Putting on her dressing gown, she brushed her hair and then went to check her kit for tomorrow. She needed to finish her diet sheet too and, unlike Rachael, she hadn’t lied. She’d been surprised by her gin and tonic consumption though as, by writing it down, she’d realised that the volume had crept over the past year. Her usual six o’clock tipple had turned into two, and sometimes three, and the realisation that she could be turning into a bit of a lush like her mother had given her a jolt. Gin had definitely been her mother’s ruin, she needed to stop it from being hers.
Putting on a new pair of silk pyjamas that she’d paid well over the odds for in a recent charity auction for the local hospice, Maggie sighed as the sound of the dogs barking coincided with the crunch of tyres on the gravel drive. Callum was home. She wondered whether he would smell of her perfume this evening. How he thought she wouldn’t notice was unbelievable. For a lawyer, he was incredibly stupid sometimes. Spraying herself with perfume, she briefly wondered whether it was wasted. Callum wouldn’t notice but it made her feel good and she needed to maintain standards. This wasn’t the time to let herself go. Maggie looked at herself once more in the mirror and, deciding that she couldn’t be that bad if she’d managed to attract someone as gorgeous as Myles Cavendish, she smiled at her reflection and went downstairs to greet her husband.
CHAPTER 5
Wednesday
Looking out of the window, Thor watched Maggie park her car. As expected, she was driving a very expensive Range Rover, and he smiled appreciatively as she reversed expertly into the only available parking space. He watched, and then grinned, as she checked her hair, then her phone and, as she took a swig of water, she caught his eye. Waving politely, she gathered her belongings and stepped out of the car. She was taller than expected and looked in pretty good shape already.
As she walked towards the gym, Thor opened the door. Maggie held out her hand.
“Maggie Dunbar, pleased to meet you, Thor,” she said, shaking his hand enthusiastically.
“Hi, Maggie, nice to put a face to the voice.”
“Well I hope this face is acceptable,” laughed Maggie. “I’ve been up a while and it’s still very early and I haven’t bothered with make-up.”
“I should hope not,” replied Thor, “as you’d only sweat it all off. Come on in. We just need to go through some paperwork before we get down to business.”
Maggie looked at him appreciatively. Rachael was right; very attractive, but far too young. Not that she was interested, but she was amazed at herself for even considering the prospect. Thor signalled for her to take a seat and as she sat down she looked around the room. It smelt like her school gymnasium, the faint odour of other people’s sweat mixed with the slightly unpleasant aroma of ropes and rubber mats.
“It looks like a torture chamber in here,” she said, raising her eyebrows, “I’m beginning to wonder what I’ve let myself in for. Are you sure you’re not called Mr Grey? You know, from Fifty Shades?”
Thor was taken aback. She obviously wasn’t shy in coming forward.
“Oh, there’ll be plenty of torture, Maggie, but I’m sure you’ll survive. I’ve been called plenty of things but that’s a first.”
Maggie couldn’t wait any longer.
“Where are you from, by the way? Thor’s an unusual name. Is it Scandinavian?”
“East Kilbride, and no, my mum was from Hawick.”
“It’s a very strong name though, Thor, the Norse God of thunder and strength; very appropriate for your line of work. Thor Thorogood, that’s two Thor’s in one sentence, a double shot of thunder. I like it. Very creative.”
Maggie grinned at him and handed over her diet sheet.
“And I haven’t lied like Rachael,” she said in a more serious tone. It was like being back at school.
“Good. No point in that, is there?”
“Quite, that’s what I told her.”
Thor laughed.
“Right, on the scales.”
Maggie stood up and stepped onto the scales. She hadn’t weighed herself in a while.
“Eleven stone one, seventy-one kilograms. OK, step off.”
“Are these scales accurate?” Maggie didn’t like the sound of this.
“Yes.”
“I can’t be eleven stone.”
“The scales never lie,” replied Thor.
“But I’ve never been eleven stone,” said Maggie, astonished.
“Well you are now,” replied Thor. He handed her the body fat monitor. “Here, step off and hold this.”
Maggie stepped off as instructed, still shocked that she was eleven stone. She watched with dread as the numbers came up on the monitor.
“BMI twenty four point five and body fat thirty-three per cent,” said Thor, writing it down. “Right, take a seat.”
Maggie sat down.
“So, not too bad,” said Thor, showing her the chart. “At five foot eight, seventy-one kilograms is still in the healthy range but not far off creeping into the overweight section. BMI is fine although, again, it needs to come down a bit. Let’s have a look at your sheet.”
“I still can’t believe I’m eleven stone. It must be the gin. I’m obviously drinking too much gin.”
Thor looked over her sheet. Diet was pretty healthy, not much in the way of snacks, good home cooking and plenty of exercise with her lifestyle.
“When are you drinking, then? In the evenings?”
“Yes, I usually have a pre-dinner gin at about six while I’m waiting for my husband, but he’s coming home later these days, so I’m often having two, and sometimes three.”
“And then eating afterwards?”
“Yes, we’re eating a lot later these days, which probably doesn’t help, does it? Eating a big meal then watching TV or going to bed.”
“Correct. Eating late in the evenings is a classic for putting on weight. Is there a reason for the change in routine?”
“He’s having an affair.”
Thor was taken aback. He wasn’t used to confessions this early in the game.
“And how do you feel about that?” he asked, putting his pen down and sitting back in his chair.
“A bit pissed off, as you can imagine, but as I’m having one too, I can’t really complain, can I?”
Thor looked at her. She was smiling as she looked him in the eye. He wasn’t sure whether she was joking or not.
“I suppose not,” he replied cautiously.
“The thing is,” she continued, “he knows I know, as he sent me a text meant for her, but I pretended that I thought it was for me, but we’re not discussing it. He tried to kill himself a few months ago, so obviously I’m a bit nervous about stressing him, god knows why. He doesn’t know that I’m having an affair, mainly because he knows Myles and hates him. He lives down in London, he’s been on the boys golf trip for the last few years. Also, when it comes to divorce, I want him to be the guilty one, if you get what I’m trying to say.”
“To be honest, not really,” replied Thor. He wished he’d never asked.
“Don’t worry, my darling, all you have to be concerned about is getting me in shape for my new man, as he’s incredibly handsome. I have no idea why he seems to be happy with me, but he is. And everything I tell you, Thor, is obviously to be treated with the strictest confidence, as my husband is a lawyer, if you get my drift, and we don’t want to fall out over any indiscretions. Just get me off eleven stone, tone my arse and thighs, and I will be eternally grateful.”
Thor smiled at her. She was certainly a character but, for all her bravado, he could tell that, underneath, insecurity was lurking. There was obviously a lot more to this story. He couldn’t wait to find out more.
“Don’t worry, Maggie, I treat all my clients with the upmost respect and confidence. Trust me, some of the things I’ve heard would make your hair curl. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Thank you.”
“So, are you ready? Let’s see how fit you really are.”
> Maggie stood up and took a swig of her water.
“As long as it results in a firm arse, I’ll be a good girl and do everything you say. Did you read Fifty Shades, by the way? A woman at the golf club gave it to me. She said she loved it and it was quite an eye-opener. I left it for Callum to read, thinking it might give him some ideas, but he didn’t even open it, or at least he said he hadn’t. Maybe that’s why he’s having an affair. Anyway, do I need a safe word for when it gets unbearable?”
Thor laughed.
“Don’t worry, Maggie. If you stop talking, I’ll know I need to stop, although I’ve no doubt you’ll let me know if I push you too far.”
“I certainly will, you can be sure of that.”
“Come on then, let’s see how much you can take!”
* * *
In the staff canteen, Rachael winced as she sat down.
“Are you alright, Rachael?” asked her friend Marnie. “You look in pain.”
“I am in pain, I’m in bloody agony. I had a session with that personal trainer on Monday. I can hardly move today and I can’t even have a latte to cheer me up, or a muffin.”
Rachael stared at the glass of sparkling water and the box of carrot sticks and grapes that she’d brought in from home. She was starving, but the thought of a lecture from Thor next week had put the fear of god into her. She wanted to try and lose a bit of weight. It was boring as hell though.
“How was it? It was Thor, wasn’t it?” asked Marnie.
“He was good; scary, but good.”
“I go to his circuits classes, you should come. There’s one tomorrow night and Saturday morning. Jane and Lou come too. You know, the girls from the Halifax, you met them on that hen-do a few months back. To be honest, we’re usually still pissed in the Saturday morning class, but it helps sweat it out. He’s quite tasty, isn’t he?”
“Too young for me, sadly. My pal Maggie’s going this morning. That should be hilarious, I can’t wait to hear how she got on. I bet she gives him a run for his money.”
Rachael watched with envy as Marnie sipped her cappuccino. Her willpower was being tested to the limit.
“Does Rex know you’re going? What does he say about it? Are you still serious about divorcing him?” asked Marnie, through cappuccino lips.
“Yep, that’s the reason I’m going. If I’m going to put myself back on the market I’ll need to do something. I was bloody borderline obese when I got weighed, I couldn’t believe it. If I don’t do something about it now, that’ll be me; fat and frumpy at fifty.” Rachael lowered her voice, “And I know I’ve still got something, cos I pulled on that weekend I had away with the girls. So if I get myself in shape, I might have half a chance to find someone decent.”
Marnie leaned in closer, her eyes wide open with delight.
“Seriously? Who with?”
“An American guy called Leon. He had a private jet.”
“Oh my god, did you go in it?”
“Yep.”
“Mile high?”
“I’m not saying anymore. So what time’s this circuits class tomorrow? I don’t think I’m actually ready for that yet though. I’m in so much pain.”
“Six-thirty. I still can’t believe that. I’m so jealous.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t be, the jet was far more exciting than its owner,” whispered Rachael, standing up. “Right, back to work, I’m in Lingerie today and we’ve had some right grumpy bitches in this morning. Sometimes I hate this job.”
Rachael put the lid back on the empty Tupperware container. She was still hungry, but if she was serious about making the second half of her life more exciting than the first, she needed to stick with the plan. She had carrot soup to look forward to for lunch. Life wasn’t all bad.
* * *
As Maggie followed Thor back into the office, she couldn’t help but admire his buttocks.
“I actually enjoyed that.,” she said. “Despite sweating buckets, look at me I’m wet through.”
“Horses sweat, men perspire and ladies’ glow, Maggie.”
Maggie laughed. “This isn’t glowing, Thor, I’m sweating like a pig. So unattractive.”
“You did well, you’re actually pretty fit, so we’ll be able to move on quickly. I’ll make up a programme which we’ll start next week. Your diet’s not too bad; reduce the gin and we’ll have that arse toned up in no time. And if you can make some classes in between, you’ll move on a lot quicker. I mentioned them to Rachael too, so maybe you could come together.”
“I don’t see why not. I’ll only be sitting at home waiting for my husband to come back from his mistress so I might as well invest my time wisely. I’ll ask her.”
“Good. So, you did well. Your diet’s pretty good, so keep on doing what you’re doing there, well apart from the gin. Cut the gin please and any questions, phone me. I’ll see you in class. Same time next week?”
Maggie stood up.
“Thanks, Thor, it was fun. Same time next week and, remember, What Goes on Tour and all that, no telling tales.”
Thor held out his hand and they shook hands.
“Discretion assured, madam. I look forward to torturing you again next week.”
Maggie smiled at him.
“I’ll look forward to that too, Mr Thorogood. Sadly it might be the only excitement I get this week now I’m having to ditch the gin. The things we do for love, hey?”
And as she walked away, Thor felt pretty pleased with himself. He was looking forward to training her. He could tell that she liked a challenge. If she wanted torture, he’d be more than happy to oblige.
CHAPTER 6
Sitting at his desk, Kyle was also feeling the effects of his training session. He’d tried to move around a bit more at work, but it wasn’t easy; he was walking like a gorilla. He’d done well this morning; he’d resisted the bacon roll from the van parked near the office, but the poached eggs on toast that he’d actually managed to make himself for breakfast were already wearing off. Break time was looming. All he could think about was food.
“Are you alright, Kyle?” asked Kelsey, across the office. “You’re very quiet this morning. What’s up?”
Kelsey looked at him, waiting for a response. Bubbly, pretty and an unattainable crush as far as Kyle was concerned, Kelsey made work both bearable and agonising. On the one hand, she brightened his day, on the other, she reminded him of his obvious inadequacies in the dating department. He was her agony aunt, the ugly friend, the one that shared her relationship highs and picked up the pieces of her lows. He knew everything about her, he was in love with her, but he was under no illusion that in her eyes he was nothing more than a sounding board.
“I’m fine, I’m just hungry. I’m trying to lose weight.”
“When did this start? You never told me,” she replied, her attention already back on her emails.
“Today.”
“Why today? What’s special about today?”
“I had to start sometime, today was as good as any. I started with a personal trainer yesterday, that’s why I’m stiff.”
Kelsey stopped typing. Kyle had said something interesting for once.
“Really? A he or a she?”
“A he, Thor Thorogood. He’s based at The Alpha Gym.”
Kelsey’s eyes widened. “Ooh, I know him, my friend Debbie shagged him at Lisa’s birthday do. I can’t believe I’ve never told you about it. Everybody was talking about it.”
“At the party?” said Kyle, not really wanting to hear this information.
“Yeah, in the garage, she got oil on her new white jeans. They were French Connection too, and they refused to take them back.”
“Don’t blame them,” mumbled Kyle. “Why would they?”
“Her boyfriend went mental.”
“Did he catch them?”
“No, he bought the jeans for her birthday. She told him she was looking for a screwdriver.”
“Sounds like she found one.”
“She said he was
very strong,” said Kelsey, dreamily.
“Her boyfriend?”
“No, Thor, she said he was very strong and very supple,” replied Kelsey, winking at him knowingly.
“You women are unbelievable. No morals.”
“I bet you wouldn’t turn down a shag in a garage if Debbie offered it. She’s pretty supple too, she does yoga.”
She was right; at the moment he wouldn’t turn down a shag from Psycho Cheryl on the takeaway van. Kyle took a swig of water. He was desperate for a sugary pick-me-up. It was agonising.
“You need to get one of those Bullet things,” Kelsey continued, through her typing.
“What?” The only bullet Kyle was considering right now, was to shoot himself with. His legs were killing him. “What are you talking about now?” Starvation was making him irritable.
“I think they’re called a NutriBullet. It’s a juicer–blender thing that you throw fruit and veg in, it blends it all up into a drink and gives you all your vitamins and stuff and apparently helps you lose weight. You can bring it to work. Debbie loves hers. Lisa bought one but she puts vodka in it. I can’t afford one, they’re expensive. You should check it out. Thor will know, ask him.”
Trust Me, I’m a Personal Trainer Page 3
