maybe?" Brandon laughed. Claire heard the remark, but her expression didn't change. She just
continued to breathe, calm and centered, completely unbothered by the young peacock preening
across the room.
When the competition class began, Mike paired up the athletes. Claire, not wanting to disrupt
the class, stayed near the wall. But a newer woman, a twenty-two-year-old named Sophie,
approached her, needing a partner for light drilling.
Claire agreed with a warm smile. They began with simple grip-fighting and movement. Claire
offered no explosive resistance; she simply let Sophie work, quietly adjusting her posture when
needed. "Your foot’s too far outside," Claire instructed softly. Sophie corrected it and immediately
found better balance.
Derek, taking a water break, noticed the exchange. He hated seeing people take things slow. To
him, training was a war every second. He walked over, invading their space. "You’re giving her
those," Derek criticized, looking down at Claire. "You’re supposed to give realistic resistance."