Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“The gym manager has already offered to pay all subcontracted fees.” Manny joined him near the front door.
“Good.” Mike frowned. “Because this is a lot worse than they implied.”
There were overgrown wintergreen shrubs lining the front of the building that probably had wildlife living in it, or worse, hornets’ nest. Mike tugged on his thick utility gloves and started yanking at the dead branches to see how much of the plant, if any, was salvageable.
A well-built man in a blue OneHealth T-shirt came out the front door. His name tag said Aaron, that he was the operations manager, and also that his passion was CrossFit competitions. “Can I help you fellas?”
Mike pointed to the Stockley Lawn Service logo on the back of his clipboard, then extended his right hand. “I’m Mike Stockley. This is my business partner, Emmanuel.”
The manager blew out a long—Mike assumed relieved—breath right in his face, then gripped his outstretched hand in a powerful squeeze, pumping it up and down. “No one told me you guys were coming, but regardless, I’m glad you’re here. The customer complaints are getting out of control about the outside maintenance, and I can’t afford to lose any more members at this location.”
Manny nodded. “You made it sound like time was of the essence. Are you available to look over the contract now and—?”
“I’ll agree to whatever terms you all have as long as you can start this week,” the manager blurted, then apologized to Manny for cutting him off. “I’m sorry to rush you like this, but I heard your company is one of the best in the area, and I’d really prefer to just hurry up and hire you guys before your schedule fills up too.”
“That works for me.” Mike was beyond exhausted, and his eyes were gritty from hours of reading articles about sex addiction on his laptop screen. Information he’d absorbed like a sponge until he was soaked full of knowledge. Plenty enough for him to know what he wanted to do. But first things first, he needed rest. Mike was ready for this day to be over. A hot shower, a joint, and his Tacoma glider recliner were all he desired at the moment. “If we can go inside, you can sign on all of the dotted lines, and we’ll be outta ya hair?”
“Sure thing.” The manager bobbed his muscled neck, then turned and led them toward the entrance. “When do you think you’ll be able to start?”
“We’ll be back Friday with a twelve-man crew,” Mike assured.
“You guys are saving my ass right now,” Aaron breathed. “It wouldn’t’ve been long before someone from corporate was sent out here to investigate the complaints.”
A blast of cool, sweat-tinged air hit Mike in the face as he walked through the automatic doors, but it wasn’t near as offending as the techno-pop music blaring over his head. Da’fuck? Why would anyone want to exercise to that? There were several robotic-smiling faces working behind the front desk. One woman was neatly folding dark gray courtesy towels and stacking them in a pyramid near the end of the counter, while another was assisting a woman wearing a halter top and pink spandex that appeared painted on as she rang up her protein bar and orange Gatorade. Mike struggled to hold in his incredulous scoff.
Manny let out a low whistle. “Damn. It’s a lot nicer in here than I thought. I can only imagine what a membership costs.”
“Yeah, too bad the outside looks like shit,” Mike said close to Manny.
“Right this way, gents.” The manager stopped outside of a small office and ushered them inside. Mike was almost past the threshold when he saw two women who looked to be in their mid to late twenties, each carrying one of those rolled-up nylon mats he’d seen Rayne using when he was meditating outside. They were walking toward a set of frosted double doors that read Mind and Body Wellness Studio in a fancy cursive script.
“Hey. What exercises are they doing in that mind and body place?” Mike pointed to where the women had disappeared through the doors.
“We have several classes that are done in that studio, but right now, I believe a restorative yoga class is starting.”
Yoga! Mike’s eyes widened as an idea slammed into him.
The manager raised a dark brow. “You look in damn good shape to me, but I’d like to offer you and your men a free membership for coming over as fast as you did. That is if you’re interested?”
“Yeah, actually, I am. But I’m just interested in the yoga classes.”
The manager gave him a cheesy smile. “Well, the membership includes everything. You can attend any class you want and, of course, full access to all of the gym’s amenities. We have a full-length pool with aqua fitness classes, a sauna, a hydromassage therapy center, six aerobics studios—”