Fiance of my Ex-Boss: Chapter 21 - At the gym with Matt and Goofball
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Tuesday, Feb. 4th, 2020
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The beginning of February, winter, around forty degrees outside, when the door opens, and in walks a dude with short pants and a tee shirt. I grinned and turned to welcome him when I saw a picture of a man raising his hands above the huge sign "I POOPED TODAY!" on his shirt.
I busted out laughing. This man gets me every time. Last Thursday, he walked in a shirt saying something like, "I'd flex, but I like this shirt." And kept taunting Matt the whole time about it for some reason. Those two are remarkable! Especially since Matt wears three-piece suits normally.
"Hi, Ross, what's so funny?" he said with such a neutral tone that I had to laugh harder.
"You are just special, Goofball."
"Oh, thank you!" he touched his chest and smiled at me.
"Hi, Brandon!"
"Hi, Ben!"
Ben started laughing also. "Congratulation!"
"Thank you, you know it's a very important part of life, and honestly, I had such a good one today that I just had to wear this to celebrate it properly."
I was in tears now!
"Do you own anything else than goofy shirts?"
"I am scared to buy some, cos then Matt can come, borrow it, and bring me back scraps. He never wants to wear anything like this."
"Why in the world not? I think many 36-year-olds wear it nowadays." I grinned.
"Why does he bring you back scraps?" Ben asked, entertained.
"Last one he borrowed came back ripped and cut."
Ben laughed as if he understood something.
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The door opened, and we all turned to see Matt entering. The mood shifted. I looked at Brandon. I saw him straighten his spine and broaden his shoulders instantly. His face didn't bear any trace of a smile anymore. I never saw him even neutral. He always just grinned, so now seeing him alert like this gave me chills for some reason.
I looked again at Matt. He was obviously pissed. Something was really wrong.
"Hi, Matty." Brandon's voice was calm but cautious.
He glared at Brandon and was about to move past us when Brandon stepped in his way.
"What's going on?"
"Move, Bran," Matt growled.
Brandon carefully examined Matt's face. "You haven't slept."
"No, let go of me."
Brandon held Matt's biceps firmly. Ben and I looked at each other.
"What are you doing now?" Brandon asked slowly.
"I am going to change and beat something."
Brandon shook his head. "No way."
"Let go of me, Bran," Matt tried to shake Brandon off him but couldn't. I never saw Bran serious like this. He looked twice bigger; even with that goofy shirt on, he looked stern and menacing. He was like a solid wall.
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"Matt, I am not letting anyone fight you now. You will snap after the first punch."
"Bran, if you don't let go of me, you are getting the first one." Matt looked into Brandon's eyes, and they stared at each other, neither backing down.
This was the first time those two or three inches Brandon was taller showed immensely as he towered over Matt with all strength.
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"What's going on?" Ben approached them.
"He needs to calm down." Bran didn't take his eyes off Matt's.
"I need to beat into something. Last warning, Brandon."
Brandon's look was resolute and cold. "Go to sleep, now."
"Fuck you!"
"I mean it, Mattew."
"Don't fuck with me now, Bran,"
"Matthew, this is your last warning. You either go to sleep now, or I am taking you home myself."
Matt sighed, obviously realizing he couldn't shake Brandon off. "Can't you just give me a break?"
Brandon's look grew gentler yet still unwavering. "Matt, I know how much you need it; whatever happened is grave. I know it and am here for you, but I know that look too well. If you now start fighting, you will not stop until you draw blood."
"Fuck you!"
"We are not fighting today."
"You are not my trainer."
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Brandon looked at me. "Ross, I mean it. If you now start fighting him, he will snap."
I looked over at Matt. It was apparent to all of us that he was in distress. "Matt, what happened?"
"I am not talking about it."
"Fine. Then let's work out with the equipment."
"No, I want to punch something."
"Okay, there is a punching bag." I pointed.
"Fine!" He glared at Brandon, still holding him. "Can I go change now?"
"Are you going to change into pj's?"
"Brandon, let him go change. Matt, we will wait here. Go." Brandon looked at me, concerned but let Matt go. Matt scoffed and walked into changing room.
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"What was that?" I asked.
"Something is wrong, very, very wrong. He is out for blood." I never saw Brandon this severe.
I nodded. I could see it too. "I know."
"He needs to let it out of his system, Brandon. We are here, don't worry." Ben said calmly, but it was evident that he was vigilant.
"You don't know him, Ben; he had beaten to coma guys bigger than you when he was like this."
Ben and I looked at each other.
"Thank you for warning us."
"He can't spar today."
I nodded. "He won't, but you can't just send him home to sleep. It won't help him."
"He needs to calm down," Brandon kept repeating. He cared a lot!
"Would he be able to calm down like that, or just push it further until it blows over?"
Brandon crossed his arms and looked at the door to the locker room. "Then what do you suggest?"
"Brandon, we all here had issues with anger. Why do you think I own a gym? And why do you think this area has a place for sparing and punching bags? Cos it's such a good business opportunity?"
"No..."
"No, because I started in a place like this dealing with issues you have no idea about. Let Matt deal with his."
Bran frowned, and his face turned to stone. "I did that for years, and we swept guys into the ground three times a week."
"You should have come to some gym."
"Matt wouldn't set foot into a gym like this. His dad was a boxer. He hates those bags more than anything. Why do you think he had such a hard time starting? I have no idea what spell you cast on him to change his mind, but trust me, back in the day - no one could do that."
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"Can you stop gossiping about me?"
"No, you are too interesting."