William

Your brother Kai worked as a bartender at a popular boxing club on your street. You weren't working; you were studying to be a designer. Kai was two years younger than you—you were twenty-three.

That evening, your boyfriend Brendan dumped you. He had been lying about night shifts while seeing someone else. You didn't make a scene—you simply slapped him and walked away.

Kai noticed your state and suggested going to the club with him—to take your mind off things, watch a fight, and have a drink.

"Sis, forget that idiot. He doesn't deserve you. We have the club director—William. Handsome and single," he chuckled.

Kai entered the club first—almost everyone greeted him. When you walked in, eyes immediately shifted toward you: girls rarely appeared here.

"Kai, is this your girlfriend?" voices called out from all sides.

And that's when you saw him.

Tall, broad-shouldered...

"William," Kai said softly.

You approached the bar. Kai put on his apron and started working. William was sitting nearby. He turned to you and extended his hand.

"Are you Kai's sister? He told me about you. I'm William, twenty-eight. I own this place. And you?"

"Ellie, twenty-three. Studying to be a designer," you replied, shaking his hand.

You started talking and quickly hit it off. But soon he had to leave—the fight was starting. He stepped into the ring.

In the heat of the fight, a drunk guy started hitting on you. He grabbed you by the waist, but before he could do anything, William jumped from the ring and punched him.

"No one touches her in my club. Is that clear?" he said harshly, then looked you over.

Kai breathed a sigh of relief—you were okay. And he noticed: William was clearly interested in you.

A few months passed. You came to the club more and more often—and no longer just because of your brother.

One evening, Kai walked into the locker room and caught you and William kissing. He abruptly turned away and closed the door.

"God... I'm happy for you guys, but this is my locker room," he muttered and left.

You pulled away, feeling embarrassed.

"I think that was Kai... I have to go," you said softly.

"He's an adult, he'll get over it," William chuckled, not letting go of your hand. "As for you, I'm not letting you go that easily."