Damaged Goods by Diane McNab - HTML preview

CHAPTER ONE

JANE

MID SEPTEMBER 2016

Jane said “Michael clear an hour for me on Friday, I have a personal issue I have to attend to.”

Michael answered “Consider it done, can I ask what you are up to?”

“I will let you know what I decide to do after my designated appointment.”

Jane was Editor-in-Chief of 'EVERY WOMAN' magazine and Michael had been hired as her Personal Assistant four years ago. A better PA you couldn't find though she would not express that to him as he already had enough ego to hold his little gay pants up.

She arrived at her destination and walking in to the reception couldn't help but think “Oh my God no wonder this man charges a small fortune.” The place was amazing. It was more like a five star hotel than a Doctor's office.

She approached the reception but before even speaking the receptionist said “Good afternoon Ms Collins, unfortunately Dr.. Charles is running a little late, please make yourself comfortable.” Jane sat down and was pleasantly surprised to see her magazine on the top of the pile next to House & Garden and others blah, blah, blah.

With that a woman walks in there is no other way to describe her face apart from the fact that it is absolutely beautiful. She asks if her Husband is in consult at the moment and with the answer being no opens a large door on the right and disappears. “Wow, Jane thinks, if this man can make me look like that I am in the right place.” Then thought a little cattily “She is a bit on the thin side, could even be bordering on anorexic”.

The Wife re-emerges and leaves in a wonderful scent of perfume Jane cannot recognise but wants to have.

“Dr. Charles will see you now.”

Jane's first thought is that he is an attractive man in a craggy sort of way and then he smiles and asks how he can help her. That smile, oh my God, it is melting areas in her she had forgotten about.

“Well Doctor I turned 36 a month ago and have noticed my lower face sagging and well other parts of my face I am not too happy with.”

Let's have a look at you. He faces her in to a mirror and behind her begins to check the outline of her face with his fingers.

“Quite frankly I think for your age you are doing remarkably well, however, I can see what you are looking at. Personally I think a lower lift would pull up your jaw and give you a fresher appearance. Plus a eye lift on the upper lids may be beneficial. You do have wonderful cheek bones and I definitely do not want to tamper with them.”

They sit back in their chairs Dr. Charles says “I can place you in two weeks time if your schedule allows that. Obviously you a very busy woman.”

“I am sure that will be fine I will just double check on my return to the Office” answered Jane. With that they talked about dates, healing time, details, etc. Jane is mesmerised by his voice.

Dr. Charles asked if she had any questions and her answer was no. He then asked if she had children and Jane blurted out “What the hell has that to do with my face?”

He looks a little taken aback and says “Okay, just needing to know if you would like us to contact your children or relatives after the procedure.”

“In my particular case I have a PA who is brilliant and who is more than capable of answering any questions that are required, and no, I do not have children” she answered a little coldly.

“Well that can be a blessing in disguise. I have two and they run the household as their Mother let's them run amok and won't let the Nanny scold them in any manner.”

“Well you should put your foot down” Jane says staring him right in the face.

“You are probably right” he says and laughs.On the drive back to her office Jane has already had made up my mind to go ahead with the procedure acknowledging it was perhaps not for all the right reasons. Her insecurities over the years had gnawed away at her. She was well aware being perfect was unachievable but wondered if it was something she could aspire to.

She also recognised the immediate attraction she had had towards Dr. Charles, but hey everyone's human.

“So Michael I have to clear my schedule in a fortnight which thankfully is straight after the next deadline. Before you start behaving like a drama queen I will explain why”.

Michael was not very often quiet but he sat perched on the edge of Jane's desk listening to her every word.

“Really, I mean it's not as if you really need it, but the hours you work do take there toll” said Michael.

“Thanks Michael I will somehow try to find a complimentary aspect in what you have just said, but, and this is a big but, this in in complete confidence. Don't let me regret telling you.”

“My lips are sealed” he answered.

When she woke up in her hospital room all she could see were flowers and gift baskets everywhere. Her first thought was that she was going to kill Michael so when he sauntered in to the room she jumped down his throat.

“Hold on in my defence I didn't tell a soul the truth. I just vaguely hinted at woman's problems. Everyone knows you never take a holiday or even a weekend off so I didn't have a lot to work with. Because of such I did the best that I could do under the circumstances. By the way it's lovely to see you to” Michael said in a huff.

The next day Dr. Charles arrives and says “Well aren't you the popular one?” Jane just shook her head and said “There are a lot of people trying to climb to the top.”

Ten days later Jane arrives at the Office with everyone gushing over how well she looked to the point of it being nauseating.