CHAPTER FIVE

Towards the end of the week, the owner had placed a flyer on the gym bulletin board stating that the gym was going to be closed for financial reason. It seemed strange to me because attendance was always brisk. I decided to talk to him and see what was up. Fortunately, he was available, so we sat down right away.

He informed me that his wife had filed for a divorce and she wanted her half of the club. He couldn’t not afford to buy her out, so he was just closing it down. He was moving out of state going back to his family’s home. By the end of the meeting, he had offered me the gym at a price I could not afford to pass up. He owned the current building and the adjacent building which someday he planned to add to the existing gym.

He offered me the entire space for three hundred thousand with all the contents included. The following day, his wife agreed and I decided to meet with my uncle about the investment. He agreed that having the business would allow me to write certain items off my taxes and would be a good investment.

I bought the gym the following week and decided to shut it down or forty-five days to rehab it. All the members were notified and were promised that I would resume the normal contracts at no cost to them. I hired a contractor, and he went to work immediately. He quickly knocked out the downstairs which a fresh coat of paint and new floors. The entire first floor was going to be free weights only and machines. He completely remodeled both the men and women locker room which came out great.

Upstairs, we divided the area up into room and had large glass windows on the front of them so you could see what was going on inside. One room was for stationary bicycles only and would be our spin class. We had another room for yoga and aerobics. Then they was a large area when Muay Thai would be taught. That left me with two other large rooms to one day expand as I saw fit. He then knocked out the wall to the building next door which we made a large reception area and sales venue for protein, weight loss, energy drinks and healthy foods. We also would have a line of clothing advertising the gym eventually. One large office was built and three smaller ones adjacent to it.

Unfortunately, it took close to three months before the new equipment came in. I order two more complete sets of free weights and a dozen and a half new machines. Once everything was in place and opened the people flocked in. I had kept Ryleigh who was the gym’s general manager and her right-hand partner Molly who took registrations and ran the sales venue. I also started a contract with the cleaning company that came every night to clean up after closing.

Shelby and I were in contact every day via text messages, and she had returned home. She had hired an attorney and started divorce proceed against her husband. Of course, Tim was fighting her tooth and nail trying to get things back to the way they were. I left my house at five thirty in the morning and did not get home until after nine at night. I had not seen Shelby in over a month but did text her every day. The gym was doing even better than expected there were new people signing up every day. I had someone doing the spin class three nights a week and an aerobics instructor coming in every day. Mr. Myad was training his Muy Thai students daily as well.

Two weeks later and instructor came in and watched to teach Krav Maga in one of the rooms. He was a former Israel military operator and was very skilled in the art of hand-to-hand combat.

It was just about that time that Tim and Shelby’s divorce proceedings heated up. Tim wanted full custody of Jennifer which he knew would drive Shelby insane. Unfortunately, he had a fleet of lawyers that his father employed on staff while Shelby was on a budget. Tim had withdrawn most of their money from the bank trying to handcuff Shelby. Her parents were paying most of the bills up to date for Shelby’s attorney.

Shelby’s attorney, Mr. Steve Barilloux asked me to come in and speak with him concerning the altercation that night I had with Tim Phillips. I explained to him what happened, and he was just going to use it as a neighbor who intervened to stop the assault. I did mention that Shelby had told me about Tim’s ongoing affairs. He told me he had already hired a private detective who was following Tim daily. According to Mr. Barrilloux, Tim was juggling three women at once not to mention having Shelby at home. He thanked me for my time and I left.

That Friday evening, I took off work a bit early and went straight home. I was surprised to see Shelby sitting on her driveway talking with Rose McGown from across the street. When I got out of my car, they invited me over and Shelby grabbed another lawn chair from the garage.

“Shelby how are you feeling?”, I asked.

“I’m back to normal Jace, thank you. I’m knee deep in the divorce proceeding now though.”, she mentioned.

“Well, I had better get home to cook dinner for Ted. See you kids later.”, Rose waved.

“Jace, I’m scared of going to court with Tim. He has control of everything, I could wind up on the street with no job. There is a possibility he could get Jennifer if I can’t show the ability to take care of her.”, she said nervously.

“I doubt any judge would give him custody after what he did to you.”, I stated.

“Tim and his parents want me to drop the charges. Said that a conviction would hurt her career.”, she sighed.

“You’re thinking about doing it?’’, I asked, surprised.

“I don’t know what to do to be honest with you.”, she mentioned.

“That is something that only you can decide Shelby. But I guessing that is not the first time he hit you. The police officer told me that night that he had been to your home several times before.”, I stated.

“Yes, he slapped me once pretty hard and another time he punched me in the stomach.”, she admitted.

“I’m sorry that happened. You deserve so much better.”, I replied.

“You know Jace when it all comes done to it, I did the same thing he did. I cheated on him too.”, she admitted.

“Do you regret it?’, I asked.

“Not for one minute, Jace.”, she smiled.

“Then do what you have to do to get free of him.”, I urged.

“Then what Jace………. What do I do?”, she asked.

“Shelby, if you stay with him long enough……. One day you might not recover from the beating. Then what will happen to Jennifer?”, I inquired.

“I……. I have never thought of that.”, she replied with a nervous look.

“Shelby, I going to tell you something right now that may make this situation even worse, but I have to say it. I think I am in love with you……… in fact, I’m almost positive. I have been attracted to you since the day I first met you. You’re beautiful, funny, have a great personality and you’re a great mother. I know I’m a young kid but if you give me the opportunity, I would love to take care of you and your daughter.”, I admitted.

“Jace, are you serious……… Oh my God. I feel the same way about you. But I never imagined once you felt like that about me.”, she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I’m not sure how we go about this……… slow or right away. Do we wait until after you’re divorced or just say fuck it and be together now. Then we must think about Jennifer and what’s best for her.”, I stated.

“We have a lot to think about Jace, but my answer is ……… Yes, I want to be with you.”, Shelby replied.

“I would kiss you right now but who knows who is watching.”, I laughed.

“You have a point. I don’t want anything to come up that he can use against me. Leave your side gate open tonight. I’ll be over about eleven or so after my dad comes over and gets Jennifer. They are going to the zoo tomorrow so I can sleep over.”, she said softly.

“See you then……”, I replied, getting up and going home.

At ten forty-six that evening, I got a text message from Shelby. I opened the message and it was a picture of her wearing nothing but red panties. The caption read:

“If you open your backdoor this could be yours…….”

I texted back immediately:

“The door is open and I’m waiting for you in bed……”

A few minutes later I heard the back door open then the dead bolt locked. I counted each step down the hallway until Shelby appeared in a white terry cloth robe with slippers. She untied the belt around the round and let if drop to the floor. She was wearing a matching red bra to go with the picture of the panties she sent me earlier.