FIGHTER: An MMA Romance Novel (18 page)

H
ow do
you turn a bad situation on its head?

The question was written on a yellow post-it note and stuck to the top corner of her computer monitor. Nicole stared at the plump, round letters of her own handwriting, forehead pressed into her palm while her elbow dug into to table. Since Kade's phone call that morning she'd been turning that question over in her head. The way forward was clear, she had to take what had been said about Jax and dispel it.

But how would she do that and make it look convincing rather than a patchwork of excuses and apologies? That was the detail that would make or break this thing, the very essence of what would see Jax in the ring, or retired from the UFL before he even got his chance.

You use what you know and you take what you feel and you run with it.

Nicole knew a few things. She knew that every bit of negative coverage about Jax was about fan perception, and that the truth and the lies had become tangled as they spread like a virus.

And Jax had already provided her with everything she needed to succeed.

Each of the big league fighters on the UFL website had their own video series explaining their backgrounds to the fans. From time to time new videos were uploaded, especially when a title fight was slated to happen. Before Sicton broke his ankle, the team had been working on assembling footage to show the world how pumped he was for this fight. Now it was time to do the same for Jax — with a twist.

Nine o'clock arrived, and her team showed up for their regular shift. Nicole set them to work as normal after filling them in on what was happening with Jax, instructing them to tend to their assigned fighters without making reference to the drama. All of them would split the tasks she usually did. Today, Nicole would be building Jax's career back up and making him bigger than ever.

The UFL boasted a broad collection of licenses for film segments and images, and Nicole began the rigorous task of sorting through them as she prepared a storyboard for the upcoming film. The purpose of the film would be twofold: first, take the rumors about Jax and acknowledge them, showing that they added strength to his character. Second, to draw the audience to his cause and get them to stand behind him, cheering him on

The people's champion, a David and Goliath story, Jax's narrative was born. From the bottom ranks, plagued with a disease in his childhood that made him hungry to prove to the world how strong he really was, rose Jax.

Each clip she used played up his story, proving what a relatable character he was. The element of his mother's crushing debt added another fairy tale like dimension, binding Jax to the fight — without the money he won from being in the ring, he'd be out in the streets.

A good underdog story was inspiring, and Nicole went above and beyond to capture that all-or-nothing spirit. When she finally reached the end of the storyboard, it was well beyond seven in the evening. Her team had gone home for the day. Nicole stared at the bold white words on the black screen, right before the video cut out.

NOT EVEN CANCER CAN HOLD HIM BACK

From poor health and poverty, to a shot at the career that would put his life back on track, Nicole took a media disaster and crafted it into something spectacular. Set with the right music, flawless video cuts, and a solid story. She'd never been more proud of a piece of marketing.

Even better, Nicole was positive that the leaked documentation from the night before would be seen as a strategic move rather than a mistake. Just a viral technique used to create drama and spread the word before the trailer appeared. With how close the release between the two would coincide, it would be hard to explain the documents as anything but.

Some people would believe they crafted this wild backstory for Jax to add interest to the fight. Others would keep thinking he really was a sick kid. Either way, it didn't matter. Not anymore. As Nicole uploaded the video to the official UFL site, and then to their Youstream account, she knew that things with Jax were back on track.

In days, maybe even hours, every person who took interest in his leaked documents would hear about the follow-up video. Every UFL fan would tune in to watch the inspiring story of an upcoming star. And some would turn their backs on the champ to root for the underdog. This could very well become the UFL's biggest ticket fight of all time.

She'd done it.

Crippled with exhaustion and yet wired with adrenaline, Nicole flopped back in her chair and cried. Arms stretched above her head, chin tilted backwards so she stared at the ceiling, she let all of it out from where it had welled in her soul. With Jax's support, she'd made the impossible possible. With her support, he was going to win this damn fight and take his place at the top.

With under two weeks to go, Nicole already knew that her man was ready.

N
ine o'clock at night
. All day Jax had been in and out of the gym. An hour on, three hours off, Eric had instructed. An hour wasn't long to train for a man whose life was cardio circuits and pumping iron, but in that hour Jax trained harder than ever before. Pushing himself past the point of comfort until his stomach threatened to void and sweat dripped from him like rain down a window pane. Jax gave it his all. No one could hold him back but himself, and he refused to stand by and sulk because life decided to get tough. Twenty years ago he'd fought back against life and won, and he wasn't about to lose now.

"This is the last session for today before I want you to go home and crash. We're at it again six o'clock tomorrow, understand? Until the UFL releases a statement about your future, we're gonna train like nothing's happened."

"Nothing has happened," Jax said, jumping foot to foot to keep himself warmed up. "People found out about something that happened twenty years ago. Big deal. Nothing has changed. If they think I'm going down without giving this everything I have, they have another thing comin'."

"You—" Eric cut himself off abruptly as his phone rang. The siren-like sound was disarming. "The damn thing keeps going off. Jax, you get in there and start getting to work on your form, and I'm going to see who the hell keeps harassing me."

Jax bobbed his head and jogged for the ring, swinging himself over the ropes with little effort. This was his dream. These moments, even if this match was stripped from him, were ones he'd remember and cherish for the rest of his life.

With determination burning stronger than ever, Jax made for the punching bag. From the sidelines Eric navigated through his phone, mouth in a strict line. Several minutes passed. Paying attention to his form, Jax went at the punching bag with everything he had.

"McCarthy, you need to take a breather," Eric said from the ringside. "Come here."

Stirred from the zone, Jax blinked his eyes a few times and turned his head to look at his trainer. Beads of sweat flew clear across the ring, launched from his jaw.

"I just had a break," he replied.

"And I'm telling you to take another. Listen to me and come here." There was something hard in Eric's voice that Jax didn't want to mess with. Uncertain of what was going on, he approached his coach and leaned over the ropes to look down at him.

"What's happening? Is the fight canceled?"

"I don’t know. Twenty different people have texted me a link to this video, and some of 'em aren't even trainers. Hell, my wife's sister was one of the ones who texted me, and she don’t give a rat’s ass about MMA."

A video?
Jax furrowed his brow and clutched tighter at the ropes.

"What kind of video? Is this more shit about the hacker and my information? Is it a release from the UFL about what they've decided to do with me?"

"Just shut yer yapper and watch the video, kid," Eric grunted. With little decorum he thrust his phone towards Jax. The video was already loaded, the white 'play' arrow on the otherwise black screen waiting for his touch. If this was something that was going to tear him down, Jax wasn't sure he wanted to play it. All day he'd been telling himself Nicole would work things out, but it seemed way too early for her to have made a video this popular. Holding his breath, Jax tapped the play arrow and held the phone in one hand. The video began.

On a black screen, white text faded into existence.

A CHILDHOOD TRAGEDY

Footage of a hospital bed, the curtains drawn around it, cut through the darkness. An IV drip stood just beyond the curtains, tubes disappearing within the enclosed space. A heart rate monitor blipped at a steady pace in the back right corner, the only source of movement. The screen cut to black again.

THE FIGHT OF A LIFETIME

A young boy sat, back to the camera, in a wooden chair. Feet swinging, he remained otherwise still. His head was bald, and his skin was pale and sallow. Jax recognized the look of serious illness all too well, it might as well have been a home video of himself. The screen cut to black.

REDEMPTION

The next cut brought them ringside, from the blue corner. The ring was empty, but thousands of faces lit up the audience. People opened their mouths to cheer and pumped their fists in the air, the energy palpable. Even without sound, Jax could hear the cheering in his head. The emotion of the shot was incredible, and it wrenched his heart to look.

08.11.16

The date of the championship fight lingered on the screen.

THE FIGHT CONTINUES

A montage of still images and video clips followed, all featuring Jax. From his ten second KO in Brazil, to his promotional shots, and a clip of him snarling at Kidwell at Kade's party as other fighters held them back. Jax had never seen himself from so many angles, had never appreciated how strong he looked in the eyes of a viewer.

KIDWELL VS. MCCARTHY

THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY

HOLD YOUR EMERALD FLAGS HIGH

NOT EVEN CANCER CAN HOLD HIM BACK

The words faded away, leaving the screen black. It was only when the white 'play' button reappeared that Jax realized it was over. Jaw slack, taken completely by surprise, all he could do was stare at the phone's screen as the weight of the video sunk in.

"I don't know what you did in your past life to get so lucky," Eric said, "but whatever you did, it musta been damn good. That video isn't just going to save your ass, it's gonna make you famous."

"And you didn't even see hear the audio component."

Jax's gaze snapped up towards the new voice, heart racing. There, in the doorway of the gym, stood Nicole. Dressed up in a beautiful white lace dress, hair curled loose and left down, makeup done, she looked like an angel. Muscles primed from his warm-up and brief training session, he hopped over the ropes and sprinted for her. As she cried out in delight, he swept her up into his arms and twirled her. The loose curls caught the air and fanned out, Jax had never seen anything more gorgeous.

Nicole wrapped up in his arms, Jax kissed her hard when he set her down. Heart racing, swollen with love, he pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"No girlfriends or wives in the gym, McCarthy!" Eric cawed. Nicole looked over her shoulder at the burly man, pouted, and wrapped her arms around Jax's neck.

"Did you like the video?" she asked.

"I loved it," he whispered back, words catching in his throat. "I can't believe you put that together in one day."

"McCarthy, I'm serious. No goo-goo eyes are gonna work on me. This is a girlfriend-free zone!"

Girlfriend. Was it official? Neither of them had spoken the words, but the way he felt for Nicole in that moment convinced Jax that he didn't want anyone else. This smart, interesting, irresistible woman had somehow seen a side of him that he didn't quite get, and liked it. As long as she wanted him, he'd forever be by her side.

Nicole unhooked her arms from around his neck and took a small step back as Jax released her. The sweat he'd already built up had probably ruined some of the work she'd put into look that evening, but Jax's eyes were blind to her imperfections. Still, in Eric's gym he'd be professional. The man deserved that much.

Unafraid of the ex-fighter, Nicole turned towards Eric and approached him casually, right hand outstretched.

"I'm Nicole Washington, head of marketing in the social media production branch in the UFL. I work for Mr. Kade Holland. I made that video you, and close to a million other people, just watched. I'm here to get some live footage and hopefully a statement from the challenger to put up online."

Eric looked her up and down, then looked past her to Jax.

"You son of a bitch," Eric called to him. "You didn't tell me you were in
that
close with corporate. Horseshoes up your ass, is what this is. Horseshoes."

Still, grinning, he took Nicole's hand and shook it firmly. Jax wandered over to join them, feeling on top of the world. Not only had Nicole saved his career, she'd worked his image in a way no one else would be able to beat. Not even Kade Holland himself could’ve crafted something so genius and so fitting.

"Am I to take this to mean that our boy McCarthy is still slated to fight?" his coach asked. The handshake ended, and Nicole dropped her hand neatly back to her side.

"Yes sir," she said with a nod of her head. "I told him that I was going to fix this. The video is going viral quicker than I ever imagined it could. People are eating it up. With the positive spin I put on it, everyone who was calling for Jax to be taken out of the fight is cheering him on! And I've got some other marketing tricks up my sleeves for a little later to help them show it."

"McCarthy," Eric croaked, turning his attention to the fighter.

"Yes, coach?"

"How long you been seeing this outstanding young woman?"

Jax's grin matched Nicole's, and he shot her a glance to find her watching him from the corner of her eye.

"Not long. Nothing's really official just yet, but when I win this fight and get some time back for myself, I hope to make it right. Do right by her."

"Well, when you do, don't waste too much time before you put a ring on it. This woman saved your ass big time, and if she's as sweet as she is smart, you're never gonna find another one like her."

The pleased grin on Nicole's face grew before she looked away, and Jax's heart near burst for how excited it made him feel.

"I'll keep it in mind, coach."

"I'm going to cancel tonight's last session so you kids can get that footage you need. Like I said before, we start up again tomorrow at six, and we go hard until it's game day. Make sure you get a good night's rest." Eric dug his hands into his pockets and looked between them. "I'm gonna pack up for the night. The doors will lock behind you on the way out, so make sure that you have everything you need. And for God's sake, McCarthy, wipe down the punching bag after you're done using it. You sweat like a pig."

Jax laughed. The sound was easy and liberated, Nicole had taken a huge weight off of his shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah I'm on it, coach. Have a good night and I'll see you tomorrow."

As Eric left, Nicole paced the length of the ring, looking for the best angle. Like a lost puppy, Jax trailed after her.

"I'm no trained videographer," Nicole told him as they walked, "but I'm pretty sure that trailing around behind me isn't going to give me a good shot." A gentle grin relayed her humor. "Go set up by the ropes, and I'll find the best angle and distance to start recording from. Go get comfy."

Feeling like a little kid on Christmas morning, Jax complied. He settled against the ropes and watched her as she approached and paced back and forth, eyes glued to the screen of her phone. Only a short distance separated them, whatever Nicole was about to shoot, it was going to look really personal.

"Alright," she came to a stop and pointed the camera directly at him, "you look pretty worked up. I'd like you to give me a statement about the fight. Imagine it like a message to Kidwell. If he were here right now in your face, what would you say to tear him down to size?"

The lighthearted humor disappeared from Jax's face all at once. Pale blue eyes narrowed, dangerous. If Kidwell were here, he'd have plenty to say to him. A man like that didn't deserve respect.

"I'm coming for you, Kidwell, and if you know what's good for you, you'd better wave a white flag before I knock you the fuck out. If you think that gossip is going to stop me from dragging you off the throne, you'd better think again. I'm here now. You. Me. No one else. We'll see who the real champ is real fast."

Professional fighting usually meant stirring drama and playing a part, but Jax wasn't acting. The chances the champ would watch the video were slim, but Jax felt a sense of relief that he had the chance to air their dirty laundry in public. At long last he'd get his shot.

"You sound great," Nicole praised. "The video quality looks good, too. Why don't you work some of that anger out by taking it out on that punching bag while I get some more footage? We're going to make this video look really cool, really tough. No one's going to doubt you anymore."

And after the fight was through,
no one
would ever doubt him again.