A quiet day for once at the gym.
Earl Sterling, the owner had stayed home today. While Mark, his son isolated himself in his office.
Candi Palmer patrolled the workout area in her burgundy string bikini which hadn't left her body even once today. She fidgeted about choosing to occasionally treat herself to a brisk cardio for ten minute intervals. Not a soul in sight to witness her bulging 34D's bouncing about madly in her sprint on the treadmill.
Not a soul today. Strangely her schedule was free.
Wiping herself off with a towel she wraps it over her neck and parades out into the lobby. Loneliness set in as not even her co-worker Rodney was here to entertain. Gazing out into the parking lot she worries that her future isn't as bright as the last few weeks. There were days when the fitness center was at full capacity. Had the members grown tired of her? Pouting she trembles.
"Sorry Master. Today might be a bust." Her thoughts echoed.
For ten minutes she stared off into space awaiting any arrivals. Finally in the silence she heard a loud thud from the fitness area followed by a loud cry of agony. Bolting into the gym she finds her boss Mark propping himself against a wall. At his feet were separated barbell weights.
"Are you okay?"
"Not really. Pulled my back out trying to fix the weights here. Pin wasn't attached good and as they fell I tried to catch it. Stupid, thinking I'm Charles Atlas here."
She frowns and moves in under his arm, "Here let's get you to your office. Do I need to call Earl?"
"Naaaaaaaaa! Pain in my back either way. I just need to stretch out."
"Then, let's get you up on my massaging table. I'll try and ease your pain if possible. Business is non existent today. Wonder why?" She steps slowly along with him.
"Every day can't be a full house. We're long overdue for a day like this."
Reaching the table she carefully guides him up and watches as he sits down on it resisting the pain.
"I know but I feel like everyone got tired of me."
"Ever think they might be out of money?" He chuckles before hissing in pain.
"That can't be true. Heck I give away services more often than not. It's never been solely about the money. You know that. It's about pleasing Damian."
"Calm down. I know. I know."
"Take your shirt off and lay on your stomach. Pants optional. I know how you feel about letting your guard down. You're in pain so I'm only here to heal. Not seduce."
He gently unbuttons his shirt and lets her help him remove it. Wincing he decides to unfasten his belt and jeans.
"Take my boots off then help me pull these jeans off. This is the one time I'm not going to fight you. Besides---" He stops shaking his head.
Bending down and tugging at his left boot she looks up at him, "Besides what?"
He offers a refused look as the boot is pulled off. On the opposite boot she tries again, "Besides?"
He feels the boot slip off and he tries to stand to lower his jeans. She stands up and places her fingers around his waist helping to gradually remove the jeans. Once at his toes she peels the jeans off and lays them over a chair back.
"Lay back slowly." She tells him as he rolls carefully on to his belly.
Within seconds he feels her strong hands kneading at his lower back. With each compression he groans hoarsely.
"Tell me! Besides what? I promise to just be your friend as always. I'm a good listener."
He rolls his eyes, "Lisa and I are fighting again. We were great for the longest time after that crazy stuff she saw at the movies. Whatever she saw changed her. She was frisky every day. I guess it wore off."
Candi's eyes bulge behind his back, knowing it was she and co-worker Rodney that Lisa had seen at the theater.
He continues, "Between you and I, I'm thinking she was really turned on by it. She thought I might open up to her ideas at romance. I'm sorry but my idea of romance isn't fucking in some movie theater."
"Maybe you should at least try to open your mind. Discuss it with her. Find a compromise that helps you both."
"I never realized how good your fingers really are. You have some magic going on there, Palmer."
"Have I ever had a single complaint from any customer?"
"No. I suppose not. Anyway, Lisa hasn't even tried to seduce me in almost two weeks. It's getting tiresome trying to figure her out. I love the woman but come on, she needs to confide in me if I'm not enough for her."
"Mark, I'm reasonably certain you could be enough for Lisa. I mean I barely know her but my gut tells me she loves you."
"Yea, but I dread the day she ever discovers that Dad and I let you get away with what you do here. That love might go away fast."
"Possibly. However, if what she says about what she saw at that theater turned her on so much, she might actually accept what I do here."
He snarls under his breath, "Let's not take that kind of chance. I'm nervous every day that she might show up here unexpectedly and catch you. Why do you think I have Rodney play watchdog at the front door. Safer than sorry."
"True. Mark? I know how you feel about my past flirtations toward you. I'm long past those days. If you need a little something to tide you over until Lisa and you get back on track I'll offer my hand. Nothing more. Unless of course you order me to do more. Damian does watch over me. I can't refuse you."
Mark merely lays silent as her hands continue to massage his spine.
For the next fifteen minutes he relaxes under her care. So relaxed that he falls asleep.
Hearing him snore she smiles and stops to relieve her stiff fingers. Quietly she steps out of the room and carefully shuts the door. She makes a swift pit stop in the restroom to empty her bladder before going back out. Leaving the restroom she panics. She hears the front door open and spots through the room divider of the lobby something totally unexpected.
"Holy shit. Lisa!" She realizes before racing swiftly to her locker for a pair of gym shorts and a purple t-shirt to cover herself. Taking only a few moments to change Candi dashes back out into the gym.
She finds Lisa attempting to look through the mirrored windows of the massaging room.
"Can I help you?" Candi steps closer.
Lisa Tanner turns startled, "Hello. I'm looking for Mark. Is he here? I mean his car is but this place is a ghost town."
"Yes. You're his girlfriend Lisa right?"
"Yes. He must be in his office." She looks back at the mirrored windows, "This is brand new. I wonder why he never mentioned any new additions to the gym?"
"You might not remember me. I'm Candace Palmer. Candi for short. We met a few years back when I first started work here. You also know my husband Damian."
"Vaguely, I'm sorry to say. Your husband that is. You do look very familiar though. As if more recently. If you don't mind my saying, you're very beautiful."
Candi warmly smiles, "I never mind hearing that. You're very pretty also. I love the highlights in your hair. You remind me of that actress "Chloe Bennet". I've thought about cutting my hair shorter similar to yours. Damian won't let me though. He likes my hair long and full. He says it makes me look like a movie star."
Candi knew if she dropped a hint Lisa might catch on.
In fact it did, Lisa dropped her jaw and bulged her eyes, "Oh my God! It's you! From the movie theater."
Candi fakes her surprise and joins her in flaring eyeballs. She swiftly moves a finger to her lips then pulls her toward the lobby.
"Please don't tell Mark. I need this job. I recognized you sort of. From the picture of you on Mark's desk and that one chance meeting years ago."
Lisa beams with a beguiling grin, "You were sooooooooooo HOT! That was worth the admission for a crappy movie. Do you know how I wished I'd have stopped and introduced myself to you? I kicked myself for weeks."
"Well considering it hasn't been that long I hope your bruises have healed." She snorts in laughter.
"You're too cute. I can't believe how bold you were that night. Fucking right there in the aisle way."
"Lisa? I hope we can be great friends. Our secret? For now at least."
"Absolutely! I only wish Mark could be so bold as you were. I know I could be if given the opportunity."
"Mark loves you. He's told me many times. Heck, I've even told him he needs to open up more." Candi grabs both of Lisa's hands and looks her in the eye.
"Lisa, I'm going to open up to you. I trust that you are open minded enough to accept what I say out of newfound friendship."
Lisa nods cautiously, "Go on. Please."
"Mark and my husband grew up together, so after I started here Mark and I grew to appreciate the others advice. Confidantes! For your sake I'm going to break a vow of silence. That man worships the ground you walk on. He fears that you're getting tired of him because you might be more needy than he is. Yes, I know your sex life has its ups and downs. I try to tell him he should get crazier with you. Experiment more."
Lisa pulls one hand away to clamp it over Candi's mouth.
"Slow down. I love your zest but I know Mark better than you do. He's not an easy nut to crack."
Candi reaches up and reclaims Lisa's hand with a glare of knowledge.
"Oh how well I know! Maybe not quite as well as you, but I know him pretty well."
Lisa stands at full posture with a raised eyebrow, "Oh really!"
Candi fidgets, "No ! Not the way you might think. With Mark merely flirtations. Nothing that comes close to physical contact like that. I'm talking about getting him to open his mind. Am I wrong in believing you want him to get all kinky and exhibitionist like I did in the theater?"
Lisa smirks then holds Candi's hands higher with a tightened grip. Her stare was hypnotic.
"I would give ANYTHING to be like you with Mark. And, for the record even if you had done something with Mark I might actually be alright with that as long as he didn't go behind my back and have an affair."
Candi giggles and gently bounces, "I love you already. Do you truly want to know how Mark reacts toward me?"
