You are My Passion

Friends and Partners

>> 9 years later <<

‘Who knew getting this place would be such a huge investment guy?’ Frank said to Max his friend as they sat in the lounge of their large state of the art sporting complex

‘Yeah man, it has been worth it you know’ Max answered, opening his can of drink, needing to hydrate from the intense weightlifting session they just had

‘It sure has’ Frank said finishing off his bottle of water and reaching for the energy drink Max held out to him

The two men, twenty-nine years old and best buddies, had grown up in the same part of the city, following different careers but still shared a common passion for fitness, sports and exercise.

They had decided to start a business together as one of the gains of their friendship. Frank was the money of the partnership while Max was the brains and either of them could hold their sway setting up their own gyms but chose to stay in partnership with each other for three years and counting now

‘Here is to three years and the future’ Frank said cheerfully, holding up his drink for a toast

‘Yeah’ Max said, clinking his energy drink can with Frank

They were talking, watching the gym thin out its clients for the morning, with the trainers scheduling their clients on the next appointments. They laughed over the sight of some of the younger clients with their gym romances budding and wilting

Frank thought back to how busy and clumsy the gyms were back in their high school days and how they had both shared the vision to set up something bigger and better when they grew up. Their gym was more of a show all glass doors type of complex with physical therapy sauna sections, diet counselling areas, a mini mart for sportswear and gear purchase as well as a fruity smoothie shop.

Max was a track events trainer as well as a fitness trainer and a portion of their complex was built for 200-meter track runs, dance aerobics and Zumba sessions.

With Frank being an accomplished lawyer and Junior partner at a prestigious law firm in town and Max being a well renowned physiotherapist and a sporting champion with many sub businesses, he couldn’t help feeling very accomplished

‘Remember when we would go to the neighborhood gym when we were teenagers?’ Frank said chuckling

‘Yeah.. and you would use that to score points with the girls’ Max answered snidely

Frank replied laughing ‘Yeah…well we were building buff muscles and all’ wiggling his brow suggestively

Max shook his head in amusement ‘And where has that led you to in that courtroom of yours eh?’

‘You’d be amazed at how much strength is needed to contain a frustrated client being dubbed a criminal in error’ Frank answered, gulping down his drink

‘Yeesh...I won’t want to be you man’ Max said fake shuddering at the visual

‘Nor I you...but I am proud of you man, proud of what you’ve done to this place...always keeping it working and moving’ Frank said, clapping his big hand on Max’s shoulder

‘Yeah the lawyer...attorney at law, has to have good returns on his investment yeah...’ Max said, smiling and giving him a salute

‘As if...’ Frank replied with a smile ‘I know your passion and Gina and I are rooting for you… our Olympian’ he said with his own salute

‘You got it…I plan to beat the current world best weightlifter…yeah!’ Max said showing off his biceps proudly. He had done many championship tours already and was tipped to be the next winner at the upcoming Olympics, a feat he could not wait to accomplish as it pitched him beside an age long rival of his

'Sure thing bro' Frank said laughing, his eyes filled with admiration at all his friend had accomplished

Max smiled, recalling all he had to go through to get to where he was. He looked about him, at his friend Frank and their business. He felt content, very content.

'Man, I am confident I can win again, even after the races' Max said, as he rubbed his hands idly over his calves, recalling how he had to end his racing career abruptly after a torn hamstring. This halted his serial wins, coupled with an incident that happened a couple of years ago when his assistant mistakenly left a banana peel on his path and it led to more leg injuries. He came out of it but his speed was never quite up there anymore.

Max was glad he set up an academy of boys to carry on his race track feat, choosing to focus his time on training young upcoming athletes excel in the sprints.. However, Max had remained unbeaten in the 200 meters sprint and now he wanted to relive the victory with the weightlifting championships

Max had racked up tons of muscle creatine supplements and intense training to get him where he was and he was not planning to stop until he got that gold

‘I trust you.....you are the winner alread-’ Frank started to say, whistling as he cut off his sentence when a red haired woman who had just walked into the complex caught his attention

‘Now that’s some fine chick’ Max drawled, following his friend’s gaze

Max and Frank had stopped talking and were staring at the beauty who was standing by the receptionist’s desk, just a few meters from where they were seated

Nora the gym receptionist snickered at the men slightly shaking her head and trying not to laugh at their facial expressions

‘Hi..’ the newcomer greeted her with a smile, careful not to look in the direction of the two men whose stares she could feel on her.

They heard her mumble her name to the receptionist but they couldn’t hear her, try as they may

‘Hello welcome to FRANMAX Gymnatorium, your one stop center for all things fitness and health.’ they listened as Nora parroted in reply reaching over her desk to give the lady their brochure

‘Hey dude... come back to us’ Frank whispered to Max as he watched his friend transfixed at the sight of the newbie

Max snorted. ‘Like you were not ogling her yourself’ He was no stranger to beautiful women at the gym, dated some, stayed clear of most, especially the clingy ones and was quick to break off with any who multi-dated as he called it. He tended to be possessive over his woman and this red head was definitely his spec

Frank took a drink from his can, still looking at the lady ‘Yeah, fine women are a guarantee in the gyms I swear’ he replied wistfully

Max slapped him on the knee and replied in hush tones ‘Well you better steer clear of this one man, she is mine’

Frank guffawed ‘Oh really since when?’

Max laughed in response ‘Since now’ his voice portraying his seriousness ‘…and besides you are married, I on the other hand am very single’ he said smugly, leaning back in his chair still studying the woman’s looks

‘Well how do you know she is single?’ Frank wiggled his brow at him

‘Well that is left for me to find out…I see no ring’ Max said with a boyish grin

‘Hmm such vision’ Frank snickered ‘I am co-partner you know, so I have equal rights to the chase guy’ he said laughing

‘Get out of here man…you have got a sweet wife Gina waiting and might I add... a Momma Gina waiting’ Max playfully shoved him

‘Yeah yeah but you know I was kidding man…I’m a one-woman man and very happy with my Gigi’ Frank answered in a childish voice, enamored just the mention of the love of his life

‘A-ha! you better be, or I’d have to ban you from this gym whenever she is around’ Max said in mock-seriousness, pointing discreetly at the woman who was making p*****t and enrolling her membership

'She might just be like all the others who register for the fun of it and only come by once a week' Frank said, teasing him

Max snorted 'Yeah or twice a month like some do?' he laughed

'I can't get why folks would do that?....paying ahead keeps you accountable, makes you want to come daily even. Not using the enrollment is just a waste of money' Frank said, irritated

Max laughed 'Well, money that is not refundable and I get to keep' he chuckled, raising his can

Frank lifted his can back in cheers 'Well, let's hope your newbie here ain't one of those' Frank teased

Max eyed him and turned back to look at the lady 'This one is special...I can tell' he murmured, eyes fixated on her

Frank chuckled ‘Oh and you think she is sold already?’

‘Damn yeah’ Max answered absentmindedly

The men keep their gaze on Nora and the newbie as she went round the gym, checking out their treadmills, ellipticals and other equipment she liked

‘She definitely knows what she is likes’ Frank said, impressed at the way she tested the machines as they watched from the glass doors.

‘She doesn’t look like a newbie to the gym’ Max smirked, eyeing her leotards and skimpy gym wear lustfully

‘Easy there tiger…down boy’ Frank mocked, at which Max turned to jab him and Frank set off on a laughing fit quickly drawing Max in.

They made such a ruckus that Nora and the new lady couldn’t help but pause and stare at them briefly.

Frank caught their stare and hushed Max, who looked back at the women just as the newbie rolled her eyes at them and continued on her gym tour. The two men stifled their laughter with a swig of their drinks

The ladies had to walk past them on their way to check out the sauna and massage sections at the other end of the complex and the men busied themselves with some magazines they pretended to be reading.

Nora looked back at them with a knowing smile and Max signaled to her to bring the client over to them when done. Frank just shook his head in amusement

On their way back Nora stopped by the men to introduce the client to them so that ‘Max could assign a personal trainer to her’, she said

‘Hi guys so meet our latest client’ Nora said gesturing to the two men ‘Madam, these are the owners, this is Frank our big boss and Max our Co-Big boss and Head Coach here’ Nora introduced, pointing to each of them in turn as she spoke

The men rose to their feet to greet them and Max was instantly smitten with the newbie. Seeing her standing so close, he could see she had the most beautiful deep penetrating eyes he had ever seen, that seemed to call to him and when she spoke he was stunned at her alluring voice

‘Hello, you have a lovely place here..’ the lady said, smiling slightly at them. She was awed by the facility. They had modern up to date equipment and she was pleased that they paid attention to details and good hygiene. But she had noticed just a few people working out and so she was itching to ask them why

‘Doesn't look like a prime time maybe?’ she asked, looking over at the few people inside the gym area

Max was yet to respond to her greeting, being blown away by her looks. Her long flowing red-tinted hair and skin tight gym wear not helping his senses one bit

Frank and Nora looked on amused at him and only when it was almost becoming apparent that their friend was smitten, did Frank step in. He looked at her and for a second, thought she looked like an old school mate but he was not sure. Law had been an engaging program so he really had not had time for much socials, aside from his girlfriend at that time, Gina and his fellowship activities

'Yeah you caught us at the close of the morning session. We are open at 6am and by 11am we take a break’ Frank answered. ‘pleased to meet you…’ he said reaching out to shake her hands

'Oh I see' she replied, turning to look at Max who was struggling to regain his composure