by Naomi Niles
The girl who walked into my office was drowning in clothes that were too big for her. She was wearing baggy, gray sweatpants and a thin sweater that looked five sizes too big. In addition, she looked like she was hiding from someone. She was wearing a large hat that fell over her face and oversized sunglasses.
I saw Danny throw me a startled glance from the corner of his eye, but I ignored him, making sure the client didn’t feel as though she were being judged. I could sense already that she was nervous and embarrassed about being here.
“Good morning, Ms. Delouch,” I said, extending my hand out to her.
She removed her sunglasses and shook my hand half-heartedly. Her eyes were a beautiful, warm hazel brown, but they were obviously nervous. She eyed me wearily before moving her gaze to Danny.
“This is my understudy,” I rushed to explain. “Doctor Daniel Wall.”
“Will…he be consulting with you?” Kami asked.
“Yes,” I nodded hesitantly.
I could tell that she was not very happy with that, but she didn’t want to say. “Why don’t you take a seat, Ms. Delouch?” I suggested, trying my best to make her feel more comfortable.
She took a seat in front of my desk, and I walked around to my seat, while Danny stood by my side. “Why don’t you start by telling me why you’re here?”
She raised her eyebrows. “I am…considering the possibility…of getting some work done.”
“Right,” I nodded. “Of course. I meant, what would you like done? Is there a particular feature you wish to change?”
“Oh,” Kami replied and she colored. “Right… The thing is…I’m not sure.”
“You’re not sure?” I repeated.
“I’m not happy with my body,” she blurted out, and her color instantly deepened. “I want to change a few things… I’m just… Specifically… I don’t know what to start with.”
“Your breasts?” I asked.
“Umm…yes?”
“Your buttocks?”
She seemed to be unable to make eye contact with me. “Umm, yes.”
“Your stomach?”
“I… No, maybe not my stomach,” she said, her eyes going wide. “I think that part of me is okay… But it may not be.”
I tried hard to understand the woman in front of me. She was still wearing her hat, which partially covered up her eyes and that made it harder for me to read her.
“My legs,” she said. “And hips.”
“We’re talking about a lot of work, Ms. Delouch,” I said gently.
“I’m aware,” she nodded. “I just wanted…an expert’s opinion.”
“Well, I will need to examine you first,” I said, gesturing to Danny to pass the gown to me. “If you could wear this gown, then I can get a better idea of what you want.”
“Oh,” she said, eyeing the gown with new nervousness.
I could tell instantly that she hated the idea of getting undressed in front of us. That, and Danny’s presence had probably thrown her for a loop. I stood and gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “Doctor Wall and I will step out for a moment so that you can undress in private.”
Danny followed my instructions, dragging his feet only slightly. I paused for a moment as I passed by her. “When I return, I will come back alone for the examination,” I informed her.
Instantly, I saw her eyes flood with relief and her body language became slightly less tense. “Thank you,” she said, in a voice that was barely a whisper.
I nodded and then left her to my office. The moment I closed the door behind me, Danny was in my face. “What did you mean by you ‘will come back alone?’”
“Oh, you heard that did you?”
“Yes, I heard,” Danny pouted. “I’m supposed to be in there watching everything.”
“Unfortunately, not for this client,” I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t you see how nervous and self-conscious she was in there?” I asked. “Part of this job is reading the client’s mood and body language and acting accordingly. Why do you think I gave her some privacy in there? She needs a little time to gather herself, get her head around the fact that she’s going to have a perfect stranger examine her naked body.”
“I’ll stay in the corner,” he begged. “You won’t even know I’m there.”
“You’re staying put,” I said firmly. “They’ll be other patients, Daniel. Don’t worry.”
He sighed deeply. “Man, that breakfast was a waste.”
I smiled, patted him on the back, and then knocked on the door. “Are you ready, Ms. Delouch?” I asked, raising my voice slightly.
“Yes,” I heard her reply faintly.
I gave her an additional ten seconds, and then I stepped back into the office. She was sitting on the table in the dressing gown I had given her. She had finally removed her hat, and at last, I could really see her. I felt my breath catch a little, taken off guard by the transformation.
She wasn’t just an attractive woman: she was a beautiful one.
Even beneath the thin gown, I could see how graceful and lithe her body was. Her breasts were small and perky, her stomach was flat, her legs were slim and strong, and her torso was long. Her dark brown hair was short and hung at her shoulders, flicking out only slightly at the ends. Her hazel eyes were on full display, large, expressive, and head turning.
I had to give myself a mental shake and a reminder not to stare. I approached her slowly, wondering what the hell this woman was doing in a plastic surgeon’s office.
Chapter Six
Kami
The moment the door shut behind him on his way out, I exhaled deeply. It was only then that I realized I had been holding my breath the whole time. I felt my heart thud against my chest and tried to calm the shaking in my fingers.
“Damn it,” I said to myself as I reached into my bag for my anxiety pills.
I stared at the little pill in the circle of my palm and contemplated whether or not I should pop one here. I badly needed to compose myself before the doctor walked back in. He had not been what I had expected at all. I had walked into the office nervous as hell, and the fact that Doctor Burbank had turned out to be at least six feet tall and handsome as a pin-up didn’t help matters.
I had expected to be faced with a middle-aged man fighting gray hair. Instead, I had gotten a man who looked like he was an actor on Grey’s Anatomy, rather than a real-life doctor. That, and his understudy had thrown me.
I took the pill in a desperate attempt to control my emotions. Then I looked around for a mirror and found one in the corner of the room. It was a full-length mirror, larger, wider, and much clearer than the one I had at home.
I took a deep breath and set down my hat and glasses. I knew I looked like a complete idiot in my oversized clothes, but I had wanted to remain inconspicuous. I wasn’t sure what I had been thinking, though, because as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I realized I looked more conspicuous in my dowdy clothes and ridiculous hat.
I pulled off the sweater I wore, and then my sweats. I was standing there in my bra and panties, feeling unbelievably vulnerable and second-guessing my decision.
But it was too late to turn back now. I swallowed my nerves, pulled off my underwear, and donned the dressing gown quickly. It was made out of a thin material that could be easily pulled apart. I suppose the purpose was to make it easy for the doctor to examine the patient while still giving the patient some form of coverage.
I stared at my reflection, realizing that the gown didn’t exactly hide my body from view. I could see every line and curve and I started getting nervous again.
“What have I done?” I whispered to myself.
A knock sounded on the door and I heard Doctor Burbank ask if I was ready.
“Yes,” I said, but no sound came from my mouth. I walked to the examining table and sat down. “Yes,” I repeated again.
A few moments later, the door opened and Docto
r Burbank walked in. He was a seriously impressive man. He had a strong jaw, hazel eyes that were slightly lighter than mine, and dark hair that was short and neat around his head. His broad shoulders made him seem larger somehow, and they looked all the more impressive in his pristine white coat.
It was just my luck to get stuck with the hot doctor. He stopped at the door and looked at me. Instantly, I blushed and looked down. After a moment, he approached slowly. I could tell that he was taking pains to try to make me feel comfortable. I was grateful that he had left his understudy outside. It was bad enough to have to sit there practically naked in front of one man, let alone two.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” I nodded.
“I’m going to examine you now.”
“All right,” I nodded again.
“Is there any particular place you would like me to start?”
I wondered if he was always that conscientious with his patients or if he was just taking special care with me on account of my obvious nerves. Either way, I was grateful. It didn’t make me any more comfortable, but it was nice to know he was trying.
“Well… I… Umm… I don’t know…”
I wished that at the very least I could be more articulate with him. I didn’t want him to think I was inept in addition to being a social moron, but I didn’t seem to be able to get rid of my self-consciousness. Everything seemed to be getting under my skin. And his eyes kept distracting me with the golden tinge of hazel that was mixed in with the brown.
“How about we start with your breasts?” Doctor Burbank suggested. “You said you were interested in getting some work done on them?”
“Yes,” I said. “Okay.”
“Would you like to tell me what you would like done?” he asked.
“I… They’re quite small,” I said.
“That’s a matter of opinion.”
I almost smiled. “Well, I would like them to be…”
“Bigger?” he offered for me.
“Yes.”
“We can certainly do that,” he nodded. “I’m going to make out the changes you want made with this pen here. Is that okay?”
“Sure,” I nodded, grateful that I didn’t stutter on the word.
“You’ll have to let your gown down a little here,” he said.
“Oh.”
I fiddled with the drawstrings of the gown, trying to prolong the moment before I exposed my breasts to him, but the damn gown was so flimsy that it fell around my waist immediately. I gasped a little but it was a small enough gasp that I hoped it had escaped his notice. I studiously avoided making eye contact with him as he leaned in a little closer and started marking my breasts with his pen.
“Don’t worry about the markings,” Doctor Burbank told me. “It’s just to give you an idea of the changes that will be made. You can wash it off easily.”
“Right,” I nodded, reminding myself to breathe every do often.
His hands brushed against my left breast, and I felt a wave of heat flood through my body. I flinched slightly and he glanced at me.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Are my hands cold?”
“No,” I said quickly. “I’m fine.”
He nodded and went back to work. I bit my lip and tried to better control my reactions. Every time he touched me, that wave of heat washed through me. At first, I thought I was having a panic attack, and then the heat spread between my legs and I realized what was happening. He was turning me on. He was turning me on simply by touching me.
The horror of that realization doubled my embarrassment. My only consolation was that he couldn’t tell—at least, I hoped so. As he pulled back, the back of his hand brushed against my nipple and I felt myself moisten. I stiffened in place, shocked at my body’s betrayal. More so, I was shocked by how easily he was turning me on. I had never had that reaction to any man in my life.
“There,” Doctor Burbank said, righting himself. “That’s done. What would you like to look at next?”
“My… Umm…”
“Butt?”
“Yes,” I sighed.
“You want it bigger?”
“Oh, a little,” I said, with more emphasis than I had intended. “I mean… I want it a bit bigger.”
“Of course,” he nodded. “Would you mind standing up, please?”
I stood cautiously and he walked around me as I fastened up my gown to cover my exposed breasts. I felt him part my gown at the back and reminded myself not to clench. I stood, as relaxed as it was possible for me to be, and waited till he was done.
The same thing happened this time around, too. Every time his hands made contact with my skin, I felt the wetness between my thighs. It got to the point where I was terrified I would start dripping.
After what seemed like an eternity, Doctor Burbank closed the back of my gown and walked around to face me again. “You mentioned your legs and hips?”
“My legs are quite…big.”
“Big?” he repeated.
“I would like them to be… slimmer.”
“You might have to take off the gown for this,” Doctor Burbank said in an apologetic tone. “But if you prefer, you could hold the gown open for me.”
“I’ll do that then,” I said, quickly, terrified at the thought that I’d have to stand in front of him completely naked.
He worked over me with the same precision and professionalism he had displayed all this time. It seemed that I was the problem here. I couldn’t seem to be able to stop my body reacting to him. I started to pray that this examination would come to a speedy conclusion. So when Doctor Burbank finally stepped away, I breathed a huge internal sigh of relief.
“Is that all you’d like to me to look at?” he asked.
“Yes,” I nodded, trying to hide my blush.
“I’ll leave you alone to get dressed,” he said. “Would you mind if I bring my understudy back in here after you’re ready?”
“I don’t mind,” I said.
“Thank you,” he replied politely. Then he walked out of the office, leaving me alone again.
I sighed deeply and shook my head. Then I looked around the room for tissues. I saw a box in the corner and grabbed a handful. I used them to wipe myself down there, and the tissues were indeed stained. I balled up the tissues and threw them away. Then I walked over to the mirror, removed the gown, and looked at myself critically.
My body was covered in black felt lines, marking all the places where I had opted to get work done. The sight made me cringe, and I felt my stomach turn. Was this really what I wanted? He would be cutting into me in several places, it would probably be painful, and it would probably cost a lot, more than I could realistically afford.
I felt tears prick at the corner of my eyes, and I realized suddenly that I couldn’t possibly go through with the surgery. As much as I hated my body, I knew I didn’t have the guts to do something so drastic to change it. I bit back my tears, wiped my eyes clean, and then dressed quickly. Then I knocked on the door to let the doctor know I was dressed and ready.
He came in a moment later, accompanied by his understudy, who looked a little glum. “Thank you, Doctor,” I said, as he walked in. “Thank you for being so…professional about all this.”
“Of course,” he nodded.
“I think I’m going to leave now,” I said, eager to be away.
“Oh,” Doctor Burbank said, obviously surprised by the abruptness of my departure. “You don’t want to schedule another appointment?”
“I’ll take your business card,” I said. “If that’s all right?”
“Of course it is,” he nodded.
He walked around to his desk, got a card out of the drawer and handed it to me. “There you go, Ms. Delouch.”
“Thank you,” I said, without making eye contact. “I’ll contact you about my next appointment.”
Then I grabbed my bag, my glasses, and my hat and got the hell out of there. I was biting my lip and waiting for the elevator when
I heard footsteps coming in my direction.
“Ms. Delouch?”
I turned to see Doctor Burbank walking towards me with purpose. I stiffened instantly, wondering what this was about. Had he seen something about me? Was another imperfection, another something to change, another reason to hate my body?
Chapter Seven
JJ
“JJ?” Danny asked, waving a hand in front of my face. “Did you just hear me?”
Kami Delouch had just walked out of my office, and I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that there was something more I could have done, something more I could have said. I was vaguely aware of Danny trying to catch my attention, but I was more aware of the fact that Kami would disappear in a matter of minutes.
“Sorry, Danny,” I said, making a split-second decision. “Excuse me for a moment.”
“Where are you going?” Danny demanded, but he made no attempt to follow me.
“Stay here,” I instructed. “I’ll be back soon.”
I left the office, gave a quick nod to Marla, and headed in the direction of the elevators, hoping Kami would still be there. I turned the corner and saw her standing by the silver doors that had yet to open.
“Ms. Delouch?” I called.
She turned to me and her eyes immediately clouded over with worry, as though she were scared of what I might say. She was obviously confused as to why I was chasing her down, and even I had to admit that this was new for me. I’d never gone so far out of my way to speak to a client about this particular subject before. And with good reason: it was working against my own interests.
“Is something wrong doctor?” Kami asked.
Her hazel eyes shone through and I was glad she hadn’t decided to cover up her face with that massive hat and the oversized sunglasses.
“Not exactly,” I said, giving her a small reassuring smile. “I did want to talk to you a little bit more about the consultation we just had.”
“Oh?” she asked, as her confusion seemed to deepen.
“And the possibility of an operation,” I added.
“Okay…”
“If you would be so kind as to spare me just a few minutes of your time?” I suggested. “We can discuss this in the cafeteria lobby over some coffee.”