"The point is, I wanna help you grow your fight ring." The man stated.

"And why is that?" Eli asked and whipped out a cigarette then lit it.

"Well...you get about 200 people in here every weekday, your personal fights gather about 350, and the weekends get 3-400, do you know how much revenue you would receive if you broadened your number of gyms?"

Eli and Jason looked at each other while Eli took a hit of his cigarette. Then they both looked back at the man in front of them.

"I could also get you a couple of ring girls. They might not look as good as the one you already got, but..."

"What ring girl do we have?" Gio asked Eli.

"We don't have a ring girl." Eli told the man.

"So babygirl with the legs is just eye candy?" The man asked and looked at me.

The rest of the men turned their heads to face me.

"Oh, she's not-..." Jason began before Eli interrupted. "Leyla, come here, baby." he said as he knocked off some of the ashes from his cigarette into the ashtray next to him. I walked over to him like he told me to. He leaned back in his seat as he took another hit of his cigarette and thrusted his hips a little into the air.

"Sit." he commanded.

I followed his instructions and sat in his lap. He held his cigarette between two fingers in one hand as the other gently spread my legs and slid up my thigh, all the way under my skirt. He squeezed my inner thigh in his hand.

"Charlie? Was it?" Eli asked the man but he was simultaneously kissing my neck.

"Yes sir." The man answered.

"I'll give you a pass because you didn't know..." Eli began as he gently licked up my neck and sucked it softly. "This one is mine. I want you to learn to watch what you say. You don't disrespect her. You disrespect her, you disrespect me. I don't like being disrespected." he said and used the hand that held his cigarette to bring my face to him and kiss me softly. Afterwards, he leaned back in his seat and hit his cigarette again. "I get aggressive when I'm disrespected."

I was a bit embarrassed but at the same time I enjoyed it, I liked the feeling of being shown off as his. Even though he seems a little overprotective.

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

"Atta boy. I get angry quickly, Charlie, don't fuck with me." Eli threatened with a smile.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind." Charlie stated.

"Now carry on with your proposition." Eli instructed.

____________________________________

"I've expanded three companies in the past year and they're all thriving. I know where your ideal customers and participants reside and I know how to keep you hidden. I see how well you do, I think you could do even better. I know you're private, I can keep it that way."

After about thirty more minutes of them talking and Eli's hand caressing my inner thigh like it was a stress ball, the meeting was finally over.

"I'll be in contact with you." Eli stated.

"Great." said Charlie. "You all have a nice day."

"You as well." The boys said in unison.

Charlie left and all of the men turned to Eli.

"What do you think?" Gio asked.

"I don't know, yet. Kind of blows my cover, doesn't it? I could be arrested. All of us could." Eli responded.

"I think you should do it." Jason stated.

"I do, too." said Teddy.

"Eh, I don't know..." Gio sounded skeptical.

"I'm on the fence, too." Eli agreed.

I thought long and hard about it. I feel like he should do it but I also don't think it's my place to throw in my two cents.

"What's on your mind, shorty?" Jason asked me.

"Umm..." I started.

"Go ahead," Eli insisted.

"I think you should do it..." I stated.

"Why's that?" he asked.

"Well, this is something you've always wanted, isn't it? You got it small as of right now but you're getting opportunities that are capable of making your dream even bigger, I don't think that's something you should throw away. You could have an entire franchise and be a fighter even though this entire time all you really wanted was just to fight. That's a gift that's hard to come by I think. Now you have both. Don't forget all of the jobs you'd be creating that could help get people off of the streets. Doesn't really require a college degree to work at a fight ring."

"True." all of the men replied together.

I snickered at them. "And so what you might get arrested? Makes it that much more special when you take risks. I think it's worth it. Plus, if you do...I promise I'll bail you out," I said with a smile.

He chuckled and took the last puff of his cigarette then put it out.

"Shorty makes a good point, man. You started this for a reason don't stay at the bottom when you have the potential and resources to rise, you know?" Jason said.

"I guess. And you're all coming with me?" Eli asked.

"I'M WITH YOU 'TIL THE END OF THE LINE, BABY!" Jason shouted and him and Eli did a handshake with a laugh.

"You know I got you, big man." Teddy stated and nodded his head.

"Come on, you can't get rid of me!" Gio said with a smile and a shrug.

"Yea, I know, I've tried." Eli said and they all laughed.

"What about you?" he asked me.

"I'm here for however long you'll have me." I promised.