"You can't think of this as a first, this is a lifestyle change. If you want the kind of training and conditioning I can give you, this is going to be your life," Jeanne Ellen advised. Her smiled was cold. Stephanie suddenly wasn't as sure as she had been. Jeanne Ellen was tall and strong. Even dressed in black, spandex shorts and a black Nike sports bra, she seemed like she could go anywhere. This was who Ranger needed. Not some dumpy woman with frizzy hair. She felt herself wilt a bit and Jeanne Ellen picked up on her mood.
"Let's sit down," she suggested. "Ranger told me why he thought you wanted to do the special ops training. Why don't you tell me?" Even sitting on the edge of the chair, Jeanne Ellen looked ready for action.
"A few months ago…." Stephanie began. Jeanne Ellen stopped her.
"I know all this. Tell me your goal," she said.
"To defend myself and what I love," she said frankly.
"Ranger doesn't need to defend him. Why do you really want to do this?" Jeanne Ellen pushed. Stephanie considered her words and then closed her eyes.
"I felt helpless. I never want to feel helpless again," she said, quietly.
"Everyone feels helpless sometimes. Give me a better reason," Jeanne Ellen snapped. Stephanie stared surprised at Jeanne Ellen.
" I want to be better prepared to do my job and to cope with whatever I might face," Stephanie said.
"Better, but this isn't a job interview. Give me some real emotion," Jeanne Ellen said. Stephanie thought she was giving real emotion.
"You need to have your heart in this. Are you ready to give up those fatty, traditional dinners at mama's house? The fried chicken takeout? The donuts? This is about running every morning and working out every day." Jeanne Ellen said.
"Ranger eats…."Stephanie began.
"But how often? This is his lifestyle. He can have those splurges. You can't. You're addicted. The fat is a drug and you're hooked. You go back and my time is wasted. Tell me I'm not wasting my time." She demanded.
"You're not wasting your time," Stephanie said, her temper close to breaking. How dare this woman treat her like a child.
"You get mad, that's good. You show me I'm wrong because I don't think you can do it." Jeanne Ellen said. "I'll put money on the table right now that you're going to fold after a week. I'll even be gracious and give you today."
"Let's just do this," Stephanie said, standing up.
"Are you sure because we're a team. You're not shaking me until you either give up or get it right." Jeanne Ellen said.
"I'm going to get it right," Stephanie said.
"See that you do that and you might want to change," she advised. Stephanie looked down at her workout clothes. "You don't want to be wearing anything that nice where we're going.
Stephanie headed back to her bedroom more determined than ever to show this bitch that she could take whatever she threw at her.