Dominique yawned, glad she’d made it through the magazine’s weekly pitch session. Besides the double-shot espresso, the only thing that had kept her awake was Emily’s exciting feature idea for the magazine’s summer issue, which would be focused on shedding those winter pounds in anticipation of a long, hot summer. Dominique had heard of JaJuan “Night” Simmons and his popular LA gym known for its trend-setting workouts and party atmosphere. While the senior writer’s outline mentioned these components, the focus of her article would be on one particular program, called J.E.W.E.L.S. Geared toward overweight women, this program combined proper exercise with a sensible diet and was championed by Night’s wife D’Andra, who was not only a dietician and nutritionist but was also the poster child for this regimen’s potential success. The couple’s story was the stuff of movies. With Night as her personal trainer, D’Andra had lost sixty pounds and gained a husband. Their first child, JaJuan Jr., had been born six months ago and once again D’Andra would be the example for losing pounds—these the post-baby kind. The magazine would track and document her progress for the next four months, and in the six-page photo spread of the gym and the family behind it would be before-and-after pictures of this modern working woman and proud new mom.

“Ooh, Miss Dom!” Reggie pranced into Dominique’s office decked in a loud orange shirt with ruffles and puffed sleeves. Ensconced in light-colored snakeskin pants, he had a booty that most women would envy. “I think I’m in love!”

“With Quinn?” Dominique asked dryly. “Boy, you go through men like I do pantyhose.”

“Not Quinn,” Reggie answered, placing a pile of photos on her desk. “With him.”

Dominique laughed as she took the pictures that Reggie had gathered of Night Simmons. “He is easy on the eyes,” she admitted. “But he’s also a husband and new father. I don’t think you’re his type”

“Hmph. That’s just because he ain’t had this type before.”

“You’d better stop playing, or else I’ll be forced to replace you on this upcoming shoot.”

“I’ll behave, I promise,” Reggie said with an exaggerated batting of the eyes. “But if he finds me irresistible, don’t get mad at me. Who wouldn’t choose this,” he ran his hands over narrow hips, “over that Jell-O-Pudding sistah who just had his kid?”

Dominique’s eyes narrowed. “Careful, Reggie. You’re about to get on my bad side. I was once that Jell-O-Pudding who’d just had a child.”

“Sorry, boss, but you know I’m just wishful thinking. I already got the 411 on him from one of his instructors.” Reggie sighed. “He’s totally faithful.”

Dominique laughed at Reggie’s emoting. “Well, thank God for that.”