She looked at him.
"Why would I be upset with you?"
"I laughed."
"You did."
"I'm sorry."
She studied his face.
He looked genuinely uncomfortable.
"All right."
"All right?"
"Apology accepted."
Ben nodded.
Then he hesitated.
"Marcus is still angry."
"That's his business."
"He said something in the locker room."
Althea returned to wiping the shelf.
"What did he say?"
"He said you were trying to embarrass him."
She gave a quiet sigh.
"Did I?"
Ben shook his head.
"No."
"Then why are you telling me?"
"Because I don't think he's finished."
Althea put the cloth down.
"Ben, listen to me. You don't need to carry messages between adults."
"I know."
"And you don't need to choose sides."
"I'm not choosing sides."
"Good."
He nodded.
She picked up the cloth again.
"Go train."
Ben started toward the mat.
Then he turned back.
"Ms. Brooks?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know Coach Elena very well?"
Althea considered the question.
"Well enough."
"She looked worried last night."
"She should be."
Ben looked confused.
Althea gave him a small smile.
"Go train, Ben."
He left.
She watched him cross the room.
Then she returned to her work.
At nine thirty, Elena arrived.
She looked tired.
She placed her bag on the counter and spoke briefly with the front desk employee before heading toward the training room.
Althea was changing a trash liner near the entrance.
"Morning," Elena said.
"Morning."
"How are you?"
"Fine."
Elena glanced around.
"Has Marcus been here?"
"Not yet."
"He'll probably arrive before noon."
Althea nodded.
Elena hesitated.
"About last night—"
"You don't have to apologize for him."
"I'm not apologizing for him."
"Good."
"I'm apologizing for letting it get that far."
Althea looked at her.
"Elena, you told him to stop."
"After he had already done it."
"You aren't responsible for every decision he makes."
"No. But I'm responsible for what I tolerate in the room."
Althea considered that.
Then she nodded.
"That's fair."
Elena leaned against the counter.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Have you ever thought about working with the fighters?"
Althea blinked.
"Working with them how?"
"Conditioning. Movement. Discipline. Maybe assisting with the beginners."
Althea returned to her task.
"I'm a custodian."
"I know."
"Then you know what my job is."
"I do."
"Why are we discussing a different one?"
Elena lowered her voice.
"Because I've watched you."
Althea's hand paused.
"Watched me do what?"
"Move."
Althea said nothing.
Elena continued.
"You carry equipment differently from the other staff. You step around people before they move. You notice balance. You never turn your back on the ring when somebody is sparring."
Althea looked at her.
"That's called paying attention."
"Maybe."
Elena folded her arms.
"Last night, when Marcus stepped toward you, you moved your left foot half an inch."
Althea's expression did not change.
"Did I?"
"You did."
"Maybe I needed to reach the mop."
Elena smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
There was a long pause.
Then Elena asked, "Were you a fighter?"
Althea looked down at the cleaning cart.
For several seconds, she did not answer.
Then she said, "A long time ago."
Elena waited.
Althea picked up the mop.
"That's all."
Elena nodded.
She did not push.
But she had heard enough to become curious.
Marcus arrived at 11:42.
He walked through reception wearing a black training shirt, gray shorts, and expensive headphones.
He nodded at the front desk employee without removing them.
Althea was cleaning the glass doors near the entrance.
Marcus saw her.
His pace slowed.
For a moment, he considered walking past.
Then he stopped.
"Althea."
She turned.
"Marcus."
He removed one headphone.
"I want to clear something up."
"All right."
He glanced toward the front desk.
"About last night."
Althea waited.
"I wasn't trying to disrespect you."
She looked at him.
"Okay."
He seemed disappointed that she had not offered more.
"I was under pressure. We were filming. Everybody wanted another take."
"I understand."
"So maybe things got a little heated."
Althea nodded.
"All right."
Marcus shifted his weight.
"You're not going to say anything?"
"What would you like me to say?"
He frowned.
"Nothing. Forget it."
She returned to cleaning the glass.
Marcus watched her for a moment.
Then he said, "You know, you could have just helped us finish."
Althea stopped wiping.
"I did help you finish."
"You made it difficult."
"I asked you to stop walking through the area I had cleaned."
"That's not the point."
"What is the point?"
Marcus looked toward the training room.
He could hear the sound of gloves hitting pads.
Then he looked back at her.
"The point is that people have to work together."
Althea nodded.
"Exactly."
He waited.
She continued.
"That includes you."
Marcus's face tightened.
He put his headphone back on.
"Have a good day."
"You too."
He walked away.
Althea watched him disappear down the hallway.
She did not smile.
She did not feel victorious.
She felt tired.
Because she recognized the pattern.