"Oh sorry, Bob, I didn't realise you were going for another rep."
Poor Bob is turning purple trying to push a one 100 kilo bar off his chest. I lift the offending bar back onto the rack and apologise again as Bob gains his composure and declares it was his last set anyway as he needs to get back to work. He begins his wobbly exit towards the changing rooms and I notice Rolo walking towards me laughing his arse off.
"Hey Wand' remind me not to let you spot for me when I'm bench pressing."
"Don't worry, Roland, I doubt a 20 kilo bar will do much damage!"
He punches me in the arm before leading me over to the smith machine where he begins loading two 20-kilo plates. "So did you get anything from Ethan this morning?"
My mind goes back to the kiss but I realise he's talking about what happened to him back in Scotland.
"I did actually," I tell him excitedly.
"Wait 'til I finished I want to give you my full attention."
Rolo pushes out fifteen reps before finishing and taking a sip of water. "Okay, I'm with you, so spill."
I tell him the story Ethan told me. "He told me not to tell anyone so you cannot repeat this, not even to Elise."
"Okay, so that's the big mystery eh. Ethan – or Nicolas as he was then – was involved in a violent robbery gone wrong. Do you think this Jimmy guy will do one of those tell-all's to the press?"
"No idea, but I think the journalist who called him could have been Alison; she has been trying to dig up dirt on him."
"Maybe she knows she found something but Jimmy boy is holding off telling her as he thinks he can get more money from Ethan."
I twist my lips in thought before responding. "Or maybe she has found something and is holding off until his film comes out."
"Or maybe ...," he says grabbing my shoulders, "... it wasn't even Alison who called Jimmy. I don't suppose Jimmy told Ethan who the journalist was; could be someone from Scotland doing a piece on him."
"I suppose you're right. I just wish the whole thing would go away."
"Well it's not your problem so maybe you should just be there if he needs you."
I look across at Rolo with a smile that says it may be my problem soon.
"Why are you looking at me like that. What happened?"
"He kissed me," I say beaming.
"He didn't? I thought that sort of thing was off-limits for an up and coming movie star?"
"I know but let's face it, who could resist this?" I indicate my body with a hand wave.
"So how did things end?"
"Same as usual, like the kiss never happened."
"That's weird. Anyway, back to Thanksgiving, I told my mum we'll bring some drinks over. Her idea of a drink with dinner is some of that sparkling wine we used to take to parties when we were fifteen."
"Excellent, bottle of Lambrini it is then," I say with a grin.
I'm discussing personal training options to a new member, Brittany, when I notice Alison Bloody Skyler – now her official title – creeping around the reception area and glancing in my direction. This can't be good. I avoid eye contact with her by staring directly into the eyes of Brittany who is beginning to look uncomfortable but I can't let my focus waver. I notice Alison walking towards us so decide to do the old 'my shoelace is untied' trick – not my best idea as these trainers fasten with Velcro straps.
Brittany bends down with me "Have you dropped something?"
"Oh ... erm no ... I just needed to tighten my shoe."
"I think that lady coming over is trying to get your attention."
"Ooh, I don't think so. Let me show you the bag room; it's this way." I stamp my hand on her right shoulder and practically march her to the other side of the gym. I see Alison slump before retreating from my peripheral vision.
It isn't until mid-afternoon when I'm blissfully unaware of her presence that Alison ruins my post-workout ritual of a protein shake sitting on the comfy sofa in the cafe. I thought she went home hours ago.
"Wanda, hi, can I join you?" Alison says sitting next to me not bothering to wait for a reply.
"Oh hello Alison, you're still here I see. What can I do for you?"
"I wondered if you wanted to do another interview, you know a follow-up on the whole Tiger Training thing?"
I narrow my eyes at her. "I can't do any interviews without Patsy's permission; you'll have to ask her." I look back at the magazine I just picked up.
"Oh okay then; I thought a background piece on the inventor would be a good angle. I mean for someone who just left university and only had a few clients in some backwater gym in England to be given high profile clients on arrival in LA is one thing but to be able to invent a whole new training method all in less than two months ... pheww ..." Alison gestures with open arms then wipes fake sweat off her brow, "... that is an awful lot to cram in one year I would say. Wanda people want to know about you and how you got here."
I'm about to say something – not sure what – when Alison leaps to her feet and declares, "I suppose I had better go and ask Patsy for her permission. I hope she's in today as I have a deadline to keep but I'm sure she'll say yes as it will be great PR. Toodlepip!"
I stick two fingers up at her as she leaves knowing that Patsy isn't in today so she will have to wait. I reflect on our conversation and wonder what Ethan is going to say when he realises I have only been qualified a short time? I could snog my way out of it I suppose. I have already confessed to Madeline so suck on that Alison Bloody Skyler! I take a sip of my protein shake but it stops at the back of my throat and sits there waiting for me to swallow. I stand to help it down. Thinking about it, I never actually lied to Ethan as he never asked how qualified I was or how long I had been working as a PT. On the other hand, this may not look good on Move Makers; letting a temporary newly qualified staff member take on important clients. I place my shake back on the table and rub my face with both hands.
"Wanda, are you in there?"
I look up to see Kristen. "Oh hello, Kristen. You alright?"
"I am but you don't look so hot. What's wrong?"
"Alison Bloody Skyler, that's what."
"Yes, I noticed she has been in and out all day. What is she up to?"
I am never sure of Kristen, for all I know she's in cahoots with ABS – now her official name for text purposes – but her face looks genuine. "She's been digging up information on me and wants to do another interview." I tell her my concerns about the reputation of Move Makers.
Kristen places one hand on her hip to think. "Well I did kinda see this coming Wanda; this is LA and nothing stays secret. The fact that Patsy has let a rookie take on so much may well impact badly on the whole company."
"Yes thank you for that, really comforting. Now excuse me whilst I go hang myself from the chin-up bar."
Kristen sighs, "Don't be so dramatic, Wanda. Although I've just been headhunted by another company so if the soiled diaper does hit the fan, I'll be okay," she says attempting a cheeky grin.
"Oh my God you're not leaving are you?"
Kristen bites her nail and protrudes her lower lip. "Doubt it. Anyway, don't worry about Alison, but I would let Patsy know you may be about to ruin her business."