Seventeen #2
The pay for a class like that was promising, being that Steve’s gym was one of the nicest around and catered to an upper-class clientele. But that meant leaving her studio at night and losing a higher profit margin by sharing the cut with the gym.
“Do you think there would be takers if we did the class during the day?” Being that most of her students were school age, her days were pretty open.
“Nah. You might get two or three students, but not enough to make it worth your while.”
She slouched. It was obvious how great Steve’s business had been doing since meeting Asher. Asher paid Steve an incredible sum of money—Nadia could only imagine how much—for Steve’s help with some things. His gym lacked nothing and everyone that worked there seemed happy.
Envy cut through her and she hated not being able to feel happy for her friend without feeling sorry for herself. “You guys are doing so well.”
“Memberships are up thirty percent this quarter. Pretty amazing, since summer just ended.”
Yes, it was amazing. Autumn, however, was her affluent time of year, with students registering and buying new leotards and tights from her inventory. But she was still struggling to make ends meet, her enrollment down twenty-five percent from the year before.
“How are things at the studio?” he asked.
She sighed. “We have less and less each year. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”
“Maybe it’s not you. The neighborhood isn’t what it used to be. You know what they say, location, location, location.”
When she’d started her business, the area was thriving with little kids and families. Now, it had issues with gang violence and houses foreclosing. “I can’t raise my prices. That’s all my clients can afford.”
“So maybe look for a new studio and keep the prices the same. That might get you an increase of clients at least.”
“I can’t do that right now. I’m saving for an apartment.” Her lease at the studio was month to month, but a new place would require a deposit. “I have to find a place to live before I do anything about the studio.”
He frowned. “Where are you staying?”
She hesitated, a strip of her pride bracing to tear away each time she admitted she could no longer support herself. “With a friend.”
“Do I know her?”
“Yes, but it’s a him.”
His brows quirked. “Who?”
She shifted in her seat. “It’s Elliot Garnet.”
“You’re living with Elliot? Since when?”
“It’s new. We’re … dating.”
Steve’s jaw dropped. “You’re dating Elliot Garnet? Asher’s friend? I wasn’t even sure he liked women.”
She laughed. “He does.”
“That’s great, Nadia. I think you’d be good for him. And he seems like a…” His eyes tilted upward as if trying to think of the right term. “Straightforward guy.”
Sure, Elliot was direct, but that was only the tip of the iceberg, a tip she was coming to realize others often mistook as the whole of him. “He can be very sweet.”
Steve eased back in his chair and laughed. “You and Elliot … shacking up. I never saw that coming.”
“The living situation’s temporary. He’s just helping me out.”
“But you two are involved?” He laughed and shook his head. “Dating?”
“Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?”
He shrugged. “I guess it’s not. But I get why you wouldn’t want to live with someone you just started dating. Sort of blurs the lines.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, maybe I can help you out. Asher helped me, and I’m in a position to pay it forward.” He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a pamphlet. “I’ve been toying around with the idea of buying up the space next door. It’d make a great dance studio.”
She frowned. “I can’t afford—”
“No, no.” He waved a finger. “I’m not suggesting you bid on it.
I was thinking partner. We’ve known each other for years.
I think you’re great at what you do. I’d love to bring your talent in full time.
A chunk of my members are women and our daycare is thriving.
There’s your clientele. You could determine the prices, control the schedule, and I’d get a cut of the profits in lieu of rent.
It’ll draw in new clients for both of us and probably keep you a hell of a lot more busy than you are downtown. ”
She sat back, understanding the appeal but thinking it was a lot of work when Steve already seemed busy enough. “You would honestly do that?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I mean, if the price is right and we can work the numbers. I’ve been thinking about opening up an area for kids to exercise, but I couldn’t run it myself.
I’d be outsourcing the position anyway. This could be exactly what we both need.
Mom could drop little Sally off at tap while she gets an hour in on the elliptical. It could be a win for everyone.”
“I don’t know if my clients would drive this far.”
“I know you love your students, Nadia, but you have to make a living. You’d have a full roster here. I guarantee it.”
“How soon could this happen?”
He checked his schedule and reviewed the pamphlet.
“We could probably make settlement a month or two after I put in an offer. I’d have to hire a subcontractor to do the construction.
You could help with the layout. I’d say we could have you in there by the new year if all goes well with the sale.
That gives you time to let your clients know you’re moving. ”
“You say it like I’ve already agreed.”
He tilted his head and grinned. “Come on, Nadia. I know you better than most people. You’re a smart woman and you work like a mule when you want something. This is a good offer.”
Her belly knotted as her mind searched for reasons to turn him down. “Would you need anything from me upfront?”
“It would be my property. You’d manage the business end of the studio. I wouldn’t get paid until you opened for business, so, no. Once the details are ironed out, you could take your deposit from the old studio and put it toward an apartment. My neighborhood’s nice.”
She rolled her eyes. Steve lived in a gated community with modern rental houses. “You know I can’t afford that neighborhood.”
“You might be able to afford it soon. What do you say? Do we have a deal?” He held out his hand.
Biting her lip, she hesitated. It really was an incredible offer and as much as she’d miss the students she’d lose, she’d meet many more here. She stretched her hand sluggishly across the desk. “Thank you, Steve. I never expected this when I came here.”
“I’m glad to help out a friend. I’ll contact the realtor today and let you know if I make any progress.”
While they were friends, this was a business venture.
It was very different from taking money from someone she was intimately involved with.
It was a big, scary change, but a good business decision for her company.
And as she replayed the plan in her head, the more committed her heart became to the idea.
It filled her with a sense of capability.
When she returned to her studio her mind was clearer than it had been in months. She purged many of her dated files and sorted through the paperwork she needed to keep. It was amazing how little she actually had to take with her to make this move in a few months.
She balanced her clients’ accounts and contacted those who hadn’t paid deposits yet. Tomorrow was her first class for the new school year, so she printed out notices about the studio’s upcoming move and hung them around the building.
It was the same pre-season routine she did every fall, but with a big announcement for the future.
Once she had all the paperwork for her students printed and updated, she set up a table for parents.
Though she loved working with brides and grooms and teaching the occasional adult class, it was the children that really made her job a labor of love.
Feeling a bit anxious about the next day, she put on some music and did a run through of her favorite yoga positions to loosen up. Just as she was finishing up her routine, the bell on the front door jingled.
Elliot appeared, wearing a crisp suit and looking more like his usual self than he had in days, despite the bruises.
He rocked back on his heels and wedged his hands in his pockets. “Hi.” He’d bought new glasses.
This man stirred so many intense emotions inside of her, his presence knocked her off balance.
She’d been upset he’d been obsessing over the details of her grandmother’s house, refusing to see a doctor about his injuries, but both were because of her.
Maybe he wasn’t the one being obsessive.
Maybe she was obsessed with him and the slightest distraction made her jealous.
Crossing the room, she pressed her body to his and greeted him with a kiss. He pulled back too soon and she frowned. Putting distance between them, he cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses.
Trying to match his calm, she sipped her water. “I like your new glasses.” The sharp, vintage frames gave him a Madison Avenue appeal. “They’re sexy on you.”
“I visited the optometrist at lunch today. If one more person asked what happened to my face I was going to strangle someone.” He glanced at the wall where one of the notices hung. “What’s this?” He stepped closer and frowned. “You’re moving?”
“I actually had an interesting day. I met with Steve—”
“Steve the trainer?” He turned and faced her.
“Yes. I wanted to talk to him about possibly teaching some classes here this fall, but he’s so busy he can’t do it. He, um, made me an offer though.”
His face blanked. “What sort of offer?”
“He wants to buy the building next to his and make it a studio. We’d be partners and I’d manage the business just like I do now, but he’d get a cut and we’d both profit from the shared clients.”
“Did you have a lawyer draw up an agreement?”
She laughed. “No. Today was the first time we talked about it. Besides, Steve’s my friend. I trust him.”
He pressed his lips together. She was already becoming familiar with his expressions and could tell he had something to say but didn’t want to say it.
“What’s the matter, Elliot?”