Honesty's Reward
by pseudoclever
read by yogurcita
1. ?I Should've Worn Stilts?
The old-fashioned door had an old-fashioned bell attached, and it jingled as I entered the shop. Thanks to Pavlovian conditioning, it also caused the kneeling young man stocking shelves to turn and greet me warmly. ?Welcome to Ardeen Nutrition!? he called, in the moment before he recognized me. ?Can I help...oh! Hey Samantha, what's up??
Three carefully balanced steps had me standing over him, close enough that I could see my shadow on his face. ?Hey Anthony! I was hoping you'd be working today.? I flashed him a wide, somewhat smirky grin, reached out to offer my hand. He took it, smiling uncertainly, and let me pull him to his feet.
It took Anthony a full second to notice ? to measure me in his mind, to do a double-take. And then he realized what had changed. Slowly, timidly, he craned his neck to meet my gaze, his mouth hanging in slack-jawed wonder. ?Wow Sam...you're really...really tall.?
?Mmm-hmm,? I answered, pursing my lips in a way that was perhaps ninety percent of the way to seductive. ?I thought I might give my new platforms a try. Do you like them?? I stuck out one long, sculpted leg, inviting him to admire my choice of footwear. He did. Of course he did. Though if I was playing this right, it wasn't my shoes he was admiring.
I had purchased these platforms for the sole purpose (no pun intended) of showing off for Anthony. I'm fairly tall for a woman, you see ? five ten, according to my drivers license ? and the platforms added a little extra. Honestly though? I could have towered over Anthony even in flats. He's an adorable little thing, probably not much over five foot four, and his reaction to even my natural height always gets my blood pumping.
Okay, so confession time. There's something important you need to know about me, right up front. Forgive me if I'm a bit nervous, alright? I've gone through this with a few people by now, but never to an audience this big. Here goes.
You...might think me a freak for admitting this, but I have this weird obsession with...height. I'm constantly thinking about it, figuring out how tall I am compared to the people around me. I always get this cheap little thrill when I'm much bigger than someone. For reasons we'll get to, it goes double for Anthony. So the platforms let me, I don't know, pretend that I had magically grown even bigger than usual, and made that thrill just a little stronger.
Confession number two, though this one is easier. At this point, I'd been working a pretty hardcore crush on Anthony Spielman for the better part of a year. I mean, aside from the appeal of his hobbit-height, the guy is absolutely GORGEOUS. Neat brown hair, hazel eyes, chiseled jaw. And his physique? He works in a fitness store, for chrissakes! So maybe that explains me wanting to be the biggest thing in his universe. Whatever. No judgement zone, from here on out. Okay guys?
Anthony finally tore his eyes away from my...ahem...shoes. (I went with my favorite short-shorts, the ones that really show off how long my legs are. Yes, even though it was early February. Sue me.) ?So what brings you to our humble little shop today?? he asked clearing his throat and trying to come off dignified. ?The supplements you bought last time should have lasted another couple weeks at least.?
?Aw, I'm flatted you keep track of me enough to know that. But I'm just browsing today. Actually, I'm here looking for something that might not even exist. I'm after a certain kind of weight loss product. But hmm, 'weight loss' isn't the right word for it, because my BMI is down close to ideal. What I want to lose is...thickness.?
Anthony stepped back enough to meet my eyes, his expression serious. ?Sam. Don't. You're NOT fat.?
I nodded at the little guy. ?You're right, not anymore. I've dropped a full thirty pounds in the past year, thanks to your advice ? and plenty of hard work at the gym, of course. My pear-shaped figure finally looks a little more like an hour glass, you know? But as it turns out, the excuse I've been giving people for my entire life turned out to be true. I am actually, factually, big boned.? My hands traced a line down the ample curve of my hip, demonstrating. ?I do a thousand sit-ups a week. Thirty minutes a day on the elliptical. Yet no matter how hard I try, I still can't lose these last couple inches!?
?You look...ahh...really good, though,? Anthony said, self-consciously examining a bottle of creatine. ?Really.?
?Thank you for saying so,? I told him, suppressing a grin. Everything was going to plan. ?Really though, I would feel much better about myself if I could trim down a bit more. And it's not as simple as just losing more weight. Because, well, when you said that I'm not fat? You were right. See??
Before I could remember all the things that my mother had taught me, about what a good girl should and should not do...I just did it. I lifted my shirt provocatively, flashing him a glimpse of my tight, early stage six-pack, 'accidentally' going high enough to show him the underside of my lacy black bra. He whistled in appreciation, a red flush of excitement now faintly visible on his cheeks.
I beamed down at him knowingly. That move had turned the trick ? he wouldn't be able to resist much longer. Any second now, he was finally, at long last, going to ask me out. ?So you see what I mean,? I went on. ?I almost need something that could, I don't know, change my body type. That's probably beyond the scope of a supplement, but maybe, if you wanted to take some time and work out a program with me....?
?Did somebody say MAGIC?? a voice boomed ? deep, rumbling, yet obviously feminine.
I grimaced, swearing under my breath.
From behind a stack of protein shakes stepped Tiffany Ardeen, owner and namesake of Ardeen Nutrition. The girl looked down at the two of us, arms crossed over her chest, wearing her usual arrogant smirk. It was the kind of expression you might see on the statue of a Greek goddess ? one meant to convey both contempt and benevolence as she regards the insignificant mortals who grovel at her feet.
?Why Samantha Millers! Good to see you! How's my best customer??
?Fine, thanks for asking,? I replied, forcing a thin little smile. My plans for seducing Anthony were out the window, for today at least. Now I realized how foolish it had been to think I could be 'the biggest thing' in his world. If I had wanted to compete with Tiffany for that honor...forget the platforms. I should've worn stilts.
The girl gave me a sweet, almost impish grin. It was impossible not to be enchanted by that smile, not when it came from a face as lovely as Tiffany's. And not when the sudden appearance of the amazon girl was already making my insides feel funny. I told you it gives me a thrill when I'm taller than someone, right? Well, it can go the other way too.
?I couldn't help but overhear you pouring your little heart out to my stock boy. Maybe you should just call me 'Genie,' because believe it or not, I might have something that can grant your wish.?
?Are you KIDDING me?? Anthony shrilled. ?We have products that can DO that? Then why have I never heard of them??
Tiffany turned her head, peering down at him as if he were a smudge of dog poo on her favorite Gucci sandals. ?I'm not in the habit of divulging company secrets to low ranking employees.?
?Low ranking?? he chuffed. ?I'm the only person who works here besides you.?
Tiffany let out a long-suffering sigh. ?Anthony, I'll be kind and not count this as your break. But I pay you to stock, not chit-chat. Get back to work.?
At once Anthony snapped to attention, giving me a sidelong little smirk. ?Yes'm massus Tif'ney. You just watch deas feet get'a movin'! I's gon'a pick dis whole row by sundown, sho nuff!?
The giant girl turned to face him full-on, her expression deceptively, almost frighteningly neutral. ?Anthony, do we need to have another closed-door discussion about your unprofessional decorum? As I recall, you didn't much enjoy the last one.?
Anthony met her gaze, looking up at this woman who was well over a foot taller than him, a lesser species of fear in his eyes. ?No ma'am,? he answered smartly.
?Good.? She turned on her heels and headed toward the back of the shop, beckoning me to follow with one long, tapered finger. ?It is SO hard to find good help these days,? she said, her voice adopting a patrician drawl.
I spared one final, sympathetic glance for Anthony. Then I hurried after.
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Audiobook, Chapter 1:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XBFHG68P
When we recorded this chapter, Yogurcita and I were both as green as it gets at doing this sort of thing. With each chapter we've done, we've gotten a LOT better. Look for our recurring blurb here - Audio Lessons Learned - to hear what, exactly, we figured out.