Mason Evans really wasn't in a good mood and now this β latest development. She honestly couldn't see what everyone was making such a fuss about.
BFD β Ashley "Superbabe" Armbruster was coming to the Gym to do an exhibition. It was great free publicity and Mason's employers had been thrilled their Gym had been chosen for the event, everything had been tidied, repaired, washed, waxed and buffed. Michy had expressed regret she couldn't be there and the rest of the staff was told to be on their best behavior, but Mason herself just couldn't get into it. As far as Mason was concerned, Ashley Armbruster was another bodybuilder who'd gone into Professional Wrestling; in no way did Mason consider her an athlete of any kind.
The rest of the staff and the owners however, had gone Gaga over Ashley's visit and were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Mason just went about her business and tried to get her work done and not let all of this get to her. It would've been easier if she wasn't in a bad mood, but both her beloved Neal and her roommate Michelle were out of town and Mason wasn't getting any. Being a highly-charged, sexual animal, that didn't sit well with the curvy, caramel-skinned brunette bodybuilder & fitness trainer. She'd briefly considered calling Sam, but wanted to set things up with Sam and Michy first and not screw that up. Marta had the flu β Mason pouted, she just couldn't catch a break!
It was a slow morning at the Gym and Mason was bored to tears β even her most dedicated students were all agog over Ashley's visit, so when Ashley walked in with her entourage, cameras flashing and everyone making a fuss over here, Mason tried desperately to make herself scarce. Sadly, it didn't work out that way. For some reason, the pseudo-celebrity noticed her and walked right over to her, holding out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Ashley Armbruster and you are ...?"
It wasn't in Mason's nature to be rude; she took Ashley's hand and said "Mason Reynolds. I'm one of the trainers here." She tried to remain friendly, but there was a cool tone to her voice.
"You were going to leave?"
"Yeah. This just isn't my scene and no one's doing much working out right now, so I was just going to call it a day."
"I'm sorry you're not going to stick around. You don't think much of me, do you?" Ashley said, startling Mason a bit with her bluntness.
"I don't think of you as a professional athlete, if that's what you're asking, no," Mason replied with sincerity.
"I worked very hard to get where I am Mason ... I came on the scene with very little and I built myself into a name brand."
Mason sighed. "No offense Miss Armbruster ..."
Ashley smiled. "Please, call me Ashley."
Mason smiled in spite of herself; Ashley wasn't going to make it easy. "No offense ... Ashley ... but I just don't consider wrestling a sport, it's entertainment. You follow a script, you win or lose depending on popularity β it's more like one of those god-awful 'Reality' Shows I can't abide."
Ashley smiled again; she was quite attractive, despite Mason's dislike of her public persona. "I can't stand them either and yes, there is a scripted routine to what I do. But I
am
a real athlete β I take my fitness very seriously, as you can see and I train hard. I'm dedicated to being the best I can be. I'd like to get to know you and perhaps change your mind β could we have lunch, dinner?"
Mason shook her head, dark curls falling into her brown eyes, Ashley seemed to looking right into them. "I don't think that's a good idea. I don't dislike you Ashley ... I just don't have much use for your profession."
Ashley's green eyes sparkled for a moment as she tilted her head to one side, as if lost in thought. "What can I do to get you to have dinner with me? Oh, I know β I challenge you to a Fitness Competition, right here. You win, I'll donate β let's say, 1 thousand dollars β to your favorite charity? If I win, you spend the evening with me and let me try to convince you that I'm well worth knowing."
Mason was trying to think of a way out of this when her employer came up behind them both. He'd overheard the latter part of the conversation and he insisted Mason go for it, it would be great publicity for the Gym, he insisted. Mason wished she could shrink in a corner and hide, but there was nothing the young beauty could do but nod and accept Ashley's challenge.
Mason did
not
like to lose and she did not
intend
to lose.
Yet lose Mason did, in virtually
every
contest. Ashley beat her in lifting free-weights by over 20 pounds and in an extra ten reps. On the indoor track in a contest of ten laps, Ashley beat her by a full lap. She did beat Ashley on the Stationary Bike and in sit-ups, but Ashley cleaned her clock with leg presses, beating her there by a full 100 pounds. Mason was absolutely shocked β Ashley had proven her point and she knew she had to be gracious in defeat.
"Congratulations," Mason said, posing for a picture with a smiling Ashley.