Page 5 of The Hacker
“Ramón told me about your offer,” the owner’s wife said, jutting out one hip and resting her ring-laden hand on it. “That’s real nice of you, but my guys say the Wi-Fi will be fixed by the end of today. So no need for your consultant friends to get involved.” With her free hand, she toyed with her dark-blonde curls.
Although Dawn didn’t like Vicky, she admired her. The woman had big hair and snapped her gum like a diehard Jersey girl, but she ran the administrative side of the gym like a corporate CEO. Bills got paid on time, payroll was never late, there were always clean sweat towels, and the equipment was updated regularly. That’s why Dawn had been surprised when the Wi-Fi problem had persisted.
Dawn put down her fork. “That’s good news. Thanks for letting me know.” But disappointment tweaked at her chest. No more email exchanges with Leland.
Vicky nodded. “I’ve got the tech stuff covered. No need to worry about it.”
Dawn forbore to point out that the issue had continued for a couple of weeks. “Got it.”
“By the way, you’re doing great on billing training hours,” Vicky said. “You’re headed for a quarterly bonus at this rate. Good job.”
The comment might have been patronizing from someone else, but Vicky cared intensely about how many training hours could be billed to clients.
“Thanks,” Dawn said again. “I always like getting bonuses.” She just socked them away in a conservative mutual fund because she had all she needed in the way of material things like furniture and workout clothes. She also had an apartment five minutes from the gym, a job she cared about, and a few trusted friends. She was as safe and secure as she could make herself without becoming a recluse.
“You’ve got a good touch with the customers,” Vicky said. “Tough but encouraging. It keeps them coming back.”
A surprising glow of satisfaction warmed Dawn. She put a lot of thought, study, and effort into her work. It was nice to have the hard-to-please Vicky notice. “It’s a pleasure working here.”
Vicky gave her a thumbs-up, the rhinestones decorating her leopard-spotted manicure glinting in the fluorescent light. She turned toward the door but stopped to say over her shoulder, “And you don’t create drama. I appreciate that.”
Dawn laughed. Her fellow trainers, both male and female, sometimes acted like feuding cats. “I try to stay away from the hissing and clawing.”
“Thank God!” Vicky swayed out of the break room on her four-inch silver stilettos. She wore them with a tight-fitting turquoise tracksuit that somehow worked for her.
Now Dawn had to call off the big gun at KRG. She pulled out her phone but couldn’t start typing. Was it embarrassment at having solicited his services when they weren’t wanted? Or was she trying to prolong their brief email relationship? Either one was not useful.
She forced her fingers to tap the screen.
The boss’s wife just informed me that the Wi-Fi problem will be resolved by the end of the day. I’m sorry I raised a false alarm. It was nice of you to be ready to jump right in. I appreciate it.
Dawn
That seemed to strike the right note of friendly professionalism. She hit “send” and picked up her fork again, jabbing a mouthful of grains and greens.
Before she could finish chewing, an email from Leland popped up in her in-box. The man must type at ninety miles an hour.
Shall we make sure the problem gets fixed before we call it quits? Many an IT expert has made promises they can’t keep, myself excluded, of course. Let me know if the Wi-Fi indeed recovers by the end of the day ... or not.
Leland the skeptic
“Ain’t it the truth?” Dawn muttered as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. One more email exchange at least.
Skepticism is usually my job, but I’ll keep you posted.
D.
She left her fork in the bowl while she waited.
I knew I recognized a kindred spirit.
L.
A kindred spirit.That was a laugh. He was rich and famous for his tech genius on an international level; she worked as a personal trainer in a Jersey gym. He had the elegance of a southern aristocrat; she was pure peasant Italian.
But his words twirled like a happy pinwheel in her mind for the rest of the day, giving her a tiny lift every time she remembered them.
At about six thirty, a cheer sounded from the room where the ellipticals and treadmills were lined up. Dawn was in the midst of demonstrating how to do a burpee using a BOSU ball.
