When the line blurs

Selena Reed

It was 3pm and Col had almost starred holes into the door.

It had been two hours since Elijah said they had arrived, as far as he knew, the airport they had alighted at was only 45 minutes drive to his house.

Did she change her mind?

That would be better, wouldn't it?

So why did the thought of it leave a bitter taste in his mouth?

Nobody had given up on him before meeting him.

Intruding in his thoughts came his doorbell and almost like a reflex, he sprang up and rushed to the door. Right at the last moment, he paused.

Was he getting his hopes up?

Has he not learnt anything from his past experiences?

Taking a deep breath, he mentally detached himself, the glint in his stormy eyes gone leaving flat grey orbs.

Looking through the monitor, he saw Elijah's magnified face wearing his infamous impatient expression, the woman was however not in view as Elijah had used his face to cover the camera.

Punching in the password, he turned around once he heard the door click.

"Hey, I was hoping you weren't asleep." Came Elijah's gruff voice. For a man of such personality, his deep voice was a misfit.

Col didn't bother to answer as he made his way to the sofa.

"Well, I'm glad you aren't cause I can't wait to introduce you to your new personal trainer."

"Potential.. Elijah. I haven't accepted her yet." Col chipped in, his tone clipped.

Elijah rolled his eyes before muttering.

"I know you will."

"Well..." He started, his voice gaining back the momentum Col had clipped earlier "Allow me to introduce you to Selena Reed."

The name rang a bell, his ears involuntarily perked in question.

He knew that name, the hollow pit forming in his stomach was enough evidence that he did

A woman walked in, her steps light yet confident. She was wearing a puma snicker he loved, his eyes moved from the snicker to the black jean that hugged her legs, showing off her well developed muscles. Well, she atleast worked out. She had paired the jean with a simple grey top which despite it's large size did nothing to hide her figure, needless to say she was a solid figure eight and a part of him wondered why she had chosen this line of work.

With that figure, she could live her life comfortably in the arms of some rich man.

The chaos had ensued when he had set his eyes on her face. He may have been unable to immediately place the name but this face, he would never be able to forget the face.

'Selena Reed, the younger sister of Daniel Reed.....'

"Mr Col." Buried in his thoughts, he hadn't heard her call his name until Elijah had touched his arm.

"A personal trainer for your thoughts, Selena's been talking to you." Elijah teased, amused by Col's reaction.

When he had seen her he had also been astounded.

'She is stunning.' was his first thought

From her fiery red hair to her captivating green eyes, her small button nose and blood red full lips. Her skin was porcelain white with a hint of tan, her figure was killer and a part of him wondered if it was a good idea to make her Col's personal trainer.

Wouldn't she be more of a distraction?

But on a second thought, he realized, she may just be the answer to their problem.

He had spoken to the men she had trained, most of them had admitted she was good but a distinctive characteristic was that they all strove harder to impress her, of course they wouldn't admit her beauty had something to do with it but Elijah wasn't a fool.

She had approached him and pitched herself, she had sounded just as desperate as they were and if he didn't believe in anything, he knew he could trust her ambition. She was a woman fighting to reach the top of the ladder, she would do anything to make sure she does.

As for the fear of a distraction, he would just have to trust Col, the man wasn't much of a womanizer anyways.

"Oh." Was all he could muttered as he searched those eyes he has lost himself in 13 years ago.

Did she really not remember him?

Not even a sense of familiarity?

She offered him a hand as she said, her voice as calming as he remembered it.

"I am Selena Reed, your POTENTIAL personal trainer." She said stressing on the potential.

Elijah fought to hide his smirk... Someone with an equal amount of sass.

Col allowed a small smile conceal the shame he felt as he took her hand.

"I am Col storm."

The feel of her hand in his felt like a travel back in time. She had introduced herself in the same manner too back then.

Did she really no memory of him whatsoever?

He knew he may have changed, she had too. She was way more womanly than he had known her, her eyes held more stories than they had before and she carried herself with even more confidence but she still was the Selena Reed of 13 years ago.

Pulling her hand from his, she took a step toward him before she said.

"Would you atleast hear me out before you make a decision?"

Col knew he wouldn't reject her, even if she posed a potential threat to everything he held dear, he wouldn't be able to.

"Go on." He managed to say, his voice barely a whisper.

Selena had always been eloquent. For every sport she has participated, she had been made captain not only because of her competence but for her quick thinking, eloquence and confidence. Her coach in school had dreamed of a beautiful future for her before that incident, the incident which had changed everything.

She had seen Col ok the tabloids, she had done a lot of research on him in order to come up with a training plan but seeing him physically like this she realized, there was more to his injury than the tabloids cared to share.

His soulless eyes and guarded attitude points at wounds that have ran deeper in his soul than he could admit and a part of her could understand the intensity of such wounds.

Col storm may not just be a stepping stone for the future she hopes for herself, he may be her own redemption arc and healing him would mean setting the stage for her own self-healing journey.

So putting all at stake she began to outline her plan, she would give him all of her if need be.

"I don't want to see a shrink." He said cutting her smooth sail off.

Momentarily taken aback by his sudden declaration, she blinked then took about two seconds to re- orient herself before she replied

"You will have to, your fit isn't something I can work on." She tried to make her tone less commanding but it seemed to not work as her words came out like an order.

"I am better off without their stupid drugs."

"You are." She started this time trying to sound more understanding, her eyes holding his.

"And I never said you will be taking medications."

This seemed to peek his interest as he narrowed his eyes at her making her out on a small smile.

"I have a shrink I'd worked with for the other drivers but if you do not trust him, we could look for one of your taste.." she paused to allow him absorb her words before she continued.

"We'll be using what they refer to as cognitive behavioral therapy. Essentially, it Involves several sessions of therapy that would help to cure your injured mind. We'll try our best to make sure you don't need the medications, your nutrition will be optimized and your whole schedule will be arranged in such a way that would be healthy for you. You will.be having what I call a full makeover of the body and soul."

Col was quiet for a while, her words sinking in. He tried to reason objectively beyond his personal feelings for her. Her plan sounded reasonable, she didn't try to force him to do anything, she understood his concerns and addressed them and something he find really impressive was the way she held his eyes as she stated her plans, like she was looking for any sought of disagreement or discomfort he could have had but had not voiced out. It felt like she saw him as a person, not just a project.

Heaving a big sigh, he glanced at Elijah who had a hopeful look on his face and almost like he was admitting defeat, he shrugged then asked.

"So when do we start?"