The words of Victor hung over Ethan like a shadow. The victories kept mounting up, so did the pressure. Interviews were a frequent happening, and cameras were constantly up in his face. Initially, he tried to go along with it, but then he felt that the nonstop attention started to creep upon him.
Then came the endorsements. A local energy drink company offered Ethan a lucrative deal, promising free gear and a hefty paycheck. Frank frowned when he saw the contract.
"You really want to tie yourself to this?" Frank asked.
"What's wrong with it?" Ethan countered.
"You're letting them own a piece of you," Frank said. "Every fighter who's lasted in this business knows when to say no."
Ethan signed the deal anyway. The money was too good to pass up, especially with bills piling up.
For a while, it seemed like the right choice. New gear, better training opportunities, and the ability to pay off his debts gave Ethan a sense of stability he'd never had before. But it also came with a cost: more appearances, more obligations, less time for himself.