Entering the office, Damon took a deep breath.
The last time he had been in a room alone with the UFA CEO was during the show, after that infamous moment where he had speared Logan into a table and was promptly called in for a warning.
Now, he felt nervous.
Not scared, but with the jitters that anyone might have when meeting their future boss, especially when their first impression was less than stellar.
Damon couldn't shake the feeling that Ronan Black might not have forgotten that incident and, worse, might still hold it against him.
But maybe he was overthinking it.
Damon closed the door behind him, leaving Svetlana outside.
As he turned around, he noticed the camera crew already set up in the room.
The legal contract had been signed before the fight, clearly stating that if he won, it would automatically be activated.
Now, this was likely just formalities, taking copies for records or shooting footage for promotional purposes.
Ronan Black, the UFA CEO, smiled and stretched out his hand. "How you doing?"
Damon's nerves eased immediately, seeing the easygoing smile on Ronan's face. "I'm doing amazing," he said, shaking the CEO's hand firmly.
Ronan laughed. His presence was both imposing and friendly. "You should be. That win was impressive, such a dominant match. Come on, sit down."
Damon sat across from Ronan, trying to contain his excitement. "Thank you," Damon said, his heart pounding a little less now.
Ronan shook his head. "You don't have to thank me for anything. You're one tough son of a bitch. You earned this."
Ronan leaned back slightly, his eyes locking onto Damon's with a sharp, almost calculating gaze. "Listen, I've seen a lot of fighters come and go since my time here in the UFA. And I've been pretty damn good at spotting the ones who have real talent. Not just talent in the cage, but talent that grabs the fans, that keeps their attention. And from what I saw out there? You're exactly that."
Damon sat up a little straighter as Ronan pulled out the official UFA contract, the one that had been signed and sealed as part of the show's grand prize.
He handed it to Damon, suddenly the contract felt heavy to look at, even though it was light, he took a subtle breath.
"You're no longer a contestant, Damon. You're a UFA fighter now," Ronan said, smiling as he pushed the contract toward Damon.
Damon grinned wide, feeling the immense significance of those words. He took the contract in his hands and looked up. "Thank you, Mr. Black."
Ronan waved him off with a chuckle. "Just call me Ronan. But before you take off, I want to give you a bit of advice."
Damon leaned in, listening closely.
Ronan continued, his tone serious but filled with the wisdom of someone who had seen the rise and fall of many fighters. "Look, the UFA is full of killers. Savages. Guys who've been fighting their whole lives and who all want the same thing, being at the top. Leaving their mark.
I've seen countless fighters come through these doors thinking they were hot shit, thinking they were going to dominate and then, BAM, just like that, they're done."
Damon nodded, his expression focused.
Ronan leaned forward now, making sure Damon heard every word. "Don't take this chance for granted. Because once you're in the top spot, it doesn't end there. That's when the real fight starts. You'll be the target. Everyone will be gunning for you, looking to make their name off of yours.
It's a long road to the top, but it's even tougher staying there."
Damon paid close attention, knowing that Ronan was right. This was just the start.
Ronan stood up and extended his hand again. "But for now, kid, go celebrate. You earned it. Have fun, relax. We'll be in touch. When you've got a fight lined up, we'll reach out to your coach."
Damon smiled and stood, shaking Ronan's hand firmly. "Thank you, Ronan. I really appreciate everything."
"Oh, right," Damon added. "I didn't give you my coach's number."
Ronan pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Damon. "No problem. Just write it down here."
Damon quickly jotted down Victor's number and handed it back. Ronan glanced at it and nodded. "We'll make sure everything gets squared away."
As Damon turned to leave, Ronan called out one last time, "Remember what I said, celebrate tonight, but get ready to put in the work. The real journey starts now."
Damon gave him a confident nod and left the office, his new future now laid heavy on his shoulders, but in the best possible way.
He tightened his grip on the contract and made his way out of the office.
His mind was buzzing with everything Ronan had said, but the moment he saw Svetlana waiting alone, it all faded into the background.
As the door opened, she turned around, her face lighting up the second she saw him.
She smiled. "So, what happened?" she asked, curiosity and excitement in her voice.
Damon didn't say a word. Instead, he pulled the contract out and held it up for her to see.
Svetlana's eyes widened as she took the contract from his hands and started reading it.
Her smile only grew as she scanned the words, and without hesitation, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly, her arms wrapped around him in a warm embrace.
"You finally did it," she whispered softly into his ear.
The words hit Damon like a wave, making his heart swell. He smiled and hugged her. "I did."
They stood there for a long moment, wrapped up in the hug, neither one in a rush to let go.
Finally, they both pulled back at the same time, their eyes locking in a way that spoke volumes without saying anything at all.
Damon felt a warmth in his chest that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"So," he said, breaking the silence with a grin, "how about we go eat then?"
Svetlana grinned, still holding onto the excitement. "Yeah, I'd love that."
Damon nodded, For the first time in a long while, he felt like he could breathe.
There wasn't much they had to say.
The vibe between them was comfortable and exciting, so no words were spoken
As they walked out of the arena, the noise started to fade behind them. Damon took a quick look at Svetlana and felt calm.
"Where do you want to go?" Svetlana asked as they stepped out into the cool night air.
"Anywhere is fine," Damon replied. "As long as it's just us."
Svetlana smiled, her eyes sparkling in the dim streetlights. "Then let's make it a night to remember."
Damon chuckled, knowing this was already a night he would never forget.