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I don’t know what it is about this girl, but I’m stuck on her the moment I see her. She’s sitting at the gate, flipping through a UXW magazine like she’s cramming for a test. Her expression is all nerves and focus, oblivious to everything around her. She’s cute, in a way that hits harder than it should.

Get it together, Pierce.

I don’t do this. I don’t get caught up in women. Especially not ones I have to work with. Not anymore. That part of my life is locked away, chained up with everything else I don’t let out. Relationships? Trust? Love? Yeah, I’ve had my fill of that shit. Not worth the risk. Not for me. I stay strict about keeping my focus solely on my career. It's the only way.

But damn if she isn’t easy on the eyes. Petite, with long, wavy blonde hair that falls just past her shoulders. She’s got big, wide eyes that dart around, like she’s ready to bolt at any second. Her lips are full, and the way she bites the corner of her bottom lip when she’s concentrating... it does something to me.

I shake it off, forcing myself to focus on something else, anything else. Still, when she stands to stretch and trips over her bag, I’m there in a flash, catching her before she can hit the floor.

Her cheeks flush, embarrassed, and she mumbles an apology, but I can’t help the smirk that tugs at my lips. She’s a mess, and it’s… kind of endearing.

We make it onto the plane, and I take the seat next to her. She's still nervous, fidgeting like she's waiting for something to go wrong. After a few moments, I finally introduce myself. It’s about time I tell her who I am.

"By the way, I'm Ryan Pierce," I say casually, leaning back in the seat.

She glances down at the magazine in horror, finally connecting the dots as I point to the cover—where I’m front and center, shirtless, every cut of muscle on display. I don’t miss the way her eyes flick over my body before snapping back to my face, like she’s trying not to look… but let's face it she definitely looked.

Her jaw drops for a second, then she bites her lip, nodding. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize you, I should have.” she glances down at the magazine in her lap. “I… uh… didn’t expect this. Really, I had no idea what to expect today, but I definitely didn’t expect you.” Her cheeks heat as the words leave her lips, I can tell she instantly regretted it.

“Don’t worry about it,” I say, waving her off.

The flight takes off, and the initial tension between us starts to ease. She opens up, asking questions about UXW, clearly trying to learn as much as she can. It’s pretty funny actually, she has no idea what UXW is all about, she’s about to step into the lions dens and has no idea. Hopefully, she can hang, we tend to chew up interns and spit them out around here.

I give her the basics. “Brian’s a good guy,” I tell her. “But he doesn’t mess around. He’s serious about this business, and he expects everyone to be on their game all the time. If you’re not, you’ll hear about it, or he will get rid of you. He’s the kind of guy that you have one chance of making a first impression with, so make sure it’s a good one.”

She nods, biting her lip again, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of the magazine in her lap. “That’s… intense. I’m really nervous about this, you know? I don’t know if I’m cut out for it, but I don’t really have a choice. I’m here to work, I just have to focus on that. Everything should be fine.”

“Nervous? Why?” I ask, genuinely curious. She doesn’t strike me as the type who would back down from a challenge.

“This job… it’s just such a huge opportunity. I feel like I’m stepping into a world I know nothing about. I really haven’t had much time to prepare. I just don’t want to screw it up. This job could change my life, and if I mess it up, I’ll spend the rest of my life wondering about what could have been, you know?”

I watch her for a second, noting the uncertainty in her eyes. “You’ll be fine,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “Just don’t overthink it. If you’re good at what you do, you’ll prove yourself. That’s all that matters. And we wouldn’t chose someone who was shitty at what they do, I’m sure you’re the best of the best.”

She smiles, but it’s small and unsure. “Thanks. I’m sorry I’m such a mess. You probably think I’m a total basket case.”

I shrug. “It’s not the worst thing I’ve seen.”

That makes her laugh, and I find myself smirking along with her. There’s something about the way she reacts, the way she wears her emotions so openly, that catches me off guard. Most people in my world are closed off, hardened, guarded. This girl? She’s wide open. And that’s dangerous.

A few hours into the flight, she leans over, tapping my arm. “I need to get something out of my carry-on,” she says, her voice still soft and unsure. “My notebook.”

“Sure, I’ll grab it for you,” I offer, standing up to reach the overhead bin.

She tries to stop me. “No, it’s okay—”

But I’m already pulling her bag down and unzipping it in my lap. “What do you need, exactly?” I ask, glancing inside the dark bag.

“Just the notebook, it’s right on top.”

Except it’s not. I dig around, and instead of a notebook, my hand closes around something soft. Something lacy.

I pull it out, and sure enough—black lace panties dangle from my fingers.

I can’t help the low chuckle that rumbles from my chest as I hold them up for her to see.

Her eyes widen in horror, and her face turns crimson. “Oh my God—no!” she stammers, reaching out to snatch them back.

I keep them just out of her reach, teasing. “You planning to meet someone in this new career of yours?” I ask, eyebrows raised, my tone playful.

“Give me those!” She grabs them from my hand, cheeks heating as she shoves them back into her bag. “That’s not funny.”

“I don’t know, seems pretty funny to me,” I say, grinning as I hand her the bag.

She glares at me, but I can see the smile tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.” She digs through the bag pulling out a small notebook, before tossing the panties back inside. She zips it up and shoves it towards me.

We settle back into our seats, and for the first time, she seems to relax a little. We talk more, and the conversation flows easily. She’s still nervous, still clearly unsure about her new role, but the more we talk, the more comfortable she gets.

“Look, everyone’s gotta start somewhere,” I tell her after a while. “I’ve been doing this for years—put in my time, paid my dues. I’m just now working my way to the top. I spent years, working my ass off wrestling in the indie circuits for practically no money. It was just a step that needed to be taken. It’s all about the journey.”

She looks at me, genuinely curious, tucking a loose strand of golden hair behind her ear. “So, what’s next for you? You already seem like you’re one of the top guys in UXW.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Not yet. Close, but not yet. This year though? I’m going for it. I’m not here to settle. I want to be the guy. The one everyone remembers. The Champ. I’ve worked my ass off to get here, and I’m not letting up until I get it. I’m so close I can taste it.” I feel the heat wash over me, the same heat that runs through my blood every time I think about that Championship belt.

Her eyes widen slightly. “That’s intense. You must have a lot of pressure on you. I can’t even imagine the schedule you keep.”

“Yeah, but I thrive on it. I love the grind. I love the competition. It keeps me sharp. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I wasn’t constantly on the move.”

She nods, absorbing what I’ve said. “It sounds like you’ve really earned your place. I hope I can say the same someday.”

“You will,” I tell her with confidence. “Just keep pushing yourself. You never know what you’re capable of until you do.”

We talk some more, the conversation bouncing back and forth between us, a strange kind of ease settling in despite her obvious nerves.

After we land, we grab our bags and head straight for the rental counter. I take the keys, and we slide into a sleek black SUV that smells like leather and lemon-scented cleaner. She climbs into the passenger seat, quiet and wide-eyed, and buckles in as I pull out of the airport and onto the highway.

The city stretches out around us like something out of a movie—towering skyscrapers, flashing billboards, and the kind of energy that makes your chest feel tight. She barely blinks, her gaze glued to the skyline, soaking in every detail like she’s never seen anything like it. And judging by her expression, maybe she hasn’t.

“First time in New York?” I ask, watching her out of the corner of my eye. There’s something about the way she takes it all in—wide-eyed but trying to play it cool.

She laughs, a soft, breathy sound. “Was it that obvious?”

“Little bit.”

“I’ve always wanted to come here,” she says, gazing out the window as we merge into traffic. “Just never had the time—or a reason good enough to justify it. It’s incredible, though. Really.”

“Yeah,” I say, turning down a packed street, taxis weaving like bees through chaos. “Stick with UXW long enough, you’ll see a lot of places. Sometimes the travel’s the best part. Sometimes…” I glance at her. “It sucks.”

She nods, her smile fading just a little. “Yeah. I can see that.”

“Welcome to the circus,” I say as we pull up to UXW headquarters. The building towers above everything around it, all sleek black glass and mirrored panels, with the bold silver UXW logo gleaming dead center. No mistaking where we are.

“This place is…” she breathes, trailing off.

“Massive?” I offer. “Yeah. We don’t spend a lot of time here. Most of us live out of suitcases and hotel rooms, but this is the brain of the operation. It’s where the boss lives, where your schedule gets made, where everything starts.”

She nods, but her fingers twist the strap of her bag. The nerves are back, written all over her face.

Inside, the air is cool and crisp, the kind of place that smells like new money and polished ambition. I lead her down the hall toward Brian’s office, the sound of our footsteps bouncing off the high-gloss floors.

We stop outside the door. She takes a breath like she’s about to step into the ring herself.

“Good luck,” I say, meeting her eyes. “You’ll be fine.”

She gives me a shaky smile. “Thanks. I think I’m going to need it.”

I nod once, then turn to go. I don’t look back.

But as I walk away, I feel it—that tug, low and quiet. Something about her. The way she’s nervous but still showing up. The way she looked at me like she wasn’t quite sure what to do with me.

I shove the thought aside. I’ve got a title to chase and a reputation to build. No time for distractions.

Even the kind with bright eyes and a quiet fire.