Chapter 3 Not Michelle, Katrina Cole

Lennox stared at his opponent in the eye. The man was big, but it could have been an advantage for Lennox, if...

'If I move quick enough...'

But Lennox's head was not in the game. Suddenly, Lennox stumbled back as his opponent punched him. He shook it off and tried to focus.

"Get your head in the fucking game Houston!" his coach shouted at him.

To his coach's dismay, Lennox lost all twelve rounds of the match. As he got out of the ring, his coach shook his head, disappointed.

"What's the problem Lex?"

"I told you before CJ," Lennox said wiping his busted lip, "I told you that I wasn't in the right state of mind to do this."

"Don't give me that crap. Is this about your father?" Coach Johansson, preferably CJ, asked, handing Lex a bottle of water.

"Man, she needs that surgery now. And I just...I don't know what to do."

"I know. All we can do now is pray."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"Do you have any other options?"

Lennox sighed heavily sitting down.

"You know I would give you every single penny I own if I could. If I had it."

His sister, Linette, joined them.

"Are you okay?" she asked him.

"I'm okay kiddo," he answered, forcing a smile.

Linette smiled sadly, "Liar."

Lennox just kept his smile.

"Get my bag kiddo," Lex said to her.

Linette grabbed Lex's bag and helped him up. Lex winced a little from the pain right below his ribcage.

"I'll get you an ice pack as soon as we get home. Let's go."

This time, Lennox sat behind while Linette rode the motorcycle home. When they got to their small apartment, their mother was in the kitchen, waiting for them. Her heart broke as she took in the sight of her son, but she didn't say anything. She knew better than anyone else that he hated people fussing over him.

"How was your father?" Samantha asked her son.

"I would love to tell you that he's getting better, but he's... he's slipping away mom."

Neither of them responded or reacted to the statement. They all knew it was happening and they couldn't stop it.

"I made your favorite, spaghetti and meatballs," Samantha said to Kai, applying ointment to the cuts on his face.

"Thanks mom," Lex smiled.

Samantha had been trying everything to make her son happy. He was already sad about his father's condition but when his girlfriend left him, it broke him. She was his pillar and she just left. For no reason.

"It's not you. It's me," she had said to him.

After they had dinner, Lex went to his room and laid on the bed. Pictures of Michelle were still on his desk and walls. He sighed heavily, staring at one particular picture they had taken together when they visited London.

The reason Lex believed it wasn't over between her and Michelle was because they had dated for five years and she just broke up with him, with no valid reason, over text.

He couldn't move on. He loved her too much to just move on. But the problem was, she wasn't coming back. It had been two years since they broke up.

The next morning, Lennox went alone to the hospital to see his father. As he was about to go into his father's hospital room, the doctor stopped him.

"Lennox. I'm very happy you pulled through," the doctor said shaking his hand, "Your father's surgery will be tonight and as you requested, he will be taken to a VIP room for his recovery–"

"What the fu–" Lennox stopped himself, "What are you talking about?"

"Your girlfriend came by and took care of the payments. I must say Lennox, I'm impressed. She's lovely."

Lennox didn't know how to feel. Michelle was back.

"Um...wow," he finally managed to say ,"I don't know what to say."

"Well, when you think of what to say, call that lovely lady and thank her."

Lennox thanked the doctor and went to see his father. When he was done, he went outside and dialed Michelle's number.

"Hello?" Michelle answered.

"Shelly. It's me."

She sighed, "Lex.. it's been two years... Please stop with this now."

"But you paid for my dad's surgery. Did that not mean anything?" Lennox asked.

"Lex, I could pay for your parents' health care and it would have nothing to do with us. I love your parents. They are like my own. And for the record, no. I did not pay for your father's surgery."

"You didn't?" Lennox said, beyond confused.

Michelle sighed, "No Lennox. Listen, it's been two years. Get over me. Get over us. I'm married now and I have a daughter."

Lennox had heard about that but hoped that it was a lie. But here she was, confirming it herself.

Lex hung up. There was nothing left to say to her. She was married and well, she had moved on and he should have too.

"Lex!"

Lennox looked back to see a nurse calling him. He ran to her, thinking something bad had happened.

"What is it?" Lennox asked.

"Doctor Fitzpatrick is calling you. He says your girlfriend is here to see you. The woman who paid for your father's treatment."

Lennox immediately followed the nurse inside. In the hallway, standing with Doctor Fitzpatrick, was a tall woman, wearing black heels, a black beret and a short tight black dress, with thin straps. He couldn't see her face since she was facing the other way but by just looking at her clothes, Lex could swear he had never met her in his entire life.

It hadn't taken Katrina very long to find Lennox. Of course that wasn't the plan. The plan was to let fate bring them together, for a more romantic story to tell. But Katrina was impatient, so impatient that she got someone to find him. WHen she did, she called the hospital and took care of his father's treatment costs immediately.

'A good icebreaker if you ask me.'

Katrina turned around to see the man who had captivated her. The doctor and nurse left them to talk alone. Kat took off her glasses and flicked her hair.

"Katrina Cole," she said, holding out her hand.

"Lennox Houston," he replied, shaking her hand, "Do I know you?"

The tall woman smiled at him, revealing even white teeth. Her dress hugged her in all the right places and her waist length hair was perfectly straight. She had beautiful big green eyes and plump pink lips.

"Maybe. I'm the CEO of Nico Cyryl."

"Never heard of it."

"I figured. Anyways ,a couple of weeks ago you had a fight with a man by the name of Gregory for a cash prize. Am I right?"

"Yes..." Lennox said, still confused.

"I was there. You lost that match but I was impressed with your skill. I felt as if the cash prize rightfully belonged to you. So that explains why I decided to pay for your father's medical bills. That's what you wanted to use it for right?"

"Yes. And thank you Mrs Cole. I really appreciate it."

"If you really appreciate it, you'll take me out for lunch," Katrina suggested, getting straight to the point.

"Lunch? Sure," Lennox agreed. Not thinking too much of it. "If that's what you want. "

"That's exactly what I want," Katrina purred, "What would you like to eat? Italian? Chinese? Indian? Mexican?"

Lennox shrugged, "Whatever you want really."

"Okay. In that case, I know a really good place in town. Let's go."

They walked outside and stopped in front of Lex's bike.

"Guess we'll meet there?" Lex asked.

He looked down at her with his gorgeous eyes. Damn, the man was ridiculously hot.

"No. We'll ride together. On your bike," Katrina said with a smile.

"Your outfit is not exactly... biking style..." he said examining her dress and heels. The beret, the gloves, the glasses, it was just not fit for his old bike.

"Oh no, it's all right," Katrina said, getting on the motorcycle. Lennox shrugged and hopped on too.

Without him even asking, Katrina wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. She could feel his hard abs under his t-shirt.