BENEATH THE SURFACE

PROLOGUE

“Rox Gale is approaching the finish line!”

The crowd erupted.

“Gale! Gale! Gale!”

“Go, Gale! Go!”

Rox cut through the water with powerful strokes, closing the final distance between himself and the wall.

“Gale is going to take it! He’s done it again!”

The roar of thousands of voices shook the swimming hall. Rox reached the finish line first, and the scoreboard flashed his name:

ROX GALE — 1ST PLACE.

The arena exploded in celebration.

“He’s just like his father!”

“Exactly! The same talent, the same determination. The Gale name is unstoppable!”

Fans shot to their feet, confusion spreading through the arena.

“What’s happening?!”

“Why are they fighting?”

Phones were raised throughout the stands, cameras clicking rapidly as Rox turned violently on his rival.

“Rox Gale!”

“Gale, stop!”

Rox grabbed his rival by the neck and slammed his head repeatedly against the lane line. The man's body disappeared beneath the surface as Rox forced him down the water.

“He's attacking his rival!”

“He's trying to drown him!”

“Someone stop him!”

Security guards leaped into the pool, sending massive waves across the lanes. They grabbed Rox from behind and pulled him away with all their strength. Beneath them, crimson blood spread through the crystal-clear water like ink.

“This is unhinged...” the announcer breathed. “I've never seen anything like this in the history of the sport.”

“What has gotten into him?”

“He has never lost control like this before.”

Rox was finally dragged out of the pool, his split knuckles dripping blood onto the wet tiles. He ripped off his goggles and threw them against the floor with a sharp crack as the plastic shattered. His chest heaved while he stormed toward the locker room.

“Rox!”

His father's booming voice echoed behind him.

Rox turned at the sound of rapid, heavy footsteps.

SLAP!

His head snapped to the side. Droplets of pool water and blood dripped from his wet hair onto the tiles below.

"How dare you?!"

Rox ran his tongue over his burning cheek, then raised his head. “Feel better now?"

"How dare you disgrace this family..."

"Gale, why are you hitting your son like that?" his mother cried, lunging forward to pull her husband back.

"Him?" He pointed at Rox's face. "He is no son of mine! I didn't raise a savage like him. The Gale family doesn't assault a rival over some girl... they just don't!"

Rox chuckled. "Some girl?"

"Rox, she is dead! Whether you accept it or not... that girl is dead!"

Rox took a step forward. "So that's it?"

His father frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"You're protecting the bastards who murdered her."

His mother's face drained of color. "Rox..."

"Murder?!" His father snapped, his eyes wild. "Get it through your head that your precious girlfriend took her own life!"

"Is that the lie you're all hiding behind? Suicide, when someone definitely pushed her?!"

"Rox, You will get back out there and swim. You will bring home that championship medal..." His father slammed a fist hard against his own chest. "...again!"

"It's always been about the medals, hasn't it?" Rox said, leaning against a locker. "I could beat someone to a pulp—hell, I could kill someone right here—and you'd wipe it clean just because you're the main sponsor."

His father lunged toward him again.

"Gale... Gale!" his mother pleaded, throwing her body between them. "Leave him alone for once! He's a grown man now... he isn't that little boy you can push around anymore!" she sobbed.

Mr. Gale yanked his arm free from his wife's grip and stormed out of the room.

"Rox..." His mother called before rushing out after her husband.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The heavy sound of Rox's fist against his locker echoed in the empty room. He rested his forehead against the cold metal, closing his eyes.

"I'm sorry... so sorry."

THREE MONTHS EARLIER

"Harder... fuck... ahh!" A woman's high-pitched moan echoed through the empty locker room.

"You want it... you want it? Come for me now...!"

"I'm coming... Rox... harder—"

"No. Call me Daddy... say it."

CLACK.

The loud clatter of a mop knocked against the tile floor.

"Someone's in here," the woman gasped, scrambling back.

Rox pulled back, a lazy smirk pulling on his lips as he glanced over his shoulder. Standing in the doorway was a girl holding a mop. Her eyes were wide with shock, and she immediately averted her gaze.

"It's time to clean up in here," she said quietly.

"Oh..." Rox stood up, pulled his pants back up to his waist, and whipped a wad of cash from his pocket, tossing it onto the woman's bare body. "Get out."

She grabbed her clothes and rushed out.

"I take it you saw quite a show..." Rox said, taking a step toward the cleaner. "I can't imagine how many minutes you stood there enjoying the view."

"I don't care what you do with your free time, Mr. Gale..." She glanced briefly down at his broad, bare chest. "But you should know that the night shift starts at exactly 7:00 PM." She turned and began picking up discarded trash.

"Flora, right? Or is it... Liora?" Rox asked, leaning against his lockers. "Like a flower... nice name."

Liora ignored him, picked up an empty alcohol can beside his leg, and continued cleaning.

"Aren't you impressed?"

She paused, looking around the chaotic room. "Should I be impressed by a guy who can't figure out how a trash can works? Or someone who can't even remember basic names?"

"I was just—" Rox tried to step into her line of sight, but Liora stepped around him, propping up her mop to scrub the tiles.

"I'm starting to think you always walking in on me means you actually wanted—"

CRACK!

Liora dropped the mop hard onto the floor, the sound making Rox jump slightly.

Her gaze snapped to his. "I definitely don't want anything to do with you. So could you please step out of my way? I have a job to finish."

"Do you have a personal vendetta against me from a past life?" Rox asked, crossing his arms. "Because I know for a fact we don't have a history in this life for you to hate me this much."

"I just hate people who don't make use of their time."

"Hmm. Fair enough." He leaned in close. "I'm sorry, Miss Flora."

"Liora."

"Close enough."

"Not really."

"Maybe next time I'll wrap things up a little earlier." Rox offered a lazy smile, slipped his shirt over his head, and strolled out of the room, humming to himself.

Liora stood there watching him leave. He was the only guy in the building who had every girl throwing themselves at him, but she couldn't care less.

She picked up a pair of discarded lace panties from the floor and let out a long sigh.

Why do they always leave their underwear behind after doing that? Is it some kind of trophy?

She wanted to scream into the empty room and tell every girl in the arena to have some self-respect. Why do they keep running to a guy like him when they know exactly what he is? How can I not hate someone who makes me work twice as hard just to clean up his messes?

Her phone vibrated violently in her pocket.

"Hello, Liora..."

Her stomach dropped. It did every single time this number called.

"Hello?"

"Your mother's condition is worsening rapidly," the doctor said flatly over the line. "She went into severe shock tonight. I'm calling to warn you that you need to hurry with the outstanding medical bills before it's too late."

"I..." Her voice cracked. "I'm trying... I swear I am..."

"I know you are, Liora. You've been fighting this for two years now... but time isn't on our side anymore."

"I took on another job!" she pleaded. "A private house-cleaning gig! Just give me one month and I'll have the money!"

The doctor exhaled heavily. "Alright... just stay strong."

She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes, then picked up her mop and forced herself to keep scrubbing.

~~~

Beep... beep...

Liora stood on the doorstep of a massive, gated mansion, shivering in her thin coat as she pressed the brass doorbell. She rubbed her freezing hands together, blowing warm breath into her palms.

Beep... beep...

Finally, the double doors swung open, and an elderly woman in a formal maid's uniform stepped out.

"Good evening, ma'am. I'm the new night cleaner. I was told to—"

"Come inside out of the cold," the woman said, pulling the door wide open.

Liora stepped onto the heated marble floor of the breathtaking foyer, carefully wiping the snow o

ff her boots on the mat.

"Don't tell me you followed me," a familiar, deep voice echoed from the top of the staircase.

Liora looked up.

You've got to be kidding me.

Of all the houses in Los Angeles... it had to be his.

Rox leaned lazily against the banister, looking entertained. "So you're the new maid."

Liora lifted her chin, staring right back at him. "I'm here to work."

His smirk deepened. "We'll see about that... Flora."