No one dared to speak.
“Why does no one speak? Or do you all want me to do the roll call? Vivian, Tony, Caleb…” Nicole menti
oned several names in a row, getting no response. “Very good. There are already people skipping the tr
aining right after the morning session. As I said before, if there is a single person absent, everyone will
be punished.”
“Don‘t do it, please.” Someone in the group wailed.
“Blame those who didn‘t come.”
“A few of you go to the sports room to look for Mr. Antolovic and take some sandbags and other weight
bearing gear.” After a while, they returned with the gear.
“Everybody, tie a sandbag on your body and run circling the sports field.” This time, Nicole led the grou
p in front. After ten laps, some people began to fall behind.
“Keep going. There are only nine more laps left.” This was actually another form of training in the disgui
se of punishment.
“Huh? Nine more laps?”
By the last few laps, some people really could not keep on and lay on the sports field. Those
who were not involved in the sports day ran over and helped them up and brought
them to rest on one side of the field. Gary caught up with Nicole. “There are still two laps left. Do you w
ant to go for a match?”
Nicole looked into his defiant eyes. “Why not?”
“Whoever finishes last gives the winner a leg massage. How about that?” Gary wanted to enjoy a leg m
assage by Nicole.
“I dare you to
up the ante. Whoever finishes last gives everyone a leg massage.” Nicole cast a cold look at him.
“Challenge accepted.” Gary looked at Nicole confidently, thinking he would not lose to her
because he worked out regularly.
“I will give a ten–second handicap to you.” Nicole did not want to bully him.
Gary was not too happy at hearing that. He thought Nicole
was insulting him. “I should be the one giving you the handicap. I don‘t want to bully girls.”
“That won‘t be necessary. Are you ready?” Nicole glanced at Gary.
“Ready.”
“Let‘s get started.”
Gary quickly increased his speed. After running for a while
without seeing Nicole, he smiled, thinking he had left Nicole far
behind. As he just looked back, he saw Nicole right on his heels.
“Not bad. I‘m going to speed up again. Keep up with me.” Gary teased, and
he picked up his speed again. Now he thought he must
have smoked Nicole, not expecting that she had already leveled with him.
“What the, you can still
catch up?” Gary was surprised . “Why aren‘t you going faster? Come on.” Nicole taunted him.
Gary had never been ridiculed like this before. He increased his speed again with all his strength.
The two of them ran past the main group like a gust of wind. Jack was amazed. “Boss is fast. This is the
“Come on, Boss,” Jack shouted.
“See, Nicole is side–by–side with Gary. The two are on par.”
“I think Boss is holding back. Otherwise, he would have left her far behind.”
“I don‘t think so. Nicole doesn‘t seem to break a sweat compared to Gary; he is sweating like a pig.”
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