Chapter 10

"Like this?" Heather asked the martial arts instructor.

"Yes but bend your knees lower." instructed Kenji as he puts his arms around her.

"KENJI!"

They were caught off guard when they heard a pissed man's voice. They both straightened and looked questioningly at a red-faced Blake. She walked to get her towel at the back of a chair a little far from them. She also drank water from her water bottle. She wanted to avoid Blake as much as possible. It was too early to ruin her weekend.

"I thought the kids’ training is at 9." Blake asked Kenji while frowning.

The other man flexed his shoulder muscles. "Yes but I had the sudden feeling of wanting to come earlier. And I am glad I did. "He said with a grin before directing his eyes at Heather who was stretching in front of a big mirror. She had her airpods plugged in her ears.

Blake’s face darkened. "You shouldn't get involved with our clients.”

Kenji's smile disappeared then his forehead creased for a moment but after a moment his gin was back and he raised his hands as if in surrender.

"Ops! Sorry dude. Am I trespassing?" he as he looked at him while he on the other hand had his eyes on Heather’s back.

He narrowed his eyes then looked at Kenji without saying anything for a second or two. "No .Just be discreet. I don’t want people to say that the trainers are taking advantage of the clients." He finally said before turning to go to the locker room.

When he got inside he threw his sports bag against the wall then kicked his locker angrily.

"Bullshit!"

He was very angry. He was furious with what he saw though he didn’t have the right. And he didn't want to have the right.

"F*CK!" he cursed through gritted teeth.

He sat down on the bench with his head down between his legs. .He sat like that for a few minutes. He needed to clear his head. He couldn’t be like this. He needed a distraction.

***

Heather discovered that Kenji was fun to be with. He taught her the basics of self-defense but he made it more enjoyable by cracking jokes once in a while.

"The best self-defense is still is to run." He said with a wink.

They finished their lesson inside the room where kids had theirs because he said he didn’t want their lesson to be interrupted again. She agreed because the last thing she wanted was Blake barging in for the second time.

She was about to leave the room when Kenji asked, “Would you like to have coffee or a meal with me one of these days?"

She wasn't surprised that he would ask her out. She knew that he liked her. She had done some thinking last night. Maybe it was time that she stopped flirting with different men. She didn’t want a boyfriend but meeting men was inevitable so she might as well go out on dates.

"Okay." She nodded her head while she had a small smile on her lips.

He grinned ."I'll call you. I'll get your number later."

She nodded again. He had a class in a few minutes while she wanted to check the gym equipment. When she was out, she saw Blake with Pauline's sister, Ellie who saw her immediately.

"Heather!" She greeted her in her usual cheerful tone.

They kissed each other on the cheek.

"Hi Ellie. You are looking good! I love your fit body”

Pauline’s older sister giggled.

"I have to do work out regularly because I gain weight easily.”

From her peripheral vision she saw Blake assisting a female who was on the lat pull down. She turned a bit to see them more clearly. The woman was sexy. She was in a black sports bra with matching black leggings. She had her hair in a high ponytail.

I won't be surprised if she will be Vanessa’s replacement. She thought.

“This gym is great! They have all the equipment we need. And the trainers are all good-looking and hunky, especially the owner!”

She turned her eyes again at Ellie and smiled. "Unfortunately Pauline can go here much later. It would have been nice if the three of us can work out together.” She said with a hint of regret in her voice.

"No worries! We can do that next week. By the way there is a zumba class in two hours. Let’s join!”

"Oh I wish I could but I still have a lot of errands. I will definitely join next time!” She said.

Ellie nodded" Before you go try the other machines and I will introduce you to my friend."

She stopped herself from crinkling her nose when Ellie walked to where Blake was with the female. She had no choice but to follow her.

"Samantha!" Pauline’s sister called the other woman.

The woman let out a friendly smile. She was right. Samantha was pretty.

"Sorry to interrupt Blake.” Ellie apologized.

Blake just nodded as he helped Samantha stand from the lat pull down.

Heather did her best not to look at him. She was close to snorting when she realized that he took advantage of the situation so he could hold Samantha’s hand. The female didn’t need any help getting up.

"Sam this is Heather, friend of Pauline. Heather, my friend Sam." Ellie introduced them.

She might not really like the other woman but she seemed friendly and sweet so she didn’t have any reason to be rude. She felt sorry for her since she let Blake be close to her. Sam was cute, sexy and nice but her taste in men was obviously bad. Blake might be hot but he was still a manwhore.

After the short introduction she did what Ellie suggested. To try the gym equipment. She was doing her best not to grit her teeth from annoyance. She thought Blake would at least explain to her how to use the machines but he was busy assisting Sam who seemed to be enjoying flirting with him. She felt he was being unfair to the other members because he only helped Ellie’s friend. She tried very hard to avoid looking at them. Now she was thinking that maybe all the pretty female members had been Blake’s sexmate. She sighed then sat on the nearest bench to drink some water. Then she saw Kenji coming closer to her. He was beaming.

"Hi!" He sat next to her.

"Hello. Are you done with the kids’ lesson?” she asked.

"Yes. Can I invite you out for lunch?" He asked. His eyes are hoping that she would say yes.

She leaned on the wall and her eyes caught Blake who was now holding Sam's back as she did some squats.

"Sure. I will just have a quick shower." she said all of a sudden.

"Okay. I will take mine too. I will tell Blake that I will be back after lunch." Kenji said with a big smile.

"Sure." She replied as she got her towel and drinking bottle before going to the shower room.

***

Kenji was a true gentleman. He even offered to drive her to the grocery.

She was smiling as she was about to enter the lobby of the condo building when someone called her. She turned and saw it was Kevin. He came closer to her and got the shopping bag she was carrying.

"Thank you." she said.

"You shouldn't be carrying heavy things. Just call me if you need help. I would gladly help if I am available.”

She smiled at him. Kevin was also nice looking. He was the boy-next door type.

"Thanks for being nice to me. Sorry again for wetting your handkerchief.”

"No problem Actually I didn’t wash it. It was a keepsake. You remind me of my younger sister." He revealed with a cute smile.

"I will carry this for you to your unit. Don’t worry I am harmless. Besides I will not come inside.” She laughed quietly.

She felt relieved that Kevin wasn’t physically attracted to her. She liked him to be a friend and he said she was like his sister. It was not every day that a pretty lady and a nice looking guy could have a platonic relationship. The door of the lift opened and she and Kevin entered. She was surprised when two teenagers and Blake got in too.

The two teens moved between her and Blake. Kevin was at her back. Blake was near the door. Once he turned to either side he could see them since the walls are mirrors. The two teens chatted while the three of them were quiet. When the two got off, the inside was silent. They were on the fifth floor.

Blake didn't move from his position. He was just looking straight ahead. His back was on them.

"Do you like coffee?" Kevin asked her.

"Yes.."

"When can you have coffee with me?”

Heather saw Blake's back straightened.

She turned her head at him. "Monday. After work." she said.

"I guess dinner will be better." He said while grinning.

She nodded. "My floor." She said when she saw that the lift stopped on the 14th floor.

"I’ll come with you. You can’t carry all these.” Kevin said.

When the door opened, Blake didn’t move.

Kevin said excuse me but he didn't even move a single inch.

So what she did was, she just took hold of Kevin's arm then passed on Blake’s side. She was worried that he would say or do something to stop them but to her relief, he didn’t. She let out a sigh.

***

She woke up early even it was a Sunday. She decided to jog even for just an hour. Their former help, Amy will come to clean her unit around 9 a.m. so she had plenty of time before she arrived since it was only 7 a.m. The elevator door opened. She almost stepped backwards when she saw Blake and Sam. They were holding hands. Both were in gym wear. She felt a cold hand touched her heart. Sam probably slept over Blake’s place.

"Heather!" the woman cheerfully greeted her.

She had no choice but to get in.

"Good morning." she replied. She smiled at Sam without looking at Blake.

"Blake didn't tell me that you live in the same building. Are you going to the gym?” she asked.

"Nope. I will just jog in the neighborhood.”

She positioned herself in front of them Her back was on them.

"What a coincidence! We are also planning to run! Maybe the three of us can run together. What do you think babe? " She asked Blake.

BABE? Wow this manwhore is really fast! She thought.

"I'm sure Heather’s route is different from ours. Maybe next time." She heard him say in a cold voice.

She badly wanted the lift to stop and open. She couldn’t stand being with them. She was angry with herself because she seemed jealous. She couldn’t be and she didn’t want to be.

Finally, the lift stopped on the 10th floor.

She felt so happy and relieved when she saw who was outside. “Kevin!” She hugged him.

Kevin was stunned for a few seconds. He was taken aback when Heather put her arms around him.

He saw a couple in the lift with her. He could sense something was wrong that was why Heather hugged him. He witnessed how grim the man's face turned while the woman with him was smiling as she looked at them..

Instinctively, he put his arms on Heather’s back.

"Hon..." he murmured and he saw the tall man's expression turned even grimmer.