With marketing, of course

"We create tough women," Rick explained. "They're feeling oppressed, powerless, dominated by their jerk husbands or lovers, and they're looking for something better."

"Yeah," Kat said. "I can relate to the jerk boyfriend thing."

"Exactly. Except you're our star example of how not to be dominated, how to take control of your own life. You're tough, you're independent, you're an entrepreneur making things happen, and you kick ass of anyone who stands in your way."

Kat wrinkled her nose. "You sure you're talking about me."

"It's marketing. We're allowed to exaggerate."

She shook her head. "I guess I hired you for this so I should go with your suggestions."

Wow, that was so unlike any other job he had where the jerks who hired him insisted on second-guessing everything he suggested, weakening his programs with platitudes and extraneous message, and generally screwing with a good thing. Another difference was that those other companies had actually paid him. It didn't look like Kat was in any position to give him more than a place to stay. Thirty thousand would pay for a couple months rent on the gym, a little cleanup and renovation, and that was about it.

"Okay," he said. "I'm going to Staples to put together some flyers and I'll take them around to some of the exclusive neighborhoods in Plano and North Dallas. You get your weightlifters in her to clean the place up, buy a bunch of pink boxing gloves and get some posters of top female MMA and boxing stars, but only ones who look hot to hang up around the place. Oh, and if the weightlifters could clean up my massage room also, that would be nice."

"Save me some copies of what you make. I want to know exactly what you promise."

"Yeah, sure. Oh, I need five hundred dollars."

Kat narrowed her eyes. "For marketing, or for you."

"Marketing, of course. Staples isn't cheap but it's my best hope for something I can put out today."

"I'll give you four. That's all I can afford right now."

"Fine. Oh, and I need some photos."

"Better wait until we get the gym cleaned up."

"Not of the gym, of you."

Rick spent the next hour posing Kat in the boxing ring, on the weight machines, doing martial art kata, and working the speed bag. A couple of those shots, when he made her get topless, he didn't actually intend to use in the marketing materials but he couldn't resist taking advantage of her being agreeable.

She was sweating profusely when he finally finished but she called him over. "Oh, Rick, just one thing."

"Yeah?"

"If you share those pictures you took for yourself, I'll cut off your balls."

"Uh, yeah. No problem." Apparently she hadn't been quite as naïve as he'd thought."