Untied: A Mastermind Novel

by Lydia Michaels

  It seemed the issues with the house were forming a barricade between them, siphoning all the intimacy away from their newborn relationship and stealing something from her she never had with anyone else. She’d been with plenty of men, but she’d never fallen in love, never had a man tell her he loved her. She thought they were close, but now he seemed miles away. Where had her sweet man gone? This business side of Elliot was not the same person.

  Maybe she was being overly sensitive. She appreciated how much he was laying on the line to help her family. Though it didn’t seem like much to him, her family didn’t have opportunities like the one he offered—at least not without rope-thick strings attached.

  Maybe she was reading into things and tired from jet lag and being what they called a drama queen. She hated dating dilemmas and promised herself Elliot would be different. With him, she wanted honesty. No games.

  Trying to do the mature thing, she told herself she was being dramatic and called him, sure that after she heard his voice she’d feel better and things would go back to the way they were.

  “Nadia?”

  “I miss you.”

  “Oh, good. I’m glad you called.”

  She smiled, but then frowned as he went on.

  “I need your social security number.”

  Had he even heard what she said? “What for?”

  “I have someone on the other line. I’m ready when you are.”

  She rattled off the numbers. “Elliot, I was thinking—”

  “I have to go, Nadia. I’ll call you later.”

  She frowned at her phone as the call ended. Baffled by his behavior, she growled and threw the phone into her bag. “And he thinks I’m bullheaded?”

  At the studio, she paid a few bills. She needed to make more money if she ever wanted her independence back and looking over her enrollment lists for the fall, she’d be just making her rent and utilities, hardly anything left to save.

  She drove to Reflections, Steve’s new gym. As expected, he was already there.

  “Nadia,” he greeted, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Sorry. I just finished up a training session. I’m sweaty.”

  “It’s okay.” Once they made it to his office in the back of his gym she sat in the chair across from his desk.

  “How have you been?”

  “I’m okay.” She folded her hands so she wouldn’t fidget. “I wanted to see if you’d be interested in teaching some self-defense classes at the studio.”

  His expression was friendly but regretful. “I wish I could, but my roster’s packed. Did you check with the guys at my old gym? I might be able to reach out and find someone there for you.”

  She trusted Steve and didn’t want to work with someone she didn’t know. “I don’t know.”

  He eased back, his eyes appraising her. “Are you looking to make some extra money? I could put out a signup sheet for jazzercise.”

  The pay for a class like that was promising, being that Steve’s gym was one of the nicest around and catered to an upper-class clientele. But that meant leaving her studio at night and losing a higher profit margin by sharing the cut with the gym.

  “Do you think there would be takers if we did the class during the day?” Being that most of her students were school age, her days were pretty open.

  “Nah. You might get two or three students, but not enough to make it worth your while.”

  She slouched. It was obvious how great Steve’s business had been doing since meeting Asher. Asher paid Steve an incredible sum of money—Nadia could only imagine how much—for Steve’s help with some things. His gym lacked nothing and everyone that worked there seemed happy.

  Envy cut through her and she hated not being able to feel happy for her friend without feeling sorry for herself. “You guys are doing so well.”

  “Memberships are up thirty percent this quarter. Pretty amazing, since summer just ended.”

  Yes, it was amazing. Autumn, however, was her affluent time of year, with students registering and buying new leotards and tights from her inventory. But she was still struggling to make ends meet, her enrollment down twenty-five percent from the year before.

  “How are things at the studio?” he asked.

  She sighed. “We have less and less each year. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

  “Maybe it’s not you. The neighborhood isn’t what it used to be. You know what they say, location, location, location.”

  When she’d started her business, the area was thriving with little kids and families. Now, it had issues with gang violence and houses foreclosing. “I can’t raise my prices. That’s all my clients can afford.”

  “So maybe look for a new studio and keep the prices the same. That might get you an increase of clients at least.”

  “I can’t do that right now. I’m saving for an apartment.” Her lease at the studio was month to month, but a new place would require a deposit. “I have to find a place to live before I do anything about the studio.”

  He frowned. “Where are you staying?”

  She hesitated, a strip of her pride bracing to tear away each time she admitted she could no longer support herself. “With a friend.”

  “Do I know her?”

  “Yes, but it’s a him.”

  His brows quirked. “Who?”

  She shifted in her seat. “It’s Elliot Garnet.”

  “You’re living with Elliot? Since when?”

  “It’s new. We’re … dating.”

  Steve’s jaw dropped. “You’re dating Elliot Garnet? Asher’s friend? I wasn’t even sure he liked women.”

  She laughed. “He does.”

  “That’s great, Nadia. I think you’d be good for him. And he seems like a…” His eyes tilted upward as if trying to think of the right term. “Straightforward guy.”

  Sure, Elliot was direct, but that was only the tip of the iceberg, a tip she was coming to realize others often mistook as the whole of him. “He can be very sweet.”

  Steve eased back in his chair and laughed. “You and Elliot … shacking up. I never saw that coming.”

  “The living situation’s temporary. He’s just helping me out.”

  “But you two are involved?” He laughed and shook his head. “Dating?”

  “Yes. Why is that so hard to believe?”

  He shrugged. “I guess it’s not. But I get why you wouldn’t want to live with someone you just started dating. Sort of blurs the lines.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, maybe I can help you out. Asher helped me, and I’m in a position to pay it forward.” He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a pamphlet. “I’ve been toying around with the idea of buying up the space next door. It’d make a great dance studio.”

  She frowned. “I can’t afford—”

  “No, no.” He waved a finger. “I’m not suggesting you bid on it. I was thinking partner. We’ve known each other for years. I think you’re great at what you do. I’d love to bring your talent in full time. A chunk of my members are women and our daycare is thriving. There’s your clientele. You could determine the prices, control the schedule, and I’d get a cut of the profits in lieu of rent. It’ll draw in new clients for both of us and probably keep you a hell of a lot more busy than you are downtown.”

  She sat back, understanding the appeal but thinking it was a lot of work when Steve already seemed busy enough. “You would honestly do that?”

  He shrugged. “Why not? I mean, if the price is right and we can work the numbers. I’ve been thinking about opening up an area for kids to exercise, but I couldn’t run it myself. I’d be outsourcing the position anyway. This could be exactly what we both need. Mom could drop little Sally off at tap while she gets an hour in on the elliptical. It could be a win for everyone.”

  “I don’t know if my clients would drive this far.”

  “I know you love your students, Nadia, but you have to make a living. You’d have a full roster here. I guarantee it.”

&n
bsp; “How soon could this happen?”

  He checked his schedule and reviewed the pamphlet. “We could probably make settlement a month or two after I put in an offer. I’d have to hire a subcontractor to do the construction. You could help with the layout. I’d say we could have you in there by the new year if all goes well with the sale. That gives you time to let your clients know you’re moving.”

  “You say it like I’ve already agreed.”

  He tilted his head and grinned. “Come on, Nadia. I know you better than most people. You’re a smart woman and you work like a mule when you want something. This is a good offer.”

  Her belly knotted as her mind searched for reasons to turn him down. “Would you need anything from me upfront?”

  “It would be my property. You’d manage the business end of the studio. I wouldn’t get paid until you opened for business, so, no. Once the details are ironed out, you could take your deposit from the old studio and put it toward an apartment. My neighborhood’s nice.”

  She rolled her eyes. Steve lived in a gated community with modern rental houses. “You know I can’t afford that neighborhood.”

  “You might be able to afford it soon. What do you say? Do we have a deal?” He held out his hand.

  Biting her lip, she hesitated. It really was an incredible offer and as much as she’d miss the students she’d lose, she’d meet many more here. She stretched her hand sluggishly across the desk. “Thank you, Steve. I never expected this when I came here.”

  “I’m glad to help out a friend. I’ll contact the realtor today and let you know if I make any progress.”

  While they were friends, this was a business venture. It was very different from taking money from someone she was intimately involved with. It was a big, scary change, but a good business decision for her company. And as she replayed the plan in her head, the more committed her heart became to the idea. It filled her with a sense of capability.

  When she returned to her studio her mind was clearer than it had been in months. She purged many of her dated files and sorted through the paperwork she needed to keep. It was amazing how little she actually had to take with her to make this move in a few months.

  She balanced her clients’ accounts and contacted those who hadn’t paid deposits yet. Tomorrow was her first class for the new school year, so she printed out notices about the studio’s upcoming move and hung them around the building.

  It was the same pre-season routine she did every fall, but with a big announcement for the future. Once she had all the paperwork for her students printed and updated, she set up a table for parents. Though she loved working with brides and grooms and teaching the occasional adult class, it was the children that really made her job a labor of love.

  Feeling a bit anxious about the next day, she put on some music and did a run through of her favorite yoga positions to loosen up. Just as she was finishing up her routine, the bell on the front door jingled.

  Elliot appeared, wearing a crisp suit and looking more like his usual self than he had in days, despite the bruises.

  He rocked back on his heels and wedged his hands in his pockets. “Hi.” He’d bought new glasses.

  This man stirred so many intense emotions inside of her, his presence knocked her off balance. She’d been upset he’d been obsessing over the details of her grandmother’s house, refusing to see a doctor about his injuries, but both were because of her. Maybe he wasn’t the one being obsessive. Maybe she was obsessed with him and the slightest distraction made her jealous.

  Crossing the room, she pressed her body to his and greeted him with a kiss. He pulled back too soon and she frowned. Putting distance between them, he cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses.

  Trying to match his calm, she sipped her water. “I like your new glasses.” The sharp, vintage frames gave him a Madison Avenue appeal. “They’re sexy on you.”

  “I visited the optometrist at lunch today. If one more person asked what happened to my face I was going to strangle someone.” He glanced at the wall where one of the notices hung. “What’s this?” He stepped closer and frowned. “You’re moving?”

  “I actually had an interesting day. I met with Steve—”

  “Steve the trainer?” He turned and faced her.

  “Yes. I wanted to talk to him about possibly teaching some classes here this fall, but he’s so busy he can’t do it. He, um, made me an offer though.”

  His face blanked. “What sort of offer?”

  “He wants to buy the building next to his and make it a studio. We’d be partners and I’d manage the business just like I do now, but he’d get a cut and we’d both profit from the shared clients.”

  “Did you have a lawyer draw up an agreement?”

  She laughed. “No. Today was the first time we talked about it. Besides, Steve’s my friend. I trust him.”

  He pressed his lips together. She was already becoming familiar with his expressions and could tell he had something to say but didn’t want to say it.

  “What’s the matter, Elliot?”

  “That’s a big decision. This is your studio, your business, and you’re just going to sign over half of it to some guy? How long have you been thinking about doing this?”

  “I wasn’t thinking about it until the offer fell into my lap. But the truth is, I’m not doing well on my own. The studio would still be mine, but I’d have a partner to help with expenses.”

  “What if Steve’s gym goes under? Where would that leave you?”

  “Steve’s doing great over there. He’s doing me a favor, Elliot. If things don’t improve, this could be my last season.”

  “A smart businessman wouldn’t make a deal like that unless he had something to gain as well. Don’t give him too much leverage. Partnerships are fifty-fifty.”

  She frowned. “I wouldn’t have accepted the offer if I thought he was taking advantage of me.”

  “I’m not trying to offend you, Nadia. I know you’re smart, but I also know you love the company you created. I’m just suggesting you think things over for a few days before you announce it to the world. Business deals fall through all the time and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  He was acting like her financial advisor again. “I appreciate your advice, but I have thought about it and this is what I want to do. It’s a relief to know I have options. Honestly, I’ve been incredibly stressed trying to manage everything on my own.”

  His mouth flattened and he glanced away. “He isn’t your only option. There are investors everywhere. Sometimes silent partners are better.”

  “Well, no one else has made an offer like the one I got today.”

  “What about me? I’d invest in a new studio for you.”

  She rolled her eyes. No more mixing business with pleasure. While he had a fascinating business sense, it embarrassed her every time she required his help. She didn’t want him to see her struggle. She wanted to show him that she could be a successful woman, the sort that rose to his standard. She wanted to prove she could run her own life, like most American women.

  “Thank you, but you’ve done enough.”

  “You said you were glad for my help. Now, you seem to be bothered by it.”

  She gathered her belongings and dropped them into her bag. “I appreciate everything you’ve done, Elliot, but it’s enough. I need to do some things for myself.”

  He followed her toward the bathroom. “With Steve’s help?”

  She dumped her water bottle in the sink. “Is this about what’s best for my business or something that makes my boyfriend uneasy? Steve’s my friend, my colleague. That’s it. You don’t have to feel threatened by him.”

  “I don’t feel threatened.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and arched a brow. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I feel … territorial. You’re my girlfriend.”

  She smirked, appreciating his honesty. Shutting out the bathroom light, she faced him.

  “And that’s
exactly what I want to be to you. I don’t like being a charity case. I want to be your lover, your friend, not an inconvenience you support, or someone you have to constantly rescue.”

  “You’re not an inconvenience.” His chest lifted as he stared at her, his pupils dilating. “And I like rescuing you.”

  She stepped closer to him and cupped his jaw. “You’ve taken me into your home, flown me across the world, helped my family with getting approved for a loan, and brawled with Roland for me. I think your work in the rescue department is done.” She kissed his bruised cheek. “I need my independence where I can get it, Elliot.”

  He caught her hand and kissed her wrist, his observant gaze stealing her breath as he once again showed her the affection she’d come to desire from him, the affection she’d been missing over the last two days. Maybe now they could move forward and put the pain of the last few days behind them.

  His voice lowered to a soft whisper, his words teasing over her skin and putting her into some sort of trance. “I know you’re an independent woman. I admire that about you. But I’ll never stop trying to help you. That’s who I am.”

  And she’d be lying if she claimed his heroism didn’t touch something deep inside of her. “You are relentless, mister.” She sighed, pulling her hand away. When he looked at her like that, she became a puddle of need, and in regard to her studio, she’d already made up her mind. “Let me do this on my own. Please. I know you can probably do it faster and easier, but I need to know I can, and you’ll see I can take care of myself.”

  His mouth twisted. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. I know who you are.”

  “Then you know why it’s important for me to do this without you.”

  “Will you let my lawyer write up an agreement for you, just as a precaution?”

  She groaned and turned away. “You are a pain in my csikk.”

  “Does that mean ass?”

  “Pretty much,” She picked up her bag. “Let’s go eat. I’ve had a very long day and I’m starving.”

  He didn’t move.

  She paused, trying to decipher the look in his eyes. “What?”

  “I … want to kiss you.”

  She pivoted toward him and smiled. He could be so powerful and so vulnerable at the same time. It was the perfect storm and she couldn’t help being drawn into those wild eyes. “There is the side of you I adore.” She slowly approached him and looped her arms around his neck. “When you look at me like that—hungry and direct—I want to grant your every wish, like you're my master and I’m a slave to your desires. My mouth is yours, mister. Do as you please.” His lips brushed hers as he caught her hips, dipping her back and not pulling away until she was dizzy.