by Nana Prah
Tiring. She nodded and set her mind for her body to be tortured.
By the time seven rolled around and he concluded her workout, she was confused. Was she so not out of shape that she felt like she could do more? She detested exercising and even to her it felt like her body had more energy than she thought it should. Or were the endorphins just making her feel good? That’s not what The Biggest Loser contestants said they felt like on TV after they crawled away from their workouts.
Where was the floor full of sweat she’d expected? She got more soaked whisking egg whites for meringue than she had during their workout.
Maybe because it was the initial session he’d tried to ease her into it so she wouldn’t be overwhelmed. He might bring on the pain Wednesday. Hopefully, just something a little more exciting than what he had presented today.
“Great job, Gia.”
“Thanks.”
“How are things going on the nutritional side?”
The tops of her new sneakers suddenly became fascinating as they headed back to the lobby. “Today is the first day.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Awful was not making its way to his ears. “It’s a process.”
He chuckled. “You’re right. It’ll get easier with time. Just stick to it. How’s work?”
She stiffened. “Productive.” Which it was. Once her supervisor left the office for meetings, she could relax and focus on her project.
He dipped his head to the side. “Is there anything you’d like to talk about?”
Why did he have to sound so concerned? Would pouring her heart out to him be so bad? Maybe he could help.
She opened her mouth to speak when a woman wearing leg exposing shorts and a matching sports bra revealing defined abs jogged up to them. “Hey, Lamar.”
“Hi, Sara.”
“It’s been a while.”
Obvious that Gia had become invisawoman, she pivoted to leave. Before she could take a step, Lamar grabbed her wrist. The tingles skittering up her arm, rather than his hold, left her immobile.
“It was great seeing you, Sara. Enjoy your workout.”
Gia didn’t know who was left more speechless, her or the woman who even she would take a second glance at while walking down the street.
Lamar released her and she wanted his touch back. Just like she had every time he’d corrected her poses. So what if she’d gotten some intentionally wrong so she could have his hands on her body again?
His eyes probed her face. “What were you about to say?”
What would he think of her if she told him about the bullying? Definitely wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t risk having such a strong man judging her as weak. She was biding her time at work when things could be set right. That wasn’t weak, it was strategic. And heartbreaking because she wanted more from her life. She deserved to be treated better. Hadn’t she said as much about her colleague when she’d stuck up for him? Being in the victim seat had put a new perspective on the situation. One that she wanted to be ejected out of.
She took a step back. “Oh, um. I was going to say that things are fine at work.” Guilt went up like a flair at her fibbing tongue. “Thanks for asking. How’s the gym business?”
His eyes narrowed a fraction, but he didn’t address the lie she’d just spouted. “Coming along.”
Not what she’d expected, but delving into the comment would give him more opportunity to get into her business. “Thanks for the workout. I’ll see you Wednesday.”
She took off to the locker room with her heart racing and her skin clammier than it had gotten during the workout. What was it about him that for a split second had her ready to spill everything that had been disturbing her?
He was her trainer, not her friend. It would be in her best interest to keep the distinction clear.
The first week of sessions with Gia had driven Lamar to the brink of insanity. Three days of holding back on her workouts because he needed to treat her with kid gloves so she’d stay. Or God forbid she get offended with a training that pushed her to her endurance level. He couldn’t risk her leaving.
The routines had made her skin glisten and get out of breath, but lacked his signature touch of bringing her to the point of testing herself mentally. If a person could overcome the doubts in the mind, the physical accomplishments would come naturally. The combination would alter her life for the better. If only he could take the chance of challenging her.
Rather than the hard-hitting circuit training he would’ve done with a regular client, he’d kept her on the treadmill and the AMT machines at a steady pace rather than one that would drive her to a greater sense of accomplishment. The weights he’d had her lift had been more of a challenge, but he’d even had to hold back his natural inclination to push her to fatigue during the reps.
Since she’d wanted to learn some self-defense moves, he’d had her practice getting out of various wrist grabs. Her eyes had lit up when she’d wrenched her wrist out of his grip using the power of her body and physics. He hadn’t taken it easy with her on those. A woman being able to protect herself ranked high on his priority list.
If she stuck to the nutrition schedule he’d prepared, she would get in shape even with the milder workouts. She’d admitted to not yet overhauling her diet. When he’d asked why, she’d ducked her head and ignored him.
Respecting her decision not to talk about her issues instead of pressing her about it bothered him. Whatever had caused her to spike in weight needed to be dealt with or it would end up creating more problems in the future.
The injustice he’d served Gia left a sour taste in his mouth. All Trista’s fault.
Yet his draw to Gia while they’d worked had induced a different kind of guilt. He fought himself not to caress his hand down her arm, brush her cheek when she gave him a shy smile, or rest his hand at the small of her back as they walked through the gym. These inclinations drove him completely outside the scope of professional.
He didn’t understand this unwarranted attraction to her. It wasn’t as if it was reciprocated. Unlike other women at the gym, Gia didn’t flirt with him. His gut had burned with jealousy when he’d witnessed her friendliness with a couple of guys who had dared to start a conversation. The glower he’d thrown them had ensured they’d kept their chat with her short.
Lamar barged into El’s office and slouched in the seat across from the desk. “I can’t do it.”
His business partner raised his eyes up from his computer screen. “What?”
“Pamper train Gia Baxter. It’s wrong.”
“I watched some of the session on camera,” El said as he raked a hand through his wavy dirty-blond hair only to have it flop back onto his forehead. “To be honest, I prefer the scary you over the nice. At least you don’t look strained when you’re genuinely doling out the pain.”
Lamar jabbed a finger toward his friend. “That’s what I’m saying. Being fake isn’t my thing. Never has been.”
“On the other hand, she came back for her third session today and didn’t run out of the gym crying at any point in time.”
“I don’t make people cry.” Lamar grinned. “At least not on purpose. Weak folks have no business in my realm.”
El shook his head, his hazel eyes steady and serious. “Just because a person is weak in one aspect of life doesn’t make them pathetic in general. Those looking to become stronger are the bulk of our cash flow.”
“And it’s my job to bring out the best in them,” Lamar countered with a tap to his chest. “Let them know how far they can reach and then take them beyond so they learn that they can do anything they set their mind to. Isn’t that the gym’s vision?”
The leather of El’s chair creaked when he leaned forward. “Yes, but we also need to be able to adapt in a manner that suits the clients.”
Between the three partners, El would forever maintain the role of diplomat along with financial guru. They each had their specialties. Recognizing and applying them made fo
r a powerful team. There was no one else Lamar would trust with his money than El.
Ever since he’d started raking in the cash from his professional bouts and sponsorships, El had taken his earnings and made him richer than he’d ever imagined with investments he rarely had to think about. Yet he had complete control over his money.
He, El and Suarez had met in junior high school and had been tight ever since. The only two men he’d ever trusted with his life and welfare. They’d been the reason he’d survived the most horrible tragedy of his life without going crazy during that tenuous period after his sister’s death.
It gutted him not to share with them that he’d started training again to return to the cage. He couldn’t risk their attempting to talk him out of it. Not that they could, but they’d sure as hell try. He didn’t need the added pressure as he got back into physical and psychological shape.
Lamar pounded the base of his fist against the arm of the chair. “That’s bullshit. We need to serve our clients and do it well. Being soft on them won’t help. Damn that fucker Empson for getting us into this shithole mess.”
El’s eyes transitioned to blazing light green and his tan skin tinged pink. “The bastard did a lot of damage to our financials.” El’s irritation deflated in the next breath. “As underhanded as Trista is, we need her positive review if the gym is going to reach its former glory and ascend higher.”
Frustration didn’t haze Lamar’s thinking enough for him not to see the validity in El’s words. He didn’t have to like the reasoning, though.
“Keep Gia coming in,” El said. “Train her so that her health improves and she becomes a little surer of herself. That’s all we need to do in order to get her sister’s support and glowing recommendation. Her magic touch with her followers will pack the place. In the meantime, you can take your irritation out on your MMA crew.” El chuckled. “They’d certainly appreciate more of the torture you like to dole out.”
Lamar smirked as he got to his feet. “I’m already on it.” Leaving the office, he still felt uneasy about not being genuine to Gia. He’d just have to figure out a way to be sensitive to her and make sure she achieved her goals.
Chapter 7
Gia wiggled in her seat, marveling at the 3D image of the fabulous blender she’d designed. Once assembled and tested, the appliance would amaze their clients. This time she would be the one to bring the prototype to life and see the project through to its manufacturing glory.
The other two products she’d created from the client’s specs had been given to her colleague who had received all the credit when the project had been completed. Thanks to her boss, the accolades had gone to her colleague and to him. This time she’d claim the genius she’d put into the product. Her palms sweated at the thought of standing up to her tormentor. Could she do it? Finally stick up for herself like she’d wanted to all the times he’d subtly belittled her, but hadn’t been capable of unloosening her tongue to do?
She attached the top designs to Harrison with an e-mail that stated:
I am looking forward to working on the next phase of this product.
It would’ve been better to tell him in person, but just like someone looking Medusa in the eyes, being around him was hazardous to her health.
The thought of it had her reaching into her drawer to pull out a candy bar. Her hand hit nothing but paper.
Crap.
Stupid diet. Or as Lamar called it, lifestyle change. Either way it left her without anything to calm her strung out nerves. Chocolate always did the trick. The celery with peanut butter Lamar had suggested would do nothing but draw everyone’s attention as the crunch broke sound barriers.
“Hi, Gia.”
She glanced up at one of the only people in the office who was nice to her. Ramesh didn’t seem to fear the wrath of Harrison for talking to her. For that she was willing to help him when he asked. The man was an exceptional mechanical engineer. He wasn’t as adept at creating computer assisted designs of small devices as she’d heard he’d been at the larger machines he’d designed. She’d been curious about his transition into appliances a couple months ago, but hadn’t dredged up the courage to ask. She was just glad that she had someone to talk to every once in a while.
“Hi, Ramesh. How was your weekend?”
He shrugged. “Cool. I hung out with my family and friends. Always good to be with them.”
“Yeah.”
“How was yours?”
“Quiet. I spent time with Trista.” And had way too many illicit sexual fantasies about a former UFC champion.
“How’s your sister?”
Manipulative, and bossy, but pure love. “Great as always. Getting her social media groove on.”
“That’s good.” He pointed to his desk. “I’d better start work before dragon-breath says something.
“Yeah, you don’t want to end up on Harrison’s bad side.” Not like her.
She relaxed in her seat as he walked away. She’d never again take for granted someone being nice.
Thirty minutes later her desk phone rang. The sight of her boss’s number made her nerves jangle. She took a deep breath and willed her voice to stay steady.
“Hello.”
“I need to see you. Now.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.” Dragging herself to Harrison’s door, she knocked and waited.
“Come in.”
She thrust her shoulders back, similar to when she was doing upright rows with Lamar, before she went in. This time he’ll be nice. She repeated three times. The power of positive thinking had to start kicking in at some point.
She opened the door and stepped in, leaving it open as she stood in front of his desk.
“Please, have a seat.”
Wary of his polite behavior, she kept her eyes on him as she settled into the chair.
Relax and breathe. Things are turning around for me.
And then his blue-eyed gaze narrowed and a mirthless grin spread across his lips. Her stomach tightened with dread, but she kept her back straight.
“The work you sent me for the Sampson blender is subpar. I’m going to have to do a lot of work on it before it goes to development.”
Something in her stirred as Lamar’s baritone voice on getting what she wanted by pushing through resounded in her head. She desired to see this project through to the manufacturing stage. She needed to be brave in order to get what she deserved.
Scooting to the edge of her seat she kept her spine straight as she clasped her hands together. “If you let me know what needs to be modified for improvement, I can make the necessary changes. I’d really like to be the one to complete this project.”
His countenance transitioned from smug to shocked with the slight droop of his mouth. A flush creeped up his neck and filled his pale cheeks. And then those flax lips tightened into a white line as he stood and came to the other side of the desk towering over her.
“I see that you still don’t understand how things work around here.” He paused as he glared down at her. “Don’t think that you can come to my department and try to run things. That’s not how it goes.”
She scooted back in her chair. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you?” He let out a single bark of humorless laughter. “So that master’s degree you earned last year didn’t help you to comprehend basic English.”
What?
“I’m your boss, not the other way around.” He pointed a finger at her. “You don’t tell me what to do in my department. I give the assignments, and you do them. That’s all there is to that. I haven’t seen any improvement in your work since you arrived here. I’m starting to think that your previous supervisor outright lied with the recommendation he gave you for the promotion.”
He hitched forward at the waist. “Were you sleeping with him?”
Before she had the chance to fully grasp what he’d said, he laughed. This one sounded genuine to her shocked ears.
“I’m kidding. Johnson is a f
amily man who would never go there. But then again, I thought he was trustworthy until I got to see the type of work you do. Or maybe you were better with the smaller team projects and designing is too much for you?” He raised his brow as if expecting an answer.
The rollercoaster of the conversation left her confused beyond words.
“Whatever the case, no matter what your educational level, which hasn’t done a damn thing to help with your work, or who supports you, you’re still a subordinate,” he continued. “This is the second time you’ve come to me trying to tell me what to do. There will not be a third. Are we clear?”
A response wasn’t warranted as he walked back to his seat and dropped into the chair.
“I’m sending you the specifications and CAD designs Eli was working on,” he said in a cordial tone as if he hadn’t just told her off. “Since he’s going to be developing what you designed—” his eyes narrowed and his lip curled in a snarl “—once I fix it, you’re going to have to finish his assignment.”
On the outside she remained neutral. Inside she tore out every single one of her braids. Eli was a mess when it came to computer aided designs. How Harrison could favor the young man so heavily when he came up with rubbish designs stumped her. Ass-kissing was a quality that some people excelled at. Not her style.
And look how far it’s gotten me? Cleaning up other people’s messes when I should be a creative lead.
“I don’t care if you have to work all night every day this week. You will complete the design and have it in my inbox by Thursday.”
Gia thought better of protesting. She’d lost the battle that she’d pulled up the strength to fight. Chin up, she stood and left the room.
Two important lessons had come from the conversation. That she wasn’t as lost to herself as she’d thought and that her boss was jealous of her accomplishments, especially the master’s degree she’d worked her ass off to get on a part-time basis while working full time. It had edged her into the position she held now. At this point she was sure that somewhere in all the muck of dealing with Harrison that it was a good thing.
