She was on her final push when Jimmy went in. "Oh, you're not done yet?."
"We're done." She readjusted the towel again and turned her back to let him dress.
"Not bad." Owen casually said as he did some light stretches on his own while standing up.
"Thanks." She was a little irritated with the hollow remark but the business smile is tampered on her face, just the same.
Lucy is now sitting at the office waiting for her pay. She doesn't know why Owen is waiting with her but it's even more puzzling why Jimmy is here, too.
"Oh my, I knew I was right bringing you here." He is visibly overjoyed, tapping the couch "This is the first time I hear Owen compliment a massage."
Luzy is digging her memories of the past hour on how she was complimented by Owen until a mustached man came in and sat on the big chair.
"Hello, I'm Frank, I'm the manager of this gym. I heard about you from Jimmy."
"What do you think?". He is looking at Owen.
"It's okay." That was such a short reply which irritated Lucy to lengths.
"Thank god." Frank let out a sigh of relief, covering his face with his hands. "You're heaven sent Lucy. Here's your check. Please come again next time. I added a bonus for your first day." He quickly wrote the check and handed it to me.
She is utterly confused about what is happening but the paycheck is the priority right now.
"Thank you, manager." She accepted the check with both hands.
She gave Jimmy a nod before getting out and turned her head towards Owen who looked back fiercely.
"Thanks." He sounded like a robot.
Lucy gave a dull smile and went out the door. She deposited her paycheck right away and headed back to tell Nana about her day.
—
She was waving like a kid when she spotted Nana's cart from afar. Nana waved back modestly and smiled.
Nana is in a slightly different location today. They have some friends in the market who are kind enough to let Nana stay beside a crowded store in the meantime. Those thugs from yesterday will think twice before making a scene here.
"Guess what, Nana?" Lucy squirms excitedly.
She took out a relatively heavy plastic bag. "We'll be having pork belly for dinner. "
"Where did you get the money?" Her face is of worry and surprise.
"Don't be surprised, yet." She took out another bag as if showing off some magic trick. "I got your favorite persimmons, too!"
She smiled weakly as she took my hands. "Thank you, Lucy. I'm very happy but are you sure we can afford this, right now?"
Lucy felt a tinge of bitterness in Nana's words but she couldn't help herself from being happy today.
"Yes, we can!" She pauses for more impact before blurting out her next line. "I got a high-paying client, Nana. It looks like he'll be a regular, too!"
"High-paying? Is it from your Uncle Fred's clinic?" Her weary eyes are smiling now.
"Yes, Nana, and you know him. It's the guy who helped you with the thugs before…" She almost forgot to mention his name. "...Owen."
"So that young man's name is Owen." Lucy can see Nana's face having an Aha moment. "You see, I told you those kids are not bad."
Lucy shook her head in confusion. "But Nana, aren't those kids the ones harassing you? I mean the three muggers?"
"No, no, you got them confused. That lad, Owen, was with the group that caused a stir a couple of days ago. It was not his fault but he was the one who took responsibility. The hooligans are a whole different thing." Lucy can feel Nana hiding her anxiety while mentioning those thugs. The light breath at the end of her sentence gave her away.
"So that's how you knew Owen." She nods, steering the topic away.
"Yes." Nana is packing the cart as she speaks. "Well, since it's been a long time since I had pork and persimmons, we should go home early." She is now her usual self. Smiling gently towards her granddaughter.
"Right." She grins and puts down her bags to help the aged woman with the cart.
They were at home in no time. They had a hearty meal and talked about their fondest memories together before going to bed.
—
Lucy's heart is so full thinking about last night's dinner.
She went to school earlier than usual. Nana was still asleep when she left but she prepped the cart before leaving so the old timer could have an easy morning for once. She stretches her back as she looks up at the clear sky. It's a good day.
Her phone rang during lunch. It was an unknown number so she answered cautiously.
"Hello." She was waiting for an answer and was about to hand up when a man from the other line spoke.
"Is this Lucy?"
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Owen from Top Fight Gym. Can you come over for a quick massage?"
She hesitated a little bit about how to respond. "We are scheduled for next week, though. Does the director or manager know about this?"
"No, you can inform them yourself." It was a quick answer.
This punk… am I his secretary? She puts on her business smile even when they're not talking face-to-face. "I'm sorry, but our agreement does not include ad hoc requests. I wouldn't mind sitting down to discuss changes in our arrangements but it should be done formally."
I should remember to request for an actual contract so this arrogant prick doesn't cross the line.
"Your pay, I'll triple it." The answer took longer than the past exchanges.
"You might not be aware but I'm already being paid triple the amount by your gym with the set schedule." A smirk curls up on Lucy's lips.
"I mean, THAT amount, I'll triple it." He emphasizes his words to get the idea across clearly.
Lucy was taken aback but her brain did auto-math and a moment was all she needed to say yes. "I'll see you at the gym."
"Not the gym, my home. I'll send you the address."
He didn't even give her a chance to respond and she didn't have the time to think because her phone was ringing again.
It's still an unknown number so she thought Owen called back.
"You didn't say it was at you h–-." She was cut off by a female voice.
"Hello, Is this Lucy Ann Bridges?"