Without problems

A busy morning took Chad’s focus off his new find and back to reality. The morning was spent closing a few claims, haggling over some disputes and returning quotes to a few interested customers.

Chad hit up a takeout place online and put in an order for delivery, before continuing with some other files and work he had in front of him.

Fairway Insurance offices were actually a much larger space than Chad needed, but he inherited the area from the previous owner of the business, who sold everything to the insurance agent for a sweetheart deal. The lease was easily affordable, so Chad kept things the way they were when he bought it four years ago — no other agents, no secretary, two empty offices and a sparsely used break room. Chad had a waiting area with a reception table, but figured he could save on the salary of extra help by handling most things himself.

Chad heard the chime of the front door and went out to greet his visitor. In the main room he found Ellie in her workout attire, looking very out of place in the makeshift reception area.

“Welcome! Come on back to my office,” Chad said cheerfully, motioning to the room he had just entered from.

Ellie nodded and strode toward the door frame. The fitness guru couldn’t remember setting a diet meeting on the schedule, but it wasn’t anything new in the training world. She had set diets for people before, but she suspected Chad would fail, as most did. The weak always failed. She found them pitiful, but money is money.

Chad told Ellie to go ahead and get started.

Now seated in the chair and more at ease, Ellie wanted to take control of the situation, so she began to talk (somewhat condescendingly) about the value of a good diet, balanced nutrition and discipline.

“It’s pretty simple really. Eat better. Plan better. Look better. Feel better,” she said at the conclusion.

Ellie looked plenty good to Chad. He hadn’t really paid attention to a word she said, but maintained eye contact pretty well and only occasionally snuck a glance into the valley between her workout top encased orbs.

Ellie now had some paper on the desk and was focused on drawing a food pyramid on one sheet, while a blank meal plan sheet sat next to it.

The front door chimed again, disrupting the conversation. Chad stood up and walked out into the lobby area and paid the delivery guy. Ellie heard the chime of the door.

Chad flipped the sign on the door to say “Out to lunch” and quietly locked the door.

Walking back in with two bags of food in white bags with the grease already dripping through the bottom, Chad held up the delivery food like a prized bird killed in a hunt.

“Ordered in from Ruby’s Diner so we wouldn’t miss lunch,” he said.

A surprised Ellie looked at the bags and knew she wanted no part of whatever was in them.

“Uh, I think I’m good, but thanks for being considerate,” she said. “Although, these kind of meals are what we’re trying to avoid with a good meal plan.”

Chad sat down with the two bags and put them on a different part of the desk away from Ellie’s papers.

“No problem. I forgot to get your oder. No worries, more for me anyways,” he said through a wink.

Ellie shuddered inside. This cow wasn’t going to change. He was actually going to eat a hamburger right in front of her while they were supposed to be meal planning.

“You know if you want to eat, we can finish this another time,” Ellie said.

Chad laughed and waved both hands to signal that wasn’t necessary. He pulled a styrofoam container out and opened it up. The box held a big burger, covered in cheddar and bacon, surrounded by golden crinkle cut fries.

The insurance agent reached into the box and lifted the burger toward his mouth, before stopping and saying the words that would unwittingly change Ellie’s life forever.

“We both know how you feel about fast food,” he said. “I couldn’t believe when you told me last week that you start to feel aroused just watching someone eat fast food.”

Ellie looked back in surprise. Then her face started to feel flush.

“Oh, yeah, I, uh, can’t believe I told you that,” she said.