Taken

"I said no" Ebony pushes Mark into the filing cabinet and elbows past him. He snatches at her wrist, squeezing tight. She'd had enough of her bosses advances. She spis round and kicks him in the groin, hard. "You try that again and I'll make you wish you'd never taken over as manager." Tears stream down Mark's cheeks as he tries to grin up at her. "Your... fir.."His words come out as a squeak. "Fired? and who are you going to get to teach my classes? Who will your clients believe when I tell them I'd had enough of your comments, your gropping, your locking us in the office by accident" She holds her index figures making quotations in the air. Four years ago she'd started as a receptionist at Belive Health & Fitness. Slowly she'd worked her way throigh various fitness qualifications.After covering a spin class, followed by a yoga class she'd been hired as a perminant instructor. She'd picked up multiple classes during the week and had even begun a kids gymnastics programme, utilizing her years of training as a child. She'd found her passion, her place in the world and somewhere she thought she fit in, finally. That all changed six months ago when Mark took over as manager. He made everyone uncomfortable. leering at women working out, standing that bit too close, not to mention the unnecessary contact. He'd asked Ebony on a date on his second day, she'd now lost count of how many times she'd turned him down. He didn't give up and she'd had enough. This was the third time he'd managed to lock her in his office and she'd had it. Mark took a breath and stumbled to his feet. He was big, but not intimidating, Ebony knew she could easily outrun him. His shirt was always that bit too close to grey instead of white, his trousers didn't fit around his pot belly and the smell. He never used the gym but he certainly smelt like he did. He reaches for her a lopsided grin on his face. Ebony quickly moves towards the door, out of his reach, just as it bursts open and smacks her in the face. "Ebony! I saw.... are you alright?" "That's harassment. I'll have you fired for that" Mark blurts out pointing bewteen Dan and Ebony. "Just try." Ebony snarled, holding her bloody nose with one hand and grabbing Dan's with the other. She yanks him out of the door, which is swinging off it's hinges. The last thing she wanted was for Dan to lose his job because of her. Pulling him across the hall and into the staff room, she was glad to find it empty. "I was doing fine." She mumbled as blood continued to stream down her chin. "Yes, it looks it." Dan replies, pulling wads of blue roll from the dispenser. Ebony puts her hands on her hips, leaving a bloody hand print on her sports top. Dan rasied his eyebrows at her. "You saving the day, smashed the door into my face" She grabs the tissue from him and drops into a chair, squeezing her nose hard. Realisation finally dawns on Dan's face. At six foot three, he was tall, dark, and handsome. His olive skin, smooth over his muscular arms, his shorts never tight enough for Ebony's liking. She'd had to shake herself out of a daydream a little too often and remind herself that she was to focus on the important things in life. Her parents had always drilled into her that she must work hard, make her own way in this world, love was for the weak and unintelligent. She'd never fully understood that last part but she didn't dare question her mother and father. They were her saviors, they'd found her on the side of the road, just a few weeks old, wrapped in a woolen blanket. They'd saved her and never let her forget it. Dan plonks himself down and slides his chair opposite her, their knees bumped and it sends a shiver through her. "I'm sorry Ebs" He'd always shortened her name, he was the only one she let get away with it. She let him get away with a lot. They'd started hanging out a week after she'd started. He'd encouraged her to pursue fitness qualifications and helped her study for her theory test. He'd gently pushed her along when she failed her life guarding the first time and helped coach her through her second attempt, which she'd passed with flying colours. His big brown eyes gaze at her, she sometimes caught him looking with a hint of sadness, which she couldn't understand. He looked guilty now, realizing that his brash actions had resulted in her getting hurt. "I heard shouting, then I smelt blood and I just came running. I thought you were hurt." "You smelt blood?" Ebony asks, her green eyes meeting his. "You say the weirdest things Dan" she laughs and goes to wash the blood from her hands and face. "You should report him" Dan grumbles. Ebony finishes drying her hands and checks her reflection in the small mirror above the sink. She rarely bruises and this was no different, her nose wasn't swollen, the only sign of the accident was the bloody handprint on her top. She flicks her long red ponytail over her shoulder and shrugs. "I'll be fine" Dan growls. Ebony whipped around, "was that you?" Dan quickly looks up, unclenching his fists "Was what me?" he smiles but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. He runs a hand through his short dark hair and stood, he looks as if he wants to pull her into him but he stops short. "Want to meet for a drink later?" "Sure, Doormouse at 9?" Ebony asks, the growl forgotten as he reaches for the bloody handprint on her shirt. He tugs at it and then drops his hand. "sounds good."