"I kind of didn't have a choice," Jasper grumbled as he strode over to the large, two door refrigerator and pulled it open, shivering slightly as the cool air pressed against his bare skin. He grabbed a bottle of water and turned back towards Carl.
"I'm all for working out your tension," Carl began, nodding in the direction of Jasper's bedroom, "but I worry that you're taking things too far."
Jasper audibly sighed and sat down beside his agent.
"One night," he told him tersely, "I cut loose for one damn night. Can't I even have that anymore?"
"Sure," Carl shrugged nonchalantly. "Only it's not the one night though, is it?" His eyes narrowed accusingly.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Now it was Jasper's turn to shrug.
"I think you do," Carl noted sternly. "The pretty little blonde who came by your dressing room. People talk, Jasper. Did you think I wouldn't find out about her?"
Jasper could feel his cheeks starting to burn. Kait was his. He didn't want Carl discussing her, judging her. It felt like some violation of what his heart felt to even have him be aware of her.
"Obviously that's over," Carl nodded again towards the bedroom. "And I'm relieved. I've told you before that you can't be in a relationship."
"Yes," Jasper acknowledge curtly. "I'm aware of the need for my single status."
"You just need to remain focused, now more than ever," Carl continued, feeling compelled to explain himself even though there was no need. "Having a relationship, whilst nice, is nothing more than a distraction and a drain on your time. Both of which you don't need right now, Jasper. You are so close to all you've ever dreamed of. Win a couple more titles, and you'll go down as one of the greats of all time. That's what you want isn't it?"
"Yes," Jasper insisted, "of course." And that was what he wanted, wasn't it? Since he'd first stepped in to a ring and thrown his first punch, he'd dreamed of being the greatest fighter of his generation. He wanted people to know his name, to admire him. To see him as more than a guy who had a bad start in life.
"I need you one hundred percent focused right now. It has to be all about your training."
"I know that."
"Do you?" Carl challenged. "You skipped out on the gym today to what? Pretend you're Hugh Hefner for the day?"
Jasper gritted his teeth. He wanted to correct his agent. He'd skipped out on the gym because he needed to forget about Kait. He needed to stay true to his decision not to be in a relationship, to be committed only to his sport. Each time he was with her, he felt his resolve weakening, and Carl was right; there was too much at stake for that to happen right now.
"Carl, I'm committed, one hundred and ten percent," Jasper promised fervently as he uncapped his bottle of water and began chugging down its cool clear contents.
"Good," Carl nodded stiffly to himself. "Because this week I'd like to see you put in some ten hour training sessions every day. I've bought in a trainer from the US who really knows his stuff."
Jasper swallowed nervously. He'd had trainers bought in before. They could be ruthless and would push his body to breaking point. His limbs were already barely holding together; he wasn't sure he could handle such a grueling week.
"This is for the best," Carl continued as if sensing his client's apprehension. "Next time you're in the ring, you need to look strong and powerful rather than tired and winning because of luck rather than talent."
The truth of what Carl was saying made Jasper's head pound. He was well aware of how bad his last fight had looked and how narrowly he'd managed to secure his win. His bones still throbbed from the beating he had taken. Whilst he grew older and started to weaken, young, hungry competitors were springing up everywhere, desperate to relieve him of all his titles. No matter how many steps he took, someone was right up behind him, eager to follow.
"I'll try," Jasper admitted lamely. "But I'm still pretty beat up."
Both men looked up as they heard the distant creak of the bedroom door.
"You're clearly not that beaten up," Carl said with a raise of his eyebrow. Jasper sighed and looked down at the marble countertop. His night with the brunettes hadn't been the hedonistic evening Carl believed it to have been. He'd struggled to engage with them both mentally and physically, but he wasn't about to admit that.
"Are you coming back to bed?" The girls peered into the kitchen. They were still completely naked and didn't blink as Carl's eyes hungrily roved their exposed bodies, savoring every immaculate curve and stretch of taut, tanned skin.
"I can't, I've got to train." Jasper told them apologetically.
"Aww," the girls pouted in unison and gazed hopefully at him with puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry, girls," Jasper drank the rest of his water as he stood up. "But duty calls."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" The taller brunette asked.
Jasper looked down at Carl who was still sitting, his espresso now neglected as he blatantly stared at the girls.
"Fancy taking my place?" Jasper asked him with a cheeky grin. Both girls instantly tensed and stepped back.
"I … " Carl's cheeks began to flush as he flustered over his words. "Um … I mean … "
"I'm just joking," Jasper laughed as he clapped his agent on the back. "Yeah, I'm sorry girls. Maybe another time?" His warm gaze glanced over to the brunettes who smiled adoringly back at him.
"For you, Jasper, anytime is good," they promised with a giggle before disappearing back towards the bedroom.
"I'd better hit the shower," Jasper stretched his arms, groaning as his muscles tensely flexed. He had no idea how he was going to make it through one day at the gym let alone five.
"Need me to drive you to the gym?" Carl offered. From anyone else, this would have seemed like a kind, selfless offer, but coming from the mouth of his agent, Jasper saw it for what it really was.
"What, are you babysitting me now?" He asked as his nostrils flared in annoyance. "You think I can't make it to the gym on my own?"
"You didn't make it yesterday."
"Jesus, Carl. One day, can't I have one day off? You're killing me!"
"Do you think your competitors take a day off?" Carl challenging, his voice raising. "They eat, sleep, and breathe being in the ring. The thought which helps them press through the burn is that one day they'll get to topple the great Jasper Duboix. You set the benchmark. But that means you need to keep stretching it, keep testing those who would look to oppose you."
Jasper exhaled slowly as he ran his hands over his head. This was what he wanted – to be on top. But maintaining his position there was proving to be harder than he'd ever imagined it could be. It was exhausting to try and hold all his competitors at bay on the rung beneath him.
"You can do this," Carl reassured him, sounding overly confident. "Put in more hours at the gym, train harder. Nothing silences critics like a swift win, and that's exactly what you'll get Friday night."
"And if I don't?" Jasper challenged. "If this guy manages to floor me like the other one nearly did?"
"You're only as good as you're last win," Carl warned him. "Don't forget that."
"How could I with you around to remind me all the time?" Jasper asked bitterly as he headed off towards the bathroom, eager to stand beneath the warm water and wash away some of his anguish.
"Don't take too long," Carl called after him. "I'll be right here waiting for you."
"I bet you will," Jasper muttered angrily under his breath. He was surprised Carl didn't follow him into the bathroom to monitor his shower to ensure he wasn't wasting precious energy by bathing too vigorously.
With his jaw clenched, he pushed open the bathroom door. Carl was asking the impossible. He was asking Jasper to call on energy reserves that were already well past depleted. But Carl didn't care. All he cared about was winning. The one person who had cared about him had been swiftly pushed away.
Hanging his head with regret, Jasper stepped beneath the warm torrent of water and wondered how he was even going to make it through the day.