Page 13 of Mr. Red

I choke on my wine as my eyes bulge out of their sockets. “Paige, he’s a client. I can’t hook up with a client.”

“So youdowant to hook up with him?” She lifts an eyebrow.

“That’s not what I said.” I shake my head.

“I didn’t hear a denial.”

“Listen, we’re going to be owners soon. We can’t hook up with anyone we’re training.”

“That’s not going to leave us many options, you know.” She swirls her wine around in her glass.

“Paige, we have to act professional. Meaning no interaction with clients in an inappropriate way. We don’t need to ruin our reputation before reopening the gym.”

“I know, I know. It’s just that, he’s the first guy you’ve been attracted to inforever. Isn’t there some sort of loophole we can create so you guys can still date? I think it’s fine to date a client, as long as they’re notourpersonal client.”

“No! There’s no dating clients. Besides, he may look attractive, but I know for sure, no matter how many masks he wants to put on, he’s an asshole at his core. No thanks.” I swipe my hand across my body from shoulder to shoulder.

“Okay, whatever you say.” She bites her nail. “But a nice pounding might be good for you. Relieve some stress. Explore. Let go.”

“I know how to let go,” I deadpan.

“Right,” she says, staring at me, unconvinced. “Having a plan to do drinks is letting go?”

“That’s not the point.” I cross my arms.

“Listen, no one here is judging you. If you want it, go after it. We’ll tell Jason to schedule him with someone else.” She extends her arm and points her finger at me. “Ha, I already found the loophole!”

“I appreciate that, but sex should be more than a good pounding. I don’t need anything complicated, I’m looking for simple. We’re buying a business. I don’t need arelationship to distract me right now.”

“It can be simple!Simplytell him you’d fuck him in a heartbeat.”

“Paige! I don’t know how to be you. I want to be with someone for a connection, not just dick.”

“But dick is really nice.”

I glare at her. I have no words and we aren’t getting anywhere with this conversation.

“Okay, I’m giving up,” she says, putting her hands in the air. “What color am I glowing today?”

“You want me to read your aura?” I stare back at her, puzzled.

“I can’t convince you to go after a hot guy, so next topic of conversation. What color am I glowing today?”

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. I need a breather anyway after the conversation we just had. Once I’m focused, I look up and past her to see her glowing yellow like sunshine. It tells me she’s happy and excited. Typical.

“Yellow. Super clear.”

“What color is Lana?”

Lana shifts from foot to foot as she stirs her sauce. Probably rolled her eyes. “Why do you care?” she sighs.

“Scarlett has a talent! It’s cool.” Paige glares at Lana’s back. “Come on Scar, what color is she?”

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Once I look to Lana a gloomy purple appears. Lana has always been intuitive, but since her breakup, her aura is always murky and unclear.

“Purple, but cloudy.”

Lana looks over her shoulder at me, almost throwing her glasses off her face. She pushes them up. “Cloudy?”