?"

"Jon."

He stared at me like he was still clueless.

"-athan." I finished his name hoping it would jog his memory.

He shrugged.

"The guy that tried to sexually assault me on my birthday."

"Okay well for one he didn't try, he did. And two, quit."

"Quit? I can't quit. I need money. Plus, if I quit every time I had to work with someone I disliked I'd constantly be out of a job. I don't like many people."

"Well, then I'll just fire him." Eli threatened.

I'd completely forgotten that he owns everything, not just a branch.

"No, Eli. You can't fire him."

"No, I can. That's why I will." he stated.

"No."

"It's time to go," he said after looking at his watch.

"I can't tell if you're gonna listen to me or not." I said.

He didn't respond and just left the ring.

"ELI!" I called and went after him.

"You know you're mine now, right?" he asked but didn't look at me.

"Huh...?" I was caught off guard.

"You heard me. You know you're mine now...right?" he repeated. He looked at me.

'Is this a relationship proposal? I forget he's older, he probably doesn't use the term girlfriend.'

"Yes." I replied.

"Change." he demanded after looking me up and down.

"Huh?"

"My god, Leyla. Change. If you're coming with me to the ring you need to change."

"All I have are my clothes I went to work in..."

"That's fine," he stated.

We both went into the men's and women's locker rooms to shower and change.

Once I finished, I walked back to Eli, so we could leave.

"We might be late." he said. He was in a dress shirt and pants.

"Don't you have a fight today?" I asked.

"Yes, but I have a meeting before that with someone who wants to join the ring," he stated. "Let's go."

____________________________________

When we arrived at the ring we hurried up downstairs because Eli only had a minute or two before he was considered late to his own meeting.

"Damn, baby!"

"Look at that ass in that skirt!"

"I guarantee he's hittin' that!"

More voices like the usual ones I heard every time we went downstairs. Eli stopped walking and stood in place. He turned around and faced the men while he still held onto my hand then with his free hand he punched a large, hollow, metal, pole that stood next to us attached to the ceiling and the floor. A loud bang produced followed by humming and it grabbed everyone's attention.

"If I hear...one more person make an inappropriate comment about what belongs to me when we walk through this gym...you're gonna lose teeth," he said in a voice that even scared me. The room fell silent and they all stared at him looking genuinely nervous.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!" Eli shouted like a sergeant.

"YES SIR!" Everyone said in unison.

"Carry on," he said and we walked into his office. When he shut the door I heard the noise continue.

In the room were Jason, Gio, and some man I'd never seen before, while Teddy guarded the door.

"Sorry I'm late. Had business to take care of," he said and went to sit down. I stood next to Teddy and he gave me a fist bump.

"It's all right man, I got here just two minutes ago."