Elena slipped sideways.
Six seconds.
That was all it took.
She redirected his momentum, stepped inside his guard, and used his own forward movement against him.
Marcus hit the mat.
The arena went silent.
No music. No laughter. Nothing.
Marcus stared at the ceiling.
The referee checked him.
Elena stepped back immediately. She had not punched him. She had not celebrated. She had simply demonstrated control.
Marcus sat up.
“What was that?”
Elena answered quietly.
“An answer.”
The crowd began whispering.
Marcus stood.
His pride was wounded.
“Again.”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
“Scared?”
“No.”
“Then why not?”
“Because you already learned what you needed to learn.”
That answer embarrassed him more than the takedown.
He demanded another round.
The referee looked toward the event organizer.
The organizer hesitated.
Then Elena spoke.
“I'll do one more.”
Marcus smiled again.
This time, there was anger behind it.
He had no idea that the second round would reveal why Elena had been watching him so closely.
CHAPTER 3 — THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NOTEBOOK
The second round began differently.
Marcus didn't rush. He circled.
Elena watched his feet, his shoulders, his breathing.
The crowd began to realize she wasn't improvising.
She was studying him.
Marcus attacked.
Elena blocked.
He changed direction.