Chapter One
Tabitha
“T his is your pass card, you can use the gym anytime for the next thirty days. At the end of the free trial we’ll continue your membership with the information you gave us on file. Any questions ?”
I shook my head, this was all information that I already knew. “Nope, just point me toward the locker room .”
The pretty blonde behind the counter smiled and indicated the direction I needed to go. I thanked her one more time before heading down the brightly lit hall. The gym looked just like all the others I’d tried over the past year. I never kept my membership for the whole month, but this time was different. I was going to make a change and stick with it for once. I glanced at my reflection in the mirrors as I pushed open the lady’s locker room door .
I wasn’t ‘fat’ per say, but something had to change. My thick brown hair was pulled up in a messy bun and the skintight leggings I wore showed every flaw that I had. Thighs that were a little too thick, a taut, but not petite waist paired with my small breasts. Frowning at the image, I kept moving until my bag was stashed in the locker room and I made my way to the workout floor .
As soon as I walked in, my stomach sank. Arabella and Ariana were there chatting with a few other members cheerfully. Their large breasts bounced up and down as they walked on side by side treadmills. Briefly, I thought about ducking back into the locker room and sneaking out before they saw me. The twins were acquaintances of mine, but that didn’t mean I wanted to chat them up .
Every time that I saw them, I got jealous. We’d graduated at the same time over a year ago, but their family had money. Within two months, each twin had matching breast jobs done. Their careers were put on the fast track and now Arabella was looking at a promotion with the law firm she worked at. Sure, I was certain that she’d slept her way to the top, but still, she had a job and I didn’t. Right away I felt very self-conscious about myself .
You couldn’t see the holes in my socks, but I still felt like I was dirty compared to them. They had it all and I was fighting just to pay rent. The injustice of it soared through my body as I quickly grabbed a machine further away from them. It was no use, the second I started to walk, Ariana looked over and saw it was me. Her face lit up at once as she tapped on her sister’s shoulder and they made their way over to where I was at .
A bead of sweat formed on my brow, it wasn’t enough for them to just wave. They wanted an entire conversation. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to continue to jog as we talked. Quickly, I turned the machine off again and smiled at them, blotting away the sweat with a towel. My throat was dry, I should have brought some water, but I didn’t have a container to put it in. Now I would probably have to spend the two extra dollars I had on a drink instead of dinner .
“Hey Tabitha!” called Arianna .
“Hey,” I said breathlessly. “I didn’t see you guys here. Thanks for the referral! This place is really nice .”
“No problem, we love it here. They even cater to those of us with post-surgery workout needs .”
“I didn’t even know that was a thing,” I muttered. “You mean like physical therapy ?”
She shrugged. “Well I don’t know the technical term or stuff like that. I just know we love it here! And the trainers are so totally understanding!” Arianna said as she popped a piece of gum in her mouth. “They are hot too .”
Arabella scoffed and wrinkled her nose. “Ew, I don’t know why you waste your time with guys here. You know they are only after one thing .”
Arianna pouted, “Well maybe that’s all I want too .”
“Better not let your dad hear you say that,” I interjected with a grin. “Isn’t there a dentist he wanted you to marry? Frank something ?”
Both of them squealed in unison before Arabella spoke up. “Oh god no. He is so last spring. Didn’t you hear? He lost his practice when his ex took him to court. No one is going to marry him now .”
“Oh,” I said, my cheeks flaming red. “I must not have heard that part .”
In truth, I hadn’t heard anything from any of the woman that I’d gone to college with. Most had moved on with their lives or moved away and I couldn’t blame them. New York was brutal to woman entering the workforce. It was a cutthroat world that I couldn’t seem to break into. I’d had interview after interview and they all ended the same. Someone else got the job. The excuses always changed for why I didn’t get it, but I knew it was because of how I looked. I was pretty enough, but in this town, there was always someone better .
Glancing down, I looked at Ariana’s breasts. They were large and perfectly sculpted. It was no wonder both twins had gainful employment. A few loose buttons on a blouse and any man would give them a job. I let out a heavy sigh and looked around. If they didn’t leave me alone soon I wouldn’t have time to get a workout in before my next interview. Plus, my landlord would be home soon. She’d been stalking the hall outside my apartment now for weeks, looking for her money .
“Aren’t they perfect?” asked Arianna with a sly grin. “The doctor who did them is simply amazing. And damn good to look at. Maybe you should give him a call ?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, wondering just how much that level of perfection would cost me. “Maybe I will. Got his number ?”
She pulled out her phone and unlocked it. Within seconds my own, outdated phone was chiming to tell me I had a new message. I didn’t pick up my phone or take it out of hiding from my pocket. The last thing I
needed was for them to see I was still using last year’s model. These women loved to gossip, I didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it .
I smiled at her. “I’ll take a look when I’m done. I really want to get some time in on the floor while I can .”
“Got a hot date afterwards?” Ariana asked .
I shook my head, I’d never been one for lying. “No, a job interview .”
“Ah, well good luck. Give Dr. Powell a call, he could really help you out,” she said as they turned to walk away .
I climbed back onto the machine and started to jog again, but my heart wasn’t in it any longer. I didn’t need to lose weight really. My body was almost as perfect as the twins. What I really needed was a new pair of boobs like they had. Having breast implants put in was the same thing as getting your hair colored or buying the latest phone. It was just something you had to do in this town if you wanted people to notice you .
The money was another issue though. I knew that it wouldn’t be cheap, but I would find a way. Right away I thought about my mother and instantly shook my head. There was no way that I was going to call her. She was the last person in the world I would ever ask for help, even if I did know that she’d have the money to take care of it. It didn’t matter, first I had to see if I could even get it done. I knew that doctors would only work on people who had the money. I would have to fake it for the first appointment to see what kind of price I was looking at .
I ran for a few more minutes then turned off the machine. It was only after I saw the twins go into the sauna that I made a beeline for the locker room. I could shower and change at home. I didn’t want to risk running into them again and being forced to answer more questions about what I’d done with the last year of my life. It was shameful for me to see them. My deceased father had made sure to leave me money for college and now, with a degree, I still couldn’t find work .
I left the gym and started the half mile walk back to my apartment. I didn’t have the money to take a cab ride. My phone rang and I answered it at once, it was the bar I worked at about once a week when they had an opening on the schedule. It was the only thing that was keeping me fed .
“Hey Tabby, can you work for me tonight?” came Darcie’s slightly drunk voice. “I just don’t feel good .”
I ground my teeth. Tonight, I was supposed to go see my sister on campus. I hadn’t seen her in almost a month and it was driving me insane. She was my best friend and the only person in the world that I really cared about. Still, if I was going to meet with a plastic surgeon, I needed the money and tips for a cab ride .
With a sigh, I said, “Sure, when do you need me there ?”
“My shift starts in at five, will that be a problem ?”
“No problem at all,” I lied. “Talk to you later .”
I would have to get to my interview early and hope that it didn’t run late. Otherwise, I wouldn’t get the job for certain. The sparse money I made from working at the bar was money I needed now. I couldn’t take a chance of losing that job for another one that I probably wouldn’t get either. Looking down at my phone, I saw the message from the twins. I clicked on the link and called the number right away .
“Yes,” I stammered when the receptionist answered. “I wanted to see about getting larger breasts .”
“Then you’ve called the right place!” she said cheerfully. “Do you have a referral ?”
“Um,” I muttered. “No, I guess not. I just got the number from a friend. Do I need one ?”
“Of course not, but most of our clients come in on a referral from their regular plastic surgeon. Who do you use ?”
“I don’t have one,” I stammered .
Why would anyone have a ‘regular’ plastic surgeon? It didn’t make any sense to me .
“Oh,” she said, obviously not thrilled. “Well then I guess we will just leave that blank. The doctor has a nine opening in the morning, can you be here then ?”
“Absolutely,” I told her. “Is there anything that I should bring ?”
She paused. “Well, we ask for insurance and payment information after the initial consultation.” Her voice trailed off. “Why don’t you just come in and we can take it from there ?”
“Great,” I said, barely hiding the disdain in my voice. “See you then .”
I ended the call feeling more ashamed than when I first did. I hadn’t even met them yet and already the doctor’s office knew that I wouldn’t be like their normal clients. I wouldn’t come in wearing expensive jewelry and having my father or husband foot the bill for it. It was hard knowing that I was different, that I was poor in this area. As I walked up the flight of steps to my crummy apartment, I let my mind wander. I might not have money now, but someday I would be someone and the only person that could help me reach that goal was the good doctor Earl Powell .
Chapter Two
Earl
“T hree more?” I asked the lovely woman as she handed me a stack of files .
Mary smiled. “Just three more. Then we are done for the day .”
Her statement lingered in the air as I looked down at the first file. “I might actually make it home before dark today .”
“You don’t have to you know,” she said softly .
I glanced up at her. “Excuse me?” I muttered. I had already started reading the files. The fact that she was even still there was a little surprising. It was strange .
“Some of the ladies and I were going to go out for a few drinks after work. It might be fun if you came along too .”
I set the file back down and grinned at Mary. She’d been here for about three months now, longer than any other temp. “I’m sorry, Mary, but I don’t think that’s going to work tonight. I have a surgery early tomorrow .”
Her face fell. “Well that’s just too bad. I’ve heard what a great dancer you are .”
She was flirting. The way her lip tugged into a pout when she said ‘dancer’ made me think it was something else altogether she was referencing. I wasn’t surprised one bit. My reputation as a surgeon was surpassed only by the one I kept in the bedroom. Woman loved me for more than just my skilled hands, though fingers like mine did help. Mary was cute and perky. Like many of the woman on my staff she put to use the fantastic employee discount that I offered. I’d turned her into an enchanting work of art, be it a hollow one .
It seemed to be the only kind of woman left in the world. Those obsessed with constantly trying to change the inner beauty that they’d been born with. It was almost depressing to see the portraits I’d created milling around the office all the time. I’d wanted so much more when I first went into the business. I was going to help people and change the world. Alas, the pressure and allure of the almighty dollar had sucked me in. Five years after graduating college, I was one of the best plastic surgeons in New York .
“Maybe next time,” I told her, turning my attention back to the afternoon patients .
“Sure,” she said, the sting of rejection still lingering in her voice. “Should I send in the first one ?”
“Go ahead, and coffee please,” I said .
Mary sauntered out of the room as I glanced up. Her perfectly portioned body doing little to arouse me. Beautiful woman were always attracted to me. I’d had my pick for some time now. The file in front of me told me a lot about my first consultation, but it wasn’t until she walked through the door that I got a feel for who she was. She’d already been briefed. The hospital gown she wore was pulled tightly closed by one hand .
It wasn’t her breasts that caught my attention as was normally the case. I’d made a point of focus on the work and not the woman over the years. She was different though. Her dark auburn hair cascaded down her shoulders as her brown eyes caught mine. Instantly a surge of desire coursed through me. She looked so pure and beautiful, like no woman I’d ever seen before. For the first time in years, I couldn’t fathom why someone as perfect as she would want to change her body. The beauty that she possessed was raw and
stunning .
Mary closed the door after her and she stood there awkwardly. I quickly cleared my throat and stood up, extending out a hand. She fumbled with the gown and finally took my hand, blushing at her own clumsiness. There was no need, it aroused me even more to know that she wasn’t perfect. The blush on her cheeks sent a flame of desire coursing through my body. It was riveting and surprising all at once. When was the last time I felt such desire? I couldn’t remember it ever happening before .
“Dr. Powell?” she said softly .
I cleared my throat and nodded. Her voice was somehow even more enchanting than her body. “Yes,” I stammered. “And you must be Tabitha? Or do you prefer Ms. Morgan ?”
“Tabitha is fine, sir,” she said, her cheeks blushing again .
“Wonderful,” I choked, “Why don’t you have a seat ?”
She sat down carefully and looked at me as I took the seat next to her. The office had been designed to make my patients feel as comfortable as possible. I still couldn’t shake the feeling of being an awkward teenage boy though, about to see his girlfriend’s breasts for the first time. Were my hands too cold? Was she comfortable? Shaking my head, I pulled myself back into reality .
“May I?” I asked her .
She nodded and I slid the gown apart, barely able to control the shaking. “What is it you’d like done ?”
Tabitha shrugged, catching me off guard and my hand brushed against her breast before I was ready. She jumped back and I sucked in a sharp breath. The sparks between us flew. I was certain now that the heat in the air wasn’t just one sided. She seemed as stunned as I was to feel the attraction building up. I was going to have to make this quick and methodical unless I wanted Mary to walk in on us having sex right there. Tabitha was so hard to resist .