Exercising Competition

Time has a way of shaping one's best laid plans.

The food was exquisite. Jimmy Dorran waved away the tray of sweet smelling desserts. “I’ll never fit back in my sweat pants,” he explained, snapping his belt.

His companion was the perfectly groomed model Marie Devour who smiled over her small salad bowl. “You own how many of your name brand health spa’s?” Her eyes were calculating.

“Just recently purchased my most expensive, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland. It features mineral-rich, bright blue geothermal seawater, spa treatments, and high-end dining surrounded by lava fields.” Jimmy’s eyes strayed longingly at a passing cherry pie alamode.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland,” Marie sighed, revealing rising ripe full breasts. “You’re leaving tomorrow?”

Distracted by the pie, Jimmy waved the undisguised request to join him off. “I have to attend the grand re-opening. I wish you could go in my place.”

Marie eagerly leaned forward. “I need to get back into my modeling exercise routine. It’s pure torture. Something new might make that easier. Perhaps I’ll follow you there.”

The conniving look flashed into Jimmy Dorran’s eyes. “Why not fly there with me? Treatments will be on the house, if you allow me to use you as part of our advertising campaign?”

Marie’s eyes widened in obvious delight. “I’ll clear it right now with my agent.” Her cell phone conversation was clipped and short. “My next two weeks are yours.”

The private plane travel included such a rich cuisine Marie found herself feeling sleepy as Jimmy’s masseuse lulled her with a Swedish massage. Jimmy spent the time sampling exotic Hors d'oeuvres set upon a silver tray. Both slept the rest of the journey away.

“It’s beautiful!” Marie dipped toes into crystal clear blue bubbling water fed from an underground spring. “I can’t wait to swim laps.”

Jimmy cleared his throat, a clear sign of sudden unease. “Uh. Did you read your contract? You’ll have to clear your program with Helga. Here she comes now.”

The woman looked like she’d been lifting weights since she’d learned to walk. Muscles rippled like snakes under her skin. “You’re the one disrupting our client’s routines. Don’t expect special treatment from me.”

Jimmy motioned with alarm. “Cut her some slack, Helga. She’ll be bringing in more money in the next two weeks than your annual salary.”

Helga was no judgmental trainer, but Marie’s personal privileges had gotten under her skin. “Sorry,” she mumbled, offering a hand, hoping to crush the one offered in return. The wrestling match ended in a tie.

It soon became evident that Marie Devour had risen from the ranks of the gym rats. She gave polished performances on every device in the gym. Other customers marveled at the ease with which her body flexed and performed each well trained exercise routine.

One week on, Jimmy Dorran invited her to share dinner in his own private quarters. He toasted her with a rich calorie filled liquor not available to anyone else. The table overflowed with equally unhealthy fare. “May I make you a plate?” he offered, sitting down close to her side.

“No thank you. Helga?”

In came the head trainer, balancing a small salad, before sliding it onto Maria’s lap. “We’ve worried about you, Jimmy.” She poked a stiff finger into her employer’s jiggling belly. “You’re not attending to business nor to your own physical care. That is going to stop.”

Marie opened an envelope pulled out from the side of her trim exercise shorts. “I’ve bought out fifty-one percent of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Jimmy. See? You signed on the bottom line while eating three layered German chocolate cake.”

“How much did I make?” Jimmy’s eyes became wary calculating slits.

“You put the entire amount back into our upgrades. You’ve been granted a lifelong membership. If you don’t exercise that option by living here and engaging in your daily routine, you’ll lose everything.” Helga smirked. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on her employer in the gym. Sometimes you have to be an overbearing trainer to rehabilitate an unwilling new customer.

Marie handed the salad to Jimmy, along with a small fork, as the laden food table was wheeled away. “Might as well celebrate now.”

Glasses of crystal clear blue melted glacier water were poured into three golden cups. “Cheers.” Marie added, “I’m giving up my modeling career for you, Jimmy. I hope we can become more than friends.”

She sighed and stretched dramatically, making her rich bounty of full breasts rise and fall. This time, Jimmy’s vision strayed and stayed before raising to her calculating eyes. “I suppose you think you are doing this for my own good.”

With nothing but time to devote to exercising his adroit business sense as well as his body, his realm of health spas and gyms grew many fold. Jimmy found himself bubbling with new energy and sharpness of mind. “I think it may be time to take a vacation.” He smiled and patted Maria’s left hand.

A richly decorated engagement ring was slipped on the wedding ring finger. “You’ve been working too hard.” He pulled an envelope out of the side of his trim exercise shorts and opened it as Helga walked in.

“Helga will take management control of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, while you and I honeymoon at the rest of our vast holdings. See? You’ve signed as co-owner on the bottom line. It’s about time we married and made it easier to guide the future of our mutual enterprise. Besides, I’ve grown to love you. Thank you for bringing the best out in me.”

Maria’s fingers fiddled a moment with the large diamonds set into the engagement display. “You do have a way of over-indulging your whims, but I’ve grown to find it an attractive failing that only adds to your charm. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

There was no profound change in the way the two gazed at each other. Timeless calculation mixed with future plans in the mirrored look in each other’s eyes.

WC 999