Dances with Monsters(160)

Heath's head swam. "So, what does this all mean, then?" he asked. "Isn't it just water under the bridge, now?"

"This means that Carter Steele owes me a big, fat fuckin' fine and will be forever banned from entering fighters in any MMA tournaments," Smith said bluntly. "He's done, he's washed up. If he can't enter fighters into the big, high-dollar purse tourneys, no one is gonna want to work with him. He doesn't manage any clients, he doesn't make any money. He's going to have to find a new line of work entirely." Smith took another sip of tea. "He's also gonna lose that gym of his. You were the main draw, Heath, you were the reason why people wanted to go. I suggest you take back your investment and go elsewhere."

"I plan to," Heath said. "We've already severed the business agreement. The bank is going to handle getting me my investment back. I'm actually thinking of opening up my own place."

Smith nodded vehemently. "Excellent idea. Really. Great idea." He reached into his suit coat, into an interior pocket, and drew out a large white envelope. "Maybe this will help you get started." He slid the envelope across the table toward Heath.

Heath glanced at it, then up at Smith, who looked back at him impassively. Heath then glanced at Connor, who grinned widely. Heath had no trouble believing that if Smith wasn't sitting there, Connor would be rubbing his hands together gleefully.

He picked up the envelope. "What is this?"

Smith smiled and gestured toward him. "Why don't you open it up and take a look?"

Hesitantly, Heath tore the envelope open and pulled out a thick piece of paper. He realized he was holding a check. It was made out to him, and it was for the amount of three million dollars.

His eyes snapped back toward Smith, blazing.

"You won, Heath," Smith said simply. "Fair and square." He took another bite of his sandwich. "Never let it be said that Maddox Smith is an unfair man."

"This is for three million," Heath said. "The purse was for two."

"Consider it…reparations," Smith said. "For your pain and suffering." He thought for a moment. "And a bribe to come back to Smackdown Two next year."

Heath licked his lips, hardly able to believe what he was holding in his hands. His mind whirled. His own gym had just become a reality. He could set Aida and the kids up permanently with the trust funds and college funds he'd always wanted to set up for them.

"Heath?" Connor was saying, and Heath snapped his head up, and saw Smith holding his hand out. Heath shook himself and grabbed it, giving it a firm shake.

"Thank you, Mr. Smith," Heath said humbly. "I really do appreciate this."

Smith wiped his mouth and tossed his napkin into his bag before crumpling it. "Not at all, Heath. Like I said, you won fair and square. Thank you for being a part of the tournament, and I wasn't kidding about that being a bribe for next year." He winked, then laughed. He clapped Heath on the shoulder. "Thank your brother, here, too," he added. "He really had your back." He shoved his paper lunch bag into the nearest trash receptacle. "If you gentlemen will excuse me, I've got to get back to the office. I've got some blacklisting of one Carter Steele to do." He nodded and waved, then exited the shop.

Heath shook his head at Connor. "I don't even know what to say, man."

Connor grinned crookedly. "You're my baby brother," he said quietly. "I'm not about to allow you to get fucked in the ass over some bullshit like last weekend. You won that, fair and square like he said. That's yours."

"I owe you like, a cut or something," Heath said lamely, gesturing with the check.

Connor shook his head. "No. I don't want any of it. But I do want you to open up your own place. You've got too much talent, Heath, you're too smart, to be workin' for anybody but yourself, especially for someone like Carter. I bet you could take back all of Carter's clients, and even Rex and Jameson. At this rate, Carter's not gonna have that place for too much longer, let alone a pot to piss in. He brought this on himself. Hell—you could buy his share of the property from him. He won't be able to hold onto it, and it would save you the hassle of trying to find a new location and a staff. You'd just have to change the name, and then it would belong solely to you."

Heath's head whirled. He couldn't believe how his luck had changed in the blink of an eye. He'd never been particularly religious, let alone during the past few years, but now he felt a strong sense of humility and he sent up a silent prayer of thankfulness. And Connor had given him a great suggestion regarding the gym. He made a note to see his attorney about it.