Freya Aleshinloye
Torry Women fitness Centre is a side hustle she enjoys immensely. Apart from the fact that it is another source of steady income, it gives her joy to see average-income women - career women, housewives, mothers- meet their fitness goal without having to break the bank and at the same time, getting the opportunity to bond and make new friends over their workout sessions. The name of the centre is derived from her middle name, Olatorera. The Fitness Centre also has a day care centre for mothers who need a place to keep their kids during their workouts session, which is an additional steady source of income for the centre.The idea was born when her colleagues in school - the married women among them complained about their weight and the fact that most gym subscriptions are usually quite high and above their budgets. They also have to worry about where to put their kids during workout sessions. It is an untapped market and she was happy to dive into it. It still surprises her at how much the business has grown since she started it two years ago and her customer base keeps growing everyday. Her Assistant, Lilian is already at work and taking a group of women through their work out session when Freya gets to the centre.
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The tiny cubicle office is her haven usually but she finds herself looking around the corner cautiously and checking out everything as she steps inside. No one is inside and she breathes a sigh of relief, then hiss in exasperation when she realises what she is doing. Will this man's dark shadow ever let her live in peace? She hasn't seen him in years. Why is she feeling as if he is hovering over her head now?
There is a knock on the door and she nearly jumps out of her skin. Damn this man! The door opens and Kaila, a new client with a six month old baby girl, pokes her head through the door.
"Hey, Kaila. You are welcome. Are you ready to start today?" Freya approaches the woman with a warm smile. The baby reaches out for her blond ponytail and she leans over to pluck her from her mother's hands.
"Yes, I am ready. I am a bit nervous though and worried I may not get my shape back. I used to be a size 8 and now, I am pushing size 12. " Kaila laments as she bit her lower lips nervously.
"Breathe, Kaila and relax. With or without a baby, you still have a smoking hawt figure. " Freya purses her lips as she lets her warm gaze run over the woman's body, even as she balances the baby on her hips. Apart from the baby pouch which is sure to go down with time, Kaila looks good for a woman who recently gave birth. Women need to learn to appreciate their body more.
"Oh, thank you, Freya. " Kaila blushes, laughing. Freya grins at her with a wink. "You make me feel good about myself already. "
"That is the aim. Let's get this little lady to the babysitter. What is her name?" Freya coos as she rises on one leg in a ballet style and swirls the baby around in a slow circle. The baby giggles helplessly, eliciting a laugh from both women.
"Her name is Josephine. You are really good with this. Is there something you aren't good at?" Kaila's voice is tinged with a bit of envy.
"Yes, there is." She lowers her voice dramatically. "I can't cook to save my life."
"Oh? " There is surprise in Kaila's voice.
"Oh yes." Freya laughs as she hands baby Josephine to her middle aged babysitter, Mrs Olawale, grabs Kaila's hand and drags her towards the work out room for beginners.
"Good evening ladies. You are all welcome to today's workout session. My name is Freya. Let's get our bodies moving and sweaty. " She presses a button on a remote control. The song, Joy is coming by Fido, belts out from the speakers, serenading them from the four angles of the room, and eliciting a smile, followed by laughter from the women when Freya begins to dance.
"Come on, let's go. We can do this" Freya introduces a few choreographed steps that the women find easy to copy and follow.
The room is soon filled with dancing women, skin glistening with sweat and having the fun of their lives. It is always the height of Freya's day and she forgets about being watched.
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Someone is tailing her.
She will not have noticed if not that she has been extra vigilant in the past few days since she started feeling weird. It is Saturday. She is just done with her Saturday morning session at the gym and is on her way to do some grocery shopping when she notices the dirty brown Toyota Camry which has been tailing her. She hasn't been sleeping well and the nightmare is coloring the little sleep she is able to catch. The last time she felt this way was ten years ago when she left home against her father's wish and it is making her irritable.
What has she done? Why will anyone be tailing her? She lives a quiet life mostly. Between her teaching Job and side business as a gym instructor/owner, it keeps her busy and out of trouble. She also makes lots of friends from both professions. If she can't make friends with any of her clients, she makes a casual acquaintance out of them. She couldn't help but think this has to do with her father and it is scaring the daylight out of her. She has lived in fear of someone wanting to use her as a pawn to get to him all of her life.
Combination of fear and anger is a bitter pill to swallow. Checking her back and side view, she swerves out of her lane and drives into the main road. She weaves in and out of the traffic and notes that the idiot keeps up with her easily by staying three or four Cars behind her. This is her territory and she will make it hard for him/her to do whatever he/she intends to do. Hissing in annoyance, she heads towards a roundabout, does a turn at a busy roundabout and faces the Car. The Car slows down considerably, obviously not expecting that move from her. The Car windows are tinted a dark shade and she couldn't see the occupants of the Car. She blatantly snaps pictures and does a video of the Car.
What if he has a gun? Fear skitters down her spine as her car levels up to the other Car but she knows the occupant can't kill or do whatever he is paid to do in such an open place, can he? To her relief, the Car speeds up and drives in the opposite direction.