''I'm sorry I'm late.'' I rushed inside, already thirty minutes late yet tripping on my way inside. My long blond hair was wet and I was in my gray yoga pants and black Nike crop top. I was running out of breath as I reached the terrace where they were working out that day.

''Don't enter.'' I ceased my foot in the air, shocked by the response. I hadn't stepped in from that glass door yet and he voiced, not even bothering to look at me.

''I'm so sorry, my alarm didn't go off.'' I lied bluntly, this job was important for me and all the classes I have to take for the job were mandatory.

The girls didn't turn their heads to look at me as they were doing planks. But I feel like they were watching my face from the corner of their eyes.

''Don't disturb us.'' He voiced again, placing his hands on his waist and watching the girls attentively. I was shocked, confused. I have seen him in his Instagram posts and interviews, he was always super chill and nice.

Since he didn't let me in, I decided to just walk back to my room but no! It has to be aggravated.

''Did I ask you to leave?'' I stopped walking, slowly turning my body to see him. He was glaring at me with those beautiful hawk eyes of his. He was sweating, the bandanna on his forehead was to keep his hair from coming into his eyes.

''I though---'' he cut my words in the middle with a harsh scoff.

''This is not a picnic, If you want this job you should be punctual.'' His words were hitting me like a rock. Such a cruel fate, I was being insulted by a very calm, everyone's dear Mr. Ryker Malarkey. I must be a very horrible person to piss off such a kind soul.

If I was not in such a need for money, I would have spit right in his face but being broke makes you spineless.

''I'm sorry sir, I will be careful next time.'' I lowered my face and uttered.

''Dips!'' he yelled at the girls and marched towards me. I gulped as he came straight at my face. ''Have you ever even worked out? You came here with such a mess of hair.'' he gritted his teeth, grinding his jaw. Why was he so mad at me? Shouldn't he be nice just to make us feel comfortable? I get it that Scarlet has kind of forced us on him, but still, that was very inappropriate.

"I took a shower," I mumbled in my mouth, of course, that's what I did, do you wanna hang me for that?

"Of course, I never said you came swimming here." His frown grew bigger, what was his problem, I was not any fifth-grader who would get punished like that.

"So what do you want me to do sir?" I had enough, it was just plain rude and unfair.

"Excuse me?" He looked shocked and insulted. He slipped his hands off his waist and hung them down lifelessly.

''You don't want me to work out, you have a problem with me leaving, and if I stay, you object on my wet hair. Sir, I'm very confused about what you want me to do.'' I folded my arms across my chest and raised my eyes. Our eyes met for a solid minute and let me tell you this, none of us broke the stare. It felt like, his eyes were swimming in my eyes, so deep and creepy at the same time.

''Is that so?'' He formed a straight line of his lips and nodded his head in annoyance, ''five times.'' he mumbled, turning around to face the girls.

''What?'' I didn't get him, what five times? He wants to poop five times he looked constipated.

''You are gonna go downstairs and then run all the way up and repeat it five times.'' He didn't even look at me but the girls gasped in shock. Was he kidding me? There were like 100 stairs and he really wanted me to climb them up five times?

''But the---,'' I couldn't finish my sentence when he continued,

''Do you want this job or not? A minute ago you were complaining that you want to work out, and now you are crying about working out?'' he swirled around to look at me. The girls had ended their workout class now and it was my turn of suffering. ''You anyway need to work out more than others.'' there was a slight mock in his tone. I heard the girls giggle after him, what the hell? I waited for a minute and then slightly walked out of the apartment. I began climbing the stairs but all that time I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. I'm not fat, I'm in shape, or am I fat? Tears kept forming and disappearing in my eyes. I had my head buried all this time.

''Hey, calm down girl.'' I didn't see Scarlett climbing the stairs with me. ''what are you even doing?'' she looked at me and noticed the tears in my eyes.

''I WA---,'' I looked away, swallowing my tears, ''I was late, so Sir punished me,'' I said, all set to run again.

''Wait!'' she stopped me again. ''So what if you were late, this is your first day.'' she had a frown formed, ''come with me.'' she narrowed her eyes, walking ahead of me. I followed her and we ended up in the lounge of her apartment.

''Oh hey, honey!'' Ryker has freshened up and has worn a blue shirt with jeans. He hugged her lightly and kissed her forehead, his stare went on me, ''Did you do it five times?'' he glared at me. I was about to shake my head when Scarlett broke the hug and faced him.

''Ryker she is twenty, and we don't punish them. I believe, in her age, a girl feels humiliation very seriously, and deserves respect too.'' I got her point but it didn't look like Ryker liked her lecture.

''I was just doing it so she behaves next time.'' He argued. One could see the look of superiority on his face.

''She is not a kid, plus, she is finer than the other girls.'' Scarlett didn't bother looking at him, she was busy taking off her heels. ''That will be it Kathleen and try not to be late next time okay?'' she sweetly watched my face and gave me a satisfactory smile. It felt so good and warm to be treated with equality and respect. But I feared for Ryker's response because for sure he didn't like it.