- Gemma -
y shoulders drooped with frustration as Mary walked out the gym doors, but by the time they swung shut, I was fuming.
Granted, I was no stranger to her difficult personality, but the least she could do was give me a reason why none of my formally submitted requests deserved comment.
“You all right?”
I jumped at the voice and looked over my shoulder.
Alex’s expression was full of concern and his arms were full of clean white hand towels.
“Yeah.” I unfisted my hands and ran one over my hair. “I’m fine.”
“Did Mary just leave early again?” he asked, lowering the pile onto the counter above the shelves where they belonged.
I nodded as he pulled a towel from the pile, folded it in half, and set it aside.
“On a Monday?” he asked, slipping another from the mass.
I shrugged.
“I don’t understand how she gets away with that.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” I asked, going over to help him. “It’s not like there’s a system in place for anyone to complain about it.”
Alex’s mouth twisted with disapproval.
“And she’s the boss.”
“She doesn’t act like it,” he grumbled, his eyes darting around to make sure no customers were in earshot.
“I wouldn’t mind if I at least thought she cared, ya know?”
His eyes found mine.
“That’s all anyone wants, to work for someone who gives a shit. Excuse my language.”
His brows knitted together as he added another folded towel to his stack. “What makes you think she doesn’t care?”
“Because I just tried to talk to her about three important issues, and she blew me off like I was a Jehovah’s Witness.”
“What issues?”
I waved the question away. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It obviously does to you,” he said, his level tone soothing my aggravation.
“Well, one of the issues wasn’t really important on a gym-wide scale, but—”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” he said. “Lay it on me.”
I stared at him, the memory of his lips on mine making the hair on the back of my neck rise. “This conversation stays between us?”
“Of course.”
“I asked Mary for a raise.”
His eyebrows arched.
“Only a small one,” I said. “Nothing crazy. I just figured that after two years of closing and opening almost every day, I’ve proven that I deserve to earn more than…you, for example.”
His bottom lip protruded with a nod.
“No offense.”
“None taken,” he said. “I’ve seen how hard you work compared to everybody else, and I’ve only been here a week.”
“I wouldn’t mind so much except she told me I’d be due for one if I took on more responsibility.”
“When was that?”
“Nine months ago?” Granted, it was for selfish reasons that I wanted more hours then, but the gym still benefitted from the extra attention I lavished on it.
“Anyone would be frustrated by that,” he said. “What else did you discuss with her?”
“I feel weird venting to you about my boss when I’m supposed to be setting a positive example.”
“Seriously?”
I scrunched my face. “Is that ridiculous?”
“No,” he said, squatting to slide two stacks of towels onto the empty shelves under the counter. “But I’m not sure Mary deserves your defense. Nor have I witnessed anything that makes me believe she cares what I think of her.”
“True.” I folded in silence for a second before opening up further. Frankly, I knew it was wrong to vent to him, but it felt good to talk to somebody. “I’ve also been trying to sell her on letting me teach a class for beginners only, like the ones I do on YouTube.”
“What’s her problem with that?” he asked. “Surely there’s either a demand or there isn’t.”
“There is, though. I’m sure of it. New members would be so grateful if we helped them get momentum right away. That’s actually how I want to sell it,” I said, spreading my hands in front of me like I could see my idea in lights. “As a complimentary upgrade for accelerated results.”
“Go on.”
“Not only would it be a strategic way to safely introduce newbies to the equipment we have, but it would help foster a sense of community from their very first workout.”
“You’re not just a pretty face then?” he asked, one corner of his mouth curling up.
I blushed and dropped my eyes to the dwindling towel mountain.
“I think it’s a great idea.”
My eyes popped up. “You do?”
“Certainly worth a try,” he said. “Worst-case scenario, people don’t take advantage of the offer. Best case, some do, and it helps them feel settled here sooner.”
“Exactly! So you do get it.”
“Of course. Seems like a no-brainer.”
I groaned. “So why can’t Mary see that?”
“Perhaps you’re right about her heart not being in it,” he said. “What was the last thing you disagreed on? Didn’t you say there was a third?”
“Oh right.” I shook my head at the pile. “This is the worst. I’m actually ashamed to even tell you this.”
His expression grew stern. “What is it?”
“Remember the water aerobics incident we had last week?”
He stopped folding. “Of course.”
“Well, she couldn’t care less about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I told her about the girls’ complaints about Mr. Edwards being pervy during the class.”
He leaned against the counter and folded his arms.
“And she seemed more fixated on the lack of proof than the fact that an allegation that we mishandled sexual harassment could be disastrous for our reputation.”
“So what happened?”
“Nothing,” I said, unsure of whether I was more angry or sad. “She said it was a harmless misunderstanding and that we should let the class run as usual.”
He scoffed.
I pinched my lips together.
“Oh shit, you’re serious?”
“Isn’t that hideous?” I asked, shaking my head. “And in this day and age?”
He rubbed his jaw for a second, his eyes falling to the counter.
“I get that it would be severe to instantly bar him from the class, but it seems like we should at least do something to keep the situation from escalating.”
I waited for him to say something, but he just kept squeezing his jaw and staring into the distance. “Alex?”
He dropped his hand and turned towards me. “I’ll do it.”
I craned an ear towards him. “You’ll do what?”
“I’ll take the class,” he said. “Make sure Mr. Edwards keeps to himself.”
“What?”
“You got a better idea?” he asked. “Because I agree we absolutely have to contain this thing.”
I wracked my brain, but I knew the class was too big to ask the instructor to handle it, especially since she was only under temporary contract while the regular teacher was on maternity leave. Plus, the only other option would be to observe the class, and that was liable to make all the participants uncomfortable, which would only stoke the situation.
“Well?” he asked, glancing at the clock before turning back to me. “What’ll it be, boss?”
I sighed. “You got a suit?”