Doomed By Mr. Billionaire's Betrayal

With the tournament drawing closer the arena got more busy, many crews practiced in the arena for want of better rehearsals space, others challenged people randomly, beating and getting beat, learning new tricks and teaching old ones.

Maya arrived wearing her mask again, she couldn't let anyone know she was a woman, she wondered how they would react if they found out. Obviously, they would not be very pleased. She shuddered to think what a multitude of men who were not pleased with her might do, her father served as the only example she could come up with in her mind.

"Still feeling embarrassed?'' Maya turned to find who had spoken and saw Bryan.

"Embarrassed? I don't understand what you're talking about." Maya was momentarily confused.

He pointed. "Your mask. You're still wearing it."

She shrugged for want of something to say.

The weather was clouding like it was going to rain and a few bouts of thunder had already waltzed through the atmosphere. Many people crowded into the building and not for the first time, Maya noticed just how many people assembled on a daily basis at the arena simply because they loved to dance -- or fight, she didn't know the difference anymore.

"Want to go inside?" Bryan asked.

"Sure." Maya shrugged and followed in his wake then she realized what he was saying.

"You seem to be here because you want to prove a point to yourself and I don't know what that is but-- it's obvious you don't belong here, I mean, I'm not trying to be mean but look around you, what do you see?"

All Maya could think of as the tears clouded her vision was that boys didn't cry. She tried to do as she was told and looked around. All around her, she saw men of different ages, sizes and races but one thing was common among them, they were all doing what they loved most with utter abandon. She choked down her sobs and answered Bryan with the clearest voice she could muster. "This is my home now Bryan, I cannot go anywhere from here."

Bryan sighed and she saw him pull at his hair from the corner of her eye. "Look Buck -- though I have a feeling that's not even your real name. You cannot really call this home, firstly you're more of a dancer than a fighter and secondly if this were home to you, you wouldn't be wearing that mask. You're built small, what would you do when the bullying comes because trust me, you're going to attract nothing but bullying with the way you stick out like a sore finger."

"So what's your point!" Maya cried out in exasperation, she didn't care anymore about the tears that were freely flowing down her cheek, mingling in and out of her mask.

"Wooh!" Bryan was momentarily shocked, being faced with feminine tears was a horror many Men liked to avoid but being faced with tears from another man was something he was totally unprepared for. "I'm sorry Buck but I lost -- Gabriel said you could join if I could beat him, I didn't --"

"Would I be accepted here if I did this?" Before Bryan could understand what she meant, Maya tugged at her mask and pulled it off.

Bryan drew in a breath as he watched rich curls tumble down a face that was so exquisite, it belonged only in paintings, falling down to her waist then she dug her hand beneath her shirt and pulled out the binders she had used to bind her breasts.

Bryan watched the under formed youth standing before him transform into one of the most beautiful women he had ever come across. "I'm not sure if this helps you're case." He said huskily

"Well at least, we've started getting real around here." They both turned at the sound of Gabriel's deep voice and Maya found herself pinned down by piercing blue eyes that held her with their unfathomable gaze, she could give her right arm to be able to read his mind at that moment.

"Follow me Buck." He said the name with obvious mockery. "We have a lot to talk about."

Maya felt the menace in his words even as she felt heat rush up her neck, she had no idea why she was blushing as she followed Gabriel meekly to a room that looked like an office, praying silently to heaven that he wasn't as experienced as her father in punishment.