Unwanted child - стр. 2
Dries put his hand on the boxer's shoulder and smiled again: ‘Bargaining? Good. I'll throw another five per cent on you. Consider me in a good mood tonight, so I gave you a concession. In return, I expect you to lose in the ring to Derek tonight.’
Theodore: ‘No. I've been in this sport my whole life not to constantly leak contractual agreements. I only plan on adding to it so I can break through to city major competitions at the gold level and beyond.’
Coach: ‘Tedi, that's no way to do business. Stop fooling around! I've already taken the money. These are his requirements, his rules, and it's not for us to tell him what's right or wrong with them.’
Dries rose from his seat and pointed his index finger at the coach, pretending that the athlete needed to heed his advice.
Theodore: ‘I've said it all. Tired of being a punching bag already. I deserve better than that. I'm not you. For tonight's fight, I didn't take any extra money, and I'm not going to.’
The accompanying manager looked into the locker room, ‘Theodore Silver, you're being announced. It's time!’
The sportsman got up from the bench and headed for the locker room exit. He was blocked by Dries and with a serious expression said: ‘Don't mess this up, kid! You and I are in the same boat. If you try to jump out of it, I will personally drown you. I'll drown you myself, believe me!’
Theodore silently walked round the broad man from the side. Then Dries turned to his trainer, ‘You make sure, Sebastian, that the agreement between us is honoured. Otherwise, you'll get it too. It's your job to keep an eye on the kid. There's a lot of money at stake. I didn't come here personally for nothing…’
Coach: ‘I'll do my best, Dries. I'll do my best.’
The announcer solemnly introduced Theodore to the crowd. To the general buzz of the stands, Theodore, his accompanying manager and trainer made their way down the red carpet to the ring. Dries took his seat on the bleachers, took out a cigar, lit it and tensely began to watch the preparations for the upcoming fight.
Theodore climbed over the ropes and put gloves on his hands to greet the audience. He looked into the stands and saw Dries smoking his cigar. The announcer announced Theodore's opponent. A few dozen seconds after that, a large and aggressive fighter appeared from the other side of the ring, looking like a young, angry bull, raring to fight. The referee took his place in the centre of the ring. Both fighters approached him.
Judge: ‘I expect you both to fight fair. No holds barred. Only boxing.’