The building looked harmless enough as Monet pulled into the carport built into the side of the building. She'd made long enough of a drive from Pacific Palisades that turning back was not an option for the C.E.O of Clearview Productions. Her personal assistant Betty had sworn that she would get the desired results and she was out of options.
The office was on the second floor just like Betty had told her, but she felt a little apprehensive due to the lack of lighting in the enclosed stairwell, but once she rang the doorbell everything seemed to be okay. A rather rotund receptionist answered the door ushering her inside the private office. It was a bit personal considering the rather dowdy office interiors looked like somebody had furnished it from a flea market. She also noticed that the receptionist was dressed rather dowdy in the equivalent of an old nurse's uniform.
However she felt a little more at ease when she saw several other women sitting in the receptionist area. There were three women sitting there and all of them looked or appeared to be middle aged, dowdy homemaker types.
"The doctor will be with you in a moment, please complete this form." It was more of a questionnaire and Monet began completing it until she got to a particularly troubling question.
"Excuse me."
"Yes? Ma'am?"
"Why does this form ask for my measurements?"
"The doctor will answer all of your questions shortly." The nurse replied never missing a beat and never looking up from her computer monitor.
"Well then I won't answer this question until I see him then if you don't mind."
Monet snapped irritated at not receiving an immediate answer. She was used to being respected and obeyed and this situation was a little out of her comfort zone.
"The doctor will see you now." Monet was ushered into a comfortable looking office that was also modestly furnished and she noticed a few antique tribal pieces on the shelves and the desk. There was a striking mask on the wall adjacent to the couch and a few figurines on the desk. The man sitting at his desk talking on the phone was a complete contrast in relation to the dΓ©cor of his office.
"Doctor-Cheekz?" The man sitting at the desk was the picture of warmth and comfort. There was nothing shady or threatening about the short, plump white haired gentleman who seemed to have a perpetual smile on his face. Monet couldn't put her finger on it, but she instantly felt warm and comfortable the minute she entered the doctor's office.
"My receptionist tells me that you have an issue with one of the questions in our paperwork?"
"Well yes, why do you want to know my measurements?" The doctor laughed as he thumbed through some paperwork on his desk.
"During our screening interview over the phone it became apparent that you may have some issues with your appearance Mrs. Parrott." The doctor had put on a small wire frame pair of glasses as he looked over her paperwork and she inwardly chuckled that he resembled Kris Kringle.
"I don't think I have body issues doctor, I just have a problem speaking in certain forums." She shifted uncomfortably in her seat hoping she'd fooled the doctor.
"Come now Mrs. Parrott, it's just the both of us and no one else. Tell me why you've come to see a hypnotherapist." She felt a little silly being half scolded by this man and more at ease with her situation. It was just strange how this warm feeling was enveloping her body.
"I-I have trouble speaking in front of large gatherings of people."
"And why do you have this problem? You seem like a woman who is used to being respected and obeyed, isn't that the truth Mrs. Parrott?"
"Well yes, I-I just have this problem Doctor Cheekz."
"Come on now Mrs. Parrott, you can verbalize it out loud now can't you?" She shifted in her chair under the fatherly tone of the short, gnome -like individual before her.
"Well okay, I have trouble speaking in front of crowds because I feel like people will be staring at-at my butt." It was hard for the middle aged business woman to finally state her business, but she actually felt better saying her problem out loud.
"Now, do you know why I wanted to know your measurements Mrs. Monet Parrott?"
"Well, yes when you put it that way Doctor Cheekz." Her anxiety was clearing up considerably.
"So, what are your measurements Mrs. Parrott?"
"Uh, well ah 36C-30-47 Doctor."
"Now was that so bad Monet?" The doctor seemed to be scolding and consoling at the same time. In truth she'd felt ashamed of her seemingly too large for her frame butt for most of her life. She was the only one in her family who'd been inflicted with Steatopygia a genetic malady that skipped around her family over the generations in her Louisiana based family.
"It's just been a problem for most of my life and it makes me feel, like-well, like a freak of nature doctor." She found herself tearing up as the doctor offered her a box of tissues.
"Come now, things really aren't that bad are they Monet?" she'd noted that was the second time he used her first name and although she didn't like anyone using her first name without permission, it seemed okay when the doctor said it.
"It is just that it has been a problem for so long now doctor."
"Why not see a cosmetic surgeon instead of a hypnotherapist Monet?"
"I'm afraid of going under the knife and the potential for scarring, and well I uh have this speaking engagement tomorrow evening in front of hundreds at a shareholder's meeting." Her dilemma was clear and the doctor wrote a few notes on a notepad.
"Could you stand up and turn around please."