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Ron threw another flurry of punches at the bag. A trail of sweat ran down the side of his face. Another trail curved around the corner of his nose, resting on his lip. He stepped back from the bag and licked his lip, tasting the saltiness. His gloved hands fell to his side, and he looked around at the emptiness of the gym. Walking over to his bag, he pulled one of his hands out of its glove. He bent over and dug through it, finding his phone and waking it up. His eyebrows furrowed.
“He’s late.”
It wasn’t like Rex to be late. He loved working out and always got there before Ron.
Jennifer probably talked him into staying in bed today, he thought.
Ron grinned.
Maybe Jennifer took a page out of Jessica’s playbook. Used that fit body of hers to seduce Rex into cheating on his passion. Or she guilted him into staying. That seemed more her style.
Ron shook his head, walked over to a treadmill, and stepped on. With a push of a button, it came to life, and his legs started moving underneath him. His thoughts wandered into dreams of his future. Soon, he’d be back in Los Angeles. He and Jessica would receive a lot of money, more than he’d ever had before. With that money, he wouldn’t need to work. He liked his job, and he hoped to keep it for personal fulfillment, but with the inheritance, he wouldn’t need it anymore. It would give him the power to demand to work remotely. Or Ron would quit.
His heart warmed at the thought of being that free, and a smile spread across his face.
I’ll move somewhere far away. As long as I have internet service, it can be anywhere. And, finally, I’ll be free of Jessica’s games, he thought.
The acoustic ceiling tiles lifted over his head, and the soft thud of air pressure changing rapped on Ron’s eardrum. The sound of footsteps came from the entryway. Ron called out.
“Rex?”
He turned towards the sound, and his eyes widened. Jennifer stood in the doorway, wearing a robe, scowling with her arms folded. Her voice pelted through her gritted teeth.
“Where is he?”
“I thought he was with you.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“No. He’s not.”
