Interlude 1

That same day, hours ago, and elsewhere in the city

The morning sun was already warming the streets as Sylvia Latimer kept a steady pace down the final stretch of her route.The crisp morning blew past her, beads of sweat trickling along her temples and collarbone, but the air had definitely cooled these past few weeks, making it real pleasure. She’d been up since five, enjoying the quiet that settled over the city before the day’s rush began. While she was avoiding the cracks on the sidewalk, the familiar sign for Superhuman Fitness came into view, bold white letters set against deep blue.

She slowed her jog as she reached the entrance, taking a moment to catch her breath. A few early risers were already scattered in the parking lot, stretching or waiting with earbuds in and water bottles at the ready. Sylvia offered a nod and a quick smile to one of the regulars before stepping inside.

“Sylvia! Good morning!” called Tony, her head trainer, glancing up from the check-in desk with a grin. He had a clipboard in hand, already reviewing the day’s training schedules.

“Morning, Tony.” She pulled the towel she’d left at the desk last night and patted down her face, catching her reflection in the glass of the door. “Looks like it’s going to be a full day.”

“Oh, definitely,” Tony said, chuckling as he flipped a page. “Especially with the new circuit training classes. We’ve got at least twelve booked for each session, back-to-back.”

Sylvia arched an eyebrow. “That many?”

“You make it sound like a problem,” Tony said with a laugh.

“Just surprised, that’s all. It’s good news, to be sure.” Sylvia headed past the weights, the stationary bikes, indoor basketball court and heated lap pool, continuing along towards the locker rooms. After stripping down, she spent the time in her hot shower thinking of how to get those numbers down. The gym was popular enough as it was. More success would create more work, both in running it and keeping its profile low. It’d take more of her time, and her time was much too valuable for that.

Sylvia emerged from the locker room in a crisp, sleeveless red blouse, the buttons undone around her chest to flaunt her chest, and tucked into her high-waisted tight black pants that did the same for her ass. Her running shoes were swapped out for heels that clacked on the tiles as she walked towards her office.

The gym had two levels. The first floor was open to the public and made up more than ninety percent of the foot traffic. The second was reserved for a very private membership, and was also where she kept her personal office.

Sylvia paused at the top of the stairs, taking in the view of the second-floor gym. The equipment here was top-of-the-line, gleaming under the soft overhead lights. Unlike the bustling energy downstairs, this space had a more focused atmosphere.

She spotted Melissa, a lithe brunette, stretching on a yoga mat near the window. Sylvia made her way over, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor.

"Good morning, Melissa. How's the new routine treating you?"

Melissa looked up, her green eyes brightening. "Oh, Ms. Latimer! It's challenging but I can already feel the difference in my core strength."

Sylvia nodded approvingly, her gaze sweeping over Melissa's toned form. "I'm glad to hear it. You're making excellent progress. Keep it up, and you'll hit your goals in no time."

Melissa gave a silent nod, then went back to her routine.

Moving on, Sylvia approached the weight area where Jake, a muscular man in his thirties, was bench pressing an impressive amount, even for an Enhanced. The machine he was using had cost more than her last car and looked like dissected tank made of shiny chrome, but it’d been worth it, allowing clients to push against tens of thousands of pounds of force without risk of destroying it. Her more elite clients had no use for basic weights and treadmills. She waited until he finished his set before speaking.

"Thirty-two tons. Impressive."

Jake sat up, wiping his brow with a towel. "Thanks, Ms. Latimer."

Sylvia's lips curled into a smile. "You're very welcome, Jake. I look forward to seeing just how far you’ll go.."

Sylvia's eyes narrowed as she spotted Victoria, a newer member, running on the treadmill. The pink-haired girl's pace was moving at a sprinter’s pace, taking long strides with perfect form, her ponytail bouncing in a steady rhythm behind her, and her well-toned muscles flexing with every smooth stride. In spite of that pace, Victoria wasn’t even breathing hard, and she was casually scrolling on her phone, her mind somewhere else.

Sylvia strode over, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. "Victoria," she said, her tone crisp. "I must say, you have beautiful form. You make it seem effortless."

Victoria's head snapped up, her eyes widening. "Oh! Ms. Latimer, I… Thank you?"

“So effortless that I wonder why you're even bothering. Someone like you could keep this going all day.” Sylvia continued as she stepped onto the back of the treadmill, reaching over to push the button to accelerate the pace from twenty miles per hour to twenty-five.

“Sorry. I just… I’m following the plan I was given, Ms. Latimer. I didn’t think—”

Sylvia pressed the button down, letting the machine continue speeding up. From twenty to thirty. Thirty to thirty-five. She noticed that Victoria was finally starting to bead with sweat, but she imagined it wasn’t from exertion.

“The purpose of the plan is to help you reach your full potential. If you aren’t challenging yourself, you can’t expect to improve, can you?” Forty miles an hour now. Victoria was looking straight ahead now, legs almost blurring as she swung her arms to keep balance.

“Yes, Ms. Latimer!”

“That’s the spirit. Now then, I want you to really push yourself. Because if I can’t trust you to do these things for yourself, that means I’ll need to personally supervise you. And that’s not a good use of either of our time, is it?”

“It’s not! Ms. Latimer!” Victoria’s mouth was hanging open now as she sucked in air.

“Good.”

Sylvia continued on towards her office, a one-way mirror separating it from the rest of the floor so that she could keep an eye on her members while still sitting at her desk, the two glass walls giving her a view of the corner street below. A custom oak desk that dominated the center, minimalistic black filing cabinets and standing bookshelves lining one wall.

Behind her desk, a wall-mounted display screen rotated through slides of gym updates, client statistics, and upcoming events, while the desk itself was taken up by three monitors and a ten thousand dollar computer she’d assembled herself.

The first order of business was putting into motion an increase in prices to be phased in over the next six months. Not exorbitant, but hopefully enough to discourage the gym from getting too popular. The price hike was the first step, a subtle nudge that would keep the gym’s allure as exclusive as she needed it to be. She didn’t need prying eyes or too much traffic—Superhuman Fitness was designed to be a perfect cover, nothing more.

Shortly after making arrangements, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, a small smile playing at her lips as she read the message.

"Finally. Something fun to do," she murmured to herself.

She tapped out a quick reply, then pressed the intercom button on her desk.

"Tony, I need Amanda, Bianca, and Claire sent up to my office right away. And please escort Mr. Russo directly here when he arrives."

"Right away, Ms. Latimer," came the crisp response.

Sylvia leaned back, steepling her fingers as she waited. Within minutes, there was a soft knock at her door.

"Come in," she called.

The door opened, and three young women filed in. Amanda, a tall blonde with piercing blue eyes, entered first. Lithe and athletic, but with just enough softness to stay nonthreatening. Bianca followed, her olive skin and dark curls framing delicately young features. A stroke of luck that she’d acquired the girl so quickly out of school. Last came Claire, petite with fiery red hair and a smattering of freckles across her nose.

All three wore the gym's standard workout attire—form-fitting shorts and spandex crop tops. All three filled them out well, with Claire the least well-endowed at a mere DD-cup. No makeup—it went against Sylvia’s policy—but each girl had kept herself immaculate just for today. They lined up in front of Sylvia's desk, standing at attention with their hands clasped behind their backs.

"Good morning, ladies," Sylvia said, her tone warm but authoritative. "We have a special guest coming to tour our facilities today. I expect you to be on your best behavior and showcase the results of your… rigorous training program."

The women nodded in unison. Amanda was completely stone-faced, Claire couldn’t keep the insolence out of her eyes, and Bianca seemed on the verge of tears.

“Remember. Best behavior. That’s an order.”

All three smiled and nodded just as there was another knock at the door.

"Enter," she called out.

Tony stepped in, followed by a well-dressed man in his fifties. "Ms. Latimer, Mr. Russo is here to see you."

Sylvia stood, extending her hand with a professional smile. "Mr. Russo, welcome to Superhuman Fitness. I trust your journey was pleasant?"

Mr. Russo shook her hand firmly, his eyes already darting to the three women standing silently by the desk. "Very pleasant, thank you, Ms. Latimer. I'm eager to see what your establishment has to offer."

"Of course," Sylvia replied smoothly. She gestured to the women. "These are some of our top performers.”

Sylvia stepped around her desk, her heels clicking as she approached the three women. "Let's start with Amanda," she said, gesturing to the blonde. "Twenty-four years old, fluent in three languages, and a former competitive swimmer."

She ran a hand along Amanda's toned arm. "As you can see, she's kept her athletic build. Naturally submissive, attentive, and quite skilled at massage." Amanda remained still, her blue eyes fixed straight ahead. “An ideal servant.”

Moving to Bianca, Sylvia continued. "Bianca here is our youngest at nineteen. A quick learner with a natural talent for dance." She tilted Bianca's chin up, showcasing her delicate features. "Shy at first, but warms up beautifully with the right encouragement. The perfect pet."

Bianca's lower lip trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away from Sylvia's touch.

Finally, Sylvia came to Claire. "And Claire. Twenty-two, and she managed to hold out for two whole weeks before signing a contract with me.." She twirled a lock of Claire's red hair around her finger.

“Only two weeks?” Mr. Russo asked, curious.

“I’ve gotten much more efficient at these things over the years. Nine of every ten will agree to my terms after a week. The rest either sign on soon after or not at all.”

Mr. Russo opened his mouth to ask a followup question. Sylvia knew exactly the one. What happens to those that don’t sign? Clever man that he was, he realized the answer before asking the question, and closed his mouth.

Sylvia continued. “And the girl still has fire in her eyes. I’ve left her unbroken, for those that enjoy that pleasure themselves. Though since it’s your first time, I would understand if you’d rather not take on such an advanced project.”

“Not an easy decision,” Mr. Russo barked out a laugh, eyes devouring all three women as he looked with a wolfish smile.

Sylvia nodded, understanding Mr. Russo's indecision. "Of course, it can be difficult to choose based on appearances alone. Ladies, strip down and assume the position."

The three women immediately began removing their workout attire. Amanda was efficient and robotic in her movements. Bianca's hands trembled slightly as she peeled off her top. Claire's jaw clenched, but she complied without hesitation.

Within moments, all three stood naked, feet shoulder-width apart and hands clasped behind their heads. Their breasts were pushed forward, nipples hardening in the cool air of the office.

Sylvia gestured to Mr. Russo. "Please, feel free to examine the merchandise more closely. You're welcome to touch them and ask questions. They’ll be as honest as can be. Isn’t that right, girls?”

“Yes, Ms. Latimer,” the three answered in unison.

“Well then…” Mr. Russo approached Amanda first, running his hands along her toned arms and flat stomach. "You mentioned massage skills. What sort of techniques do you know?"

"Swedish, deep tissue, and shiatsu, sir," Amanda replied in a neutral tone. "I'm also trained in erotic massage and can incorporate toys or oils as desired."

He nodded, moving to cup her breasts, testing their weight and firmness. Amanda's breathing remained steady, her expression blank, betrayed only by the pink flush of her cheeks.

Mr. Russo turned his attention to Bianca next. The girl's lower lip quivered as he traced a finger along her collarbone. "And you, my dear. What sort of dances do you know?"

"B-ballet, freestyle… and pole dancing, sir," Bianca whispered, her voice barely audible.

He tilted her chin up, studying her face. "You seem nervous. Are you always this timid?"

Before Bianca could answer, Sylvia interjected. "Bianca is quite shy at first, but she becomes much more animated once she's comfortable. Some clients find the process of nurturing sweet girls like this to be incredibly fulfilling. Some enjoy knowing they’re giving her a good home. Saving her from worse fates." She left what those fates were unsaid.

Mr. Russo moved on to Claire, eyeing her fiery red hair and freckled skin. As he reached out to touch her, Claire's green eyes flashed with barely contained rage. Her jaw clenched tight, muscles twitching as she fought to maintain her position.

"This one seems... spirited," Mr. Russo observed, cupping Claire's breasts and giving them a firm squeeze.

Claire's nostrils flared, but no sound escaped her lips as Mr. Russo kneaded and fondled her chest. Her nipples hardened involuntarily under his touch, much to her evident shame and frustration.

Sylvia smiled. "Indeed she is. Claire here took quite a bit of work to get to this point. She can't disobey direct orders, but she hasn't lost that fire in her eyes. Some clients find that... exciting."

Mr. Russo nodded, clearly intrigued. He ran his hands down Claire's sides to grip her hips, pulling her closer. "And how does that work exactly? She can't disobey, but she's not fully broken?"

"An excellent question," Sylvia replied. "Claire, tell Mr. Russo how you feel about your current situation."

Claire's eyes darted to Sylvia, then back to Mr. Russo. When she spoke, her voice was low and strained. "I hate this. I hate you. I hate her. I want to tear your throat out. I want to rip her head clean off and stomp on the stump."

Mr. Russo's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"But you won't do any of those things, will you Claire?" Sylvia prompted.

Claire's fists clenched behind her head. "No," she ground out. "I won't. I can't. It goes against the contract."

"Very interesting," Mr. Russo mused, still gripping Claire's hips. "And what if I were to order you to do something? To kneel, for instance?"

"Go ahead," Sylvia encouraged. "See for yourself."

Mr. Russo locked eyes with Claire. "Kneel."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as if fighting against an invisible force, Claire slowly sank to her knees. Her face contorted with effort, but she couldn't resist the command.

"Fascinating," Mr. Russo breathed. “Manipulation skills are common enough. But she’s fully lucid and aware of the situation. And is it really permanent?”

“If you’ve any skepticism, you can try violating our own contract,” Sylvia reminded him. “The day someone manages to do that is the day I go out of business.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I’d just not even considered trying,” Russo admitted as he stuck two fingers into Claire’s mouth. The redhead gave him her most hateful glare but couldn’t even so much as nibble on those fingers. “Such a lovely look on her face.” He put his hand to his belt, began to thumb the buckle, when Sylvia cleared her throat.

"While you’re more than welcome to continue, I have a suggestion if you’d like to get to know the girls better." It was one thing for a client to take the merchandise on a test run. It was another thing entirely for them to make a mess in her office while they were doing so.

Mr. Russo took his hand from the belt, seeming genuinely flustered to have gotten so caught up in the moment. The look passed quickly though, and he asked, "What did you have in mind?"

"We have private rooms on this floor for more thorough examinations," Sylvia explained smoothly. "Fully equipped and soundproofed. You're welcome to take all three girls for a test drive, so to speak. See how they perform under more intimate circumstances."

She gestured to the naked women. "Rest assured, they're all on birth control. No need to worry about any unexpected consequences."

Mr. Russo's eyes lit up. "That's quite generous of you, Ms. Latimer. I would certainly appreciate the opportunity for a more in-depth evaluation."

"Excellent," Sylvia replied. In this business, it wasn’t about gathering a long list of clients. It was making sure that the few billionaire clients she did have couldn’t be satisfied with only one girl. A free service now would see him coming back again and again in the months and years to come. She pressed a button on her desk. "Tony, please prepare Room 3 for Mr. Russo and our special guests."

"Right away, Ms. Latimer," came the quick response.

Sylvia turned back to the girls. "Ladies, you will accompany Mr. Russo to Room 3 and follow his every instruction. You will use your full range of skills to ensure his satisfaction. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Ms. Latimer," they chorused, though their tones varied from resigned to barely restrained fury.

"Mr. Russo, if you'll follow me," Sylvia said, leading the way out of her office.

As they walked down the hallway, she continued, "The room is yours for the next two hours. Feel free to explore each girl's unique talents. Amanda is particularly skilled with her mouth, Bianca is remarkably flexible, and Claire… well, I’ll let her explain it to you herself."

They arrived at a nondescript door. Sylvia produced a keycard and swiped it, revealing a luxuriously appointed room with a large bed, various pieces of furniture, and an assortment of toys and implements arranged on shelves.

"Everything you might need is at your disposal," Sylvia explained. "The girls know where everything is and how to use it. If you require anything additional, there's an intercom by the door."

Mr. Russo nodded, his eyes roaming over the room and the three naked women now filing in behind him. "Very impressive, Ms. Latimer.”

“I do what I can,” she said with a slight nod. “Now then, take all the time you need, and just let me know when you’ve made your decision.”

Sylvia strode back to her office, a satisfied smirk playing at her lips. Mr. Russo was clearly intrigued, and she had no doubt he'd end up purchasing at least one of the girls, if not more. She settled behind her desk, pulling up spreadsheets and reports on her computer.

The rest of the morning passed quickly as Sylvia dove into her work. She reviewed the gym's finances, made notes on potential new acquisitions, and responded to a few discreet inquiries from her more discerning clientele.

Just as she was finishing up coordinating the capture of a new potential target, her intercom buzzed.

"Ms. Latimer," Tony's voice came through, "Astra has arrived and is requesting to speak with you. She says it's urgent."

Sylvia's brow furrowed. When Astra hadn’t checked in, she’d assumed the girl had been captured or killed. It wasn’t like her to go off the grid for days like this. There was probably a logical explanation for it, but Sylvia hadn’t made it this far taking unnecessary risks.

She pressed the button of the intercom. "Send Astra up. I want to find out exactly what the hell has been going on with her."

Sylvia stepped outside of her office, looked over to Victoria, still running on the treadmill at that breakneck pace. “Victoria, clean yourself up and step inside my office for a minute.”

The woman stepped onto the sides of the treadmill, bending over to gasp for air, dripping with sweat now. “Yes… Ms. Latimer…!”

A golden bonfire lit up around Victoria, making her gasp, but when it winked out after a few seconds, even the sweat soaked into her gym clothing was gone. The Refresh skill. Restored her stamina, cleaned up any minor cuts or bruises, kept her pristine. Even did her makeup. The skill needed a bit of stamina to be used, but since it restored far more, the woman could use it over and over, performing at her peak for days on end. Sylvia would know; she’d had Victoria do just that in the past.

All that and it was one of the less impressive skills.

The silly girl still thought she was going to be trained and sold like the others. She hadn’t realized yet that she was far too valuable to sell. Even unpolished as she still was, there wasn’t anyone in this city that could touch Sylvia as long as she had Victoria by her side. After all, there were only a handful of people in the world that had the most powerful Class of all.

Hero.

* * *

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