Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Titus placed the last kettlebell on the rack and inhaled the familiar scent of the gym—a mixture of metal, rubber, and a hint of cleaning products. It was quiet now, but in half an hour, it would be filled with clients and most of the machines would be taken. Then he’d hear the sounds of clinking weights, machines thudding, and people grunting and laughing.
PushYourLimits Gym had been open for a solid week, but Titus already had more clients than he’d imagined when he started this journey. Seeing it come to life exceeded his expectations.
The guys from the Brotherhood Alliance had hyped it up and even joined as members. He was grateful for their support.
Joy Maddox, sister of Chase, who ran the Brotherhood, was a major cheerleader. Besides being a teacher in town, she was friends with a lot of women who became regulars.
The gym had an open floor plan, with different flooring separating each exercise area. Greenery from plants and trees added bursts of color throughout the space, breaking up and softening the areas.
Clients loved the serenity and touch of nature while they were working out.
The main fitness room with the cardio equipment faced large glass windows overlooking the inviting alley with shops and provided lots of natural light. When the sun got too hot, automatic shades could be activated.
An aerobics room was located behind one wall, while separate locker rooms with showers for men and women were on the opposite wall. Titus had stationed the reception desk by the front door. He occupied a small office in the rear.
One of these days, when money wasn’t so tight, he’d put in a steam room. But that was on the wish list—a rather long wish list—along with several other projects that would enhance the gym experience for his clients.
“Hey, Titus.” Sean, one of the personal trainers, walked in from the back.
Titus turned to look at him.
Sean was still in his twenties, buff, and super nice.
It didn’t hurt that he was also quite good-looking, so Titus had been told. The women apparently thought so because he was the most requested trainer. Didn’t matter to Titus. What mattered was that Sean was competent.
Each day, ten employees staffed the gym, not including the front desk, which was manned by Vanessa. Jean taught aerobics, and Titus handled kickboxing and self-defense himself.
The Brotherhood offered free defense classes for those in need, but Titus couldn’t afford to do that. He gave discounts to first responders and vets. It was the least he could do.
The rest of the employees helped clients in the gym. Titus also hired a marketing group recommended to him by Mallory Chapman, who owned the yoga studio, Spiritual Bliss, and a maintenance team that kept the gym running smoothly.
“So, what’s your schedule today?” asked Titus.
Sean gave him a quick rundown. It was back-to-back clients. Good news all around.
“Hey, boss man.” Vanessa O’Connor, the receptionist, followed Sean into the room, bursting with positive energy. Titus was thrilled to have her at the front desk greeting clients. Vanessa, a young widow, was well-liked by them because of her engaging personality. She understood the importance of not becoming overly friendly with clients who preferred to concentrate on exercising rather than talking. However, she had an ability to focus on those who needed someone to talk to.
People came to the gym for many reasons besides physical fitness, including health, well-being, loneliness and stress. To those who needed a booster of positive energy or just to talk to a friend, Vanessa was available.
In fact, he’d lucked out in the hiring process. A gym was closing outside of town, and he’d hired some of the more experienced employees.
The key would be to make enough money to keep the gym open.
Titus had invested a good deal of his savings and had taken out a small loan to make his dream a reality. Not that he didn’t have the cash, but he learned a long time ago the importance of saving and investing.
The location was great. Tucked away in one of the many alleyways off the main drag, it had a vibrant feel to it. His neighbors at the bistro, craft shop, coffee shop, antique store and clothing store were successful and welcoming.
The only uncertainty was the corner bakery. It remained vacant.
Titus was hopeful whoever bought it would be quiet and drama-free.